There's a Hamster in my Pocket Read Online Free PDF Page B

Wall. On Monday morning the new furniture would arrive, and on Monday evening Auntie Shabnam would take up residence.
    As far as Killer Queen was concerned, we’d reached the end of the road.
    I held her against my cheek. Her fur was silk-soft and she smelled of fishy milk. “There’s nowhere left for you to hide,” I told her. “And I’ve no more food for you. Andyou’re making Nani ill. I can’t keep you. I just can’t. . .”
    Killer Queen meowed pathetically and watched, cross-eyed, as I gave her box a bit of a clean. Feeling incredibly sorry for myself, I lifted her back in, got dressed, and went downstairs to begin the hunt for the heart-shaped key.
    I hunted everywhere. I climbed on chairs and ran my hands along every shelf. I tipped out every vase and every jar. I crawled under tables, searched inside drawers, and rummaged down the backs of settees and armchairs. I even felt inside the toes of ancient shoes and slippers. That key was
nowhere
.
    By this time, things were beginning to stir upstairs. In double-quick time, I set the breakfast table, and by the time Mum and Dad appeared with Bilal, the tea was bubbling on the stove and the bread was in the toaster.
    When everyone was settled round the table, I ran back upstairs and shifted Killer Queen into my bedroom. Kylie had given me a ball with a bell inside which belonged to one of the Papillons, and I threw it in the air and watched Killer Queen pounce on it, then roll onto her back and shred it with her back claws.
    I wished I could play with her all morning, but of course I couldn’t. Before you could say ‘executive office’, Mum and Dad and the wallpapering table were on their way up. I threw Killer Queen’s ball one last time,then went downstairs to keep Nani and Bilal company, and to take my mind off things.

    All week, Nani had been playing a game with Bilal which involved a load of plastic tubs. Every time he put a small tub inside a bigger tub, Nani would say, “
In
, Bilal. Say
in
,” and every time he tipped one out, she would say “
Out
, Bilal. Say
out
.”
    The game was incredibly tedious, and Bilal only ever made gurgling noises, but Nani kept on and on at it. I suspected anything was better than thinking about red and gold zigzags and Auntie Shabnam. I sat on the settee beside Nani and we watched Bilal.
    â€œAny progress?” I asked.
    Nani smiled and shook her head. “The best things in life,” she said solemnly, “take time.
Out,
Bilal.”
    I sat for a bit, watching Bilal dribble into his tubs. Then, cautiously, I said, “You know the key for the puzzle box, Nani? I don’t suppose you have any idea. . .?”
    Nani frowned and chewed the inside of her cheek. Then she shook her head.
    â€œIf you don’t mind,” I went on, “I’d like to give the box to Kylie’s mum for her fortieth birthday.”
    To my relief, Nani’s face softened a little. “Go ahead, Yosser,” she said. “And I hope it brings her more joy than it brought
me
.
In
, Bilal.”
    ***
    By lunchtime I’d had more than enough of the
In/Out
game, so I changed into my very best jeans and my turquoise-and-silver kameez, and my glitziest turquoise hijab. I found an umbrella, and went to Kylie’s house to see if she needed help with the ‘do’.
    When Kylie opened the door, she looked completely stressed out. Her hair was sticking straight up, and there were streaks of purple glittery stuff on it, and on her arms and her face.

    She had two Papillons clamped to her chest. Another two were running in and out between her legs. Behindher, three more leapt up and down like demented jack-in-the-boxes. Every single dog was barking fit to burst.
    â€œWe usually keep the Papillons in the dining room,” Kylie explained, “but we’ve set out the buffet there. Can’t trust them with a roomful of canapés. . .” And she handed