Rowan McAuley - Go Girl! #9 The New Girl

Contents

One Wednesday morning in the middle of term, a new girl arrived at Zoes school. It was the most exciting thing that Zoe could remember happening for ages.

Ms Kyle knocked on the door during class. Mr Mack had to stop halfway through a sentence.

Everyone looked up from their books.

Dont mind us, said Ms Kyle. Im just talking to Mr Mack about the new student.

Wow! A new student, Zoe whispered to her best friend, Iris.

I know, said Iris. And what perfect timing. Mr Mack was speaking way too fast for me to keep up. Quick while hes still talking to Ms Kyle are there two gs in exaggerated?

Shh, said Zoe. Im trying to listen.

But all around her the quiet whispers of the other kids were growing into loud mumblings. She couldnt hear what Ms Kyle was saying at all.

Settle down, said Mr Mack, as Ms Kyle left. All right, you all heard that a new girl is starting today. Her name is Isabelle Sinclair, and she will be joining us as soon as shes finished buying her books and uniform at the office. I know youll all do your best to make her feel welcome.

Definitely, thought Zoe. Iris and I will be her best friends.

Right, then, said Mr Mack. Lets get back to our dictation.

Of course, it was impossible for Zoe to concentrate on her school work. Any minute now, Isabelle could walk through the door

Zoe wondered what Isabelle would be like. Would she be musical like Iris, funny like Ching Ching, brainy like Holly or shy like Olivia?

When Zoe had finished her dictation, she started drawing little cartoons in the margin of her exercise book. She doodled all the different ways she thought Isabelle might look. Would she be tall or short? Would she have long hair, or

Zoe! Iris nudged her sharply in the ribs.

Zoe looked up and saw Mr Mack looking at her pointedly.

Nice of you to rejoin us, Zoe, he said, dryly.

Zoe quickly sat up straight and covered her drawings with her hand.

Sorry, Mr Mack, she said.

Mr Mack was just about to say something else when there was a knock at the door. It was Ms Kyle again, followed by a girl in a new school jumper.

Isabelle!

Isabelle Sinclair stood at the front of the classroom, looking coolly at her new classmates.

Id be terrified if that were me, thought Zoe. Id be shivering all over.

But Isabelle looked totally relaxed, even bored.

Ms Kyle left the room and Mr Mack turned to Isabelle.

Well, Isabelle, he said, cheerily. Welcome to our class. Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself?

Oh, no, Mr Mack! thought Zoe, dismayed. Dont do that to her!

Zoe couldnt imagine anything worse on the first day at a new school. She wouldnt have known what to say, and she would have blushed and stammered. But Isabelle spoke confidently.

My family just moved here because my dad got a transfer at work. Hes a lawyer and my mums a piano teacher. I dont have any brothers or sisters, but I have a sausage dog called Banger who sleeps on my bed.

Thank you, Isabelle. Its good to have you here, said Mr Mack. Why dont you sit at that desk today, and well find you a permanent place tomorrow?

He pointed to Lilys desk. She was away sick.

The bell rang loudly for lunch, and before Mr Mack could say another word, everyone had leapt to their feet.

All right, he called out. Off you go! Just remember to give Isabelle room to breathe, and time to eat her lunch, while youre busy mobbing her with questions.

Mr Mack was right the class did mob Isabelle. Everyone wanted to speak to her, find out more about her and tell her about themselves.

See that mulberry tree over there? asked Oscar. Thats where Dylan and I climbed out over the school fence.

We got in the most massive trouble, said Dylan, grinning. They made up a whole new school rule just for us. Now no-one is allowed to climb trees.

And the back of that building is the music room, said Iris, pointing. We have guitars, a piano, a drum kit, and flutes and everything.

And next to the music room is the computer room, said Ching Ching. We do computers on Fridays with Mr Campbell. Hes a really good teacher.

Olivia giggled. You would say that! she said to Ching Ching. Youve got the biggest crush on him!

I so do not, said Ching Ching.

You so do so, said Olivia, laughing. You lo-oo-ove him!

Zoe was frustrated she didnt want to hear all this stuff! She wanted to hear about Isabelle. She glanced over and saw Isabelle looking quiet and serious. Zoe realised she hadnt seen Isabelle smile once since she arrived.

By the time lunch finished and they went back to class, Zoe had only learnt two new things about Isabelle she used to have a white Persian cat called Mash, and her favourite subject was maths.

Hey, Ive got an idea! Zoe whispered to Iris as they sat down and got their books out for science. Im going to ask my mum if I can have Isabelle over after school. You can come too, and that way well have her all to ourselves.

Iris beamed. Ask your mum tonight, and then ring me. Then I can ask my mum straight away and we can invite Isabelle tomorrow.

Perfect! smiled Zoe.

It would have been perfect, too, but Zoe never got her chance to invite Isabelle.

Zoes troubles began on the way home from school. Most of the kids caught the school bus from the main gates, but the bus didnt go past Zoes house. Instead, she walked through the playground to where her little brother, Max, was in kindergarten.

Usually Max was annoyingly bouncy, as if he hadnt seen Zoe in a year. But today he slumped against the railings of the school fence as they waited for Mum. It was a warm afternoon and he had his jumper on, but he was still shivering.

Can I borrow your jumper, Zoe? he asked, sounding miserable.

Zoe was searching in her bag when her mum drove up.

Hurry up, Zoe, her mum called out the window. Can you help Max with his bag? It looks too heavy for him today.

Zoe dumped both bags into the car and jumped in behind them. Max dragged his feet over to the car, looking more tired and sad than ever.

Max! said her mum. Your teeth are chattering! Zoe, whats wrong with your brother?

Zoe sighed and shrugged.

Sometimes it was a pain being the big sister. She wanted to talk to her mum about Isabelle, and whether she could have her and Iris over, but now all her mums attention was on Max.

By dinnertime, Maxs chill had turned into a fever. By breakfast the next morning, he was covered in spots.

Chickenpox! said her mum. How are you feeling, Zoe? Any spots?

Im fine, said Zoe, impatiently. I just want to get to school.

Her mum didnt seem to notice that Zoe was in a hurry. Go and get dressed then, she said calmly. Ill have to make a few calls before we go anywhere.

Zoe dressed as quickly as she could while her mum was on the phone. She was just sliding her favourite ladybug hairclips into place when her mum came in.