The Single Mums’ Book Club. Victoria Cooke

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       Chapter 1

      ‘Ava, are your teeth brushed yet?’ I yell up the stairs in vain. When I scoop Henry out of the baby chair, I notice his nappy is swollen and damp. ‘Bugger.’

      ‘Coming, Mummy.’ The light thud of Ava’s feet travels down the stairs. I look her over in horror.

      ‘It’s half past eight and you’re not even dressed!’ I sound like a banshee as I do most mornings because most mornings, Ava really likes to test my patience and after another sleepless night, I’m on the edge.

      ‘I had a cut on my knee so I put some wet tissue on it and—’

      ‘And nothing. Get your uniform on now!’

      ‘But, Mummy!’

      Give me strength.

      Henry starts to scream. ‘Ava, you have one minute to get dressed or I’m taking you to school in your vest and knickers. I mean it.’

      ‘Mum, where are my football boots?’

      ‘Oh, Ralph, I don’t know – you had them on in the garden the other day. Try the utility room.’

      Henry is still screaming. It’s now eight-forty. ‘Ava?’

      ‘Coming, Mummy.’ She appears in the kitchen, thankfully, for the most part, dressed bar her tie but I’ll tolerate the disapproving looks at the school gate for one day.

      Otis, our dog, is doing supersonic circles at the prospect of a walk to school.

      ‘Sorry, Otis, we’re running late today.’ He doesn’t get it; instead, he’s the only one sitting nicely by the door ready to go. ‘Okay, let’s get to the car,’ I say, thrusting a banana in Ava’s little hand.

      ‘But I haven’t got my shoes on.’

      ‘Put СКАЧАТЬ