Cleopatra's Carpet: Part 3

By KAREN WALLACE, Illustrator ALAN WADE

As Helen headed down the bus, Nigel looked up, blushed and looked down again.

Sophie swung into a pair of empty seats and Helen followed with her eyes firmly on her feet.

"Let's have a bet," said Sophie.

"What on?" replied Helen, who was delighted to have something else to think about.

"What the new teacher's like."

"What's the bet?" asked Helen.

Sophie looked around. The bus was just passing their favourite ice-cream bar. "How about a Big Fudge ice cream at Toni's?"

"OK." Helen pressed her lips together. "I bet the new teacher will be a man. He'll wear corduroy trousers, have a bald head and say, "Now where was I?' a lot."

Sophie crossed her arms. "I bet it's a woman. She'll have straight hair, a face like an axe -" Sophie burst out laughing. "And hairy legs."

Publisher: HarperCollins $12.95
Age group: 7-9 years