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.If you have a mobile, save the number in your address book.• Keep your keys in your pocket in case someone ever steals your bag – that way at least you can get in your front door.• It’s a good idea to have a bag that you can wear diagonally over your body, so it’s harder for someone to grab it and run.• Don’t walk in dark, secluded places.Use routes home that are well lit and where there are still people about, even if it means walking further.• Don’t make eye contact with strangers.• If you ever feel you’re being followed, get to a populated area as fast as possible and keep your mobile within reach but out of sight.• Never hesitate to call and ask someone to pick you up if you’ve been stranded.• If a stranger ever asks if you want a lift, always say no and that your dad is on his way and will be there any second.Then immediately phone the person you know who lives nearest.• If ever travelling on the tube or train, always travel in a compartment with people in it.If they get off at a stop, leaving the carriage empty, get off with them and get into a carriage with people in it.• If ever you are mugged, don’t fight.Hand over your phone, watch or purse, then leg it.• Walk confidently – head up and briskly.Chapter 6Zombie‘I’ve got a quiz to try out on you,’ said Lucy, flopping on the sofa.‘It’s just your kind of thing, Izzie – sort of a psychological test.’We were all over at Nesta’s the following evening.We spent the first twenty minutes swopping news and I’d filled them in on bumping into Josh again and the ongoing war with Mum.She was back to her usual mad self when she picked me up from the tube station the night before.Apparently when she phoned Dad to ask why I wasn’t home yet, he mentioned that he knew about the belly button stud.She wasn’t happy Oh no.She spent the whole journey home going on about how he’s too laid back when it comes to disciplining me, he’s not the one who has to lay down the rules, the one who worries when I’m out late, wonders where I am and what I’m getting up to.I tried telling her that I could handle myself, but she wasn’t really listening.No wonder Dad doesn’t want to get involved.She gets so worked up over nothing.It was good to get out of the house and over to Nesta’s to see the girls and have some normal company.‘OK,’ I said, sitting on the floor next to the sofa.‘Shoot.’‘You have to think of your three favourite animals,’ said Lucy.‘Then remember them in order.Tell me when you’ve got them.’We all sat and thought for a few minutes.‘OK, ready,’ I said.‘And me,’ chorused Nesta and TJ.‘OK,’ said Lucy.‘Say them out loud and why you picked them.Nesta?’‘Cats because they’re elegant and independent.Leopards because they’re beautiful, and peacocks because they’re stunning when they put their tails up and strut their stuff.’Lucy laughed.‘What?’ asked Nesta.‘What’s so funny?’‘You’ll find out in a minute,’ said Lucy.‘OK, Iz?’‘Um, dolphins because they’re friendly and intelligent, orang-utans because when you look into their eyes, you can tell they have these really wise old souls, and owls because they’re meant to be wise, but if you ever take a good look at them, they’re actually hysterically funny – they can turn their heads round almost three hundred and sixty degrees.’Lucy burst out laughing again.‘What?’ asked.‘You’ll see in a minute.TJ?’‘Penguins because they’re entertaining and have a funny walk, dogs because they’re intelligent, loyal and playful, and meercats because they look after each other – they’re really social animals.‘OK.’ Lucy said, grinning.‘I’ll tell you what it all means now.Your first choice was how you see yourself.’‘That’s amazing,’ I said.‘TJ picked penguins because they’re entertaining, and you are, TJ.Dunno about the funny walk, though.And Nesta picked cats because they’re elegant and independent.It’s really true.’‘And you said dolphins because they’re friendly and intelligent,’ said Nesta.‘That’s true as well.’‘OK, what do the other choices mean?’ asked Nesta.‘Second one is how others see you and the last one is how you really are.’‘We see you as an orang-utan.’ laughed Nesta, pointing at me.‘Yeah, fat and hairy,’ I said.Nesta laughed again.‘We’re going to have to work on your self-esteem, girl.’‘But it’s more the reason why you picked them that’s revealing, not the animal so much,’ said Lucy.‘And Izzie said because when she looks at an orang-utan, she sees a wise old soul.That’s exactly how I see you, Iz.’‘And you really are a peacock,’ said TJ, pointing at Nesta.Nesta’s face clouded.‘Proud as a peacock.Oh dear.’‘No,’ said Lucy.‘You didn’t say that.You said you liked peacocks because they’re stunning when they strut their stuff.Nothing could be more true in your case.’‘And others do see you as beautiful,’ said TJ.‘You said leopards for your second one because they’re beautiful.Second one’s how others see you, right, Lucy?’Lucy nodded.Nesta started strutting around the room.‘Yeah.And you’re an owl, Izzie [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]