Boy Next Door: Part 3

By PENELOPE TODD

If I was braver I'd go over, but there was something scary about Joe. He scowled as he crept down the ramp, dragging two kitchen chairs with one hand, a duvet hanging off the other arm.

Back in the kitchen Dad was shuffling about to radio jazz. A blue cloud hung above him. Scorched butter. 'So what's up, Hilary?'

'New people. Person. D'you know who they are?' I slid onto a high stool.

'No, no, n-no, no nooaaah!' Dad poured pancake batter from a great height.

'Did you know they were coming?'

'Yup, pippety pip pip pip.' He flipped a pancake with the spatula, pushed a cup of tea at me and gabbled while the trumpet paused. 'Yes-but-no-so-soon-solo-mum-with-solo-boy-informs-corner-dairy.' He flicked the frying pan and caught the pancake, slap, with the plate. 'Bull's-eye!'

I had to laugh.

Publisher: Longacre Press

Price: $16.95

Age group: 9-13 years


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