So Feral! Read Online Free PDF Page B

out loud. ‘Ten o’clock. Yes!’ he shouted, leaping into the air. He stared at the paper again. ‘Col … col-on-os-co-py. What’s that?’
    ‘It’s where they shove a mirror up your bum,’ said Thomas.
    ‘You’re making that up!’ said Gavin.
    ‘And look at you from your testicles to your tonsils.’
    ‘Mum would never do that!’ He pulled a face. ‘Even to Mr Bellows.’
    ‘It’s how they check for cancer,’ said Thomas. ‘Trust me. Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock your Mr Bellows will be bottoms-up in bye-bye land.’
    Gavin’s eyes sparkled. ‘And I will be burying a baby!’
    The next morning when Gavin heard his mother leave for work he got up and dressed in khaki pants and a brown jumper.
    The perfect camouflage for baby burying, he thought. He looked at his watch. Only five hours to go!
    Deciding to skip breakfast, Gavin crept out of thehouse, desperate to make his escape without disturbing his father. His plan was to get to Shellingham’s nursery nice and early so he could watch Mr Bellows leave for the hospital. He mentioned this to no one, not even Marty and Leo. He’d be much less conspicuous on his own.
    Gavin arrived at Shellingham’s at eight o’clock.
    Plenty of time, he thought.
    He slid behind a large potted palm and leant against the wall to wait. He and a salesman wearing a bow tie were the only ones there. The salesman was flitting from plant to plant with a yellow watering can, reminding Gavin of the time he had been a bumblebee in the kindergarten concert. From flower to flower he had flown — till his antennae got stuck in the petal of William Blake’s costume. Yanking on it was a big mistake. The entire flower costume came off, leaving poor William standing in his undies. Gavin chuckled at the memory, then froze as the watering can hovered close by.
    Water poured onto his back. Gavin could feel it trickling down his spine and into his pants but he dared not move.
    Forty minutes passed and nothing happened unless you count aching feet and an icy bottom and back. More and more staff arrived for work.
    Maybe I’ve got it wrong, he thought. Or maybe Mr Bellows has changed his mind.
    Just as Gavin was about to give in and turn back for home he saw the front door open and the manhimself come rushing out. Gavin could see that Mr Bellows was trying to lock the door with a key but all the while he was jiggling up and down on his toes, looking exceedingly agitated. Gavin frowned.
    Down the path came Mr Bellows when all of a sudden he reared up, swung around clutching his bottom and dashed back upstairs.
    He’s walking like he’s got a cactus up his bum, thought Gavin. ‘What’re you doing, you old git?!’ he exclaimed.
    ‘Can I help you?’ a salesman interrupted. It was the one with the bow tie.
    Gavin’s feet rose off the ground and he turned a deep red. ‘Just looking,’ he said, and grabbing at a dangling tag he pretended to inspect the price.
    ‘If you require assistance, all you need to do is ask,’ said the salesman, removing the tag from Gavin’s fingers and turning it the right way round.
    ‘Thank you,’ mumbled Gavin, thinking of what the man could do with his stupid bow tie. The salesman walked away. Gavin swung back to his surveillance with relief.
    There was no sign of Mr Bellows.
    Oh, no, thought Gavin. I don’t know if he’s left or still inside.
    He glanced at his watch. Nine twenty. Mr Bellows should have been at the hospital by now.
    Just at that moment the door opened and Mr Bellows came out. Gavin watched him repeatthe sequence. Only this time he did not turn back at the gate but kept on, round the corner, along the fence and down the street.
    Baby, here I come! thought Gavin.

Chapter Five
    Gavin crossed the street, pushed open the gate and cruised into the garden looking as casual as he could, but his heart was pounding so hard he was sure it could be seen thumping through his jumper. Summoning up his courage, he made his way down the side