The Unfortunate Wishes of Nelly Young by Beth Garrod

Author:Beth Garrod
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2023-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The alarm had gone off painfully early (8:30 a.m.), but it was an emergency. The Camp Championships started at ten, and with so much resting on the wishes, we needed every spare second to figure out what was making them work. I couldn’t risk anything going wrong for the talent show. My hope had been that when the wish had worked for Fish the night before last, we’d unclogged the pipe and they’d keep on flowing (even better than Finn’s rapping). So after sleeping in, I’d quickly put the theory to the test before we left our room for forest rope-walking. Then again as we paddled over lunch before our 3D-printing session. And in even more of a panic, last night while Jas had been editing and Clara had been running through her foam experiment. I’d sat on the bed in my PJs and slippers and said a wish. Then another. Then one with my eyes closed. Some holding on to the others’ hands. Even one chanted while trying to do a headstand. And out of a hundred, not a single one had worked. NOT ONE!

Which meant I’d lain awake all night worrying and was now freaking out!

‘OK.’ Clara calmly scanned down the ‘control factors’ column. She’d crossed them all out one by one. ‘Yesterday you tried writing them, thinking them, singing them, and even miming them.’ That was a low. ‘And this morning we’ve done them in the dark, in the light, loudly, softly… and –’ she squinted to read the one I’d just added – ‘while eating chocolate.’ I’d had to try and take some positives from the situation. Clara sighed. ‘And still nothing. Not. A. Sausage.’

I felt guilty. Was it something I was doing?

‘Hey, Google, play Harry Styles,’ I said, trying to lift the mood. Jas was down in the dumps too – I suspected it was because she hadn’t woken up to as many views on yesterday’s video as she hoped. ‘Don’t panic, guys. I really think by the end of today we’ll know what’s up.’ I said it with more confidence than I felt.

But before they could reply Dad shouted ‘BREAKFAST’S READY’ up from the kitchen. I braced for an instalment of his daily ‘AND G’D MORRNNNINNNN’, CAMPERS’ yodel. But like yesterday, it didn’t come. Just a ‘Make sure you’re showered and down ASAP’.

Wow. Maybe being with Mrs S and Patrick was having a good effect on him? We headed downstairs, to find Patrick doing his manic morning tidy.

‘Morning, girls.’ He nodded towards the utility room. ‘Before you tuck in, I’d appreciate if you could tidy up the mess you left last night. I’ve put it in the washing room – most of it can go up to your room.’

Eurgh. What kind of a monster made you do tidying when there were fresh pancakes on the table? But the quicker we moved our stuff, the quicker we could eat, so we hurried into the washing room.

‘Well, he certainly puts the fun in…’ Jas flicked sand off her hoodie from last night and paused.

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