April fools

Agent Straw

Monday, April 1st  2013

{Year 9}

- 2:00pm -

Something is digging into my back, and when I reach around to remove it I find that it is an especially sharp stick. There is plenty of sticks lying under the daisy bushes that I am crouched behind and branches scratch at my bare arms and legs. Despite the sticks and scratchy branches, these daisy bushes are the best place for spying since they are only a few meters away from the basketball court. I have a perfect view of our target. 

"What is the targets location Agent Straw?" Emma hisses at me, her eyes trained on the teachers chatting under the shade of a eucalyptus  tree chatting.

"On the basketball court doing drills, Agent Fanta." 

My eyes follow Jungkook running up and down the court, bouncing a basketball. While planning our big prank last night Emma insisted on making up secret agent names. Shifting beside me, she flicks her long rope of copper hair into my face. I brush it away and continue to watch. Jungkook grew a few extra inches during the Christmas holidays but he is still one of the shorter boys on the team which makes him easy to block. But Jungkook is fast, really fast. I watch as he darts around the court like a blur, twisting away from the opposite team and easily flips the ball into the hoop. His team cheers and surrounds him with exclamations of congratulations. 

"Teachers are engaged. How is the target, Agent Straw?" Emma now has the binoculars that she stole from her younger brother pressed to her face as she scans the periphery. 

"A game has started so I suspect he will be occupied for the foreseeable future, Agent Fanta."

"Are the locusts ready, Agent Straw?" Emma whispers, her voice filled with excitement.

I open the backpack at my feet, digging around for the container of locusts. Emma and I had brainstormed all weekend before enlisting the help of Emmas older brothers. Who, with a bribe Emma would do the washing up for a week, they agreed to help us. They took us to the pet store yesterday and bought a box of locusts. Then they told us the plan.

"Locusts are ready."

"Okay. Lets do it."

Emma rolls from the bushes, and creeps across the stretch of grass between the daisy bushes and the basketball court. I grin, she is channelling her inner secret agent, and stick the container of locusts under my arm. Emma makes a beeline for the pile of backpacks clustered around the edge of the basketball court. I follow her with my head down, praying that no-one notices us and crouch down opposite her. She begins digging through the bags while I scan the area. The teachers are still chatting away, totally oblivious, and the boys are still engrossed in their game. We are in the clear so far.

"Found it Agent Straw." 

Emma holds up a faded orange backpack that I immediately recognise as Jungkooks. With an air of indifference, Emma walks past me and drops the bag at my feet before leaning against one of the trees nearby. She scans the area once more before giving me a discreet nod which I return. Working as fast as I can, I unzip Jungkooks bag and make room inside it for the container of locusts. I partially zip the bag up, and before zipping it all the way I reach inside and open the container. In my haste to zip the backpack up before the locusts escape I catch my fingers in the zip, and I yelp in pain. My eyes immediately fly to the boys playing basketball but thankfully, no one heard me. I breathe a sigh of relief and look over to Emma, who is desperately pointing over my shoulder. 

"Audrey? What are you doing?"

When I look up James is staring down at me. His head is titled to the side like a cocker spaniel, and he smirk screams 'got you.' My blood runs cold and panic runs rampant in my stomach, making it churn into knots. I scramble to my feet, reaching my brains for something to say but I cannot think of anything so I stand there, gaping like a goldfish. My eyes fly to Jungkook who is concentrated on the game.

"She is just looking for her earring, isn't that right Audrey," Emma  comes to my rescue as she wraps an arm around my shoulder, "I just remembered that you left that earring at my house."

"Oh yeah, thats right." I smile weakly and give a little shrug.

James just shakes his head in amusement before giving me a wink and jogging back to the game. Emma begins to drag me away from the basketball courts and towards the daisy bushes were our bags are hidden. She shoves my backpack into my chest before walking over to the large oak tree where we usually sit. With a great sigh she slides to her knees, her back against the tree and presses a hand to her chest.

"That was close." She looks up at me and grins.

I return a grin of my own and wince when my braces snag on my lips. She pats the ground beside her and I take a seat, sighing with relief. Emma digs around in her hot pink backpack and pulls out two chocolate chip cookies, passing one to me. I take it with an appreciative smile before biting into its chocolate chip filled centre.

"I can't believe we pulled this off!" I grin, watching the boys continue their basketball game.

The bell sings out across the playground, alerting us that lunch is over. Emma and I exchange glances. Showtime.

Jungkook follows the other boys as they head towards the pile of bags in front of the basketball court. They are all laughing and talking amongst themselves, pushing each other around like animals. Jungkook leans down towards his bag, unzipping the front pocket of his bag. He pulls out a can of deodorant, and sprays himself while joking around with James. Emma gives me a worried glance before we begin to slowly make our way to our next class, our eyes never straying from Jungkook.

Jungkook puts the can of deodorant away but doesn't unzip the main section of the backpack. James passes him a water bottle and he takes several large gulps. He swings his backpack over his shoulders and follows the other boys as they make their way up to the classrooms. Emma and I exchange a nervous glance. We had anticipated that Jungkook would open his bag after basketball and take out his drink bottle. The locusts would escape into the air, giving Jungkook a scare, and then they would be free to roam the world.

"He is going to open that is class, isn't he?" Emma looks over at me, her amber eyes wide with anticipation.

"Yup." 

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Hiya!

I cannot say that locusts are my favourite animal ever with those awful wings flapping like crazy and their gross little legs... ugh. 

Don't forget to leave a kind comment for me and vote for this chapter, it would make my day. 

Love, B xx