This chapter is for Becca118 for reviewing...
"Aw! This page is covered in teardrops!" exclaimed Jane.
"What does it say?" asked Anneena urgently, craning her neck over Jane's shoulder.
"January the Tenth
Dear Diary,
Today I said goodbye to Rain and Arna. Rain was with Roxie and Dinah; so I could say goodbye to them all. Rain was so frightened, she had no idea what was happening. It was so sad – I had to ask Dinah to hold her back so she couldn't follow me. Then I went to see Arna – she seemed to understand it more than Rain; but I guess that's because she's older. I think she's going to make her nest soon. I hope so – she'll make a wonderful mother. I don't think she'll ever leave her chicks when they hatch; and I hope there'll be a family of blackbirds there forever.
I came back to the house and finished my packing so we could put it in the van. And then we drove down to Hescombe so they could dump me with Aunt Evelyn. I'm writing this in her house right now – my attic room is quite cool; but it's not home."
"What was that about the blackbirds?"
"Maybe she had a pet blackbird, Arna" suggested Jane.
"Maybe...it's odd, though."
At that moment, a flying twig banged against the window pane, making them jump. Anneena laughed when she realised what it was.
"Feels like a hurricane out there!" commented Jane with a rueful grin.
"You've never been in India in the monsoon season! This is just a little storm by comparison!" retorted Anneena. "We were trapped in the house for three days!"
"Wow...still, by my standards, this is pretty bad."
They watched the storm in silence for a while, watching the trees sway and bend violently. Jane whistled.
"I bet Connie'll have some difficulty getting back" declared Anneena.
"Yeah...speaking of Connie" Jane tapped the diary meaningfully.
"Yeah, right. Go on" urged Anneena.
Jane turned the page and started reading.
"January the Eleventh
Dear Diary,
Today was my first day at Aunt Evelyn's. She's really odd...like this morning she was making this weird noise out of the window, sort of keening. I didn't dare ask her about it – she always looks so forbidding; she wears black, she's really pale and she hardly ever smiles. I really miss Arna and Rain...and Roxie and Dinah; and all my old friends. I'm not going to write here for a while...there won't be anything to talk about."
"Keening noise out of the window? Huh..." Anneena glanced down at the stairs, as though trying to work out why.
"Yeah...that's odd" agreed Jane. She turned the page. "Look, the next one is the fifteenth."
"January the Fifteenth,
Dear Diary,
Today I met some new friends: the seagulls at the dock. There's one I named Scark – I like him; and the rest are really friendly, like they knew I needed some help with meeting people. I'm going to try and find them every day, they make me feel so much better."
"That's good" said Anneena. "I'm glad she found someone."
Jane nodded.
"Hey, would you mind reading the next ones? My throat's a bit sore – I'm still shaking off that cold."
"Sure."
Jane handed Anneena the diary, and looked out of the window again.
"Wow – would you look at that? That's the lid from my neighbour's bin! He sprayed his name on the top...that must have been carried for ages!" she marvelled.
Anneena peered out of the window.
"Wow. That's some distance!"
Jane stretched out and yawned.
"I know! Go on, Annie – what's next?"
A.N Hey, sorry this is so short, but I promise I'll get another one up soon. Thanks! The green button thanks you for your interest, and would like you to continue...