Bill's New Frock: Part 4

By ANNE FINE

Bill Simpson thought to himself: I'd rather have the scabs kicked off my ankle!

When he reached the main road, there was an elderly woman with curly grey hair already standing at the kerb. To feel safe from the gang, he stood at her side.

'Give me your hand, little girl,' she said. 'I'll see us both safely across the road.'

'No, really,' insisted Bill. 'I'm fine, honestly. I cross here every day by myself.'

The woman simply didn't listen. She just reached down and grasped his wrist, hauling him after her across the road.

On the far side, she looked down approvingly as she released him.

'That's such a pretty frock!' she said. 'You mind you keep it nice and clean.'

Rather than say something disagreeable, Bill ran off quickly.

The headmaster was standing at the school gates, holding his watch in the palm of his hand, watching the last few stragglers arrive.

Publisher: Egmont

Price: $12.95

Age group: 8-10 yrs


Want to win this book?
Send us all six of this week's Kids into Books coupons from the print edition of the New Zealand Herald and you'll go into the draw.