Hunky Dory by Jean Ure Page B

wanna come an’ dig if I’ve had fillings.”
    â€œSo what about Saturday?”
    â€œNah, got things to do on Saturday.”
    I said, “Like what?”
    â€œJust things. Don’t worry, I’ll be round Monday. Tell the Herb, and we’ll have a mass dig.”
    â€œWould you like me to come, as well?” said Lottie. “I could dig! If there’s room, that is.”
    I assured her that there would be. “It’s a really big hole!”
    She is going to come with the Herb, after school on Monday. She seems like a really sensible, intelligent sort of girl, obviously eager to learn. I think she will be a valuable addition to the team. I’m still worried about Aaron, though. Since when did him or me have things to do that we don’t tell each other about?
Friday
    Came home on the bus this afternoon with the Herb. Told her about Aaron going off and “doing things”. She said, “Yes, I know, he’s going with the Barbie Doll to see a dance show.”
    I said, “ Dance show? Aaron? ”
    â€œShe’s been boasting about it all morning, how her mum had got tickets.”
    â€œA dance show?” I’m not surprised he didn’t tell me. Not that I have anything against people dancing; I don’t have anything against anything. Live and let live is what Wee Scots always says, and I agree with her. But Aaron ? The mind boggles. It’s still boggling. I can hardly believe it!
    â€œWant me to come round and help dig?” said the Herb, as we got off the bus.
    I said no, it was OK, she’d done her fair share. “How about we go up the park again?”
    I don’t know why I said that. I certainly didn’t mean to say it. It just came out before I could stop it. I’m losing control of my voice!
    The Herb giggled and said, “ Again? ”
    I said, “Yeah. Well! We could. I mean…if you wanted to, that is.”
    The Herb said, “Can if you like.”
    We took Jack and Polly again. Mum was pleased and said that if I would do it every day she’d up my pocket money. I told her sternly that I would think about it.
    While we were walking round the park I asked the Herb whether she reckoned I looked like Brendan Fraser. She said, “Who’s Brendan Fraser?”
    I said, “The man that played the lead in The Mummy. ”
    â€œOh, I love that movie!” said the Herb. “I love that bit where all the dead guys come back to life, and the bit where all the beetles get into people’s bodies and you see them moving up towards the brain…all thelittle lumps under the skin, all wriggling and wobbling…blonk, blonk, aaargh !” The Herb clutched at her throat. “They’ve got me!”
    Before I could stop myself I said, “I had a dream the other night about beetles.”
    â€œWhat, getting into people’s brains?” The Herb staggered, dramatically, and almost tripped over Polly. “Go away, dog! I’m full of beetles!”
    â€œThey were after us,” I said. “I was rescuing you.”
    â€œRescuing me?” She narrowed her eyes. “Why couldn’t I rescue myself?”
    I knew I had to think quickly. So I did! It’s amazing the speed at which the brain can function when it’s under attack. “You’d sprained your ankle,” I said. “You couldn’t walk.”
    â€œI could have hopped.”
    â€œNot fast enough.”
    â€œI can hop fast!”
    Next thing I know, she’s walloping off across the grass on one foot, with Jack and Polly bouncing along beside her.
    â€œSee?” She walloped back again. “I wouldn’t have needed anyone to rescue me!”
    I said, “That’s what you think. You weren’t there! If I hadn’t have carried you—”
    â€œ Carried me? You couldn’t carry me!”
    â€œWanna bet?”
    â€œYeah, go on! I dare you!”
    You can’t say