Eva's Journey

  ‘[Judi Curtin is] an author with a huge following … Eva’s Journey is a story told with her trademark wit and warmth’ Sunday Independent

  ‘Another cracker about friends and family from Limerick’s writing legend.’ Irish Independent

  ‘A charming, topical story about what really matters in life.’ Bookfest

  ‘Fabulous book, everyone should read it.’ Bookster Reviews

  Praise for the ‘Alice & Megan’ series

  ‘If you like Jacqueline Wilson, then you’ll love Judi Curtin!’

  Primary Times

  ‘Rising star Judi Curtin’s “Alice” books celebrate friendship, humour and

  loyalty.’ Sunday Independent

  For Dan, Brian, Ellen and Annie.

  Contents

  Reviews

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Other Books

  Chapter One

  ‘What about bowling?’ suggested Mum.

  ‘Or you could go to the cinema.’

  I laughed so much that my mascara started to run.

  ‘That’s sooo last year,’ I scoffed. ‘Bowling and cinema parties are for losers. I want a pamper party. Pamper parties are where it’s at these days.’

  ‘I’m not really sure ……’ began Mum.

  I didn’t care that Mum wasn’t sure. I was sure, and that was all that mattered.

  So, when my twelfth birthday came around, I treated fifteen of my best friends to a super-luxurious pamper day in a fancy hotel near my house.

  It was totally, totally fantastic.

  First of all we had a swim. When we were tired of swimming, we lay on loungers by the side of the pool reading glossy magazines and talking about stuff.

  After that, it was time to get our hair and faces done. When my hair was blow-dried, all the other girls said that it made my new highlights look really cool.

  My favourite part of the day was when we got our nails painted. Everyone else had to settle for a boring old French manicure, but because I was the birthday girl, I got super-cool gel nails, with a perfect tiny crystal set into each one.

  After that, my mum picked us up, and we went to my all-time favourite restaurant for a pizza. I couldn’t eat very well because, trust me, it is not easy to hold a pizza without damaging your new gel nails. I didn’t care though. It’s important to get your priorities right.

  When there was nothing left except crusts of pizza and half-glasses of flat lemonade cocktails, the lights went dim and one of the waiters carried out the biggest birthday cake I have ever seen. It said Happy Birthday, Eva in huge silver letters and there were sparklers all around the edge. Everyone said stuff like ‘Ooooh,’ and ‘Aaaaah,’ and ‘Wow.’

  By this time I was smiling so much, I thought my face was going to crack open. I so love being the centre of attention!

  My friends had only sung the first line of ‘Happy Birthday’ when the sparklers set off the fire alarms, and we all had to run outside screaming.

  I didn’t mind.

  It made sure that no one would forget my party – ever.

  That night, Victoria, my very best friend in the whole world, came to sleep over at my place. We spent ages on the new computer I’d got for my birthday, and after that we lay on my window-seat and listened to my new MP3 player.

  Victoria likes the exact same kind of music as I do. Actually, we like all the same things. That’s how we met. We started pony club on the same day, years and years ago, when we were both around five years old. All the other girls wanted to ride the chestnut ponies, but I spotted a sleek, black mare looking out of her stall at the other side of the yard. I ran over and stretched up to stroke her nose.

  ‘You’re the most beautiful,’ I whispered. ‘I’m going to go on you.’

  Just then I noticed another girl standing there.

  ‘I’m Victoria,’ she said, smiling at me, ‘and this is Velvet. The instructor said I can ride her.’

  I thought of stamping my foot and crying to get my own way, but before I could work myself up to it, Victoria just smiled and said, ‘We can take turns if you want,’ and that’s what we did.

  Even though Victoria goes to school in the middle of town, and I go to a private school five miles away, it doesn’t matter. We’re very, very best friends.

  Much later, Victoria sighed as she settled in to the spare bed in my bedroom.

  ‘I think that’s the best party I’ve ever, ever been to,’ she said.

  I didn’t argue. How could I, when I knew she was right?

  ‘But I’ve been looking forward to your party for so long,’ she moaned. ‘What have I got to look forward to now?’

  I didn’t have to think before answering.

  ‘What about our pony club trip?’ I said. ‘That’s going to be so much fun.’

  ‘Oh, yeah. I wonder where we’re going this year. I hope it’s France. I’d totally love to go there.’

  ‘No. France is sooo boring. I’d prefer Germany, or maybe Spain.’

  ‘Whatever. I just wish they’d hurry up and announce it, so we can start looking forward to it properly.’

  I snuggled deeper under my duvet.

  ‘Mmm … me too,’ I said. ‘Now I’m going to sleep. All that beautifying is tiring work.’

  ‘Know what, Eva Gordon?’ said Victoria.

  ‘What?’ I asked, trying not to yawn.

  ‘It doesn’t seem fair. Your life is so perfect. It’s like you’re living in a fairy-tale. How come bad things never happen to you?’

  I giggled.

  ‘Something bad happened last week. Remember when I was going to that party, and before I got my hair straighteners warmed up, there was a power cut? And I had to go to the party with wavy hair? That was bad, wasn’t it?’

  Victoria giggled too.

  ‘Apart from that total disaster, do you think you might be the luckiest girl in the whole world?’

  ‘Yes. I think I might be.’

  ‘Oh, and one more thing,’ she said.

  ‘What?’ I said, failing to hold back the yawn this time.

  ‘If you weren’t so nice, I’d totally hate you.’

  I smiled into the darkness.

  ‘Lucky I’m nice, so,’ I said, not really sure if it was true.

  Victoria was already asleep, and I was just drifting into my first dream of the night, when my bedroom door opened. A figure came over and sat on the edge of my bed.

  ‘Happy birthday, Princess.’

  I sat up and hugged my dad, but then I pulled quickly away. I’d forgotten that I was supposed to be cross with him.

  ‘You missed my whole birthday,’ I said, in the coldest voice I could manage.

  ‘I’m sorry, Eva,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t my fault. My meeting ran late, and then I missed my connecting flight in London. I got here as soon as I could. You know how busy I am at work, don’t you?’

  I didn’t answer. Years and years ago, before I
was even born, Dad used to be a carpenter, but now he ran his own building company. He earned heaps of money, but it meant he was away a lot.

  ‘You forgive me, don’t you?’ asked Dad.

  I wasn’t letting him off that easily.

  ‘You missed my birthday last year too.’

  He sighed.

  ‘I know. I was in Berlin, wasn’t I?’

  I shook my head.

  ‘No, that was two years ago. Last year you were entertaining clients in Dublin, and you couldn’t get away.’

  He hugged me again.

  ‘I’m really sorry. Anyway, I brought you a little something to make up for it.’

  I flicked on my light excitedly. I’d already got heaps of presents, but that didn’t matter.

  What girl can have enough stuff?

  Dad fished around in all of his suit pockets, teasing me, before he pulled out a tiny blue box.

  ‘Omigod,’ I whispered.

  I didn’t need to open it – I already recognised the packaging.

  I held the present in my hand for a few seconds, enjoying the feeling of not knowing exactly what was inside. Then I ripped off the ribbon, and opened the box. Inside was a tiny silver chain, and on the chain there were two hearts – one silver, and one slightly smaller pinky-gold one.

  ‘Oh, Dad,’ I sighed. ‘I think that’s the most beautiful necklace I have ever, ever seen.’

  Dad smiled.

  ‘So I’m forgiven?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Of course you are.’

  Dad stood up and walked towards the door. Then he stopped.

  ‘You know, Princess, I am very, very sorry I wasn’t here for your big day. Next year it will be different. I promise.’

  Then he turned and went out, closing the door softly behind him.

  Next year it will be different.

  Boy, how those words turned out to be true!

  Chapter Two

  Over the next month or two, the changes happened so slowly, that at first I didn’t really notice them.

  Dad had always worked very long hours. Now he left home even earlier than before, and got back even later.

  When he was at home though, he still hugged me and called me his princess.

  He still read too many newspapers.

  He still told totally unfunny jokes.

  And so I thought everything was just fine.

  And then one day, Dad came in from work, and it was like a dark cloud had come over the sun. For the first time in ages, I looked at him closely. He noticed that I was staring at him, and he smiled, but it didn’t work. His eyes were blank, like there was something missing – or like there was something else there, something so big that he couldn’t see me properly any more.

  After that, I noticed that Mum and Dad were fighting a lot. Of course they tried not to argue in front of me, but even in a big house like ours, there’s only so much you can hide.

  Other times, when I’d come in to a room, I’d find Mum and Dad clinging to each other like they were lost in the middle of the ocean, and that without each other they’d slowly sink to the bottom. That was so gross and scary that I began to wish they’d start fighting again.

  Often when I got home from school, Mum’s eyes were red. When she saw me, she’d smile a big watery smile.

  ‘Peeling onions again,’ she’d say, rubbing her red eyes with the back of her hand.

  What could I say to that?

  Even if we had onion soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Mum wouldn’t need that many onions, but I so wasn’t arguing.

  After all, if I told her I didn’t believe her, I’d have to ask her what was really wrong. And what is the point of asking questions when you absolutely don’t want to hear the answer?

  One day, when Victoria and I got to pony club, there was a new black pony there. We both ran over and began to stroke her smooth, shiny neck.

  ‘Omigod,’ I said. ‘She’s almost as beautiful as Velvet.’

  (Poor Velvet was too old to ride now, and she spent her time resting in a field behind the stables.)

  Just then the instructor came over.

  ‘Isn’t she a beauty?’ she said. ‘Her name’s Jewel. Which one of you wants to ride her today?’

  Victoria and I looked at each other and grinned.

  ‘We’re going to take turns,’ we said together.

  ‘You two,’ said the instructor laughing, and she helped us to saddle up for our morning’s riding.

  Later, Victoria and I went outside to wait for our mums to pick us up. While we’d been riding, I’d managed to forget about the troubles at home, but now they all came flooding back.

  ‘Can I tell you something,’ I said.

  Victoria turned to me.

  ‘Course you can,’ she said. ‘What is it?’

  I took a deep breath, but found that I didn’t know how to begin.

  Dad looks worried?

  Mum cries a lot?

  It all sounded too vague and too stupid. And besides, I was supposed to be the one with the ideal life, so how could I admit that things might not be quite so perfect after all?

  ‘Well?’ said Victoria after a minute.

  I tried to smile.

  ‘I still miss Velvet,’ I said.

  ‘Me too,’ said Victoria. ‘Let’s come early next week, so that we can go and visit her.’

  Just then I saw Mum’s jeep coming along the road, and that was the end of that conversation.

  The first big change hit my life like a party-popper exploding in my face. It happened over dinner one evening. For a change, Dad was there, but no one was saying much. It was like there was a cold, grey fog hanging over the table.

  ‘So, Mum,’ I said, when I couldn’t take the silence any more. ‘When are you going to book the flights to New York for our shopping trip? And don’t forget we need to book two suitcases each this time. I’ve promised all my friends that I’ll bring them back something.’

  Mum looked at Dad, before turning to me with the bright, false smile that seemed to be her new favourite expression.

  ‘I think we’ll give New York a miss this year, Eva. What do you think?’

  I gasped.

  ‘I think that’s a totally pathetic idea. We have to go on our shopping trip. If we don’t, what am I supposed to wear for the next six months?’

  ‘How about some of the clothes in your three very large wardrobes?’

  ‘But all those clothes are totally ancient. You can’t expect me to……’ I gave a sudden laugh. ‘Hey, you nearly got me there. That was quite funny actually.’

  Mum wasn’t laughing. She was still wearing that stupid smile that looked like she’d painted it on.

  ‘You’re kidding, right?’ I said uncertainly.

  Mum shook her head.

  ‘Wrong.’

  ‘But …’

  There were so many ‘buts’, I didn’t know where to begin.

  Mum folded her arms.

  ‘Listen Eva,’ she began. ‘There’s something you need to know. You see—’

  ‘No,’ said Dad so suddenly that Mum and I both jumped. ‘Not now. Now’s not the time to tell her.’

  ‘So when is the time?’

  Dad sighed.

  ‘I don’t know. But she’s just a little girl. There’s no need to burden her with our worries. Let her alone for a while.’

  ‘Hello?’ I said. ‘Remember me? My name is Eva. I’m your daughter. And I’m not a little girl – I’m twelve years old. And also, in case you haven’t noticed. I’m still in the room.’

  Now both of them turned to stare at me.

  ‘There are just a few things going on in Dad’s business at the moment,’ said Mum. ‘So it’s not a good time for planning a New York shopping trip.’

  Now Dad put on a fake smile to match the one that was once again plastered all over Mum’s face.

  ‘You don’t have to worry, Princess,’ he said. ‘It’ll all sort itself out in time.’

  Did I b
elieve him?

  Not for one single second.

  The next big change happened a week or two after that.

  Mum and I were in the kitchen. Mum was at the cooker, stirring the dinner, and I was sitting at the island trying to look like I was studying for a history test.

  Then the door opened and Dad walked in.

  ‘Hi, darling,’ Mum said without looking up. ‘I didn’t hear your car in the drive.’

  ‘That’s because my car isn’t in the drive,’ said Dad.

  They weren’t such bad words. Dad’s car could have been in the garage, or he could have lent it to one of his friends. But something in the way Dad said those words made me drop my history book. It fell to the floor in a loud rustle of flapping pages, like it was an injured bird trying to fly.

  For one second I wished that I was a bird.

  I wished I could fly far away from this scene that was unfolding in front of me.

  Dad had gone to sit at the kitchen table. He was pale and old-looking.

  When had he started to look old?

  And why hadn’t I noticed it before?

  Mum and I both walked towards him.

  Dad put his head in his hands, like he couldn’t bring himself to look at us.

  ‘It’s gone,’ he said, through his closed fingers. ‘The car is gone. They came today and took it away.’

  Why wasn’t he angry?

  Still, I could be plenty angry enough for the two of us.

  ‘Who came?’ I asked. ‘Who took it away? How can someone come and just take your car away? Have you called the police? Do you want me to pass you the phone?’

  Dad looked up, but I wished he hadn’t. The look in his eyes scared me more than anything I’d ever seen before.

  ‘You don’t understand, Princess,’ he said. ‘I borrowed money to buy the car, and now I can’t make the repayments. So the bank can take possession of the car. It’s the law. There’s nothing I can do about it.’

  I felt like crying.

  Dad loved his car.

  I loved his car.

  I loved the sleek, silver body-work.