The Taming of Lilah May Read Free

mark on the big world.
    Innocent. That’s the word I’d use for Bindi. But then, she seems to have the perfect home life, and I don’t.
    I’d stay in bed every day if I could, with a duvet pulled right over my head to block out any chink of light.
    â€˜Yes, who is it, hello?’ says Bindi’s voice.
    She hasn’t worked out that you can save numbers on your phone so that you can see who’s calling you. I’ve given up trying to make Bindi move into the twenty-first century.
    â€˜It’s me,’ I say. ‘Lilah. You know – your best mate. That Lilah.’
    Bindi gives her little chuckle.
    â€˜You crack me up, Lilah May,’ she says.
    â€˜Yeah, I’m hilarious,’ I say. But I’m smiling again.
    That’s what’s good about Bindi. She really likes me just for being me, even though she knows everything about me.
    Everything.
    And not all of it is good.
    There’s no way that my parents are ever going to agree to me going out with Adam Carter tonight, so I have to rope Bindi into a devious plan.
    Bindi does not like deception. She’s the most honest person I’ve ever met. I just can’t imagine Bindi ever lying. Ever.
    â€˜Why can’t you just tell your parents the truth?’ she says. There’s the sound of screaming in the background and the harassed voice of Bindi’s mum, Reeta, trying to separate two of the youngest members of the family. ‘They like Adam, don’t they?’
    I sigh.
    â€˜Yeah,’ I say. ‘They like him because he’s a friend, but if I said I was meeting him on my own they’d lose their cool.’
    I squirm on the bed where I’m sitting in a pair of black jeans with my legs crossed and my hair falling like silk around my face in its post–school liberation.
    â€˜I’m going to have to say I’m with you,’ I tell Bindi.
    â€˜But then your mum will ring my mum, and my mum’s not going to lie for you, Lilah. I can tell you that now.’
    I roll my eyes – she can’t see me anyway – and flop back onto the bed, sticking my legs up into the air and observing my blue and white stripy socks.
    â€˜Well, then – you’re going to have to pretend to be your mum and answer the phone,’ I say.
    I know I’m putting Bindi on the spot here, but nothing can be allowed to ruin my wonderful evening with Adam Carter. He is only like the most gorgeous boy in the entire school. He’s sixteen and plays in a band called Death of Love. They’re thrash metal and really good.
    The trouble is, Adam might be all tough when he’s in the band, but when he’s not, he likes girls to be all feminine and pretty and small and laughing. Which is just about the opposite of me. I’m a tomboy, attractive rather than pretty, taller than most girlsin my class, and I definitely have not done much laughing of late. That’s why I was surprised when he suggested meeting up.
    After lots of pleading and begging and persuasion, not to mention a bit of bribery (I’ve promised to buy Bindi any lunch she wants for the next week), Bindi agrees to help.
    â€˜Thanks,’ I say. ‘You’re a true best mate.’
    There’s another loud scream from an indignant child in the background.
    I laugh.
    â€˜Is that Adi?’ I ask. Adi is the youngest in Bindi’s household. ‘He’s so sweet.’
    It’s Bindi’s turn to give a big sigh now.
    â€˜Not always so sweet,’ she replies. ‘He’ll do anything to get attention. Some of us don’t get a look in.’
    â€˜Oh,’ I say, but I don’t really believe her. Bindi’s parents are very proud of her.
    â€˜OK, I’ll cover for you later,’ Bindi is saying. ‘You’re a nightmare, Lilah May.’
    I smile and hang up the phone.
    She like
so
loves me.

    Mum never has time to cook during the week.
    She’s standing in the kitchen