Smile by Lauren Child

Author:Lauren Child [Child, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2024-02-19T17:00:00+00:00

Granny always says, ‘You never know what could be two steps around the corner.’

Unfortunately, these days it often seems to be Mrs Stampney.

Marcie is not taking Mum’s advice, which is to walk the other way. It’s almost as if she is walking into trouble on purpose.

So nearly every day there is a new quarrel. This just makes Marcie in a worse mood and the mood always comes back home with her.

Which means everybody is on edge.

When I come downstairs for breakfast, Mum whispers, ‘Clarice, can you nip out to the shop and get that tea your sister likes?’

I say, ‘Now? Today?’

Mum says, ‘Yes, today, now. I don’t want Marcie to go because Mrs Stampney is out there sweeping up leaves and I can’t manage another argument.’

I really don’t want to go either because I am hurrying to be on time for Kurt and I have a missing shoe to find. We are going off to the prop workshop to get started on my Lost for Words project and I want to be ready by the door as soon as it’s time to go.

People say I have a habit of being ten minutes late for everything and I am trying to prove this is not true – not today anyway.

Even so, I look at Mum’s face and I say, ‘OK.’

Of course, I have to be careful to dodge Mrs Stampney. I do this by running really fast. I am still wearing my slippers.

I zip into Clement’s, the shop at the end of our street, buy the tea and, when I pop out again, two steps round the corner is Zack Moody. He is sticking a card on the notice board outside the shop.

He says, ‘Hey, Clarice. I thought that was you.’

I am caught, wanting to rush back home to meet Kurt, but also wanting to chat to Zack because of him being Betty’s brother – you see, talking to him makes me feel like she is still two steps round the corner.

Zack says, ‘How’s the whistle?’

I tell him about what happened in the playground and Zack says, ‘Sounds like you’ve got the hang of it.’

I say, ‘How’s the songwriting?’

And he says, ‘Not good. I need to find someone to write with.’ And he points to his card, which has a drawing of a guitar and the words ‘Desperately Seeking Songwriter’ floating out of it. He looks down at my feet, ‘How come you’re out in your slippers?’

I say, ‘Mum needed me to rush out to buy a packet of tea because she didn’t want Marcie getting into another argument with Mrs Stampney, and I didn’t have time to find my shoes.’

Zack looks confused. He says, ‘Who’s Mrs Stampney?’

I say, ‘She’s our neighbour.’

Zack says, ‘So why is Marcie arguing with your neighbour?’

I say, ‘Mum says it’s because she’s unhappy.’

Zack says, ‘Why is she unhappy?’

I say, ‘Oh, it’s because of her finger.’

Zack looks more confused.

I say, ‘Oh, Marcie’s finger got broken when she slipped on the carpet and so she has to miss

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