Page 4 of The Two Halves of My Heart

Chapter 2

Grace Eight Years Old

The summer holidays arrived, which meant two things: my eighth birthday, and weeks on end with nothing to get in the way of playing with my two best friends.

Now the summer was here, Oliver and Maddison came over on their bikes, set to go exploring the lanes past the farm near their house. It sounded exciting, and I was desperate to follow them. Mum was wary, especially as I had only ever gone out on my bike a handful of times. But after three days of begging, I’d managed to convince her that, as a birthday treat, I could go for a short bike ride with them before going around to the boys’ for a picnic in the garden.

“Be careful. Don’t worry about keeping up with the boys. Go at your own pace. And just keep steady if a car comes. They’ll move for you.”

“Okay, Mum.” I wanted to feel like a big girl, not a baby. Her list of instructions and commands was getting in the way of time I could be exploring.

Maddison led the way on his bike. He tore off at such a pace, my stomach flipped. I’d never be able to keep up. And I didn’t know the roads well. But then, instead of racing off with his brother, Oliver waited next to me. I looked across at him and smiled, so thankful that he seemed to know I’d struggle and needed his support.

“Come on,” he encouraged.

I pushed my feet down and started to pedal, a little wobbly, in pursuit. Before we even reached the boys’ house, Maddison had circled back to join us.

“I can beat Oliver, Grace. Want to see? We can race.”

But before I could answer, Oliver had sped up and overtaken his brother, as if to make a point. He looked very pleased with himself until Maddison passed him again. Instead of waiting, Maddison carried on, riding off down the lane. Oliver looked back at me, where I was carrying on along the path at my own pace, and then back to his brother, his feet bouncing on the pedals and his fingers twitching on the brakes. Keeping up with each other and racing looked like their normal game, but Oliver had stopped to check on me. That look gave me the courage to continue, no matter what.

“When we get around the corner, you’ll be able to see down the track. I won’t lose sight of you.” He nodded at me as if he was convincing himself as well as me, before pedalling away to catch Maddison.

Sure enough, a few hundred yards on from their house was a long track of gravel and dust. Big trees lined the way, and there were a few pull-in spots. Towards the end, I could make out two boys racing on their bikes amongst a cloud of dust.

I focused on where I was heading and kept peddling. I couldn’t understand how they could go so fast; their bikes were just like mine. My legs pumped up and down, determined to keep going as a prickle of heat rose up my back.

Maddison raced back towards me and pulled his front wheel up from the ground, not slowing down. My eyes followed his stunt, and my mouth dropped open. But I’d forgotten that where I looked, the bike would follow, and my balance teetered as my head went one way and the bike the other.

My breath caught as gravity took over. My bare knee hit the gravel first, and hot spikes of pain shot up my leg, and then I braced with my hands to break my fall. More pain dug into my skin as my pulse started to throb in both my palms.

“What did you do that for, Maddison? Look what you did.” Oliver arrived back to us and yelled at his brother.

“It wasn’t me.”

Both boys abandoned their bikes and ran to me as I stayed crumpled on the ground, trying to force the tears away. I didn’t want to cry in front of either of them.

“I can go and get Mum,” Maddison offered, he looked worried when he saw the blood start to dribble down my leg.

“No. Leave your bike by that gate. You can push Grace’s back. I’ll help her.” Oliver took charge.

“Why can’t I help her?”

“Just do this for once,” Oliver shouted again, and I waited for Maddison to retaliate. They often got into arguments, always sniping at one another, but keeping it under control when we all were playing.

“Fine. Are you okay, Grace? I didn’t mean to distract you.” Maddison’s eyes were wide and reminded me of a puppy. His were much darker than Oliver’s. Another difference that made it hard to see their brotherly resemblance.

“Will your bikes be okay?” I needed to think about something other than my knee stinging or the pull to do nothing other than run home to my mummy.

Oliver helped me up and put his arm around my waist to steady me with Maddison behind us pushing my bike.

“This was meant to be a fun day for your birthday,” he sulked a little.

“You’ll still come for the picnic, though, Grace? Mum’s got loads of treats and wouldn’t let us steal any until you come around.” Maddison’s voice was hopeful.

I nodded, keeping my head low so they couldn’t see the tears welling in my eyes. I limped back to their house, and Maddison rushed in, shouting out for their mum, Vivien.

“Calm down. What’s the problem?” She burst out from the kitchen to see me hobbling with Oliver. “Oh, love. Come here. Let’s take a look at you.” Her kind words started my bottom lip wobbling, and a burst of pain from my hands and knees hit me.

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