Taking Flight (2 page)

He thinks about it again at bedtime. He stays awake, worrying. He listens to the owls outside his window.

Even in a town there are owls. Perhaps he could do his talk about Grandad's pigeons, he thinks, just before he falls asleep.

“I don't feel well,” Luke tells Mum at breakfast.

“What's wrong?” she says.

“I feel sick.”

“Well, we'll just have to hope you don't get any worse,” she says. “I've got a busy day. I can't stay at home. I'm sorry, Luke.”

“I could stay with Grandad,” Luke says, hopefully.

“No,” Mum says. “Grandad needs time to rest. It's enough for him having you after school every day.”

“He
likes
having me,” Luke says. “He says it's the highlight of his day!”

But Mum is already getting the car keys and her coat.

Most of Luke's class are in the middle of a football game in the playground when he arrives at the gate. He stands next to Mira and watches Sam and Marek dribbling the ball like professionals. Marek scores a goal.

“What are you doing for your talk?” Mira asks him.

Luke shrugs. “Nothing,” he says. “I forgot.”

They start doing the talks after lunch. Luke feels sicker and sicker. What is he going to do? Mira talks about going to India for her aunty's wedding. She shows the class the sequinned sari she wore. Marek talks about the Junior League – he's goalie. Joe's talk is about the newts he has in his garden pond. The newts have little hands.

Luke wonders about having a pond in Grandad's garden, with newts. The whole class clap when each person finishes. It's not so bad, after all, Luke thinks. It's fun listening to everyone.

Luke watches the clock.
Tick
.
Tick
. Nearly there.
Tick Tick
. Home time!

“I'm sorry, children,” Mrs Hill says. “We'll have to save the last four talks for tomorrow.”

YES! Luke thinks. Now he's got time to get a really good talk ready. He imagines everyone listening and clapping.

He tells Grandad what he's decided. “Tomorrow I'm giving a talk about your pigeons.”

“Good lad,” Grandad says. “Maple syrup or lemon and sugar for your pancakes?”

Luke has both. So does Grandad. Luke remembers to help do the washing-up. Grandad has a sleep in the deckchair. He sleeps for ages, so Luke feeds the pigeons and lets them out for their fly around.

“I'm going to tell everyone at school about you tomorrow,” he tells them as they perch on the cage edge, ready for takeoff.

They tip their heads and look at him with their beady eyes. The pigeons fly off with a swoop of wings. Two feathers flutter down. Luke picks them up. He can take them in to show his class.

He watches the birds spiral above the gardens in bigger and bigger circles, and then veer off over the street. Maybe they are flying over the school. Perhaps Grandad would let them out when he did his talk, so everyone could see.

Luke goes over to ask him. But Grandad looks strange. His face is grey. He's shivering.

“Give us a hand in, lad,” Grandad says.

Luke makes him a cup of tea but he doesn't drink it.

“I think we'd better get your mum here,” Grandad says. Luke phones her mobile.

“I'm on my way,” she says. “Keep him warm. Call the doctor if he gets worse.”

Luke brings a blanket downstairs and tucks it round Grandad. He sits by him. Grandad strokes his hand. They watch the TV till Mum arrives.

She phones the doctor. The doctor says they need to get an ambulance. Grandad gets bundled into the ambulance. Mum and Luke follow in the car.

At the hospital, Luke has to wait on a chair in a corridor for ages. He suddenly remembers the pigeons. They will need shutting back in their cages safe for the night. He tells Mum when she comes back.

“Grandad needs to stay in hospital tonight,” she says. “Come and see him before we go.”

Grandad is lying in a bed. The white sheets make his face look grey. Luke thinks Grandad looks older and a bit sad.

“Take care of them pigeons for me, lad,” Grandad says.

“I will, Grandad. I'll feed them till you're safe back home.”

When Luke turns round to wave from the doorway, Grandad has already closed his eyes.

“He's going to be all right, isn't he?” Luke asks.

“He's in the best place right now,” Mum says.

Luke's hands are shaking as he stands in front of his class.

“Right,” Mrs Hill says. “What are you going to tell us about, Luke?”

“Pigeons,” Luke says. His voice comes out too soft, and a bit squeaky. Someone giggles.

Mrs Hill frowns. “Quiet, everyone,” she says. “Speak up, Luke.”

Once he's got going it isn't so bad. He tells the class about the pigeon loft, and how to put seed in the hopper, and fill the water trough. He makes the sound of a happy pigeon:
crrroo crooo
.