Skull Island: Part two

By G. BRASSI, Illustrated by JEFFY JAMES

It looked as though Mum had thrown most of the inside of our house into the back of the station wagon. Our sleeping bags and pillows were on top, so we pulled them down and spread them around us to make a nest. Johnson got miffed about us taking up too much room, so he curled up among the boxes of food. Mum had the car radio on some crackly, far-away station and she was singing along. "I know where I'm going, and I know whats going with me…"

"Mu-um! That's terrible. Change the channel," I groaned. She loves singing, but Con and I are encouraging her to modernise. She pushed a button on the radio. The local station blurted out in its serious news voice: "… store robbery, there is evidence of an inside informer because gems and jewellery worth more than…" She pushed another button.

"Hey Mum, that sounded interesting. Turn it back, let's hear it," said Con.

Mum shook her head. "We're escaping from all that. No crime or crustiness, no nicking or nastiness. Instead, my dears, we are going to fill ourselves up to our ears with peace and tranquillity.""...and we will continue for the week ahead…" the radio went on.

Publisher: Scholastic $13.95

Age: 8-11 years