Page 54 of The Summer That Changed Us

‘Have you started?’ Katie wanted to wrap her arms around her and hug her tightly, the precious thing.

There was a slight flush to her cheeks and Amber shook her head. ‘No. But I was in the loos in school and there was a girl washing her hands and crying. I don’t know her, I think she’s in the year above, but I asked what was wrong.

And she said she had her period and didn’t have any pads and asked if I had any spare. I didn’t. I said maybe her friends could give her one. But she said she couldn’t ask because she asked them too many times before. So I said maybe the nurse had them. But she started crying harder and said that she’d been to the nurse before and got told off for never bringing them to school and being prepared. Then she went back in the cubicle and I could hear her crying. So, I went to the nurse’s room myself and pretended it was for me and I went back and slid it under the door.’

‘You were very kind,’ said Katie, when Amber paused for breath. ‘I’m sure that girl was really grateful.’

‘She didn’t open the door,’ Amber continued, ‘but she told me that her mum can’t afford food and pads and she usually uses loo paper but that she keeps leaking. Her name is Ciara and she said she sometimes misses school because her period is too heavy.’

‘That’s awful. I bet she was so grateful that a kind girl like you came along.’ Katie’s heart brimmed with sadness; that girls in this country had to face this sort of poverty was appalling.

‘And there’s something else.’ Amber nibbled her bottom lip. ‘She wasn’t wearing a bra and, well, she should have been. She isn’t as big as … ’ She glanced quickly at Katie. ‘As some people.’

Katie folded her arms self-consciously.

‘But big for a schoolgirl,’ Amber continued. ‘I think maybe her mum can’t afford a bra for her either.’

‘Right, well we can do something about that.’

Her eyes widened. ‘We?’

Katie nodded. ‘You and me.’

‘Thank you.’ Amber’s shoulders sagged with relief. She kicked off her shoes and folded her legs under her. ‘I was going to do it by myself, I just wanted your advice, but it would be amazing if you could help.’

‘What were you going to do?’

‘Put a box of emergency stuff in the girls’ toilets so people can help themselves for free.’

‘It’s a brilliant idea!’ said Katie.’

‘Do you think so?’ The girl’s eyes shone with pride.

Katie nodded. ‘How can I help?’

Amber bit her lip. ‘I’ve got some money and I’m sure school would let me if I asked them. But I’m not sure what to actually buy. I looked in the shop but there are so many different ones. If Mum was here she’d probably storm into school, demand to see the nurse and give her a right earful for not being kinder to Ciara. But she’s not, so … ’ She paused, shrugging.

Katie was in awe of her, not just for helping the girl out in her hour of need, or for her willingness to spend her own money to help others, but for her unquestioning belief that this was a problem that she, Amber Larkin, aged fourteen could solve. She got to her feet and picked up her handbag. ‘Come on, we can sort this out between us. Let’s go and raid the shelves in the little supermarket.’

Amber scrambled to her feet. ‘And what about bras?’

Katie frowned. ‘That’s a bit more tricky. I don’t think we can put a box of bras in the toilets, can we?’

‘No.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘And I can’t afford to buy bras from your shop; not on my budget. The only place we’ve got for clothes is the lost property box.’

‘Would second-hand bras work, do you think?’ Katie had read of a charity which sent donations of bras to Third World countries. A bra was a status symbol in some cultures, a sign that someone was looking after a woman, which sent a signal to would-be predators to leave her alone. Maybe

Katie could set up something similar to help British girls and women too? She certainly had the contacts and the bra knowledge.

Amber shrugged. ‘As long as they’re not too scabby.’

Katie grinned. ‘Noted. No scabby bras.’

‘Weird, isn’t it,’ said Amber, leaning on the wall as Katie pulled the cottage door closed behind them, ‘how small things can make a massive difference?’

Katie nodded. ‘Small things matter.’

Amber peeled herself away from the wall. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you should maybe make your house a bit more, you know. You.’