Secret Friends Read Online Free PDF Page B

You can do it.”
    Antonia’s breath hissed out with relief. Then realising it was going to be a nightmare if she had to worry about Lauren telling on her all day, she had a brainwave. She would
go
and confess to Mum herself; far better to be grounded for owning up than because she’d been snitched on by Lauren. Antonia could barely concentrate during maths and at playtime she was first out of the classroom. She ran all the way to the office.
    “Walk,” bellowed Mr Cordier, the head teacher, coming out of his room. “Oh, it’s youAntonia. Funny, I thought a herd of buffalo was travelling past.”
    Giggling, Antonia slowed to a fast walk. She was nervous about telling Mum she’d broken her promise, but at the same time she was keen to get it over with. There was a queue at the office. Antonia waited impatiently, hopping from foot to foot and when her turn came she was so anxious her tongue tripped over her words. To her enormous relief Mum wasn’t cross.
    “Because you were helping a friend
and
you owned up. But please don’t disobey me or Dad again,” she added.
    Antonia could hardly look at Mum. If Spirit called then she would be forced to disobey both her parents.
    “Cheer up,” said Mum, mistaking her crestfallen look. “It’s not like you’ll be missing anything. The police are temporarily closing all the beaches in the area to stop the looting. I heard it on the news before Jessica and I left this morning. Extra police are being drafted in to keep people away. Anyone found on a local beach will be prosecuted.”
    “Prosecuted?” Antonia’s insides turned to ice.
    “Taken to court,” said Mum. “Run along now. I’m too busy to stand here chatting to you all day.”
    Pulling herself together Antonia went outside. She spent the last few minutes of playtime making it up to Sophie, who was not pleased that Antonia had disappeared withoutsaying where she was going and even less pleased that she’d told her mum about the paintbrushes.
    “That means I’ll have to tell my mum now, just in case your mum mentions it,” Sophie complained.
    “Your mum will be fine,” said Antonia automatically. “You’ll feel much better once you’ve told the truth.”
    “Then why don’t you feel better?” asked Sophie grumpily. “You’re as white as a ghost.”
    “I’ve got a headache,” said Antonia, rubbing her forehead. What if Spirit called her now? How on earth would she answer his call with police everywhere and all the beaches closed? Crossing her fingers tightly Antonia hoped that Spirit wouldn’t need her help.

Chapter Eight
    C ai and Antonia were on their way to Sea Watch. Cai was telling Antonia about his surfing lesson the weekend before.
    “Then I fell off the surfboard, washed up on the beach and landed next to a lady who screamed and dropped her ice cream on her husband,” Cai chuckled.
    “That is so funny,” Antonia giggled. “Are you going to try surfing again? It’s brilliant fun once you get the hang of it.”
    “Course I’m going to try again,” said Cai. “I don’t give up that easily. You’d better watch out. It won’t be long before I’m as good as you.”
    “Then we can surf together,” said Antonia enthusiastically. Surfing with Cai would be brilliant. He was great fun to be with. “Only we can’t surf now the beaches are closed.”
    “That won’t be for long,” said Cai. “There can’t be much more stuff to come ashore. Who’s that on Aunty Claudia’s drive? He doesn’t look very happy.”
    A middle-aged man with balding hair and a paunch was climbing into a green car. Hisface was like a thundercloud. He slammed the door and snapped on his seat belt. As Antonia stared at the man a feeling of unease came over her. It made her skin prickle with goose bumps. The car engine roared to life and the man took off, his wheels spinning gravel into the flowerbed. Cai broke into a run and Antonia followed him into the back garden. Side by side they raced down the