Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman

Author:Morris Gleitzman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781742283722
Publisher: Penguin Group Australia
Published: 2009-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

17

In a flash I see what’s happened.

Our government’s got spies everywhere. Mum taught us about it in school. I thought she was exaggerating, but now I realise she’s right. They must be here in the camp and they’ve spotted Dad and told the local police to arrest him.

I stand frozen, frantically trying to think how to help Dad. The police all have guns. Any sudden movements could be fatal. But I have to do something because if I don’t, Bibi will, and I’d rather have me shot than her.

I walk slowly towards the police, trying not to let fear choke my voice.

‘Don’t arrest him,’ I plead. ‘We’re going to Australia. Dad won’t start another school before we leave, honest.’

The four policemen look at me with narrow eyes.

‘Please,’ I beg. ‘He’s sold the taxi so he won’t be tempted to drive without brake lights again.’

Now I’m closer I can see Dad’s expression. As I expected, he’s giving pleading looks. But not to the police. To me.

I stop, confused. Mum appears at my side and puts her arm round me.

‘Jamal,’ she murmurs. ‘It’s alright.’

I turn to ask her what’s going on. But I don’t because I’m so surprised at what I see.

Mum’s face is bare. She’s got no clothes on her face at all. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her out of doors with a bare face. I don’t blame her. At a time like this I wouldn’t be thinking about getting dressed properly either.

Mum is looking anxiously at Dad, and I look back at him too. Just in time to see him give one of the policemen a huge handful of paper money.

Now I understand.

Dad’s not being arrested.

He’s paying the police not to arrest him.

Thank God.

But where did he get so much money? He must have sold the taxi for more than I thought. The people who bought it mustn’t have noticed that one of the doors was green underneath and the back seat smelt of burnt oily rags and the floor was covered with breadcrumbs.

I watch the policeman count the money. The other officers are all watching closely too, in case he makes a mistake. The policeman finishes counting, puts the money inside his shirt, says something to Dad, then walks away with the other officers.

The people nearby are all hiding in their tents.

‘I hate those police,’ hisses Bibi. ‘I hope they spend all that money on dried figs and get the plops.’

I give Bibi a look. I’ve warned her about insulting referees and this is even more dangerous.

Dad comes over to us, tense and worried.

‘Don’t worry, Dad,’ I say. ‘They’ve gone.’

That doesn’t seem to cheer him up, and suddenly I realise why. What if they come back tomorrow to arrest him again? Or the day after? Or some of the other officers down at the police station hear about this and want some money too?

Dad hasn’t got any more money.

I stare at my soccer ball and wonder if I can sell it for enough money to save Dad.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.