Loose Connections Read Online Free Page A

hadn’t used the washing machine for ages. He’d offered to do her stuff but she’d been cross. ‘I’m not having you
wash my smalls!’
    A few minutes later, she came downstairs looking a million dollars. She’d brushed her hair, put on some make-up and was wearing a clean jacket and shirt. She was still wearing odd socks,
but Mum probably wouldn’t notice.
    As they left the house, the sun broke through the clouds. Gran stretched. ‘Nearly the holidays, Jakey.’ He didn’t think she’d remember that school broke up at the end of
next week.
    As Gran backed the car out of the garage, Jake gripped his seat. She was going out much too fast. He couldn’t help himself. ‘Watch it Gran. Slow down!’
    She took no notice, but she did stop when they reached the road, and as she swung the wheel round to straighten up, Jake saw the girl from yesterday sitting on their front wall again.
    Damn cheek. What’s she doing there?
    Gran saw her too. She put her foot on the brake and Jake lurched forward in his seat.
    ‘Who’s that?’ she said, shading her eyes and staring at the girl.
    ‘No one,’ muttered Jake.
    ‘She seems to know you. Look, she’s waving.’
    Jake scowled and shrank down into his seat.
    ‘Just some girl who’s moved into that big old empty house near the park,’ he said.
    ‘She looks nice. What’s her name?’
    Jake shrugged. ‘Haven’t got a clue. Look Gran,’ he went on crossly, ‘let’s get going, shall we? We want to get to the hospital before midnight.’
    ‘All right, love. No need to bite my head off.’

Chapter Three
    Gran put the car in gear and they shot forward. Jake clutched the edge of his seat and tried to keep calm but as they sped up Church Street he screamed, ‘Watch that man,
Gran!’
    Gran hadn’t seen the man. She slammed on the brakes and slithered to a halt, just missing him. He sprang back and shook his fist at her.
    ‘You shouldn’t be driving, you stupid old woman,’ he shouted.
    Gran said nothing, but Jake could sense her fury. She continued to drive fast, muttering to herself. At the main road she swung the wheel round to go left.
    ‘
Right,
Gran. You turn right here.’
    She didn’t reply, but yanked the wheel the other way and sailed out into the traffic without looking. There was a screech of brakes and the blast of a horn. Jake put his hands over his
ears. He didn’t dare look back.
    She’s going to kill someone if she goes on like this.
    She jumped the next set of traffic lights and missed the turning.
    ‘You’ll have to turn round, Gran. You missed the turning.’
    She looked across at him, taking her eyes off the road. ‘Eh?’
    ‘GRAN!’
    She looked back at the road and slammed on the brakes again; she missed the car in front by a centimetre.
    ‘PLEASE, Gran! Please be careful.’
    She was frowning. ‘Which way?’ she said.
    ‘You need to turn round.’
    Immediately she started to turn.
    ‘Not now Gran! Wait until there’s a. . .’
    Too late. She was already doing a U-turn into a stream of traffic. Jake closed his eyes and tensed up for the inevitable collision. But, although there were more horns and screeching brakes, she
made it, and Jake slowly opened his eyes again.
    ‘For God’s sake Gran!’
    She seemed really jumpy, so Jake tried to keep quiet after that. For the rest of the journey she drove more slowly, peering anxiously out through the windscreen.
    By the time they’d reached the hospital, Jake had made up his mind. He’d have to let her drive home but after that, he’d hide the keys. He couldn’t risk it. She
mustn’t drive the car again – ever. Somehow they’d just have to manage without it.
    When they finally drew up in the hospital car park Jake relaxed his taut muscles and unclenched his fists. He turned to her.
    ‘Gran, you shouldn’t be driving,’ he said quietly.
    She switched off the engine and looked straight at him.
    ‘You’re turning into a right old woman, Jake,’ she said crossly.
    Jake