The Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow by Kaye Umansky

Author:Kaye Umansky
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141933504
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2009-03-09T04:00:00+00:00

Mercifully, it wasn't long before Freddy returned. He wasn't running this time. He was walking fast, though, holding something carefully in his hands. Prudence and the Prodigy ran to meet him. Solly, of course, stayed right where he was.

‘Hot water?’ asked Prudence, staring down at the small bowl.

‘Soup,’ said Freddy, proudly. ‘Cabbage. Got it from the soup kitchen behind the warehouse.’

‘It smells howwible,’ commented the Prodigy.

‘What, this? Cor, lovely, this is. Larrikins! Big treat o' the day. They gives it out free in winter. One bowl each. I 'ad mine earlier. Ain't s'posed to go back for more, but the cook knows me, see?’ Freddy put a dirty finger on one side of his nose and gave a little wink.

‘But it's all gweasy.’

‘Ah. Well, it's the grease what does you good, see.’

‘Will soup work, do you think?’ asked Prudence.

‘Should do. 'Ot, ain't it? Well, it were when I started out. Coolin' off a bit now.’

‘We'd best get cracking then,’ said Prudence, taking the bowl. ‘Solly?’

‘Groo?’ Solly rolled anguished eyes.

‘I'm going to pour tepid, greasy cabbage soup on your lips.’

‘Gogugygo! Gogugygo!’

‘He says not up his nose,’ the Prodigy informed everyone, wisely.

‘I heard,’ said Prudence. ‘Trust me, Solly. I promise I won't get it up your nose. Ready?’

‘Gnng.’

‘Here goes, then. Out of the way, you two.’

Obediently, Freddy and the Prodigy stood back.

With no more ado, Prudence briskly tilted the bowl. Warm slop coursed down Solly's face. It ran in his eyes. It ran through his hair and dripped off his ears. Despite Prudence's promise, quite a lot of it went up his nose. For one, terrible moment, he thought he'd never breath again. He would drown in cabbage soup. What a way to go. And then…

And then he was free! His lips parted from the lock and he fell back with a feeble cry, clutching at his oh-so-painful mouth.

The Prodigy cheered and Freddy did an impromptu little caper on the spot.

‘Ow! Ow, ow, ow!’ howled Solly, rolling in an icy puddle.

‘Solly!’ cried the Prodigy, thrusting Mr Skippy into Freddy's arms and running to him. ‘Is you all wight?’

‘No. Ow. Cripes, that hurt! They're all peeled, look, see?’

‘Poor, poor Solly.’ The Prodigy crouched down and wiped soup from his eyes with the edge of her blanket

‘They're fine,’ said Prudence, never known for her sympathy. ‘They'll hurt for a bit, but that's normal. We've wasted quite enough time on your silly lip crisis. I'm going to try the key again. Mind out the way.’

She pushed past him, took the key from her pocket, inserted it into the lock and turned. There was a scraping noise, followed by a satisfying click. She pushed on the door, and it swung inwards with a squeal, revealing a pitch-black interior.

‘Right,’ she said. ‘I'm going in. Coming?’

‘Can I have a sweet, Rosabella?’ begged Solly, humbly. ‘For strength? I think it might help.’

‘There's only two left.’

‘Can I have one then? I am owed.’

‘All wight. Not the wed one, I's savin' it.’

Solly took the last green sweet and popped it in, making sure he didn't touch his skinned lips.

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