The Other Ida Read Online Free

this a hospital?” Ida asked.
    â€œThis is our new house – you know that. Are you coming down with something?” He touched Ida’s head to feel for a temperature.
    â€œBut it looks like an advent calendar.”
    She was serious but her father laughed loudly.
    â€œIt’s 1920s,” he said. “You’d better like it. And please don’t let on to your mother if you don’t. That’s the last thing we need.”
    He switched on the camera and started filming as the van drove up to the house.
    Ida shuffled from foot to foot. Now she needed a wee.
    â€œLook,” he said and pointed towards some birds flying overhead.
    â€œPigeons?” she asked.
    â€œSeagulls.”
    â€œUp, up,” said Alice, holding her arms out to Ida.
    The van stopped and the two men jumped out and opened the doors at the back.
    â€œReady girls? Follow me,” said Da, running halfway up the steep steps then turning round to shoot them with the camera. “There’s a surprise at the top I hear.”
    Ida held Alice’s hand and helped her up to the front door.
    â€œNow turn around,” he said.
    They did as they were told.
    â€œGlorious,” he said. He sounded as though he’d opened a present.
    Ida felt sick again. From where they stood they could see over the houses and all the pine trees, right down to the sea. Only it didn’t look like the seaside sea in Brighton, it looked like something horrible, everything big and grey and mean. She could see the wind, pushing everything in the same direction, all the trees and the boats and the people.
    â€œTen minutes through the woods and we’ll be at the beach. Marvellous, eh?” he said.
    She couldn’t speak. Tears hurt her eyes and throat until she couldn’t stop herself and let them out with a loud sob.
    â€œMy goodness, you funny little thing. Let’s go inside,” he said as he fumbled with the key.
    Ida didn’t like this house. She didn’t like the garden or the scary woods or the horrid view. She was glad that after the summer she could go back to London and see all her friends and her cat. She thought about that and tried to be brave.
    â€œVoila,” said her da.
    They followed him into the dim hall as he patted the wall to find a switch. “What an adventure. God, it smells funny.” There was a scuttling noise and he whooped. “Say it, Ida! Say it!”
    Ida knew what he meant – their favourite line from The Railway Children . “It’s only the ratttssss,” she said in a hissy voice and he laughed as he walked to the end of the corridor and switched on a light.
    They were in a long hall with a staircase at the end. From the ceiling hung a glass lampshade, all black inside with dust and dead flies. The rose-patterned wallpaper was peeling in places. Near Ida’s head some naughty child had drawn a picture of a dog with a green crayon.
    â€œLook Da,” Ida said, but he’d gone into another room.
    â€œSo through here is the kitchen,” he shouted. “Bloody hell, it hasn’t been touched since 1950.” He ran out and up the stairs. “Okay girls. Let’s choose your rooms,” he called down to them.
    â€œCome on, Alice,” Ida said.
    Alice went first up the bare wooden stairs. Ida noticed her bottom was wet, her nappy had soaked through her trousers.
    â€œBe careful, Ally,” she said, patting her sister’s hair. “There might be splinters.”
    He met them at the top. “I’ve worked it all out girls. I’m going at the back, your mother can go over there, and you two are next to each other.” He pointed to the left. “Ally baby, you have the little one, Ida, the big one is for you.”
    Alice sat down. Her face was red and she was rubbing her eyes which meant she was tired.
    Ida felt she shouldn’t ask, but she needed to – she’d waited all day long.
    â€œWhen’s