Quotes from Ann Halam

Good morning," I said awkwardly. Being shipwrecked doesn't make shyness any easier.

The plane blew up." "I wonder what happened to all the other people?" As soon as I'd spoken, I wished I hadn't said that. I decided shy people shouldn't try to make conversation, not even in an emergency. If I manage to talk to strangers at all, nervousness always makes me say the wrong thing.

But I suppose I'm a typical nerd, good at the details, not very smart at seeing the larger picture. I'd gone in for the competition because I liked my science teacher, and it had been like doing any interesting piece of homework. I had not thought it through. I had never sat myself down and said to myself, hold on, Semirah, what if you win? You are shy. How are you going to survive for three weeks surrounded by total strangers?

I walked all the way around the zoo, and then came back to a girl with a round face and fluffy hair, who looked like a baby owl. I like owls. I was about to say hello when along came Very Cool Girl, with her beautiful hair swinging. She smiled at me, and so did the baby owl. But oh no…My throat closed up. I simply could not speak. I can't talk to strangers! I swerved off, and pretended I'd been headed for a nearby drinks machine.

We came across a rucksack, wedged in among the coral. It was fastened up, but it seemed to have been invaded by some weird fluffy white sea creature that was trying to get out. "What's that ?" said Arnie, poking it. Miranda and I took a second look, and started to giggle. "It's tampons," I said. "Expanding widthways when wet—" "Yecch!

You don't get it, god-bothered dude!