Mega Sleepover 6: Winter Collection. Sue Mongredien

sister.”

      I had a moan about it to the others at school on Monday.

      “I can’t believe they won’t even think about taking us on holiday,” I said mournfully. “Why do parents have to be so boring?”

      “I’d rather go and lie on a beach for my holiday,” Fliss said, wrinkling her nose up. “I agree with them – I wouldn’t want to go, either. All that cold snow, ugh! You wouldn’t get much of a tan.”

      “Christmas would be weird in another country anyway,” said Lyndz. “I like being at home with everyone around. Waking up in my own bed on Christmas morning, you know.”

      “And it would cost a bomb, all of you going away,” Rosie pointed out.

      “I can’t exactly imagine your dad snowboarding either,” Frankie said, with a laugh. “His glasses would come flying off and he’d crash straight into something!”

      “But I’d love it,” I said, wistfully. “I’d really, really love it. There must be a way round it somehow…”

      “Oh, no,” Rosie teased. “Kenny’s got her thinking head on – and you know what that means!”

      “She’ll be building her own snow mountain in the village!” Lyndz said, giggling.

      “And pushing Molly down head-first,” Frankie said. “I’ll help you, Kenz!”

      I sniffed. No-one was taking this very seriously! “You may scoff,” I said grandly. “But you wait – I’ll get my snow one way or another!”

      On my way home that night, I got thinking. If they weren’t bothered, I was! What could I do?

      As I was kicking my shoes off in the hall, I spotted Emma’s skateboard. Aha! Snowboard, skateboard – well, it would be a start, anyway. Now all I needed was some snow – and a slope!

      Well, snow was out of the question; it had been as clear as anything all day with no sign of any snow-clouds. Hmmm.

      And then I had another brilliant idea. The stairs!

      I stood at the top with the skateboard and took a deep breath. Well, here goes! I said to myself. I got on the board and pushed myself off and…

      WOOOOAAAHHHHHÜ I hurtled down the stairs, bump, bump, bump – crack. OUCH!

      Results – one cracked head. One furious sister.

      One cross mum saying it was my own fault.

      One mad dad saying stairboarding was banned for life in his house.

      I’m telling you – don’t bother. Far too much aggro for about five seconds of excitement!

      The only thing to do was to go back to Mega Sports to get some advice from Nick. He was the one person who could help me in my hour of need – and this time, I’d make sure I didn’t stink the shop out, either!

      Next day at school, as soon as Mrs Weaver said it was home time, I charged out of the classroom like Roadrunner with ants in his pants. ACTION!

      The others cornered me as I was taking off my bike lock in the staff car park. The five of us usually hang around together after school a bit, waiting for our mums to pick us up – or we walk or cycle part of the way back home together.

      “What’s the big hurry, Kenz?” Frankie asked curiously.

      “Mum says I can go to Mega Sports before I go home today,” I said, strapping my helmet on. “I want to talk to that Nick bloke again.”

      “Oh, yeah,” Rosie said, all sarcastic. “I see. We see, don’t we, girls?”

      “Kenny, you’re going all red,” Fliss said smugly. “Over a boy!”

      “He’s not a boy, he’s a man,” I said. Bad thing to say, Kenny! As soon as the words were out of my mouth, they all started giggling.

      “Ooh, he’s a real man!” Lyndz said, laughing so hard that she was holding her tummy and bending over.

      “Shut UP!” I yelled, getting on my bike quickly. I couldn’t stand much more of this!

      “Well, now you’ve got a boyfriend, don’t forget about your friends – us,” Frankie said, sounding a bit put out.

      “He is not my boyfriend!” I shouted. “For the last time…”

      “Ooh, has Laura got a boyfriend?” someone cooed in a sickly kind of voice. “Who would go out with her? He must be blind!”

      “Or mad!” another voice simpered.

      Oh, great. That was all I needed. We’d made so much noise, the M&Ms had heard us!

      (If you don’t know – the M&Ms are Emma Hughes and Emily Berryman. They’re our sworn enemies and just totally vile girls that should be put down for the good of the human race. But you’ll see that for yourself, before too long anyway.)

      “Don’t call me Laura,” I said through gritted teeth, as they walked over, giggling stupidly. “And get out of my way before I run you over!”

      “Oh, I am scared,” said Emily, or Goblin-features as we sometimes call her. “Look, Em, I’m just shaking in fear of Laura.”

      “Right, you asked for it, Berryman!” I said, and charged my bike straight for her. She squealed and dodged out of the way just before I got to her. Rats!

      “I’ll get my brother on to you if you lay a finger on me!” she yelled after me, sounding a bit shocked.

      “Ooh, puh-leeeze don’t scare me!” I shouted back, grinning to myself. “Bye, you lot!” I called out to the others. And with that, I shot off, pedalling as fast as I could.

      

      I love sports shops. I must have been in a million of them and it’s like being in Kenny paradise, surrounded by all the football stuff and tennis racquets and swimming costumes. Every time I go in I have this stupid fantasy where I’m a millionaire, come to spend, spend, spend – and I end up buying the whole shop!

      I walked around slowly, and then I saw Nick again, sorting out a box of sunglasses at the far end of the shop, just near the surf and ski section. Aha!

      He looked up and smiled as I walked over.

      “Hello again,” he said. “Kelly, wasn’t it?”

      I blushed horribly. Oh, no! Blushing! I was turning into a right girl!

      “Kenny,” I said. “It’s a nickname.”

      “Oh – sorry, Kenny,” he said. “What are you up to, then? Come back for another look at this snow gear?”

      “Yeah,” I said. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

      He shook his head, eyes twinkling. “Oh, mate,” he said. “You’ve got it bad, haven’t you? You’re as bad as me! Only problem is, there’s no snow, right?”

      “I’ve been practising on my sister’s skateboard, but it’s not really the same,” I confessed.

      “It’s not a bad idea, though,” he said. “It’ll help you practise keeping your balance, I suppose.” He looked thoughtful. “Want to have a go on a real board? Just standing, I mean?”

      I nodded, feeling all shy again. For some reason, I couldn’t think of anything to say. Yeah – I know what you’re thinking. Me, motormouth, lost for words! I’d never had that feeling before.

      He got a turquoise-coloured board down from the rack and put