LITMIR.BIZ

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Two—”

      Emma frantically tried to shut her up. “So, you’ve finally met my e-pal,” she interrupted brightly. “We’ve been e-mailing each other for over a year now.” Emma went into peals of fake laughter. “But you knew that already, silly me! I’m always telling you about Kirstin, aren’t I?”

      “You are?” said Kenny.

      Emma Hughes suddenly looked at her watch. “Heavens!” she said in an artificial voice. “Is that the time! We’re going to be SO late for my grandmother’s party.” She flashed us a strangely pleading smile. “See you later, guys!”

      Before we could say “Huh?” Emma dragged her bewildered e-pal up the road and out of sight.

      Frankie stared after them with a puzzled expression. “Did you hear that, or did I imagine it?”

      “What?” we chorused.

      Frankie gulped noisily. “I thought she said, ‘See you later, guys’.”

      Kenny looked thoughtful. “She did say that, actually.”

      “Is it a crime?” I said timidly.

      Frankie looked outraged. “It is, actually, Felicity Proudlove. A crime against Nature. Emma made it sound like we were friends with her!”

      Kenny shuddered. “That is creepy.”

      “She was weird at dinner time too,” said Lyndz.

      “Maybe she really has got nits or ants in her pants or whatever?” Rosie suggested.

      “Bats in her belfry more like,” Kenz sniggered.

      Frankie shook her head. “Emma’s up to something. But she won’t get away with it. I’m going to be watching her very closely.”

      “Listen to Frankie the super spy!” Lyndz giggled.

      I was feeling slightly hurt. Why did Frankie have to draw attention to my name like that? It’s not my fault my new stepdad is called Andy Proudlove. Mind you, my real dad’s name is even worse. It’s Sidebotham, would you believe. When it comes to names, my family has the worst luck.

      “Mum will be worrying,” I sighed. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

      I waved to my mates and went speeding down the street. I was still waiting at the pelican crossing when I heard Rosie call my name. She caught me up breathlessly. “Have you got a sec? I need to talk to you.”

      I had an awful feeling like going down too fast in a lift. Rosie can be really touchy sometimes. Obviously I’d upset her and that’s why she’d been acting so strangely. I decided to get in first.

      “I don’t know what I’ve done, Rosie, but I’m so SO sorry. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. And what’s more I’ll never ever do it again, erm, whatever it was.”

      Rosie looked confused. “What? No, Fliss, you haven’t done anything. But I’m really worried about something and I need to talk to someone.”

      A warm glow started up inside me. Rosie trusted me. “You can tell me anything, dummy,” I said. “I’m your mate.”

      I stood at the crossing for ten minutes, listening to Rosie.

      When I finally walked up my front path and put the key in the door, I barely heard my brother and sister’s wails. I trudged upstairs to my bedroom, shut the door, and collapsed miserably on to my bed.

      We’d been looking forward to this trip for ever: since Kenny’s sister Molly went to the same safari park. We’d daydreamed about what animals we’d see and what outfits we’d wear. We’d planned in detail the wonderful sleepover feast we’d have afterwards.

      Now our dreams had ended up in the dustbin of disappointments.

      I knew the awful truth behind Rosie’s headaches.

      She couldn’t afford to come. Her dad was supposed to send the money but he’d forgotten and now he’d gone away on business. Rosie’s mum was sorry, but she didn’t have any cash to spare.

      I was so upset, I felt as if my insides had been put into an ice-cream maker and churned into a great big, multicoloured mess.

      What was I going to do? I didn’t have enough money to pay for Rosie. I couldn’t even ask anyone for help. She had totally sworn me to secrecy.

      That meant Rosie was relying on me to come up with a plan to save the big Sleepover Safari. I really hoped I wouldn’t let her down.

      

      Morning came and I still hadn’t come up with a solution.

      To make matters worse my fringe totally would NOT lie down. “Oh, well,” I told my reflection unhappily. “Looks like you’ll be spending the day looking like a scruffy blonde cockatoo.”

      When I went downstairs, I discovered Mum had woken me up half an hour later than usual. So it was one mad dash to bolt down my Crispy Loops and sprint to the car.

      To make my day even more depressing, Joe and Hannah screamed in their car seats all the way to school. Did I mention they look exactly like my stepdad? Don’t laugh, it’s true! Andy has absolutely no waistline and only a very, very small amount of fine, tufty hair. Don’t get me wrong. I’m crazy about Andy. I tell my mates he’s the best stepdad in captivity. But I’m not crazy about being trapped in a small car with two roaring, miniature, Andy look-alikes. Not to mention my brother Callum who was whingeing about this stupid game he’d seen on kids’ MTV.

      By the time Mum dropped me off, I’d gone deaf in both ears. I’m not exaggerating. I couldn’t even hear the bell. I was also humungously late. By the time I stumbled into my classroom Mrs Weaver was reading out the last name on the register. It was awful. The entire class turned to stare at me.

      I sheepishly took my seat. Rosie whispered, “Any ideas yet?”

      I shook my head. “Not yet.”

      In my embarrassment, I’d completely forgotten my Rosie dilemma, but now it came flooding back.

      Rosie deserves to go on this safari more than anyone, I thought fiercely. Life is rough for her at times. Her dad walked out on them some time ago and since then he hasn’t really showed much interest in her and Tiffany. He makes slightly more effort with her brother Adam, who has cerebral palsy. But Rosie says it’s like he thinks she doesn’t need him or something. Luckily Rosie’s mum copes brilliantly, but sometimes money is tight.

      I’d feel terrible if we had to go without her. But I still had no idea how to help. Suddenly I realised that the entire class was looking in my direction.

      “What do you think, Felicity?”

      Mrs Weaver’s voice sounded deceptively kind. Unfortunately I had no idea what she’d just said.

      “Urmm, could you please repeat the question?”

      Mrs Weaver narrowed her eyes into two scary laser beams. “Weren’t you listening, dear?”

      This was a toughie. Frankie would have no problem telling a little white lie. But this is me we’re talking about and I am physically incapable of being dishonest. Take my promise to Rosie. I’d never break her confidence, even if I was threatened with hideous torture. That’s the way I am.

      So I was forced to stammer out the truth. “No, s-sorry, Mrs Weaver. I wasn’t listening. It won’t happen again.”

      I didn’t think Frankie would ever let me live it down. She mimicked me all through break. “Sorry, Mrs Weaver, it won’t happen again,” she said in a breathy little voice. “Fliss, you’re SUCH a wuss!”

      Lyndz

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