The Amazing Mind of Alice Makin Read Online Free PDF

die.

6
Bonfires, bother and . . .
    â€˜ L ook out!’
    Mile End Underground station empties, a volcano spitting lava people. A gloomy afternoon. November grey. Streets full of people too busy talking to notice us. I try to get out of the way. Can’t.
    Then they notice. Start moaning. ‘Kids . . . under your feet when you don’t want them. Never find ’em when you do.’
    We fight the current of suits and bowler hats, overalls and raincoats. People plodding, sour-faced. But we don’t care. We’ve important things to do. We’re heading for Giovanni’s shop to get our fireworks.
    â€˜It’s going to be a great fireworks night.’
    â€˜Amazing.’
    â€˜F-fantastic.’
    I sense a battle. ‘Brilliant.’
    â€˜W-wonderful.’
    â€˜Amazing.’
    â€˜You’ve h-had that.’
    â€˜All right. Tremendous.’
    He pauses. ‘Incr-credible.’
    We cross sluggish traffic. Cars cough. Limp lazily to a stop at traffic lights. Breathe cloudy fumes. Mist on mist.
    I try to buy some thinking time. ‘Good film on at the Odeon.’
    He’s not having it. ‘I w-win.’
    â€˜No, you don’t. I was just saying there’s a good film on at the Odeon.’
    â€˜Only to give yourself t-time to think of a word. The rule is, you don’t think.’
    Unbelievably, a word slides in.
    â€˜All right. Unbelievable.’
    It’s as we turn into Victoria Park Road that I catch sight of them out of the corner of my eye. My heart sinks, splashes annoyance.
    Reggie’s still playing.
    â€˜S-superb.’
    When I see the Spicers I’m immediately on the alert. Somewhere in my head, a blue light flashes. A siren whines. My hand tightens on the money in my pocket. We’ve collected five shillings, taking our Guy Fawkes dummy around the streets. It was a really good one – it’s amazing how realistic a few sacks stuffed with newspapers, dressed in one of Granddad’s old waistcoats and one of Mum’s old hats can look. Mind you, I don’t think the real Guy Fawkes would have had an old nylon stocking around his neck to keep his stuffing in. Five shillings is a lot ofmoney. We’ve split it – half a crown each.
    â€˜You got your money?’
    â€˜Get on with the g-game.’
    â€˜I give up. You win. Now, have you got your money?’
    He nods.
    â€˜Well, hold on to it. The Spicers are over the road.’
    The Spicers are as broad as they are tall. If they joined Norman’s army they’d be the tanks. Push and Shove. Tight eyes. Tight lips. Crew cuts. Even their hair looks dangerous.
    They’re busy with something. Got their backs to us. They huddle together. Bodies as shields.
    â€˜What they d-doing?’
    We should really walk straight past, get out while the going’s good. Mind our own business.
    â€˜They’re trying to get gum out of that machine without putting any money in.’
    â€˜How d-do you know?’
    â€˜I’ve seen ’em do it before.’
    It looks like they’re succeeding. As we watch, their pockets begin to bulge and the bubble gum machine starts to empty.
    â€˜W-what shall we do?’
    â€˜Just mind our own business?’
    â€˜Or w-we could stop them.’
    â€˜And get thumped.’
    â€˜Depends how w-we do it.’
    â€˜Got any suggestions?’
    â€˜W-we could t-tell the shopkeeper.’
    â€˜And get thumped.’
    â€˜Or w-we could draw attention to them.’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜Simple.’
    He cups his hands to his mouth. Shouts. Loudly. ‘W-what you two d-doing?’
    Denis spins around. Furious.
    I glare at Reggie. ‘Oh, great, we’re gonna die trying to save a bubble gum machine.’
    Denis looks over at us. Draws a finger across his throat. Looks up and down the street. Sticks his hands in his pockets and whistles with what he thinks is an innocent look. Couldn’t