Flying the Coop Read Online Free PDF Page A

I wanted to buy it.’ Chris paused, reflecting that it sounded even less rational spoken out loud. ‘And I made an offer.’
    â€˜You made an offer?’ repeated Grace, raising her eyebrows in disbelief. ‘On a farm ?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Chris sighed. ‘But you don’t have to worry about it. That’s what I keep trying to tell your brother. The offer I made was so low that there’s no way they’ll accept it. So we can just put it down to temporary insanity on my part, and go on as normal.’
    â€˜They’re gonna accept it,’ Michael said to his sister confidingly. ‘And don’t forget I’ve got first dibs on the barn.’
    â€˜How come he gets the barn?’
    â€˜No-one’s getting the barn,’ Chris said with exasperation, ‘because we’re not buying the farm!’
    â€˜I’m the eldest, I should get the barn! In fact–’ Grace’s eyes narrowed for a second – ‘I really need a barn. You don’t.’
    â€˜But I saw it first!’
    â€˜How come he saw it first?’ Grace looked at her mother accusingly. ‘That’s not fair. Where was I?’
    â€˜In the car. And he didn’t actually see anything, it was only a picture in a window.’ Chris frowned and then waved her hand impatiently. ‘Anyway, none of this matters because we’re not moving !’
    â€˜Well, it doesn’t count then.’ Grace pointed her finger atMichael. ‘Because it was only a picture. It only counts when you get there. So first one to the barn gets it.’
    â€˜Not fair,’ wailed Michael, ‘you’re faster than me!’
    â€˜IT DOESN’T MATTER!’ yelled Chris, feeling her temper slip rapidly. ‘DO YOU HEAR ME? BECAUSE WE’RE NOT BUYING A BLOODY FARM!’
    As usual, Chris’s loss of control immediately quelled all noise in the vicinity. Even the clock seemed to stop ticking. The two children froze, mid-argument, long experience having taught them that this was the best reaction to such situations. But, as their mother opened her mouth to contribute the next instalment, the telephone rang and broke the spell. They all looked at the cordless perched in its base by the bench, and then Michael, who had lately become very attached to answering the phone, made a dive for it. In the meantime, Chris hauled her temper back in and took a few deep breaths to regain control. Then, before her son could actually speak, she grabbed his wrist with one hand and extricated the phone with the other.
    â€˜Hello?’
    â€˜Is it them?’ Michael asked excitedly, rubbing his wrist. ‘Is it the farm people?’
    â€˜Shhh! Hello?’
    â€˜Ah, hello? Mrs Beggs? Christin Beggs?’
    â€˜Speaking,’ replied Chris, closing her eyes briefly to send up a prayer to whatever higher power looked out for those whose senses temporarily abandoned them.
    â€˜This is Frank McNeal, from Fielders Real Estate. We met this afternoon?’
    â€˜Yes, yes.’ Chris crossed her fingers and then, for good measure, managed to cross her toes inside her shoes as well. ‘I remember you. Any news?’
    â€˜She’s crossing her fingers, Grace!’ Michael whispered loudly. ‘C’mon, we better cross ours too!’
    â€˜Well, I spoke to the vendors, and put your offer to them . . .’
    â€˜Yes?’ prompted Chris nervously, as cramp started to set in to her toes. ‘And?’
    â€˜They were, ah, hoping for more, you know. So they wanted me to ask if that was your final offer.’
    â€˜Unfortunately, yes.’ Chris started to smile with relief, which immediately caused Michael to clench one fist and thump it into the air in a triumphant gesture. So Chris started shaking her head frenetically, and mouthing the word ‘no’. Michael, who was now doing his version of an Indian victory dance, ignored her completely but Grace, who had