Salene sat alone in her room, tears were running down her face as she sobbed miserably. Trudy walked in and looked at her. She knew there was something wrong, and something told her that she knew what Salene had been upto once again.
“Sal, oh Salene, you haven’t, have you?” Trudy sat down next to her and put her arm around her shoulders, Salene nodded and sobbed more,
“I’m sorry, Trude, I couldn’t help it. I was doing so well” Trudy hugged her.
“What made your bulimia come back this time?” Trudy asked gently
“I don’t want to talk about it, OK?” Salene snapped, she was so ashamed of herself for letting herself stoop this low. Trudy understood and they sat silently. Trudy finally broke the ice,
“Salene? Can I ask you a question?” she said with a little caution,
“What?” she sighed
“When did this first happen? Y’know, the bulimia?” Trudy asked
“I suppose I can tell you, but you have to promise never to bring it up or ask questions afterwards, OK?” Salene said
“I promise.” Trudy replied. Salene stood up and went to sit in a chair by her dressing table, and looked in her mirror,
“It all started a few years ago...”
...Salene sighed and looked up at the blue sky. It couldn’t get better than this, she thought, I live in a wonderful little suburb in a great house with my caring parents, the weather’s great and it’s the holidays. What else could anyone ask for? She sighed contentedly.
“Sal? Salene! We’re going!” Her mother shouted from the back door. Salene sat up and looked at her. Her mum smiled at her, Salene’s dad then came to the door as well, he shouted to his daughter
“We should be back at about eleven tonight, OK? Everest’s here, she’s in the living room, we’ll see you later. Grace? Are you ready?” her mum nodded and they left. Salene got up and walked towards the living room, when she got there, she saw her best friend in the whole world, Everest, was sat in one of the armchairs. When she saw Salene she stood up and hugged her
“Hi, how are you?” she said sweetly, as if she hadn’t seen Salene for years, even though they had spent yesterday together
“I’m fine, how are you?” Salene replied
“I’m great, but I have a bit of bad news,” Everest sighed
“What? Are you OK?” Salene asked worriedly, Everest had recently been ill, and had nearly died,
“I’m fine! Sorry that I worried you, the news is that we’ve got to go back to my house, mum and dad want to go out, I’ve promised I’d baby-sit” she laughed
“Don’t do that! You scared me! When are your parents going out?” Salene said with a sigh of relief
“They should have been out five minutes ago, we’d better get moving” Everest exclaimed as she looked at her watch. They ran out of the house, giggling and Everest jumped on her bike as Salene locked up, she then jumped on her bike and they pedaled madly to Everest’s house.
“About time too, Ev” Her mother said jokingly as they reached the house
“I’m so sorry mum,” Everest panted exhaustedly “It’s OK, sweetie,” her dad came out of the house and walked towards the car “Hi Sal, how are you? We shouldn’t be long, you can take Cloe to the park, been as the weather’s so hot, that’s if she wants to, see you soon” Ev’s parents got into the car and drove off. The two friends walked into the house and Salene was immediately pounced on by Cloe, Everest’s little sister.
“Oh so that’s how you knew Cloe” Trudy interrupted “Yes, and Patsy and Paul lived next door” Salene continued...
...”Salene! I’m glad you’re here! Can we play in the treehouse?” Cloe jumped around, she was shy around people she didn’t know, but because her sister was so close to Salene she knew she could trust her
“Well that’s nice! I don’t even get a hello from my own sister!” Everest said teasingly, Cloe hugged her “That’s better” she laughed
“Can we go in the treehouse, please?” Cloe begged
“Mum and Dad said we could go to the park, I thought we could have a picnic and invite Patsy and Paul” Everest suggested
“And Bob?” Cloe asked hopefully
“Yes, and Bob” Everest agreed, she looked at Sal, who smiled
“That’s a brill idea Ev,” she said
“Thanks. Hey Cloe, you go and invite the others while Salene and I make the sandwiches” she ordered. Cloe sped out of the house
“Well, this could be a long day” Salene laughed.
Hours later, Cloe, Patsy and Paul were sat up in the treehouse playing a board game while Everest and Salene sat in the shade of the tree. Everest turned to Salene and said
“Well, the picnic wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be!” Salene nodded. She was playing with a blade of grass, thinking about her parents when Everest’s parents came running out onto the garden
“Salene? You’d better come here quickly,” Everest’s dad said, he had a very strange expression on his face. Puzzled, Salene and Everest went into the house, where Everest’s Mum said
“You’d better sit down and watch this Sal” Salene did as she was told, on the television the news was on. The newsreader announced
“The accident happened an hour ago,” and there was a picture of a smashed up car on the screen, Salene and Everest gasped with horror as they recognized the car as that of Salene’s parents
“Oh no, please no” Salene gasped, Everest put her arm around Salene’s back as the newsreader continued
“The couple, who have not yet been identified, were killed immediately...”
2
Salene stood in front of the mirror, smoothing out her black dress. Everest walked up behind her, Salene turned and began to cry, Everest held her gently
“It’s OK, Sal, I’m here” Everest said, tears in her own eyes. Salene’s Aunt Violet came into the room.
“Come on girls, we’re going to miss the car” She too had been crying, however she was trying to hide it, they all walked out of the room together and headed for the church.
“How awful for you Sal,” Trudy sighed “I can’t imagine how you must have felt”
“It felt like my whole world had been torn down” she said sorrowfully...
The funeral had been so awful, everyone had kept coming upto Salene and saying
“I’m so sorry, if there’s anything I can do...” even people who she hardly knew. Everest had been a real help, she had stood by her all the way through and told the people that the only thing they could do was to leave her alone. Salene was thankful to have such an understanding friend
“It’s the least I could do Sal,” Everest said to her when she thanked her that night, she had invited Ev to stay with her “You’ve stuck by me through thick and thin, and so why shouldn’t I return the favour?”
Salene smiled, if it wasn’t for her, she wouldn’t know what to do. Aunt Violet stuck her head around the door and said
“It’s time you two got some sleep, we’ve got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow” Violet, who was Salene’s mother’s sister, was moving into the house, to look after Salene now. She left, and Everest said,
“She’s right, we should try to sleep. Good night Sal”
“Good night Ev”.
However hard Sal tried, she couldn’t sleep. She was so miserable, all she could see were her parents faces on that fatal day, they were so happy, why did it have to happen to them? She got out of bed and tiptoed out of the room, so she wouldn’t disturb her sleeping friend. She wandered downstairs and switched on the living room light. Above the fireplace was the family portrait, she looked at how happy they looked on the photo, she burst into tears and shouted “Why? WHY?!? Why you two? It’s not fair!!!” she sobbed sorrowfully and went into the kitchen. There was food left over from the funeral wake on the side, she started to stuff her face with, sobbing desperately as she did so. She then stuck her fingers down her throat and threw up wretchedly. She felt empty, not only her stomach, but her heart. She had a huge gap that had once been filled with happy memories of her parents, but she had lost them when she had seen the news report. The police had said that it had been a ‘tragic accident’ and that no one was to blame, well why did Salene feel like it was her fault? It was confusing, it was like everyone knew that it was her parents that had been in the crash, when she was shopping the other day it had felt like everyone was staring at her. If this was how she felt about complete strangers, then how was she ever going to be able to face her school again? It would be the worst thing ever, especially maths, as Everest was in a different group to her. The thought of this made her start to eat again, only to throw it back up. Exhausted, she finally fell asleep in the living room.
“Salene! What are you doing down here?” Aunt Violet walked into the room to find Salene curled up on the sofa
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came down here. I must have nodded off” Salene said, feeling low. Everest came running down the stairs shouting
“Violet! I can’t find Sal!” she entered the room, and in seeing Salene sat on the sofa, threw her arms around her “Oh Sal! I was worried about you!”
“It’s OK, Ev, I’m here” Salene said, feeling a little guilty about worrying her friend. Violet announced “I’m making breakfast, who wants some?”
“Yes please, I’m starving” Everest said
“Me too, please” Salene said also. Violet left and Everest said to Salene
“How are you today?”
“Feeling worse then ever, how am I going to face the school Ev?” Salene said nervously
“You’ll be fine, it’ll take time, but you’ll be fine. I mean, remember how everyone acted when I went back to school after being ill for so long? They all acted as if I had something catching or that if I even ran a little I’d collapse, but they realised soon that I was the same person, didn’t they?” Everest said
“I guess you’re right, you always are” Salene sighed. Violet walked in, carrying two bowls of cornflakes, she handed them to the girls and said.
“I’m going to start getting some of my things out of the car, OK? You come and help when you’re ready” The girls ate their breakfasts in silence.
“Where’s Salene?” Violet asked, Everest was taking a box out of the car as she replied
“I dunno, she was just going to the bathroom before she came to help. Do you want me to go and see if she’s OK?”
“You’d better, she’s been a long time” Violet looked quite worried about her niece. Everest put the box down and went inside, she ran up the stairs, and knocked on the bathroom door.
“Salene, can I come in?” she asked
“No, I’m fine!” Salene sobbed
“You don’t sound it, l’m coming in” she opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight before her. Salene was knelt in front of the toilet, two large plates were next to her, covered in crumbs. Salene looked ashamedly at her
“I’m sorry Ev” Everest was confused.
“Salene! What are you doing?”
3
“Please! You can’t tell anyone!” Salene begged, Everest looked sadly at her
“Oh Sal, how could you let yourself do this?” she sighed “You should tell someone”
“No! I can’t!” Salene wailed “They’d watch over me day and night, I couldn’t live with that, could you?”
“I guess not,” Everest couldn’t protest.
“You two? Is everything alright up there?” Violet called from the bottom of the stairs
“Yeah, we’re just coming” Salene called, she then turned to Everest “Promise?”
“Yes I promise,” she sighed exasperatedly, they walked downstairs.
“So what happened after Everest found out?” Trudy asked
“She was supportive, and helped me through” Salene replied, smiling as she remembered her best friend, “But something tells me, it wasn’t the end of your problems?” Trudy asked
“It was alright, for a while” Salene carried on telling her story...
A few weeks later, Violet had finally got all of her things moved in, and Salene had been invited to stay at Everest’s overnight, and to baby-sit Cloe while Everest’s parents took her to the hospital for a check up.
“Salene? Are you alright?” Cloe asked as she sat down on the floor next to her. She seemed to be in her own world and when Cloe asked her this she seemed to snap out of it
“Oh, sorry Cloe, I’m fine. Just thinking” she replied, still a little lost
“Salene? I miss Patsy” she sighed, Patsy and her family had gone away for a week on holiday
“Hey she’ll be back before you know it” Salene put her arm around Cloe and gave her a squeeze
“Yeah, but I’m bored” she moaned
“Well, we can play a game, can’t we?” Salene asked
“I guess, but it wouldn’t be the same” Cloe said
“What do you want to play?” Sal asked, just as Cloe was going to suggest something Everest and her parents walked in
“We’re back!” Ev announced unnecessarily. Cloe got up and hugged her, Salene then got up
“How’s everything?” she asked
“Great, I’m fine” Everest said “How’s the terror been?” she started to tickle her little sister, who screamed hysterically
“Thanks for looking after her Sal” Everest’s mum said
“No problem, “ Salene replied. She then followed Everest to the treehouse to talk. She looked at Everest when they were sat up in the house. That house had been their favourite thing for a long time, since they had been at least seven. She remembered Ev’s dad building it, it brought back both good and bad memories for them both. Like the moment when Everest had told Salene that she was seriously ill - and may die. Everest looked at Salene and asked
“How are you?”
“What do you mean, how am I?” Salene asked back, “It’s you who could have been ill again”
“Yeah but like I told you, I’m fine.” she replied “I’m talking about your bulimia Sal, how are you coping?”
“I’m coping pretty well, I haven’t made myself sick for about three weeks now.”
“Hey that’s great, I’m proud of you.” Everest beamed at Salene, she smiled back, but there was something at the back of her mind that was telling her she was lying. She knew that she’d made herself sick yesterday, she felt so guilty about it but couldn’t tell Everest the truth - she’d never forgive her. “So are you ready for Monday?” Everest interrupted her thoughts
“Huh? What about Monday?” Salene shook her head
“Well, you are coming back to school then, aren’t you?” she replied
“Oh... Oh! Yes of course I am!” Salene realised what she was saying, even though she was dreading it, school had begun two weeks before, but she couldn’t face it, but her Aunt had finally persuaded her to return. She didn’t know what would happen, she’d just have to wait and see.
4
“Salene, Salene! Your alarm went off ten minutes ago, you should be up by now!” Violet called to Salene. She was still curled up in bed, she really didn’t want to go back to school, she thought of all of the children and teachers, how could she face them? It would be as bad as the funeral, everyone coming up and saying sorry or trying not to bring up the subject at all.
“Do I have to go?” she groaned
“Yes, it’s time you went back, you’re missing out on your education being stuck here” Violet stuck her head around the bedroom door “Now come on, up you get and have your breakfast.” Salene managed to force down some breakfast, but when she went upstairs she ran straight to the bathroom to make herself sick, she knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help herself, she was so miserable. Her stomach empty, she went to get changed.
“Well, here goes nothing” Everest said hopefully to Salene as they reached the school gates. Salene tried to smile back but couldn’t, they walked through and onto the school grounds. They walked upto the school doors and Salene could feel hundreds of sets of eyes staring at her as they did. She looked around, no one was actually looking at her, no one had even noticed her. She still didn’t feel sure though, Everest noticed that Salene had slowed up
“Hey don’t worry, I’m sure everything will be fine” she said
“I’m not” Salene replied “I shouldn’t have come back” Everest had a look of disbelief on her face
“Sal! Don’t say that! Do you think that your parents would want you to be like this?!?” Salene knew that she was right, as usual. They continued to walk.
It was dinner time, so far the day had been OK, until now. Salene and Everest were sat on a wall, just chatting about things when two girls from their year came walking past, they had never got on with Salene and Everest and as they walked by one said to the other “Hey I’ve just noticed, Salene’s back”
“Yeah” said the other “Wonder why she’s been off? Apparently her parents died in a car crash, I don’t believe it myself. I think she’s trying to get attention” Everest noticed that Salene’s eyes had started to narrow
“Just ignore them Sal, they’re just being bitchy as usual”, but it was too late, Salene had jumped up “How DARE you say that?!? My parents are dead! How would you like it if it happened to you?” she burst into tears and fled, how could anyone say that? That was the worst thing EVER to say, however much you hate someone. She went into a classroom and wept for what seemed like forever
“Salene? Sal wake up!” Everest shook her, she had fallen asleep in the room
“What? Oh Ev, was it all a dream?” Salene begged her
“No, I’m sorry they really said that stuff” Everest sighed “I looked everywhere for you, I was worried that you’d gone home”
“No, I’ve been here all of the time” Salene said wearily “I think I want to go home though”
“No, the best thing to do is stay, and show those girls that it didn’t bother you, that you’re stronger than them” Everest told her
“Do you really think so?” she asked
“Yes, I do.” Everest said firmly. “Now come on, we’re going to be late for lessons if we don’t get moving” With that, they walked to their next lesson together.
5
Salene threw her bag down in the hall, she was grateful that the day was finally over. She flung herself onto the sofa and began to cry, she was so fed up with life, how could those girls say such hurtful things? She though she was alone in the house but Violet was actually in the kitchen, she wandered into the living room and saw Salene sobbing into the arm-rest of the sofa
“Oh Sal, what’s wrong?” she asked sympathetically
“I’m NEVER going back to that school again!” Salene wailed pitifully, Violet put her arms around her niece and rocked her gently
“Oh you don’t mean that Sal, what’s happened?” she asked
“It was awful! Every one was staring at me and whispering,” she replied
“I’m sure they weren’t, it was just your imagination” Violet tried to reassure her
“They were!!! I heard someone say ‘Hey there’s that girl whose parents got killed in that crash’ and these girls said that it wasn’t real and I’m just making it up!” Salene wailed hysterically
“What?!? That’s disgusting! I’m going to phone your head” Violet got up and went towards the phone “No, please! It’ll only make it worse!” Salene pleaded, but it was too late
“Hello? Can I speak to the head please?” Violet asked...
“So what happened at school after your aunt did that?” Trudy asked as Salene’s voice had faded out “The girls got in serious trouble, and thankfully it never happened again” Salene sighed, “Anyway, I went upstairs after the phone call to do something, then aunt Violet asked me if I wanted Everest to come for dinner...”
“Hi Sal, how are you feeling?” Everest asked, a look of sympathy in her eyes
“Better, thanks. Come in” Salene let Everest in and they went to sit in the living room
“Hello Everest, you’re just in time to eat” Violet said. They all moved into the dining room. Violet looked at the hat Salene was wearing and asked
“Salene, would you take that off while we’re eating?”.
Salene looked as if she wasn’t about to take it off but as Violet was giving her a funny look she sighed and pulled it off. Violet and Everest gasped - Salene’s hair was bright red!
“What have you done?!?” Everest gasped
“Salene! Your hair!” Violet was too shocked to speak
“I thought I needed a change” Salene announced
“Salene - you will go and sort your hair out now or I will tell Everest to go home and you’ll be grounded for a month!” Violet had found her voice again and was furious, had Salene gone totally crazy?
“No! I like it, I’m keeping it like this!” Salene shouted and stormed up to her room. There she went into one of her drawers and pulled out a bag full of chocolate and other things to eat. She unwrapped a bar of chocolate and wolfed it down, she stuffed her face with food until she was feeling sick, she then ran to the bathroom and threw up. She just sat and started to feel guilty about what she’d just done, little did she know that she was just about to feel even more bad.
“Salene! How could you? You promised you’d stopped!” Everest was stood in the doorway, she had just been going to Salene’s room when she had seen Salene being sick.
“Ev, please! I promise this is this first time it’s happened for ages!” Salene got up and went up to her. Disgusted, Everest started to walk to the stairs. Salene ran after her, just in time to see Everest’s legs go from under her and to see her fall down the stairs in front of her
“EVEREST!” Salene screamed as her friend lay unconscious at the bottom. Violet came running out of the living room to see what the screams were about and her eyes widened with horror
“Oh my... Salene what happened?” she gasped
“I don’t know, she just fainted halfway down and fell, is she going to be OK?” Salene said, panic-stricken.
“I don’t know, phone for an ambulance and then phone her parents. Quickly!” Violet calmed down and took control of the situation. Salene stood on the landing for a few seconds then ran into her aunt’s room to pick up the extension in there. She dialled for an ambulance then dialled Everest’s phone number, Cloe picked up the phone on the other end.
“Hello?” she asked
“Cloe! Get your mum or dad quickly! Ev’s been in an accident” Salene then realised she’d made a big mistake telling Cloe that.
“WHAT?!? Oh no, she’s not going to die is she?” Cloe was scared. She then shouted “Mum! Dad! Everest’s been hurt!” Everest’s mum took the phone off of Cloe and asked breathlessly
“Salene! What’s happened? Is Ev OK?”
“I don’t know, she fainted as she was walking down the stairs, she’s unconscious! I called for an ambulance and it’s on it’s way. Please come quickly!”
“Right, we’re on our way Sal, see you in a minute or so.” They hung up and Salene sighed. I was all her fault. If she hadn’t made herself sick again then Everest wouldn’t be lying out cold at the bottom of her staircase. Why was she so stupid? She promised herself that she’d never be so stupid again.
6
“Salene! What are you doing here?” Cloe exclaimed as she opened the front door.
“I’ve come to look after you while your parents go to fetch your sister from the hospital” a week had passed since the accident, and Everest was only just coming back from the hospital. Cloe looked excited and started to dance around
“Great! I’ve got an idea! I’ll tell you what it is when the grown ups have gone!”
“Well that’s nice of you, Clo!” her mother laughed, Cloe laughed and ran out of the front door, calling
“I’m calling for Patsy and Paul now!” Salene looked at Everest’s mum and blew a strand of hair out of her face “Where does she get the energy from?” she asked
“I haven’t a clue! Thanks for watching her though. We should be back in about an hour, we’ve got to have a word with the doctor before we can bring Ev home” she replied, looking at her watch “Mark! We should get going!” Everest’s dad appeared and greeted Salene. They jumped into the car and sped off, just as Patsy, Paul and Cloe came speeding onto the drive
“Hi Sal!” Patsy called, Paul waved to her, Salene waved back and asked Cloe
“Now what’s the big secret?”
“We’re going to have a surprise party for Ev!” Cloe announced
“Isn’t it cool?” Patsy said enthusiastically
“For a guess, your parents don’t know about this, do they?” Salene said suspiciously
“Well, no! I told you it’s a surprise!” Cloe answered. Salene smiled, Cloe was so thoughtful, she really did love her sister a lot.
“OK, have you got any ideas?” she asked as she sat down on the grass, they were now on the back garden, she had got a pen and notebook in her hand for ideas “We’ve got just under an hour, so we’ve got to be quick!”
“We can make a big banner that says ‘Welcome Home Everest!’ on it!” Patsy suggested
“Great idea, and sandwiches!” Cloe said “We need to make sandwiches!”
“I’ll make those while you guys work on the banner” Salene said “Now anything else?” she noticed that Paul was signing wildly to Patsy. “What’s he saying Pats?”
“He said we should play party games. I don’t know Paul, Ev might be too ill still”
“But that won’t stop you guys playing, will it?” Salene asked
“No! We’ll think of games while we make the banner! We need music as well!” Cloe announced
“And we need to hide when they come back and shout ‘surprise!’ when Everest comes in!” Patsy said excitedly
“Great! This party’s going to be fun!” Salene laughed, and so they all got to work on their ideas.
About an hour later, the car pulled up into the drive. Salene ran out as Everest’s parents held the door open for Everest. She jumped out and on seeing her friend ran to her
“Sal! I missed you!” they hugged and laughed
“How are you?” Salene inquired
“Fine, mum and dad are being over protective though!” she said quietly
“Come in, there’s something you ought to see...” Salene said mysteriously. As soon as they walked through the front door they were immediately pounced on by Cloe, Patsy and Paul
“SURPRISE!” they shouted together
“What on earth?!?” Everest asked as she was practically dragged into the living room “Wow! Is this for me?” she exclaimed as she saw the colourful banner and table full of sandwiches and drinks
“Yes! It’s your welcome home party!” Cloe declared
“Well you’ve been busy!” Everest’s mum said as she looked around
“It’s a nice idea Salene” her dad said
“It’s wasn’t my idea, it was Cloe’s!” Salene exclaimed
“Awww Clo, you’re too sweet!” Everest said as she hugged her little sister
“I missed you, I thought you were never coming back!” Everest laughed, but there was something in her eye that confused Salene.
Several sandwiches later and the two friends were sat up in the tree house talking
“Ev, I feel terrible! It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have lied to you about my illness” Salene confessed
“It’s OK, Sal. We all make mistakes” Everest seemed a little distant
“You never make mistakes Ev, you’re honest and so kind” Salene said
“I do make mistakes, Sal, I just cover them up.” she smiled weakly at her. Salene noticed that Everest looked a little pale
“Ev, why did you collapse anyway?” Salene asked.
Everest sighed and turned to look out of the window, she couldn’t bear to look at her best friend
“There’s something I didn’t tell you Salene, just like you didn’t tell me that your bulimia had started again”
“What is it?” Salene was starting to feel worried
“You know the day you baby sat Cloe, the day I went to the hospital?”
“Yeah...” Salene was starting to get a terrible feeling on her stomach
“Well, it wasn’t just for a check up. It was to have some tests.”
“Tests?” oh no, Salene thought, please no...
“I got the results back today, that’s why we were so long” Everest turned to look at Salene, tears were running down her pale face “I’m sorry Salene”
“What?!?” Salene knew what was coming, she just didn’t want to believe it
“I’m ill again, and this time there’s nothing they can do. I’m going to die...”
7
Salene sat in silence. She didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry Sal, I know I should have told you...”
“WHY?!?” Salene found her voice at last “Why did you lie to me? I thought we told each other everything!”
“So did I, but don’t forget, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t tell the truth” Everest said wearily “Now, if you don’t mind, I feel tired. I’m going to lie down inside. Bye Salene.” with that she climbed down the ladder and walked slowly to the house. Salene just sat there, alone. Her head was spinning, what had she done to deserve this? First of all her parents, now her best friend? No, she was being selfish. How could Ev’s family be feeling? She looked out of the window at Cloe, who was helping Paul and Patsy chase Bob around the garden. Did Cloe even know that her sister, whom she worshipped, was ill again? She remembered how distraught she’d been the first time, so probably not. She looked at Everest’s parents, they looked very worried about their daughter. Salene began to cry, she couldn’t imagine how they felt, knowing their child wouldn’t be around much longer. She felt so terrible, Everest had so much to live for, she was bright, funny and honest - well most of the time. She dried her eyes and climbed down the ladder. She was going to try and leave without anyone noticing, but it didn’t work.
“Sal? Can we talk?” Everest’s mum came up to her and put her hand on her shoulder.
“Sure” she sighed. They walked into the living room and sat down
“Ev told us that she told you about her tests” her mum said. Salene couldn’t keep it in any longer, she broke down in a flood of tears. Everest’s mum held Salene close to her “It’s alright to cry, you know” she said soothingly
“How... How long has she got?” Salene sobbed
“No one knows. It could be a year, six months, just a month, or even only a few weeks” tears were starting to come into her eyes as she spoke. Salene looked at her and they both started to sob uncontrollably.
“Does Cloe know?” Salene asked, when she finally calmed down
“Yes, but I don’t think she knows how serious it is” her mother sighed “She thinks that she’s going to get better again” Salene got up, she decided it would be best if she went.
“I’d better go, my aunt will be wondering where I am” she told Everest’s mum
“OK, just promise me one thing before you go Sal” she replied
“What?” Salene asked
“Promise me you won’t abandon Everest, she needs you more than ever now.” she urged
“I promise.” Salene assured her.
“What happened next?” Trudy asked
“Nothing for a while,” Salene replied “It seemed like she was getting better, the doctors were amazed at how well she was doing. It was about six months later when things changed...”
“Hello?” Salene answered the phone
“Hi Sal! My parents wanted to know if you wanted to stay over tonight , they said we could stay in the treehouse” Everest sounded really excited, her parents hadn’t let anyone stay over for a while, but now she seemed a lot better they were allowing her to have a guest.
“I’ll have to ask, but yeah sure!” Salene said enthusiastically. She put the phone down and went to find her aunt “Aunt Violet? That was Ev, she wants to know if I can stay over tonight?”
“I don’t see why not” Violet replied. So Salene went to get her things ready.
A few hours later, Salene and Everest were sat in the treehouse, crickets were chirruping outside and the moon was shining brightly
“Everest? Can I ask you something?” Salene inquired
“Sure, anything” she replied
“Do you think you’re going to die?” she asked
“Who knows? The doctors aren’t ready to say whether I will or not” Everest sighed “Now, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead” Salene answered
“If I do... Y’know, will you promise to look after Cloe for me? I know she’s got mum and dad but she’ll need someone to respect, like a sister. Will you?”
“Of course I will, Ev”
“Thanks a million. Sal?” Everest asked
“Yeah?”
“Don’t ever forget me, will you?”
“Do you think that I would do such a thing?” Salene laughed, Everest rested her head on Salene’s shoulder “We’re best friends forever, aren’t we?” Salene nudged Everest when she didn’t answer. “She must be asleep” Salene whispered to herself. She reached for the blanket to cover up her friend when she slumped forward. Salene gasped with horror as she realised that her friend was far from asleep “NO! HELP SOMEONE! HELP ME!” she screamed, cradling her best friend’s limp body in her arms....
8
Salene was sat in the living room, her eyes wide open and her face deadly white. She was in shock, she couldn’t believe what was happening. People were rushing around, trying to be busy, trying not to think about what had happened. It was now eleven o clock, a whole hour had passed since Everest had died, but to Salene it only seemed like a few minutes had passed since they had taken Everest’s body out of her arms. Everest’s mum walked in and placed a cup of tea in her hands
“This’ll make you feel better Sal” her eyes were red from crying and she looked exhausted. Salene put her arm around her shoulders as she broke down
“Perhaps you need this more than me” she said, handing the cup back.
“Thanks” she took a sip “Salene?”
“Yes?” she replied
“Will you go and check on Cloe? I think she’s awake still” Salene got up and went to Cloe’s room. Her bed was empty but she didn’t panic, she knew exactly where the distressed child was. She went to Everest’s room, Cloe was sat sobbing into a teddy that had belonged to her sister. She looked tearfully at Salene as she walked up to her. She flung herself into Salene’s arms as she sat down next to her.
“Why? Why did she die Salene?” Cloe wailed. Salene stroked her hair and said soothingly
“Who knows why things happen? They just do”
“Yeah but why Everest? She was the nicest person ever!”
“I know, Clo” she sighed “But just think, she loved you and I don’t think she’d want you to be so upset, she had a good life.”
“Yeah but she was so young!” Cloe moaned. Salene couldn’t think of anything to say, Cloe luckily broke the silence “Sal? Will you stay with me tonight? I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep”
“Sure.” Salene smiled. And so she spent the rest of that night in Cloe’s bedroom, watching her sleep peacefully.
Salene opened her eyes, at first she didn’t know where she was but then she remembered the night before and tears started to roll down her cheeks. She then sat up and looked at Cloe, she was still fast asleep. Poor kid, Salene thought. She got up, and started to tip-toe out of the room. She decided she’d go home and try and get some sleep, but as she walked out Everest’s words started to echo round her head
“...Promise to look after Cloe for me?...” Salene turned around and looked at the sleeping girl. She entered the room again and sat herself in a chair next to the bed. However much Salene tried, she couldn’t get the picture of Everest’s body in her arms. She had looked so peaceful, just laying there. A fresh flood of tears began, she sobbed broken-heartedly to herself. She didn’t notice Cloe stirring in her sleep, all of a sudden she screamed out
“Everest! No!” Salene jumped at the outburst. She started to stroke Cloe’s hair and whispered gently “It’s OK Clo. Salene’s here” Cloe slowly started to wake up.
“What’s happening Sal?” she asked, still half asleep. “Nothing Cloe” Salene said “Do you remember what happened last night?”
“It wasn’t a dream, was it?” Cloe said sadly “I was hoping it was. Everest...Everest...” she couldn’t say it, she burst into tears and Salene hugged her. “What am I going to do without her?”
“Everything will be fine sweetie” Salene reassured her “Just fine...”
9
The day of the funeral. Salene had been dreading this day, not just for her, but for Everest’s parents and Cloe - especially Cloe. Everest’s death had seemed to have hit her hardest of all, however Salene knew that she was hiding her feelings, she didn’t want Cloe to see as she’d spent so much time with her and she thought she should be showing her how strong she could be. She was going to leave the crying until the funeral. However Cloe had announced two days earlier that she didn’t want to go after all. This had upset her parents a great deal but Cloe was very sure of herself, she didn’t want to see all of those people crying, most of them she wouldn’t even know. In the end Salene volunteered to look after her while her parents went to the service, she didn’t really want to go herself actually. So the day came, and Cloe’s mum and dad were just about to leave.
“Are you sure that you don’t want to come Clo? You can change your mind” her mum asked
“Yes, I’m certain. But there’s one thing” Cloe shouted from her room
“What?” her mum asked with suspicion. Cloe ran down the stairs holding an envelope, on the front was Everest’s name
“Give this to Ev for me, won’t you?” Cloe handed the letter to her mum. She looked at it with tears in her eyes. She sighed
“I will Clo, I promise.” she took a breath and composed herself “We’ve gotta go, we’ll see you later” she lowered her voice and spoke to Salene “Thanks a million Sal, Everest would be grateful that you’re spending so much time with her little sis” she smiled and left. Salene turned to Cloe, who suddenly sat down on the stairs and burst into tears again.
“Oh Cloe!” exclaimed Salene sympathetically, she held Cloe who sobbed into her shoulder
“I’m sorry Salene” she said softly “Do you think I should have gone to the funeral?”
“It was your decision Clo,” Salene assured her “If you didn’t want to go, you didn’t have to” Cloe looked at her
“Were you glad you went to your parent’s funeral?” she asked
“In a way, yes.” Salene sighed “It felt like I was actually saying goodbye to them, but the one bad thing was all the people who came up to me to apologise, as if it was their fault and they could change it”
“That must have been bad” Cloe said gently, looking at the floor. Suddenly she seemed to brighten “I know! We could say goodbye ourselves, here!” she jumped up and looked at Salene
“How? What are you thinking about Cloe?” Salene asked suspiciously
“We could have our own funeral! Except it wouldn’t be miserable and we won’t wear black, like at a grown-up funeral!” Cloe was very excited at her idea, so Salene couldn’t say no
“There’s just one thing Clo, what would we bury?” Salene was trying her hardest to put Cloe off
“I know!” she ran upstairs again and came back and presented Salene with a small bear “I gave her this when she was ill the first time, we could bury this!”
“OK, OK.” Salene gave in. “Who shall we invite?”
“Patsy, Paul and Bob of course!” Cloe exclaimed “Can I go and invite them now? They can help!” Salene nodded and Cloe ran out of the house. Salene looked at the bear. She couldn’t hold in her feelings any longer.
Tears started to flood down her cheeks. She buried her face in the bear and sobbed hard, she felt she couldn’t cope with any more misery in her life. She stood up and wandered, blinded by tears, into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and took out some food. She was just about to stuff her face when she heard the front door open. Cloe, Patsy and Paul ran in, closely followed by Bob.
“Hi Sal!” Patsy cried “I can’t believe that we’re going to have a funeral for Ev!”
“Yeah,” Salene said, feeling mournful.
Music started to float around the garden as Cloe and her friends carried the bear towards the hole that they had dug. Even though it was meant to be a happy occasion, a ‘celebration of Ev’s life’, as Cloe had described it, it was a very sombre moment. Cloe placed the toy gently in the hole and Salene paused the music. They stood in silence for about a minute
“What should I say?” Cloe whispered
“Talk about how great Ev was” Patsy whispered back.
“OK. Erm, Everest was the best big sister in the world” she sighed Just then Paul started signed and Patsy laughed “What?” Cloe asked
“He just said ‘apart from Patsy’!” she laughed
“OK, she was the best big sister in the world, apart from Patsy” Patsy and Paul smiled at each other “She was a good listener, and a great friend to Salene” she looked at Salene, who had tears in her eyes “Will you say something Sal?”
“Sure.” Salene stepped forward. “Everest was the most trustworthy person in the universe, you could talk to her about anything and she loved life and thought the world of everyone, but especially her little sister Cloe.” her voice started to crack, she couldn’t say anymore “I’m sorry I can’t say anymore” she whispered to Cloe
“That’s OK” she smiled. She then raised her voice a bit “Let’s cover the grave over. Salene, the music?” Salene pressed play and Everest’s favourite song started. Cloe started to move the earth onto the bear. Salene turned around as she didn’t want Cloe to see how upset she was. Cloe’s parents were stood behind them, both of them were crying but smiling at the same time. Salene walked upto them.
“How was it?” she asked
“Hard, it was a good thing Cloe didn’t come, it would have broken her heart” her mum sighed “Don’t tell me,” she gestured to the grave “Cloe’s idea?” Salene nodded “It’s a nice idea, saying goodbye to Ev in her own way, in a way she understands, instead of some complete stranger talking about her sister as if he knew her.” she smiled gratefully at Salene and walked inside, her husband’s arm around her waist. Salene stood and listened to the music and smiled. She knew that Everest would probably be watching from somewhere, smiling on her best friend and sister on this day and for every other day of their lives.
10
“It was lucky Cloe had you to look after her when Everest died” Trudy told Salene, who smiled.
“Do you think so?” she asked
“Yes, I do. If you hadn’t been there for her then who knows what could have happened” Trudy replied
“Yeah and if it weren’t for her then who knows what could have happened to me?” she said
“What do you mean?” Trudy asked confusedly
“Well she kept my mind off things when I was with her, she always looked for the better side to bad things” Salene sighed.
“So, after the funeral, what next?” Trudy asked
“I stayed with Cloe, she didn’t want to go with her parents to meet her relatives at the wake...”
“Hey Clo, are you hungry?” Salene asked. Two hours had passed since the ‘funeral’ in the back garden, Patsy, Paul and Bob had left and Cloe and Salene were playing Snakes and Ladders on the living room floor.
“Starving” Cloe told her. Salene got up and went to the kitchen and started to sort out some tea for them. Looking at the food made her feel guilty about what she had done earlier. However she couldn’t let her guilt get her down so she tried to think of something else. She started to think of a time long ago, when she and Everest had only been about seven or eight, they’d had a teacher, Miss Simpson, at school that they had really hated and she was mean to the whole class, well, that’s what they’d thought at the time. Everest hated her so much that one day they went to the beach for a nature walk with her and the rest of the class and Everest had got bored and stopped listening to the talk that Miss Simpson was giving the class on rock pools. She had noticed that Everest was in a world of her own and had shouted at her. Angry and embarrassed about being shouted at in front of all her friends, she sought revenge. They were all going to have their lunch on the beach and so they were carrying their lunches. Miss Simpson had earlier spoken of her fear of crabs, so this gave Everest the perfect idea. She put a crab (only a small one) into the bag in which the teacher’s lunch was in, when she took her dinner out of course she screamed hysterically and ran for her life. Salene could still see her face right now. She couldn’t help but laugh when she though of how pleased Ev had been with her plot. Cloe walked in and asked
“Salene? What are you laughing at?” Salene smiled
“Something that Everest did when she was younger” she told Cloe the story and she began to laugh as well
“Did Everest REALLY do that?” Cloe asked disbelievingly “Yes, she did” Salene said honestly “Who’d have thought it, Everest being bad!” they laughed again. It feels great to be so happy, Salene thought after dinner. Cloe was upstairs in her room, well that’s what Salene thought
“Sal! Come here quickly” Cloe cried out urgently, Salene jumped up thinking that Cloe’d had an accident and started to run up the stairs
“Clo, are you OK? Where are you?” Salene shouted
“I’m in Ev’s room, I found something...” Salene rushed to Everest’s room. Cloe was sat on the floor with three boxes in front of her. On top of the boxes it said ‘Cloe’, ‘Mum and Dad’ and on the last it said ‘Sal’. Cloe looked at Salene guiltily. “Sorry, I know I shouldn’t have been snooping but I couldn’t help it, I found these under the bed, do you think we should open them?” Salene looked at the boxes, she couldn’t speak as she had a lump in her throat
“Yes, I think we should, let’s put your parent’s downstairs” with that they picked up the boxes and as Salene started to walk down the stairs Cloe said
“Salene? I’m going to open mine in my room, alone. Is that OK?” Salene nodded again and Cloe ran to her room. Salene sat downstairs and just stared at her box, she couldn’t bring herself to open it.
That evening Salene was sat in her room still staring at it, Everest’s parents had been surprised when Salene had shown them their box. They had been close to crying and Salene had made a quick getaway. Finally she could take it no more, she grabbed hold of it and pulled off the lid. Inside were a lot a things but the first thing she noticed was an envelope on top of everything. Salene placed the box next to her on the bed and opened the envelope. Inside was a letter which said:
“Dear Salene,
When you read this I will be gone. It sounds harsh but it’s the truth. I hope this box brings back a lot of good memories of times we had together. Looking at them made me think about what a good friend you are (were?) to me. I want to tell you a few things. First of all I want to thank you for supporting me throughout the hard times of my last bout of illness, I may have seemed strong but honestly, I was being torn apart inside. Also I hope you are supporting Cloe for me, she will have lost her idol. I know this sounds conceited but you know it’s true. I love her loads and I told her this in her letter.
Salene - you are the GREATEST friend alive, and I hope you know that I love you like a sister. Just promise me a few things - don’t be sad, go back to school and do well! And tell someone about your bulimia - please, I beg you. Anyway I’m feeling a little tired, I’ll see you later at the sleepover!
Your friend for life
Everest.”
Salene was shocked - Everest had wrote this the same day that she died! Had she known? If she had, how? Anyway, she didn’t want to think about that, she picked up the box and started to go through it. Inside were lots of photos of them together, right from them being babies right up to a few days before her death. Also there was a picture of a crab, on the bottom was written “Dear Miss Simpson, the best teacher EVER. Lots of love from Ev, your FAVOURITE pupil!” Salene laughed, it was weird that she’d only been thinking of that incident a few hours before. Then she saw it, a small jewellery case was underneath that picture. She opened it and there laying on a piece of tissue paper was Everest’s favourite silver bracelet. Salene smiled and put it on, she’d never take it off again. She looked at it and made a decision that would change her life, she then packed the box up and got into bed, that night she had the best night’s sleep she’d had for a long time.
The next day, Salene jumped out of bed quite early. She had to find Violet so she could keep Everest’s promise - she was going to tell her about her bulimia. Violet was sat at the table in the kitchen, reading the paper. She looked up and smiled at her niece
“Hi sweetie, what’s wrong?” her face changed it’s expression when she saw how serious Salene looked.
“Aunt Violet? I’ve got to tell you something...”
“How did she take it? What did she say?” Trudy asked
“She was very understanding, and we talked for ages - it was great.” Salene replied honestly “She arranged for us to go to some special sessions to talk with a specialist, it helped for a very long time, actually the next time I made myself sick was when there was all that trouble with you, sorry.” Trudy smiled understandingly. Salene started to look sad “Then about a year later the virus struck, and Violet died and so did Cloe’s mum and dad and Patsy and Paul’s. I took them under my wing and we set off together”
“You carried on looking after Cloe for Ev” Trudy sighed “That’s wonderful. But it must have been hard to admit to your bulimia”
“It was,” sighed Salene. looking at the silver bracelet which was still there on her wrist “But I had to do it - for Everest’s sake...”
