The Amazing Mind of Alice Makin Read Online Free PDF Page A

a rainbow of colours into his hand. Spreads the sweets out.
    â€˜There’s a few mauve ones left. I s-saved them f-for you.’
    I take one.
    â€˜Why do you l-like the mauve ones?’
    â€˜â€™Cos they taste like they look.’
    He puts a Refresher into his mouth. Sucks it.
    â€˜Here, I know what I was goin’ to ask you. That day at the beginning of term, remember? Denis Spicer was chasing you down by the canal? He had you in his sights, then he stopped dead like he’d seen a ghost or something.’
    â€˜What about it?’
    â€˜Just wondered why he stopped.’
    Reggie bends down. Starts fiddling with a piece of wood. I can see he doesn’t want to answer.
    â€˜I don’t know. Maybe he thought he’d be l-late getting back.’
    â€˜What, Denis Spicer worried about being late for school? You must be joking.’
    â€˜Maybe he r-realized that I’d smash him to smithereens.’
    â€˜You and whose army?’
    He waves at someone behind me. I hear the sound of machine-gun fire. Then Norman’s voice.
    â€˜Oi! You two. Surrender or die.’

5
Norman’s knitted underwear
    H e’s sitting on the back of his dad’s milk cart, coming towards us. It pulls level. Norman grins at Reggie, recognizing his mum’s zig-zag handiwork. ‘Nice jumper, mate.’
    Norman’s mum likes knitting. He’s got knitted scarves and jumpers, ties and socks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wore knitted underwear. Norman wants to join the army when he leaves school. If he ever does, I reckon his mum will knit him a uniform. Even his face looks like it’s been knitted, although she must have dropped a few stitches here and there because his mouth is too big and his ears stick out a bit.
    Norman’s dad sits at the front of the milk cart. Flicks his whip at Daisy the horse without ever touching her, although her flanks twitch in anticipation. Mr Higginbottom still wears his army trousers, even though he left the army ten years ago. Norman always wears his camouflage jacket, though he’s never been in the army at all. And Daisy has an army beret perched on her head,with holes for her ears. She’s never been in the army either, but Norman once said that she was in the Horse Guards. As a joke – at least, I think it was – you never know with Norman. He yells across to me.
    â€˜â€™Ere, Alice, I’ve just shot your mum.’
    I shout back, ‘Her singing’s not that bad.’
    â€˜She’s sending messages to the enemy with her washing. Two pairs of knickers on the line, that’s a signal to attack.’
    Without turning around Norman’s dad says, ‘Watch your language, boy, or I’ll tan your bloody backside for yer.’
    Norman sticks his tongue out at his dad’s back, then takes aim and puts a bullet in it. Point blank. Points his rifle at me. ‘How do I know you’re not German spies too?’
    â€˜â€™Cos we go to the same school as you.’
    He ignores this. Fires. I duck. Funny how you do that – duck imaginary bullets from a wooden rifle.
    â€˜Tell your friend Veronica to meet me at the gasworks tonight. I’ll be wearing me new army belt.’
    â€˜All right, Norm . . . in your dreams.’
    â€˜If she doesn’t turn up, you die tomorrow. Firing squad at dawn.’
    â€˜Any particular reason?’
    â€˜Failing to obey an order.’
    â€˜Sorry, Norm. I’m busy at dawn tomorrow.’
    â€˜Me t-too.’
    â€˜I can make it Tuesday.’
    â€˜Right – don’t be late then.’
    Mr Higginbottom calls back something about Norman shutting his big gob. Flicks the whip. Daisy sighs, strains at the harness.
    â€˜See you in school on Monday.’
    â€˜See ya.’
    Norman is still firing, this time at a bunch of German spies disguised as sparrows. I watch him turn the corner. Daisy’s hooves ring into the distance and