I had two choices. I could say that I did go skating but hadn’t told anyone about it, or I could deny it and say that Ellie was wrong. I had just one choice.

I smiled at Ellie-bot and felt my face stretch tightly.

“You must have misunderstood, Ellie,” I said firmly. “I don’t take ice-skating lessons.”

There was a moment when we all went silent. The eyes on Ellie-bot moved left and right to show that she was confused.

“But you said you had lessons?” said Ellie. “You said that you had your own skates and that you’d been learning how to ice skate backwards?”

Nia frowned at me.

“Anna?” she said. “Have you been lying to Ellie?”

All four of them were waiting for me to explain. I took a few deep breaths and then suddenly Mum and Henry were there. Henry was in Mum’s arms, his head resting on her shoulder. He looked exhausted.

“Hi, girls!” said Mum.

Nia, Shavina and Erin all mumbled hello. Mum turned to me.

“We need to head home now, Anna,” said Mum. “Henry needs a nap.”

“OK,” I said. I dropped the paddling pool into a heap on the grass and muttered “Bye”. I couldn’t look at my friends, as I didn’t want to see the disappointment and anger on their faces. I’d just ruined everything and there was nothing I could do about it.

I walked across the field with my family, feeling smaller and smaller with every step.

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

I didn’t speak as we drove home. Mum asked if I was OK and I said I was just tired and everything was fine. I sat in the back with Henry, who was yawning but trying to stay awake. He’d won a small plastic tractor at one of the stalls and I watched him as he rolled it up and down his leg. It was such a basic toy, but he was utterly absorbed.

“That Ellie-bot is brilliant, isn’t it?” said Mum. “And Ellie seems like a really lovely girl. Miss Burnell said she’s got an appointment at the hospital on Monday to see her specialist. I got the impression it’s to find out how well the treatment has been working.”

I felt a tightness in my chest. That was probably why Ellie had been so quiet in school yesterday. She had been worried about her appointment! She’d cheered up during the fete, but I’d gone and ruined it by lying about ice skating. I wished there was some way that I could talk to Ellie.

“Mum? Do you have Ellie’s mum’s phone number?” I asked.

We turned left at a roundabout in the direction of home.

“No, I don’t, love. I’m sorry,” said Mum. She glanced at me in the rear-view mirror. “Is everything OK, Anna?”

A large lump had formed in my throat.