Monkey Come Home Read Online Free PDF

blurted.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Yes you did! You told them all about Earl and betrayed us and you’re a dirty double-crossing rat!’
    ‘No Avery. Let your father speak.’ Mum tried to calm me down, but it was too late.
    ‘AAAARGH!’ I screamed and ran headfirst into the sofa and punched the cushions till my fists stung.

Baffled

    M um waited for me to settle down before she continued.
    ‘I took Earl to the surgery this morning and had his skull X-rayed. It confirmed that those bumps are electrodes. So your father and I decided that the best thing was to take him to where he belongs.’
    ‘But he doesn’t belong in a lab,’ Serenity said.
    ‘Or stuffed in a museum,’ I added.
    ‘I know,’ Mum said. ‘That’s why before Cravenarrived I took him to Sam’s place.’
    I pulled my head out from between the cushions. ‘Seriously?’
    ‘Yes, seriously,’ Dad said.
    ‘I want to see him.’
    ‘You will. But we have to let things cool down a bit first. Craven asked me a lot of questions and I told him as many lies. I think I put him off the scent for a while but I have no doubt he’ll be in One Pebble Bay for a bit longer.’
    ‘You lied to save Earl. What made you do it?’
    ‘The fridge magnet,’ Dad said. ‘It triggered my memory of the morning of your fourth birthday. You loved that toy monkey from the moment you tore off the wrapping. You asked me what his name was, so I said the first thing that came to my mind — Earl.’
    ‘It’s a weird name for a monkey,’ Serenity said. ‘Why not Sparky or Coco?’
    ‘Strangely enough, Earl was the name of a real monkey that I met a long time ago.’
    ‘What?’ I said, completely baffled.
    ‘I think all of you should get comfortable,’ Dad said. ‘I’ve got a story to tell you.’

Big Top

    ‘ M ore than thirty years ago, my father, your Pop, took me to a travelling circus. I would have been about the same age that you are now, Avery. Back in those days, they had lions and tigers and elephants, as well as the human performers. There was a family of trapeze artists called the Flying Spandellos. The youngest daughter, who was a really good sort, could spin on the end of a rope, holding onto it only with her teeth. I think that’s why I became a dentist.’

    ‘Stick to the point,’ Mum said.
    ‘There was a strongman who could lift up the clown car with all of the clowns in it and a human cannonball who was shot clear out of the tent. The ringmaster threw knives and cracked whips. He also performed a few warm-up tricks with balloons and then asked for volunteers from the audience. Well, your Pop put his hand up for me and I got chosen.’
    ‘Barry, you’re going off on a tangent again,’ Mum said.
    ‘Okay. I’ll tell you about that later, kids. Despite all of the magnificent spectacles that took place under the big top, my favourite part of the circus was the sideshow afterwards. There was a conjuror called Fingers Filipinski who could pull silver coins out of his nostrils and swallow live goldfish. His tricks defied explanation because he did it all up close in front of us.’
    ‘Please get on with it, Dad,’ Serenity said.
    ‘Okay. Be patient, we’re almost there. For his grand finale he made all the mens’ watches and all the ladies’ jewellery disappear. Then he pretended that the show was over and started packing up. Some sucker in the crowd started yelling abuse at him and a couple of others joined in. Right on cue, Fingers’ sidekick, a monkey called Earl, appeared wearing the missing jewellery and watches. Of course everybody laughed. Some people laughed at the hothead who had lost his temper, some laughed with relief and some at the sight of the cute little monkey adorned with gold. The funniest thing was that the monkey had pilfered everything in the first place, stealthilymoving through the crowd while Fingers had kept them distracted with his tricks. He was probably the smartest monkey on the planet.’
    ‘That’s just like our