Kids into books: Cliffhanger

Cliffhanger

Author: Jacqueline Wilson

Publisher: Random House, $14.95

Age group: 7-9 years

I needed to hug Walter Bear very hard when Dad drove us to the Adventure Centre.

Dad said I shouldn't take a teddy bear with me because the other kids might laugh at me.

Mum said I couldn't get to sleep without Walter Bear.

I didn't say anything.

I hugged Walter even harder, sniffing in his sweet dusty smell.

Dad looked in his driving mirror and saw what I was doing.

'Tim!' said Dad, turning round to frown at me.

'Come on, you're doing it deliberately. Put that silly bear down. You'll be sucking your thumb next.'

He was watching me, not watching the road.

An old banger suddenly overtook us, making Dad swerve.

'Idiots!' Dad shouted, beeping his horn.

A girl leaned out the open window of the car and yelled right back.

'Slowpokes!' she shouted, and pulled a silly face.

'I hope that girl's not going on the adventure holiday,' said Mum.

I hoped she wasn't going on the adventure holiday too. I wished I wasn't going on the adventure holiday.

'Look, Tim! I think that's it,' Dad said excitedly.

I didn't look. I shut my eyes tight. I hoped if I wished hard enough I'd somehow whiz through space and end up safe at home.

But Dad was already parking the car.

Mum kept going on at me, asking why I had my eyes shut and did I feel sick, and I couldn't concentrate hard enough on my wishing.

• Tomorrow: 'Try and be a big boy'