Over the Moon Read Free

said, “I don’t know! I’ll think about that later. What’s important is
being selected.
And that’s what I need your help for!”
    “Don’t see what I’m s’pposed to do,” said Hattie; but she agreed, in the end, to give me the benefit of her advice. “Provided you
listen
.”
    “I will, I will!” I said. “Look at me … I’m listening!”
    “Right, then,” said Hattie. “Let’s get started. Let’s make a list!”
    I said, “List of what?”

    “All those areas where you need to improve! Get a pen. Write it down!”
    Meekly, I did so. “Improvements”, I wrote.
    No.1 Work
    No.2 Behaviour
    No.3 Attitude
    No.4 Punctuality
    No.5 Team spirit.
    Somewhat daunting, I think you will agree!
    “Let’s take them one by one,” said Hattie. She has this very orderly sort of mind.
“Work.
If you just started to do some, it would help.”
    “I will,” I said, earnestly.
    “You’ve got a brain,” said Hattie, “why not use it?”
    I told her that she sounded like my mum.
    “I’m going to act like your mum,” said Hattie. “I’m going to tell you what to do and you’re going to do it … cos if you don’t, then that is it. I shall wash my hands of you.”
    “Oh, no, please,” I said. “Please, Hattie, don’t!”
    “It’s entirely up to you,” said Hattie. “What’s next?
Behaviour.
Well, that’s easy enough! Just stop getting told off all the time.
Attitude
— ”
    “Yes,” I said, anxiously, “what does that mean?”
    “It means co-operating,” said Hattie. “Like, you know … shutting up when you’re told to shut up? Walking down the corridor when you’re told to walk down the corridor? Not barging and yelling and— ”
    “I don’t do that!” I said.
    Hattie looked at me, rather hard.
    “Well, yes, all right,” I said. “I get the message. What about
punctuality?
I can manage punctuality! At least I can if Dad leaves on time. He doesn’t always leave on time.”
    “So go by train,” said Hattie.
    The train meant getting up earlier, but I knew if I said that she would just tell me not to be lazy and that “nothing comes without a struggle”. And I really really
did
want to be selected! I mean, apart from anything else, it was a matter of pride.
    Humbly, I said, “What about
team spirit
? I don’t quite get that one.”
    Hattie said that team spirit meant joining things. Volunteering for things. Trying out for netball teams and hockey teams. I stared at her, appalled.

    “You don’t do any of that!”
    “I’m in the choir,” said Hattie.
    I wouldn’t have minded being in the choir. Unfortunately, I can’t sing. Tanya can, of course: very gently andsweetly. She always gets to do the solos when it’s anything holy. Hattie has a voice like a bullhorn. She really belts it out! I would love to have a voice like Hattie’s.

    “Look, it doesn’t matter if you don’t get in,” said Hattie. “Just
show willing.
That’s all you have to do. Then,” she added, kindly, “you might get merit marks for general improvement.”
    Doubtfully I said, “Do they count?”
    “Of course they count! They’re merit marks, aren’t they?”
    I said, “Y – yes, I suppose. But I’d need thousands!”
    “So get thousands.”
    She made it sound so easy. She told me to “Look at it this way … nobody, but
nobody,
has as much room forimprovement as you. You could get marks for improvement in every single area! Go for it, girl!” I staggered as she biffed me on the shoulder. She packs a hefty punch, does Hattie. “You could wipe the board! So long as you do what I tell you. OK?”

    Weakly I said, “OK.”
    “OK!” She biffed me again, on the other shoulder. “Get started!”
    That very same day I added my name to every single list I could find on the notice board. Under-14 netball, Under-14 hockey. Gym, football, basketball. I didn’t actually make any of the teams, but at least I had
shown willing.
I just hoped the right people were taking note. I pictured