Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe by Ashleigh Barton

Author:Ashleigh Barton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Published: 2022-06-06T05:04:38+00:00

Solomon raced back to his bedroom to think. Five minutes. That’s all he had to make one of the most important decisions of his life. He needed to talk it over with Fred. Fred was always good at seeing reason.

He filled his friend in as quickly as he could. ‘What do you think?’ he asked, optimistic the spider would have a clear answer. But instead, Fred gave him a look that told Solomon he felt as conflicted.

‘I know,’ Solomon sighed. ‘Only someone with a death wish would go into the forest willingly. But … I think I have to.’

Fred gave a weary nod. Family is family.

Solomon nodded back. He knew that even if Lucy hadn’t offered to fund his trip back home in exchange for his help, he’d probably still have said yes. This was Lucy, after all. Out of anyone he knew, Lucy had been there for him time and time again over the years and even though they lived a long way apart Solomon had always considered Lucy one of his closest and most important friends. Solomon would never forgive himself if he let her go alone and something happened to her. ‘Family is family,’ he affirmed, with a nod. ‘I know you’d do it for your family, even Great-great-grandpa Jude.’

Fred pulled a face.

‘He doesn’t smell that bad,’ Solomon said. ‘And besides, that’s not a reason not to help someone. Especially not your great-great-grandfather.’

Fred shrugged as if to say, I guess so, then pulled four pairs of sneakers out of his suitcase.

‘Why are you putting your shoes on?’ Solomon asked. ‘You can’t come with me, Fred. It’s way too dangerous. I can’t put you in harm’s way like that.’

Fred gave Solomon another look, which said, Try and stop me. Solomon knew better than to argue and, selfishly, he thought Fred’s company in the forest might not be such a bad thing.

‘I need to go tell Lucy I’ve decided to help, so I’ll be right back to pack, okay?’

Fred gave a two-legged salute as Solomon rushed back to Lucy’s room.

But when he got there, it was empty. ‘Lucy?’ he called, starting to feel worried. There was no response. He checked his pocket watch. It hadn’t even been five minutes yet. Had she got impatient and left without him? Oh gosh, he hoped not. By the time Solomon packed and hurried after her, he’d be so far behind it’d be impossible to catch up. Going into the forest entirely alone was a much scarier prospect than going in with Lucy. Solomon was about to panic when the door to Lucy’s book alcove opened and Lucy appeared.

‘Solomon,’ she said, looking surprised. ‘I wasn’t expecting you back for at least forty-five more seconds.’

‘Oh, thank Frankenstein,’ Solomon said. ‘I thought you’d left already.’

‘Last-minute reading,’ she explained.

‘I’ll come with you,’ he said, blurting out the words before he changed his mind. ‘I’ll come.’

Relief spread across Lucy’s face and she jumped forwards and hugged him. ‘Thank you, Solomon,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’

Solomon thought she probably shouldn’t thank him yet.

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