Daz 4 Zoe by Robert Swindells

Author:Robert Swindells
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141926971
Publisher: Penguin Publishing
Published: 1995-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

ZOE

I had spare batteries in case my torch gave out, and two enormous balls of knitting wool which I put in a plastic bag along with some of my cassettes. The story was that Tabby invited me over when I was there yesterday, but it nearly didn’t work.

The visit from DS had really shaken my parents up. Mum had even peeped into my room around three that morning to check I hadn’t slipped off somewhere, and all through Sunday if they couldn’t see me they kept calling to ask what I was doing.

I got worried. Suppose they wouldn’t let me out of the house. It seemed a distinct possibility. Daz would wait in the tunnel and I’d never show up, and he wouldn’t know why. He’d think I got caught or lost underground or was lying in the dark with a broken leg or something. He might try to find me, and he wouldn’t have the twine to guide him back.

The later it got the more nervous I felt. Daz had estimated the tunnel at around three miles long, and I’d planned on giving myself two hours to get through. I was meeting him at seven, so that meant I had to leave home around four-thirty. This was unusually early to be setting off for an evening with Tabby, and as the time drew near I wished I’d planned it differently.

Anyway, four twenty-five rolled around and my bag was packed and I couldn’t stall any longer. ‘Mum,’ I called, coming downstairs. ‘I’m going over to Tabby’s to listen to music. I won’t be late.’ Mum was in the kitchen. I was halfway to the door when she yelled ‘Hey – just a minute, young woman!’ and appeared behind me with flour on her hands. Two seconds later Dad came out the den. I stood dangling my bag, looking from one to another.

‘You’re not going anyplace young lady,’ said Dad. ‘Not tonight.’

‘Aw, but Dad – I promised.’

‘Doesn’t matter. You call Tabitha and tell her you won’t be over after all ’cause your dad won’t let you.’

‘I can’t tell Tabby that.’

‘Well, you think of something then, because you’re staying home and that’s final.’

‘Mum.’ I turned to her, desperate, as you can imagine. ‘Can’t I just –.’

‘You can just do as your father tells you, Zoe.’

This was it then. Disaster. I schlepped across to the phone with my heart in my socks. They stood watching me. I punched the Wentworth code and stood with the receiver in one hand and my bag in the other. I daren’t let go that bag.

There were a couple of clicks, and then a high-pitched screech that damn near blew my head off. I jerked the receiver away from my ear.

‘What’s wrong?’ This from Dad.

‘Dunno. Funny noise.’ He came over and took it and put it to his ear. ‘Hmm. Fault on the line, maybe.’ He re-dialled and got the same result. I clutched at this straw.

‘Mum – I can’t just not show up. Tabby’s my best friend. I don’t know what I’d do if she fell out with me.

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