McTavish Takes the Biscuit by Meg Rosoff

Author:Meg Rosoff
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Published: 2021-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

9

Three Days to Go

Pa Peachey was hard at work finishing the Palace of Versailles. No one was allowed into the kitchen to observe his progress, so the Peacheys set up a sandwich bar in the dining room. They had all grown sick of sandwiches and sick of washing dishes in the bath, but Pa Peachey’s dream had to be respected.

The signs, however, did not bode well.

The signs were:

1. Bangs and crashes.

2. Howls of outrage.

3. Cries of torment and despair.

Three days before the contest deadline, Betty gathered her courage and knocked on the kitchen door.

“May I come in, Pa?” she asked.

“Disaster, disaster, disaster!” cried a voice from within.

Betty pushed the door and stuck her head into the kitchen. “Pa?”

Pa Peachey was sitting in the kitchen with his head in his hands. Approximately two thousand pieces of the Palace of Versailles were still stacked on the table in front of him.

A great number of pieces had already been glued together with sugar glue, but, so far, any resemblance to the actual Palace of Versailles was difficult to see.

The walls tilted in a number of unexpected directions. The roof sagged. The balconies clung for dear life to the walls, occasionally dropping off altogether. Pa Peachey had not yet created the east and west wings of the building, nor had he cut out the windows. He had not yet begun to construct the curly gates or shape the elaborate gingerbread sculptures. What he had created so far resembled a large garage stomped on by cows rather than the most majestic building in France.

Betty stared at the palace. She began to say, “Really it’s not so bad.” But stopped. Because, really, it was very bad indeed.

She began to say, “I’m sure you can fix it.” But stopped. Because she felt fairly certain it was impossible to fix.

She began to say, “Never mind, I am sure the judges won’t notice any flaws.” But stopped. Because Pa Peachey’s palace was so flawed, so totally flawed, so 100 per cent flawed that it would be impossible for anyone not to notice.

Instead, Betty took a deep breath. “Pa,” she said, “you have three days left to finish your palace, and I feel certain that your creation will be a most interesting and unique entry. There is no doubt in my mind that the judges will be amazed.”

Betty heard a strange snorting noise that might have been Ollie listening at the door, but she ignored it.

Pa Peachey lifted his head from his hands. He looked up at Betty. His face was covered with flour and bits of gingerbread. Small spatters of coloured icing sugar patterned his clothing and the walls.

“Thank you for those kind words, dear Betty. I only fear that I may run out of time before my dream is complete,” he said. “And that it will not measure up to the glorious vision in my head.” Pa Peachey paused for a moment. “But most of all, I am afraid of disappointing my family.”

“You can only do your best and work your hardest,” Betty said.

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