Woodlington

Chapter 10 - Books and More Books

After watching Whiskey (along with a trail of smoke from his now lit pipe) out of sight, the girls headed back to Willows End.

Jessie couldn't seem to accept what they'd just seen and was unable to do anything but mutter 'Whisky?' over and over, as though trying to convince herself it'd really been him.

Alex was too exhausted to speak at all.

At the back door she mumbled 'bye', then dragged herself upstairs. If she was lucky, she might be able to grab another hour's sleep.

A couple of minutes later (or so it seemed) she was woken by Jack pulling the duvet from her.

"Hey," she grunted, snatching it back. "Bog off!"

"Mummy said up," he said simply. "Alex up."

"Yeah, yeah. Give me a minute."

He tried for it again, but a flick on the nose caused him to change his mind. Before he could start crying, Alex hurriedly told him about the ice-cream Mrs Dowling was getting ready for him downstairs.

It was like magic. He was there one second, gone the next.

She grinned as she heard him bumping down the steps.

When she followed a few minutes later, she could hear her mother in the kitchen. "No Jack, you're not having ice cream."

"Jack want ice -"

"I said no!"

"So, what we doing in town then?" asked Alex, hiding her smile as she entered.

Mrs Dowling looked up.

"Tell him he's not getting ice-cream for breakfast! He might listen to you."

She turned to the sink.

"I'll do you some eggs Jackie, and soldiers to go with them."

She nodded as though this settled the matter.

"Alex?"

"Sounds great Mum."

Alex headed for the kettle and began making herself a coffee.

Mrs Dowling scowled at her.

"Didn't sleep much Mum. Trust me, if you don't want to be walking round town with a zombie, I'm gonna need this."

She plonked herself at the table.

"So buddy, ice-cream for breakfast, eh? Sounds like a plan."

"You're not helping," sighed Mrs Dowling, lowering the eggs into a pan of water.

"And to answer your question, I'm after a map."

"Yeah, what sort of map?"

"There's supposed to be one of the graveyard."

"Cool," said Alex, picturing herself showing it Jessie when she came.

"And I could do with a backpack too."

Five minutes later, Mrs Dowling set their breakfasts in front of them, and they tucked in, Jack still put out over the missing ice-cream.

It was Gary again who drove them into town.

"Did you see the storm last night?" he asked.

Mrs Dowling shook her head.

"I was dead to the world I'm afraid. How about you Alex, I forgot to ask?"

Again, Alex had to hide her smile.

"A little," she said, tightening Jack's seatbelt. "Was it good?"

"I'll say. Never known one like it. No end of trees were uprooted."