This week's title: Wild Things - Baboon Rock
Author:Elizabeth Laird
Publisher: Macmillan, $10.95
Age group:10-12 years
She bent down absent-mindedly to stroke his silky feathers.
'Why should I bother?' she whispered fiercely.
She looked up. Sounds were coming from next door. She stood up and pushed her way through the bushes to the fence. She peered
through it.
'Tom!' she called out. 'Are you there?'
A boy of about the same age stuck his head out of an upstairs window.
'Hang on a minute,' he said, and disappeared.
He came round the side of the house a few seconds later and went up to the fence.
'I've been making your birthday present,' he said, looking pleased with himself.
Afra's scowl lifted.
'What is it?'
'You don't think I'm going to tell you, do you?' said Tom. 'It's a surprise. Where's Joseph?'
'Not back from school yet.'
Afra kicked irritably at the loose earth by the fence.
'What's the matter?' said Tom. 'I thought you were all excited about going off to the country for the weekend?' 'I am,' said Afra. 'Nothing's the matter. It's just ... oh, I don't know.'
'Just what?'
'My aunt's coming tonight from America.'
Tom looked mystified.
Tomorrow: Loads of presents.
