Bess BESS Inside Out It's not safe inside. It's not safe outside. I close my eyes and try to turn off the noise in my head. Stop! Shut it down, shut it down. But my brain keeps replaying all the reasons I had to leave. Targeted They were always there, around every corner, taking aim with pointing fingers and side-eyed smirks. Those girls. I'd brace myself for the rat-a-tat-tat of their cheeky attacks. "Just teasing," they'd say. I'd walk away, ears ringing, heart stinging. Then one day London shut down the schools. Shut 'em down. Shut 'em down. Goodbye to all that! Sideswiped Just when you've sidestepped one batch of bullies, a new bunch-- bigger, bolder-- takes aim. Dad said Paris had fallen, and the Nazi bombers were coming for London. One night air-raid sirens announced, They're here! "Hurry!" said Dad, racing us to the bomb shelter in the school's boiler room. Some of those girls from school were there. I raised a hand in greeting, but shoved it in my pocket when they didn't respond. They eyed me and my family but didn't say a word. We hunkered down, listening to the explosions. Boom! BOOM! BOOM! My throat felt dry. The bombs were getting louder. Closer. I glanced over and realized those girls were afraid too. I could see it in their eyes. Mum squeezed my hand and I leaned into her shoulder. After a few hours, it was over. Another signal sounded. All clear, all A-OK. I looked at the girls and attempted a smile. We survived, we're alive! And look! I wanted to say. We're all in this together-- all Londoners-- facing a bigger fight now. One girl saw my smiling face, stiffened, and whispered behind her hand to her friend. They squinted at me. Then they brushed by and burst out laughing. Stop! This was never going to end. Rewind. Replay. The bombers would be back. The bullies would be back. Outside and inside, I was under attack. Stop Stop Stop! Rewind. Replay. Get away, get away! Mum! Dad! There's a ship. I'll take Louis. I've got to get away! Excerpted from Lifeboat 5 by Susan Hood All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
