Mega Sleepover 5. Louis Catt

so I put the kettle on without making a fuss, while he got out the teapot and cups. Then I made us both some toast, fetched the paper and we sat down to breakfast together.

      “This is a very pleasant surprise,” Dad said, and he yawned. “It’ll set me up for a terrible day. I’ve got surgery, then house calls, and then this evening I’ve got to go to a meeting… and I’m introducing the speaker so I’ve got to dash back here and get all dressed up in my suit.”

      “Poor old Dad,” I said, and I meant it. He works really hard and is always having to dash around all over the place. It’s a tough life being a doctor – but that hasn’t put me off!

      “Look at this!” Dad said suddenly. He was reading the paper. “There’s been another burglary! In just the next street. Well, they’d better not try getting in here. There’s nothing for them to take, but it won’t hurt to be careful.”

      “I’ll make sure all the doors and windows are shut before I leave,” I said. “And I’ll tell Mum to be extra careful, too.”

      After I’d finished my toast I went to get ready for school. Molly looked very surprised when she saw I was up before her, but she didn’t make any nasty remarks. I decided it must be because she had a friend. Wow, I thought. This is actually turning out to be a Really Good Day!

      All through assembly I kept thinking of how I’d jumped when that dusty old cat flew out at me. It made me smile, and Frankie started to give me sideways looks.

      “What was so funny?” she asked when we all met up at first break.

      “Nothing,” I said. “I was just thinking about tonight.”

      Lyndz gave a little whoop. “Just wait till you see my pizza!” she said. “Tom helped me – we had a totally ace idea!”

      “My spaghetti’s turned out a bit odd,” Rosie said. “We didn’t have any green food colouring so I thought I could mix blue and yellow, but it hasn’t really worked.”

      “You should have phoned me,” Fliss said. “My mum bought two kinds of green for my cake.”

      Frankie nudged at me. Trust Fliss.

      Fliss saw the nudge, and pulled a face at us. “My mum says if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Anyway, you haven’t told us what you’re bringing yet, Frankie?”

      “Ah! Wait and see. It’s a surprise,” Frankie said.

      “I didn’t see you carrying anything to school,” Fliss said. “And aren’t you going straight home with Kenny?”

      “Congratulations!” Frankie banged Fliss on the back. “I proclaim you… Felicity Sidebotham, Junior Detective!”

      “I was only wondering,” Fliss said, sounding all huffy.

      “Well, you’ll just have to keep guessing,” Frankie said. “Nothing will be revealed until tonight… the night of Friday 13th!” And she made a ghoulish face.

      Rosie squeaked, and we all laughed – Fliss too. Then the bell went, and we had to go back into lessons.

      That afternoon, on the way back from school, I looked at Frankie’s school bag slung on her back – Fliss was right, it didn’t look as if there was anything much in it at all.

      “Have you really made something for tonight?” I asked.

      “Wait and see!” Frankie said, and I knew it wouldn’t be any good asking her any more about it. She’s brilliant at keeping secrets. I wouldn’t find out about this one until she was ready!

      Emma wasn’t there, of course, when Frankie and I crashed in through the front door. She was already safely on her way to her friend Jade’s house. Molly was still at home, though. She growled at us when we charged into our bedroom.

      “Can’t you two kiddies go and play somewhere else? I’m trying to get my things packed!”

      Honestly. You could tell Molly hadn’t stayed the night with anyone for years. She had two sets of pyjamas on the bed, three pairs of socks and four different T-shirts – she looked as if she was going away for weeks! I could have told her all she needed was a toothbrush and something to sleep in, but I didn’t. I pulled Frankie out of the room and we went down to the kitchen. It looked cleaner and tidier than usual; the floor was positively gleaming! A note from Mum lay on the table:

      CAKE IN TIN. DON’T MAKE A MESS –

      NEW NEIGHBOUR COMING IN FOR TEA.

      “Ace!” Frankie said. “I love your mum’s cakes.” She went to the tin and got the cake out while I found us some coke.

      “We might as well eat down here,” I said. “With any luck Molly will be gone soon – and then we can really get busy. I haven’t made the slime jelly yet.”

      “OK.” Frankie cut two huge slices of Mum’s cake. It was chocolate – and one of her very best. The icing was thick and gooey, and the cake was soft and squidgey. Awesome!

      We were cutting ourselves a second piece when the doorbell rang.

      Frankie jumped up. “That might be for me!” she said, and we both raced for the door.

      Frankie’s mum was standing outside, and she was holding two big cardboard boxes.

      Frankie let out a loud whoop and rushed towards her. “Mum! You’re a star!”

      “I know.” Frankie’s mum smiled, and handed one box to Frankie, and the other to me. “But don’t think I’m going to make a habit of running round after you! Have a good time – and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “Quick,” Frankie said, as her mum hurried back to the car. “We’ve got to get these in your freezer!”

      “What are they?” I asked, puzzled.

      “I’ll show you when we’re inside,” Frankie said. “But they’ll have started melting on the way over, so hurry up and open the front door!”

      “It is open—” I began, and then I saw that it wasn’t. It must have swung shut while we were talking to Frankie’s mum.

      We looked at each other in horror for a second, and then I remembered. “It’s all right,” I said. “Molly’s in.”

      I put the box down and rang the doorbell like crazy. Nothing happened at first, so I rang even harder and started hammering on the door.

      At last Molly heard me, but she didn’t come to the door. She opened the window upstairs and leant out.

      “Who is it?” she called, sounding very nervous. “Why are you making so much noise? My dad’s here! He’s very angry!”

      I stood back so she could see me. “Molly! It’s me! Open the door! And hurry up about it!”

      I can’t believe Molly sometimes. She is so mean. Of course any normal, decent person would have come and opened the door if they saw their sister stuck outside. But, as you know, Molly isn’t a normal, decent person and she didn’t – she just stared at me.

      “What are you doing out there?” she asked.

      “Just open the door!” I yelled.

      Frankie was peering into the box she was holding, looking anxious. A trickle of something red was creeping out of the bottom.

      “I’m busy,” Molly said, and would you believe it? She slammed the window shut and disappeared.

      I jammed my finger on the doorbell so it sounded like a fire alarm – but it didn’t