SPOW
Upstairs, Zora was face down on top of her bed, bawling her eyes out. I sat down next to her, trying to lift her arm away from her face but she told me to get lost. 'Come on, Zora, this is a bit over the top, isn't it?'
She cried harder, her shoulders heaving up and down. 'I was only kidding about the knife,' I said. 'Look, you've read enough Point Horrors not to be scared of comments like that.' I stroked her hair, like I used to when she had nightmares.
'I've got lumps,' she said.
'What do you mean?'
'In my bosoms. I've got lumps.'
I tried not to laugh at her use of the word 'bosoms' and asked her again what she meant. She sat up, sniffing back her tears, and pointed to her chest. 'They don't hurt or anything but they're definitely lumps. Am I going to die like Selena's mum?'
'No,' I said, as it dawned on me what she meant. 'It just means you're developing. Do the lumps feel like little grapes behind your nipples?'
'Yes.'
'That's normal, I promise. You're growing up.'
The relief on her face was tremendous, poor kid. Mum was right; I had to start treating Zora with a bit of respect, especially if we were sharing a room. 'You'll probably start your periods soon,' I said to cheer her up.
She frowned. 'I don't want to, it looks too messy. I wouldn't mind wearing a bra, though. Megan Weeks wears a Wonderbra.'
'No, she doesn't.'
'She does!'
'Listen, sis,' I said, getting into this older/wiser sibling role, 'if you want to know anything, just ask me, not Megan Weeks, ok?'
'Ok,' she said, shuffling up and smiling, 'what's a dildo?'