Belly Flop Read Online Free PDF Page B

minutes.
    That’s why I’m glad you’re not letting yourself be distracted at the moment while Mr Tristos is out taking a phone call and Danielle Wicks is standing on my desk flapping her arms.
    I reckon she’s only doing it to impress Carla Fiami.
    Carla’s ignoring her, like me.
    OK, I have got a few tears in my eyes, but that’s normal when you’re in a hated family.
    No big deal.
    Except I am having second thoughts about letting the Malleys bash me up.
    I don’t reckon these kids are capable of feeling sorry for a person.
    Not unless that person’s got internal injuries and an ear ripped off, and I’m just not prepared to go that far.
    Don’t worry Doug, I’ve worked out how to make it home without Troy and Brent Malley getting me.
    I’ve just remembered a very wise thing Gran once told me.
    â€˜Tough kids,’ she said, ‘usually can’t run as fast as scared kids.’
    She’s right, as long as the scared kids get a decent start.

 
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    As soon as the bell went I was out of my seat, out of the room and first to the pegs.
    But even as I was grabbing my bag I heard someone come up behind me.
    My heart started thumping louder than a water pipe when the tank’s empty.
    I turned round.
    It wasn’t Troy Malley.
    Or Brent.
    It was Carla Fiami.
    My heart kept thumping.
    Carla Fiami may not be as tough as the Malleys but she’s almost as vicious.
    And she does most of it with words.
    â€˜Bit slack, this dopey guardian angel of yours, eh?’ she said.
    Carla’s got very black eyes with curly hair hanging over them and they glint in a way that makes most people really nervous.
    I thought of explaining that you’re not slack, Doug, just busy, but I didn’t.
    I reckoned she was just filling in time till the Malleys arrived so she could make sarcastic comments about their punching technique while they pounded me into sheep pellets.
    Instead she grabbed me and said ‘Come on’ and dragged me outside.
    I wanted to sprint for the gate, but it was too late.
    Kids were coming out of all the other classrooms, including Troy and Brent’s.
    Carla dragged me round the back of the school hall.
    â€˜Climb up,’ she said.
    I stared at her.
    The only way up was the drainpipe, but it collapsed ages ago when Paul Keighley’s big brother tried to climb it and it’s been leaning against the wall ever since.
    Carla pushed it to one side.
    Behind it, hanging from the gutter bracket, was a rope.
    â€˜Climb up and lie on the roof till they’ve gone,’ said Carla. ‘I did it last week when Ms Dorrit was after me. Or are you scared of heights?’
    I opened my mouth to tell her that one of my ancestors could do backward dives off the high board at the town pool, then decided it wasn’t a good time.
    I started climbing the rope.
    Carla gave me a push up.
    â€˜Guardian angel,’ she snorted. ‘You must be a complete dope.’
    It wasn’t a good time for an argument either, but I had to say something.
    â€˜No I’m not,’ I said.
    â€˜Dreamland,’ she said. ‘Get real.’
    â€˜What makes you the expert?’ I said.
    â€˜I had a guardian angel for seven years,’ she said, ‘then he dumped me.’
    I almost fell off the rope.
    I opened my mouth to ask her at least fifty questions but she told me to save my breath for climbing.
    After nearly bursting both lungs and a kneecap, I finally got up here on the roof and stared down at her.
    â€˜Why?’ I panted.
    She didn’t get my drift.
    I meant why did her guardian angel dump her, but Carla thought I meant why was she helping me.
    â€˜Cause you invited me to your party,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t come cause I was busy, plus I wouldn’t be seen dead at your place, but thanks.’
    Before I could say anything she ran off.
    I can’t stop thinking about what she said.
    Even