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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities ie entirely coincidental.
HarperCollins Children’s Books
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First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2005
Text © Jean Ure 2005
Illustrations © Karen Donnelly 2005 Cover illustrations by Nicola Slater
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Source ISBN: 9780007161379
Ebook Edition © JULY 2013 ISBN: 9780007374380
Version: 2017-11-03
Table of Contents
The Secret Writings of Shayanne Sugar
The Secret Writings of Shayanne Sugar
The Secret Writings of Shayanne Sugar
The Secret Writings of Shayanne Sugar
“Ruth! Time to get up.”
Time to get up. Get yourself dressed. I’m not telling you again! Every morning, same old thing.
“Did you hear me? Ruth?”
Yes, I did! I heard you.
“I’d like some kind of response, please!”
And then she’ll go, I hope you haven’t gone back to sleep?
“I hope you haven’t gone back to sleep?”
Get up, get dressed. How many more times?
Why doesn’t she just give it a rest?
“Do I have to shout myself hoarse? Get yourself up this instant!” Mum suddenly appeared like a tornado at the bedroom door. “And get your sisters up, as well. For goodness’ sake! It’s gone seven o’clock.”
Boo hoo! So what?
“Do you want to be late for school? Because you will be!”
Don’t care if I am. Sooner be late than get there early.
“All this big talk,” said Mum. “Going to be a doctor. Going to pass exams. You’ll be lucky to get a job in Tesco’s if you don’t shift yourself and make a bit of an effort!”
Mum had no idea. She didn’t know what it was like. She didn’t know how much I hated it. Hated, hated, HATED it!
“Ruth, I’m warning you.” Mum marched across to the window and yanked back the curtains. I could tell she was in a mood. “I can’t take much more of this! I’m running out of patience.”
So why couldn’t she just go away and leave me alone? I burrowed further down the bed, wrapping myself up in the duvet. I was safe in the duvet. In bed, in the bedroom. At home. I’d have liked to stay there for always. Never go out again anywhere, ever. And specially