Sarah-Jane and me? We’re first best friends, yeah, and have been for like ever.  We were in Mrs Jackson’s class, then Ms Ellis’: been inseparable ever since.  She can be a bit funny, though.  Have you noticed that?  What’s she said to you?!  Anyways, you’ve got to watch her.  My Nan says it’s always the quiet ones, although I don’t really know what she means.  I reckon it’s the loud ones you’ve got the most to be afraid of.  Like that Natasha Brown in Mr Michaels’ class.  She stabbed that Wright boy in the arm by the canal last year and she has a right mouth on her!

Did I notice anything odd about Sarah-Jane last week…?  Well, she was late for registration every day, but that’s not unusual.  She floats into class at 9:15 every day, lost in her giant blazer.  And she never has any tights, even when it’s bare cold.  I asked her about it last Tuesday, yeah, but she just shrugged, said she hadn’t noticed.  It was snowing last week: you’d definitely notice.  Have you met her?  She’s really shy, so I doubt she’s said much to you.  What’s she like?  Kind.  Yeah, dead kind.  I once saw her with that old Indian man on Beaumont in his garden.  I asked her what she was doing (because X Factor was about to start): she said that the guy’s wife had left him, that he had no idea what to do with his garden, so she’d offered to help.  It was a nice thing to do, but I did wonder how come she knew so much about him.    

Her Mum’s alright.  Tiny, like a bird.  Quiet too.  I’ve been around for tea a couple of times after school.  (No one else has.)  They live in the next block over.  Their flat is so tidy; not like ours, but then she doesn’t have four lazy brothers leaving their shit everywhere.  Don’t tell my Mum I said shit: I’m in enough trouble as it is.  Do you have any kids, Miss?  Sorry, I’m always sticking my nose in where it’s not wanted.  Their place…  Their place is silent.  Gives me the creeps, if I’m honest.  Sarah-Jane and her Mum speak in hushed voices, as if they don’t want even the walls to hear.  Not like my house: you can’t hear yourself think for the noise.  Funny thing is Sarah-Jane loves it.  She’ll stand behind our sofa watching wide-eyed while my brothers fight, eat, play videogames, whatever.  I don’t know what she finds so fascinating; my family are so boring.

You heard about her Dad?  Well, people aren’t really supposed to know, but I overheard Janine telling Amanda on the 49 that he was arrested yesterday.  I reckon it’s drugs.  Looks the type; well, that’s what my Mum says.  Sarah-Jane doesn’t talk about him much. Actually, not at all.  I once saw him shovel a dead hedgehog off the road and carry it home.  Well weird.  What’s this about anyway?