Extract from The Night Sky In My Head

Today I am happy to post the third extract from The Night Sky In My Head by Sarah Hammond  published by Oxford University Press in July.

The first two extracts can be found at the following blogs:

Readaraptor 

Susan K Mann 

‘It’s best with animals.’

‘What did you say, young Mikey?’ Cackler raises his

eyebrows.

‘My gift thing. It’s best with animals, not people.’

‘Maybe,’ Cackler shrugs. ‘I’m an animal-man myself,

like you, but don’t limit yourself, Mikey. Let things run

their course.’

Bess is waiting on the other side of the hedge. She

makes humphing noises as we get closer. The calf starts

jiffl ing on Cackler’s shoulders. I do some twirls. I want to

laugh. No one has believed the Backwards before.

Cackler puts the calf on the ground. She only has to

walk a little way to the fi eld so she should be able to manage

on her own. Her legs are shaky but she’s Ok. Bess

leans over to her to get closer to her, to stop her being

upset.

‘But what if I find other things—things that I don’t

like?’

Bess starts to lick her calf.

‘You were looking for Bess’s calf and you found her.’

Cackler pulls his hat straight to shade his eyes from the

sun. ‘Do you think you were maybe looking for those other

things if you found them too?’

My heart thumps. I’ve never seen Dad’s Backwards

like that before. Was I looking for Dad? My head hurts. I

don’t know. I’m scared of him but I miss him too. I don’t

like this question.

Cackler strokes his chin, watching me carefully. ‘Sometimes

things seem bad but really they’re helping you get

better.’ He pulls his pipe out of his pocket and knocks it

against a tree to empty it. He looks up and smiles at me.

’Nature always heals, Mikey. Always. Just let it come.’ 

Isn't it good? The final extract will be posted on I Want To Read That! on the 28th June.  You will be able to buy the book on the 5th of July.
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