Silver Lining (Chapter 1)

Monday
Mum bought Rita a mobile phone today!

I found it unbelievably unfair. She just handed it over to her and said “here you go darling”. She didn’t even glance in my direction-as usual. I’m fourteen for goodness sake; she’s only twelve- not even a teenager yet! Rita is really pretty with long wavy dark hair and huge chocolate colour eyes that gleam wickedly! I’m total opposite-wild amber hair that won’t tame (even when I brush it till my hand practically drops off).

I also have tiny eyes-grey and dull and I constantly look as if I’ve eaten one packet of crisps too many. Lucky me.

I’m shy. Rita is confident.

I am awful at Maths and Science and have hardly any common sense while Rita has a head full of brains and a tank full of sense.

It’s like beauty and the beast.

Guess who is the flipping beast? Me.

My Dad didn’t like Rita much (by now you have probably guessed who Rita is-yep, she’s my sister). Dad called me his Claire-bear and always made a fuss of me instead of Rita, then after him and Mum got divorced, Mum decided Rita was going to be her favourite!

Sadly Paul likes Rita.

Paul is Mums boyfriend. He is the boyfriend FROM HELL!

Ugly, stupid, annoying and generally idiotic…

He’s more irritating than Rita, which is major!

Mum met him at a book club, you may think ‘ a book club, that’s harmless’ but think again- he was reviewing ‘ Cinderella’ while Mum was reviewing ‘ Post Mortem’ by Patricia Cornwell- see what I mean.

Paul is an absolute airhead. I bet his brain fell out one day and he didn’t even realise.

Back to me…my full name is Claire Rita India Sarah Pitman (my initials spell C.R.I.S.P- Mum didn’t think twice about my name).

Anyway, my best friend is Corrine Moorcroft, known as Corry to me. Corry has a big family, her Mum is old and fat and cuddly, and her Dad is sixty or something ridiculous. She has three sisters and two brothers.

 

Corry and I both really want a boyfriend, I know I wouldn’t stand a chance but Corry could get one. She’s quite pretty with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Corry and I have been best friends for ages; our Mums were good mates for a while.

                                                    Tuesday

Woke up very early (for a change). Rita was singing to herself in the shower, I was nearly wetting myself with laughter. My favourite book has gone missing, Rita must have taken it!

I left for school very early, but Rita kept hissing rude remarks at me so I ended up having a cat-fight with her before school. Corry and I have spotted a good looking boy working in Co-Op; we are keeping our eyes pealed.

                                            Wednesday

Corry was smiling like a Cheshire cat when I got to school. “Hey Corry, what’s up”? I asked, dead casual (but I was dying to know what had happened). Corry replied “Oh, that boy we’ve been keeping our eyes out for has asked me on a date”. I was speechless. Happy for Corry, sad for me! I am DEFINITLEY going to get myself a boyfriend immediately! Julie Dandkett has invited Corry and me to her party so we are going to find some clothes this Saturday!

                             Thursday

School was utterly boring today. Corry and I had to listen to Mr Fetch droning on about ‘respect’ for an hour and a half. Mr Fetch is our tutor; he is ultra boring, ultra old and ultra grey. I can’t wait till Saturday! Julie says the party is eight till half ten. Two and a half hours to party!!!

                          Friday

Corry is really nervous about what to wear. I told her to keep calm; we’d sort it out tomorrow. We decided to do a car wash after school to raise some money for charity (yeah right, we’ll end up buying make-up with it). I’m quite rich (if you count my money in the bank) where as Corry doesn’t get much pocket money as she has SO MANY siblings!

The car wash was a total waste of time; we only got twenty pence per car!

The old hags down my street are VERY tight with their cash!

                         Saturday

Walked over to Corry’s at half ten. Corry was in her room shoving stuff into a bag. We went to Millisons (this cheap clothes shop). We tried on half the shop, but all the clothes were too old fashioned (no wonder they are cheap). In the end we went to Primark. Corry found a top she liked. I came across a blue dress which was really floaty and silky. We found matching shoes and bought some lip gloss and eye shadow. I still had masses of money left so I treated myself (and Corry) to a strawberry smoothie. Corry met the boy (who is now her boyfriend, he’s called Adam Westwood) he looks like a smaller version of Leonardo Di Caprio!

 Have just arrived at the party, its great! Julie Dandkett is wearing a custard yellow dress (awful!!!).

I must admit Corry and I look great, I’m wearing the blue dress and Corry’s wearing some jeans and a low cut top. I straightened my hair and Corry curled hers. Corry danced with Adam for a bit, while I hunted for someone to dance with (no luck). I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed and go out more. Corry’s having a party next week (so I can keep looking)!