Alice-Miranda to the Rescue Read Online Free PDF Page B

behind her, then relayed the story about Millie’s punishment.
    Sloane shook her head. ‘I can’t believe Caprice set her up again – and after you practically saved her life when we were in Zermatt. I just don’t get her at all.’
    â€˜Do you know where she is?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜At some singing lesson with Mr Trout and Mr Lipp,’ Sloane said, rolling her eyes. ‘I’m surprised you haven’t heard all about the extra rehearsals she has to attend for the National Eisteddfod at the end of the term. She’s talked about it non-stop since we came back to school.’
    â€˜I’m going to help Millie clean the lab after dinner,’ Alice-Miranda said. ‘Do you want to give us a hand?’
    â€˜I’d love to, but if I don’t finish this book Miss Reedy will have me in detention for the rest of the term. It’s the class novel and I should have read it over the break. Sorry,’ Sloane said, frowning. ‘I know you don’t believe in revenge, Alice-Miranda, but we have to do something about Caprice. The more she gets away with things the worse she behaves,’ Sloane said, swivelling her chair.
    Alice-Miranda sighed. ‘I don’t know what it is with her and Millie.’
    â€˜She’s jealous,’ Sloane said. ‘I was the same when I first arrived. You and Millie are so close and I’d never had that sort of friendship with anyone.’
    â€˜But now you do and Caprice could too,’ Alice-Miranda said, her brow wrinkling.
    â€˜That’s true, but not everyone is as kind as you are, Alice-Miranda, and not everyone is willing to share their friends, either,’ Sloane said.
    Alice-Miranda bit her lip. ‘I just don’t know what more we can do. She was at the palace and she was skiing with us.’
    Sloane stood up and walked to the window. She stared into the garden, deep in thought. ‘All that happened by accident. Caprice wasn’t really invited, so she knows that we just put up with her and that’swhy she’s so mean to us and especially to Millie. And remember, it was really you she was after at camp because she thought you were going to win the medal. She used Millie to try to get to you, which was pretty evil, and I suppose when her plan didn’t work, Millie became her target. Deep down I’m sure she knows we’d rather she wasn’t here,’ Sloane said. The girl spun around to face Alice-Miranda, her eyes wide. ‘Wow! Did I actually work all that out?’
    Alice-Miranda grinned at the girl. ‘Sloane Sykes, I think that you just might be the smartest one of all of us.’

Becca Finchley sat at the kitchen table sipping tea from a china mug. She tapped her pen on the page and stared at the rosettes that papered the walls. The dog on her lap stirred and sighed deeply before falling back to sleep. Becca began to fill out the form. Could she really do it without him? He’d want her to – that much she was sure of – but the thought of being there without him made the ache in her chest worse. She wondered if seeing everyone would just make things harder. They’d be lovely, of course, andsympathetic, but that wouldn’t bring her husband back.
    The paperwork was due on Friday, along with the hefty entrance fee. But this was Chudleigh’s and maybe her last hurrah. As Becca signed her name on the bottom of the page, she heard the gate followed by the sound of running feet. The front door slammed as Daniel arrived home from school.
    â€˜Mum!’ he shouted. ‘Where are you?’
    â€˜In here,’ Becca called, and waited for the hurricane to reach the kitchen. Sure enough, seconds later, her only child flew into the room, his face shiny and red. He poured a glass of water and grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl before walking over to give her a kiss.
    â€˜How was your day?’ he asked.
    Becca grabbed him around the middle