Double Danger by Summer Waters

Author:Summer Waters [Waters, Summer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-00-734074-3
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2009-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

I wasn’t fair to blame Jessica for the head lice, but it took Antonia a lot of effort not to be grumpy with her. Poor Jessica was so miserable and she couldn’t stop scratching her head. Antonia finished her breakfast quickly, then telephoned Sea Watch to let them know she wouldn’t be coming until later and to wish everyone luck with releasing the birds. She was glad she did. Claudia assured her there would be no great guillemot release until she arrived.

“Just get here when you can,” she said.

Antonia cheered up immediately. She was so pleased that she wasn’t going to miss the birds being released, that she offered to stay at home with Jessica while Mum walked into town to buy shampoo. In no time, she was back and ready to start the hairwashing. Antonia leant over the bath while her mother held the shower hose, warming the water to a comfortable temperature.

“Better take your necklace off,” said Mum.

“But I wear it all the time,” Antonia replied, her fingers lightly brushing the dolphin charm.

“The special shampoo might spoil it.” Mum turned the shower hose off. “Please, darling.”

Antonia didn’t want to take her charm off, but Mum refused to wash her hair until she did. Reluctantly, she unfastened the necklace, then looked around the bathroom for somewhere safe to put it.

“Put it in your bedroom,” said Mum impatiently.

Jessica was hanging around outside the bathroom. “Are you done already?” she asked, her eyes wide in surprise.

“Do I look done?” asked Antonia shortly, climbing the stairs to her attic room.

She hung her necklace on the blue and gold dolphin that Sophie had bought her, then dashed back to the bathroom.

The shampoo smelt disgusting. Mum washed Antonia’s hair a second time in ordinary shampoo and then combed it through with conditioner.

“All done,” she said finally. “Not a louse or egg in sight.”

“Told you,” grumbled Antonia. “Can I go to Sea Watch now?”

“Not until you’ve dried your hair. Your turn, Jess,” Mum called.

Antonia borrowed the hair dryer from her parents’ room. She tipped her head upside down and blasted her hair with it on full power.

“I’m off now,” she called through the bathroom door, hoping Mum wouldn’t come out and notice her hair was still very damp.

“Have a good time,” Mum shouted back.

Relieved not to get caught out, Antonia ran downstairs and out of the house as fast as she could. She raced all the way to Sea Watch, arriving out of breath and with a stitch.

Antonia, Cai and Emily put the guillemots into the special cardboard carriers with handles and air holes, while Claudia gave last-minute instructions to Sally, an adult volunteer who was being left in charge. The birds mewed noisily as they were loaded into Claudia’s car.

“Hush,” soothed Antonia. “Not long now and you’ll be free to go wherever you want.”

“That’s amazing,” said Emily as the birds quietened. “It’s like they understand you.”

Claudia drove the birds to a cliff-top location, away from the more touristy spots. A light breeze caught Antonia’s hair as she climbed out of the car.

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