was good news. ‘Over here!’
I found Rebecca standing in the doorway to a room at the back of the library. It was a big bright room, normally used for book clubs and meetings and talks.
Rebecca turned to me with a big smile. ‘Looks like your little bookworm just wanted a quiet place to read!’
I looked where she was pointing. At the back of the room, curled up underneath a table, was Maisie! She had a book in her hand and was completely oblivious to her surroundings. She didn’t even look up when Rebecca and I went into the room, and I had to bend right down under the table and say her name before she noticed me.
‘Maisie! What are you doing here?’
Maisie looked up, wide-eyed and perfectly calm. ‘Those boys were being so noisy. I needed somewhere quiet to read.’
I was too relieved to be cross, and I gave her a big hug. ‘I’m glad you’re all right. I think it’s about time we headed home, don’t you? You can find somewhere quiet to read there. Oh …’ I remembered about the books.
‘What’s wrong?’ Rebecca asked.
‘It’s just we were all hoping to take out some books, but I don’t have enough money to pay the fine first,’ I said,blushing. ‘For the book that got torn, you know – it wasn’t Zach’s fault …’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Rebecca said. ‘I know you’ll pay it the next time you’re in. Come with me and I’ll check those books out for you.’
She led the way to the desk, completely ignoring Mr Jenkins, who was still grumbling, and checked out all our books. Bobby and Zach brought theirs over and Rebecca put those in the pile too. She handed them to me with a big smile. ‘Now you’re good to go – that should give you enough reading material for a few days!’
‘Thanks so much,’ I said. ‘I’ll have the money next time, I promise.’
I rounded the children up and headed for the door. I’d never felt so glad to be leaving the library before. But it had all ended a lot better than it could have. I shivered as I saw cars flying along the main road at top speed, and clutched Maisie’s hand tightly. I was never letting her out of my sight again!
The library drama seemed to have had quite an effect on both the boys, who went off to their room to read their books without me even suggesting it. Maisie curled up on one end of the couch with hers, and I sat down with mine too. There was just time to read a bit more before I needed to start thinking about getting some lunch ready. Soon I was lost in the Fossils’ world again, standing in the wingswith Pauline feverishly going over Tyltyl’s lines from The Bluebird, waiting for the cue to step onto the stage.
I made cheese and salad sandwiches for lunch, and cut up enough apples for everyone (Maisie and Bobby won’t eat apples unless they’re chopped up). I had just finished when Mum and Emma came through the door. Emma was cranky – she always gets like that when she’s been out all morning and is late having her lunch.
‘I’ll take her, Mum,’ I said, reaching out for my little sister.
‘Thanks, Hannah.’ Mum put her into my arms and went to call to the others.
I sang to Emma as I brought her over to her highchair, swaying her over and back in time to the song. She was smiling again by the time I handed her her own bread and cheese cut into easy-to-hold fingers.
Mum came back into the kitchen and planted a kiss on top of my head. ‘Oh, Hannah, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re such a great big sister.’
Apart from losing Maisie, and letting Zach get into a row with Tyler, I thought to myself, feeling a bit guilty. But there was no point in worrying Mum now that it was all over so I just mumbled, ‘Thanks’ as I went to put the sandwiches on the table. I was glad to be finished with big sister duties for the day – and I’d definitely do a much better job the next time.
Chapter Eight
I squeezed through the gap in the hedge at exactly two minutes to three, the library
I found Rebecca standing in the doorway to a room at the back of the library. It was a big bright room, normally used for book clubs and meetings and talks.
Rebecca turned to me with a big smile. ‘Looks like your little bookworm just wanted a quiet place to read!’
I looked where she was pointing. At the back of the room, curled up underneath a table, was Maisie! She had a book in her hand and was completely oblivious to her surroundings. She didn’t even look up when Rebecca and I went into the room, and I had to bend right down under the table and say her name before she noticed me.
‘Maisie! What are you doing here?’
Maisie looked up, wide-eyed and perfectly calm. ‘Those boys were being so noisy. I needed somewhere quiet to read.’
I was too relieved to be cross, and I gave her a big hug. ‘I’m glad you’re all right. I think it’s about time we headed home, don’t you? You can find somewhere quiet to read there. Oh …’ I remembered about the books.
‘What’s wrong?’ Rebecca asked.
‘It’s just we were all hoping to take out some books, but I don’t have enough money to pay the fine first,’ I said,blushing. ‘For the book that got torn, you know – it wasn’t Zach’s fault …’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Rebecca said. ‘I know you’ll pay it the next time you’re in. Come with me and I’ll check those books out for you.’
She led the way to the desk, completely ignoring Mr Jenkins, who was still grumbling, and checked out all our books. Bobby and Zach brought theirs over and Rebecca put those in the pile too. She handed them to me with a big smile. ‘Now you’re good to go – that should give you enough reading material for a few days!’
‘Thanks so much,’ I said. ‘I’ll have the money next time, I promise.’
I rounded the children up and headed for the door. I’d never felt so glad to be leaving the library before. But it had all ended a lot better than it could have. I shivered as I saw cars flying along the main road at top speed, and clutched Maisie’s hand tightly. I was never letting her out of my sight again!
The library drama seemed to have had quite an effect on both the boys, who went off to their room to read their books without me even suggesting it. Maisie curled up on one end of the couch with hers, and I sat down with mine too. There was just time to read a bit more before I needed to start thinking about getting some lunch ready. Soon I was lost in the Fossils’ world again, standing in the wingswith Pauline feverishly going over Tyltyl’s lines from The Bluebird, waiting for the cue to step onto the stage.
I made cheese and salad sandwiches for lunch, and cut up enough apples for everyone (Maisie and Bobby won’t eat apples unless they’re chopped up). I had just finished when Mum and Emma came through the door. Emma was cranky – she always gets like that when she’s been out all morning and is late having her lunch.
‘I’ll take her, Mum,’ I said, reaching out for my little sister.
‘Thanks, Hannah.’ Mum put her into my arms and went to call to the others.
I sang to Emma as I brought her over to her highchair, swaying her over and back in time to the song. She was smiling again by the time I handed her her own bread and cheese cut into easy-to-hold fingers.
Mum came back into the kitchen and planted a kiss on top of my head. ‘Oh, Hannah, I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re such a great big sister.’
Apart from losing Maisie, and letting Zach get into a row with Tyler, I thought to myself, feeling a bit guilty. But there was no point in worrying Mum now that it was all over so I just mumbled, ‘Thanks’ as I went to put the sandwiches on the table. I was glad to be finished with big sister duties for the day – and I’d definitely do a much better job the next time.
Chapter Eight
I squeezed through the gap in the hedge at exactly two minutes to three, the library
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