Cat Mummy Read Online Free PDF Page B

again, in time for tea.
    ‘Is that the latest fashion?’ Dad said warily, peering at me.
    ‘Oh Dad, don’t be silly,’ I said. ‘I’m being a fairy, right?’
    I did a daft pointy-toe dance to demonstrate.
    Dad and Gran and Grandad had a muttered conference while I twirled.
    ‘She seems to have perked up astonishingly.’
    ‘She didn’t even ask if there were any phone calls about Mabel.’
    ‘I came home early in case she wanted to do another search of the neighbourhood, but it seems a shame to suggest it now.’
    It was easier if they all thought me a heartless baby who’d forgotten all about Mabel, but I hated having to act the part, especially when Gran pandered to me and gave me an extra fairy cake at tea.
    We were all still sitting at the table when the doorbell rang. Gran went to answer it and came back into the living room . . . with Miss Smith!
    ‘I’m so sorry! I’ve interrupted you when you’re having your meal,’ said Miss Smith.

    ‘Not at all! We’ve finished anyway. Let me get you a cup of tea or coffee, Miss Smith,’ said Dad, leaping up.
    ‘I’ll do it, dear,’ said Gran. She doesn’t like anyone helping her in the kitchen.
    Grandad was looking at me, eyebrows raised.
    ‘Is our Verity in a spot of bother at school, Miss Smith?’ he asked.
    Gran frowned.
    ‘Verity? What have you been up to? Go and put a clean school frock on, dear. Whatever will Miss Smith think seeing you in your funny fairy outfit?’
    ‘Oh no, please. You look sweet, Verity,’ said Miss Smith. ‘Don’t worry, Verity’s not in any trouble at all. I just came round because Verity dropped her purse. It fell out of her school bag and rolled under a desk. I brought it round in case you were worried about it.’
    ‘How kind of you,’ said Dad. ‘Say thank you, Verity.’
    ‘I knew it was silly taking that broken bag to school. You’ll take your duffle bag tomorrow,’ said Gran.
    ‘I can’t!’
    They all looked at me.
    ‘I mean . . . I lost my duffle bag.’
    ‘Don’t be silly, Verity, of course you haven’t lost it,’ said Gran. ‘And
do
go and put some decent clothes on, dear.’
    ‘I don’t think I’ve got any clean clothes, Gran.’
    Gran frowned at me.
    ‘Verity! What’s the matter with you? There’s at least ten different clean outfits hanging in your wardrobe. Now go and put something on
at once
!’
    Gran doesn’t often get cross, but when she uses that tone you can’t argue with her.
    I looked desperately at Grandad.

    ‘Can’t I stay in my fairy frock, Grandad?’ I pleaded.
    Grandad tutted at me. ‘Do as Gran says, darling,’ he said.
    I looked at Dad.
    ‘Upstairs, Verity. Quick sharp,’ said Dad.
    So I went upstairs, very very slowly. I stopped to listen halfway up.
    ‘That’s not like our Verity. She’s usually such a good little girl, does as she’s told and never any arguing.’
    ‘Of course she’s had a worrying time, lately.’

    ‘Has she seemed upset at school, Miss Smith?’
    ‘Well yes, she hasn’t been her usual self at all. I agree, she’s generally a lovely cheery little girl, a total joy to teach. But of course when she’s had such a devastatingly terrible bereavement to deal with––’
    ‘Bereavement?’ said Dad. ‘We don’t know for sure that Mabel’s dead.’
    ‘We’ve done our best to advertise.’
    ‘She might come back yet. It’s a bit soon to give up hope – though she’s never run away before.’
    ‘But . . . I thought . . . Verity said . . . so her mum’s left home?’ said Miss Smith.
    ‘Her
mum
?’ said Gran. ‘No no, my daughter passed away long ago.’
    ‘When our little Verity was born,’ said Grandad.
    ‘Has Verity been talking about her mum at school, Miss Smith?’ said Dad. ‘I think she’s been dreaming about her. It’s been worrying me a lot. Perhaps you can help us. We’ve never been very good at talking about it––’
    ‘It’s too upsetting,’ said Gran.
    ‘Of course she didn’t ever