Is Read Online Free PDF Page B

homework.’
    â€˜Really?’
    â€˜Yeah. My brother’s mates do it for you, you see? I mean the maths we have to do is easy-peasy for them. They could do it standing on their heads.’
    â€˜Is that wise?’
    He ignored this and carried on.
    â€˜So what do you think then? Worth every penny I’d say.’
    â€˜I wondered when you would get round to the cost, Kevin.’
    â€˜Well, you can’t expect me to provide a service like that for nothing, can you?’
    â€˜Of course not. And so how much will it cost to have Brains United do my homework for me?’
    â€˜10p a week.’
    â€˜10p a week. You have got to be joking.’
    â€˜No. Why would I? I told you it was an offer you couldn’t refuse. And if you want more subjects I can do you a deal.’
    â€˜I thought you said it was 10p a week to have my homework done?’
    â€˜No, 10p for maths. You’ll have to pay extra for other subjects, course you will. I mean you could have Brains United Science…’
    â€˜Brains United Science – B.U.S. – that spells “bus” doesn’t it?’
    â€˜Does it?’ Kevin’s brain cells worked overtime and eventually he agreed with me. ‘Oh yeah, so it does. Yeah, well, as I say there’s that one … or you could choose Brains United Geography…’
    â€˜B.U.G. Bug.’
    â€˜Oh yeah! That’s funny isn’t it?’
    â€˜Hilarious Kevin. But I’m sorry, I really don’t want to waste my money, thank you.’
    â€˜You don’t know what you’re missing.’
    â€˜Oh believe me I do. I think having your brother’s mates doing my homework spells nothing but trouble. Talking of which, do you realise what Brains United Maths spells?’
    â€˜What d’you mean?’
    â€˜Just work it out. It sort of sums up what I think of your idea.’ I smiled and walked off, leaving Kevin frowning as his brain cells started grinding into action. And at that moment, thankfully, the bell went for the start of school.

4
    Under the River
    I hardly spoke with Is for the rest of the day – I was still feeling annoyed with her – and it wasn’t until we were getting our coats off the pegs that she came up to me with a sly sort of grin on her face.
    â€˜Rob,’ she said. I should have known something was up; she hardly ever called me Rob even though pretty well everyone else in my class did. She seemed to prefer ‘Robert’, which I thought sounded terribly old fashioned.
    â€˜Yes,’ I answered as petulantly as I could.
    â€˜Oh, don’t be like that,’ she said. ‘I’ve got an idea.’
    â€˜Well?’ I tried to sound totally uninterested.
    â€˜You know that bridge…’
    â€˜Yes.’
    Then her face became wreathed in smiles.
    â€˜Oh, Rob, you are funny! I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry I was so ungrateful this morning – really!’
    â€˜It’s just that…’ I began, ‘well I couldn’t understand your attitude, that’s all. I mean there’s this bridge, large as life, just like you drew. And you don’t seem interested. If that had been me, I’d have taken it and rammed it right down old Phillips’ throat, the way he went on at you.’
    â€˜You’d have a job!’
    â€˜You know what I mean.’
    â€˜Yes, but it doesn’t matter. Really it doesn’t. I don’t have to prove anything to Mr Phillips. What’s he know about bridges anyway?’
    â€˜Not as much as you, obviously.’
    â€˜Precisely.’ The way she said the word sounded so smug that if it had come from anyone else I’d have thought they were being really big headed. But somehow, with Is, I didn’t think that of her. Coming from her it was, well, very natural. She wasn’t boasting, simply stating a fact.
    â€˜Like I said,’ she continued, ‘when that bridge was built,