Mega Sleepover 5. Louis Catt

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      I decided to start fixing up some of the booby traps and tricks ready for the evening. Frankie was coming home with me after school to make our scary tape and to help move the bedroom furniture… but I thought there was no harm in getting started. And anyway, I had to plan something special for Frankie! I slid out of bed and tiptoed out of the room.

      Down in the kitchen I had a good look round. I knew exactly what I wanted to do – I wanted to arrange something so that Frankie had a fright. Yes, I know she’s my very best mate – but she wouldn’t be angry with me, she’d just think it was really funny. Besides, I had a sneaky feeling that she might have a plan or two up her sleeve for me, too.

      I stared at the cupboards, hoping for inspiration. It didn’t help much, so I opened a few doors and peered in. Flour? Could be useful. Sticky syrup? Maybe. I opened a jar of raisins, and ate some. Looking at them made me giggle – they looked just like mouse droppings! A few in the corner of my room might be fun… Fliss might be fooled for a minute or two! But what could I do that Frankie wouldn’t expect? She was bound to be suspicious of drawers and cupboards in my room… I needed a much more cunning idea! I ate a few more raisins and climbed on a stool to look in the top cupboard… and then it happened.

      Whoooooosh!

      I nearly died of fright. Something soft and dusty and furry flew straight at me. I fell off the stool with a crash. My heart was pounding and my knees had turned to jelly as I stared wildly… at my old hot-water bottle!

      OK, OK, I know. hot-water bottles are pink and rubbery. But remember when you were little and relatives gave you furry, cat-cover hot-water bottles, and brown, teddy hot-water bottles, and cosy clown hot-water bottles? One Christmas I had four! Talk about boring. And I hate hot-water bottles anyway – I’m always worried they might burst and splurge boiling water all over me while I’m asleep.

      So Mum had put them away. And obviously this was one of them. I picked it up. It was a furry black cat, but it was totally covered in dust – it must have been in the top cupboard for ages and ages. Then, while I was looking at it, a ginormous light bulb switched itself on in my head. This was it! This could be my special surprise for Frankie! After all, it had scared me silly; I was still feeling fluttery inside. As it had done that to me – wouldn’t it do just the same to Frankie? Yes! I said to myself. Yes! Yes! Yes!

      I was about to put the cat back exactly how it had been, when I had another thought. I grabbed the bag of flour and gave it a thorough dusting… just for that little extra effect. Then I climbed back on the stool. I could see why the cat had sprung out the way it did. The cupboard was so small I had to bend the hot-water bottle to fit it in, which made a natural spring! I grinned happily as I wiped my hands and put the flour back on the shelf.

      “Laura? Don’t tell me you’ve got up early just to make your old dad a cup of tea!”

      I jumped in a guilty sort of way, but Dad didn’t notice. He was looking his usual morning self – all crumpled, and half-asleep. I didn’t want to make him suspicious, so I put the kettle on without making a fuss, while he got out the teapot and cups. Then I made us both some toast, fetched the paper and we sat down to breakfast together.

      “This is a very pleasant surprise,” Dad said, and he yawned. “It’ll set me up for a terrible day. I’ve got surgery, then house calls, and then this evening I’ve got to go to a meeting… and I’m introducing the speaker so I’ve got to dash back here and get all dressed up in my suit.”

      “Poor old Dad,” I said, and I meant it. He works really hard and is always having to dash around all over the place. It’s a tough life being a doctor – but that hasn’t put me off!

      “Look at this!” Dad said suddenly. He was reading the paper. “There’s been another burglary! In just the next street. Well, they’d better not try getting in here. There’s nothing for them to take, but it won’t hurt to be careful.”

      “I’ll make sure all the doors and windows are shut before I leave,” I said. “And I’ll tell Mum to be extra careful, too.”

      After I’d finished my toast I went to get ready for school. Molly looked very surprised when she saw I was up before her, but she didn’t make any nasty remarks. I decided it must be because she had a friend. Wow, I thought. This is actually turning out to be a Really Good Day!

      All through assembly I kept thinking of how I’d jumped when that dusty old cat flew out at me. It made me smile, and Frankie started to give me sideways looks.

      “What was so funny?” she asked when we all met up at first break.

      “Nothing,” I said. “I was just thinking about tonight.”

      Lyndz gave a little whoop. “Just wait till you see my pizza!” she said. “Tom helped me – we had a totally ace idea!”

      “My spaghetti’s turned out a bit odd,” Rosie said. “We didn’t have any green food colouring so I thought I could mix blue and yellow, but it hasn’t really worked.”

      “You should have phoned me,” Fliss said. “My mum bought two kinds of green for my cake.”

      Frankie nudged at me. Trust Fliss.

      Fliss saw the nudge, and pulled a face at us. “My mum says if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Anyway, you haven’t told us what you’re bringing yet, Frankie?”

      “Ah! Wait and see. It’s a surprise,” Frankie said.

      “I didn’t see you carrying anything to school,” Fliss said. “And aren’t you going straight home with Kenny?”

      “Congratulations!” Frankie banged Fliss on the back. “I proclaim you… Felicity Sidebotham, Junior Detective!”

      “I was only wondering,” Fliss said, sounding all huffy.

      “Well, you’ll just have to keep guessing,” Frankie said. “Nothing will be revealed until tonight… the night of Friday 13th!” And she made a ghoulish face.

      Rosie squeaked, and we all laughed – Fliss too. Then the bell went, and we had to go back into lessons.

      That afternoon, on the way back from school, I looked at Frankie’s school bag slung on her back – Fliss was right, it didn’t look as if there was anything much in it at all.

      “Have you really made something for tonight?” I asked.

      “Wait and see!” Frankie said, and I knew it wouldn’t be any good asking her any more about it. She’s brilliant at keeping secrets. I wouldn’t find out about this one until she was ready!

      Emma wasn’t there, of course, when Frankie and I crashed in through the front door. She was already safely on her way to her friend Jade’s house. Molly was still at home, though. She growled at us when we charged into our bedroom.

      “Can’t you two kiddies go and play somewhere else? I’m trying to get my things packed!”

      Honestly. You СКАЧАТЬ