Girls to Total Goddesses by Sue Limb Page B

ghost, I’ve gone off her big time!’
    ‘So have I. Let’s go to Venus. These minor goddesses are letting us down.’
    There were some great paintings of Venus, but we decided she wasn’t a good role model either because, basically, she seemed to be obsessed with men. Well, she was the goddess of love, so she had a good excuse. But still . . .
    ‘Look up some British goddesses,’ suggested Chloe. ‘Think Local!’
    At this point my mobile rang. Instantly my heart leapt right out of my mouth and performed two circuits of the room: it had to be Beast. I grabbed my moby and ran out into the hall.
    ‘Yes???!!’ I hissed in frantic excitement, though trying, of course, to sound laid-back, cool and divine.
    ‘Hello, old boy, this is your lovable old pa,’ said Dad. ‘How’s it going?’
    ‘Fine, Dad!’ I trilled, trying to conceal my disappointment with an anguished screech of delight. ‘Chloe and I are doing some research on goddesses!’ I hoped he would be impressed by our scholarly programme. ‘What are you up to?’
    ‘Having a lovely supper in a little pub called the Vine Tree,’ said Dad. ‘So you’re OK, then?’
    ‘So far . . . but we’ve left the front door wide open with a notice saying: “ Werewolves, please walk right in .”’
    ‘Well, let’s hope they do,’ said Dad. ‘But really, you should have booked ahead. Werewolves are always so busy on Saturday night.’
    ‘I know.’
    ‘Mum says how did the shopping trip go?’
    ‘Brilliant! I found this amazing dress! But, Dad! Listen! If I clean the house from top to bottom will you pay me?’ There was a sudden nasty little silence.
    ‘Let’s talk about that when we get back,’ he said.
    ‘No! Discuss it now! How much per room!?’
    ‘Oh, I don’t know. Which rooms were you thinking of cleaning?’
    ‘All of them! Any of them!’
    ‘Well, don’t go into my study, that’s all. The crumbs on the carpet are supposed to be there – and I know the exact location of every one!’
    ‘No probs, Dad! OK. Bye!’ I didn’t want to clog up the line with endless Dad-talk when Beast might ring at any moment.
    ‘Bye already?’ Dad sounded startled.
    ‘Yeah! Must keep phone bill down!’ I had started to talk in some weird code, using fewer words, either to keep bill down or ditch Dad now .
    ‘OK, OK! Bye then, old boy!’
    ‘Love you! See you tomorrow!’ I went back to the sitting room. ‘That was my dad,’ I told Chloe unnecessarily. ‘He said they’ll pay me to clean the house!’ Though this wasn’t strictly what Dad had actually said, I had high hopes. And I’d suddenly realised that, if I got Chloe busy with housework, preferably vacuuming on the top floor, she wouldn’t be able to overhear any phone call I might have with Beast.
    ‘Great!’ she smiled, looking somehow innocent and vulnerable because I was planning to enslave her domestically. I felt horrid, but it had to be done. Anyway, when Beast used to call her , months ago, she’d always run off to another room so I couldn’t overhear.
    ‘I’ve found another goddess!’ said Chloe, looking up from the PC screen. ‘She’s called Axo Mama and she’s the goddess of potatoes.’
    ‘Look, I know how important spuds are to you, Chloe,’ I smiled treacherously, ‘but let’s give the Internet a rest for a bit, shall we? We have to clean the house.’ Chloe looked surprised.
    ‘What, now?’ she asked.
    ‘Yeah, why not?’ I countered, going off towards the kitchen. ‘Come on! No time like the present! It’ll be great exercise and we can share the muns.’
    ‘But I think my dad will pay for my dress!’ complained Chloe, following me reluctantly towards the sink. I opened the cupboard doors below, where all the cleaning stuff is kept.
    ‘Well, that’s great for you,’ I said. ‘Terrific! But I’ve got to work for mine. Of course you don’t have to help me, but I’m going to do a couple of hours of housework right now, and if you do help me I’ll owe