Boy Next Door: Part 4

By PENELOPE TODD

I had to laugh. In the right mood, Dad's okay. But I envy anyone with a mother, solo or not.

'I want to stay here this morning.'

Dad made the tip of the spatula titter on the bench.

'Got a project in mind?'

'Yeah ... ah ... stamps. I've got heaps to catch up on.'

'Can't you bring them with you?'

I shrugged and peeled the cellophane top off the jam. Usually I loved going with Dad on Saturday mornings to his office. I'd set up my paints or pastels on the big spare desk and draw while he tapped away at his plans and papers. 'Just feel like a change. I'll be all right. I'll call the Evanses if anything goes wrong. Please.' I spread jam to the very edges of my pancake.

'Well, I can't let you make a habit of it, Hilary. I know you're sensible but thirteen's not quite legal.'

'This once.'

'Well, you ring over the road and make sure they're home. Say I'll be back by lunch.'

Publisher: Longacre Press

Price: $16.95

Age group: 9-13 years


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.