At the Supermarket

It was Saturday morning. Rosa was sixteen. Her mother gave her a list and some money. "Please take Milo with you," she said. Milo was her little brother. He was six years old.

The supermarket was near their flat. It was full of people. Milo pushed the trolley. He pushed it too fast. "Slowly," Rosa said. "Please."

Rosa read the list. They needed bread, milk, eggs and apples. She also wanted cheese for her father. Milo wanted chocolate. "Not today," Rosa said.

They walked past the fruit. Rosa took six apples and put them in a bag. Milo looked at the sweets on the next shelf. Rosa didn't see his face.

Milo asked about every shelf. "What's that? And that?" Rosa answered ten questions. Then she stopped answering. She wanted to go home soon.

At the milk fridge Rosa turned around. The trolley was there. Milo wasn't. "Milo?" she said. Nobody answered.

Rosa's heart beat fast. She walked to the end of the row. She looked left and right. She called his name again. A woman with a red basket stopped. "Are you all right?"

The bread counter was at the back of the shop. Rosa didn't run, but she walked very fast. Her bag was heavy. She didn't think about the apples.

"My brother," Rosa said. "He's six. He's small, and he's got a blue jacket." The woman was calm. "Children go to the bread," she said. "It smells good there."

They walked to the bread counter together. Milo stood in front of the warm rolls. He held a small brown loaf in both hands. "Can we buy this one?" he asked.

Rosa wanted to shout. But then she only laughed. "Yes," she said. "We can buy that one." She took his hand and didn't let go.

At the till Rosa paid with her mother's money. Milo carried the loaf all the way home. He ate the first piece in the kitchen. It was still warm.