I Think My Dad Is a Spy by Sognia Vassallo

that code for a week and it turned out to be a freaking ring receipt!” she said handing me the receipt that was folded neatly in the bottom of my Tiffany bag.
    Janice had already worked out the code. “Tiffany & Co wasn’t a woman’s name it stood for Tiffany & Company and Law 37 backwards is 73 Wall as in 73 Wall Street, New York City and Princess is…”
    â€œThe style or cut of Chelsea’s diamond ring,” Theo interrupted.
    â€œHow do you know that?” I asked amazed.
    â€œUrn hello, I know my diamonds, Sophie,” Theo said beaming.
    â€œYeah but what about the tickets to Russia and the phone calls and text messages, not to mention that my father speaks Russian,” I whispered loudly, these things had to be more than the secret engagement.
    Theo shrugged his shoulders but Janice stared off into space. I could tell she was coming up with a plan.
    â€œI’ve got it,” she said snapping her fingers together. “Sophie you need to ask your dad to put your locket safely away in his briefcase for ‘safe keeping’,” Janice announced using her hands as inverted commas in the air. “Then you can see if the tickets are still in there or not,” she said cunningly.
    That was a pretty good plan, I thought. I did as Janice suggested and as soon as Dad unlocked his briefcase Janice caught his attention for a second and I began shuffling some papers around and…BINGO!
    â€œHey Dad, what are these tickets for?” I asked holding up two first-class airline tickets to Moscow. Before Dad could answer Chelsea, who was standing right next to me, squealed so loudly that my eardrum hummed.
    â€œOH JOSEPH YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE! YOU SIMPLY SHOULDN’T HAVE!” she exclaimed throwing her arms around him and kissing him all over his face.
    â€œOh…I…oh,” Dad stuttered through gritted teeth and shooting an unpleasant glare at me.
    Oops! I thought to myself, I think I just ruined his surprise.
    To my shock it turned out that Chelsea’s dad was Russian, and Chelsea had been born there, but she hadn’t been back to see her father for a long time. Of course ‘McClain’ is just her surname from her previous marriage to Michael’s dad.
    â€œOhhh, so is that why you were speaking Russian to that person on the phone this morning Dad?” I asked interrupting the discussion about the origin of Chelsea’s father.
    The room fell silent and everyone’s eyes turned to Dad.
    â€œOh darling, are you are learning to speak Russian for me?” Chelsea gushed as she squeezed him tightly.
    I noticed Grandma exchange an uneasy glance at Dad. She then bustled about on the couch and demanded that Michael get another cushion for her.
    â€œOh yes darling…SURPRISE!” sung Dad as he held out his arms.
    â€œBut I must warn you I am not that good. I am still just learning,” he said shooting a stern look in my direction.
    Before I could think I accidentally blurted, “Oh no he’s really good, I just heard him on the phone bef-”
    â€œHurry up boy, where’s that blinkin’ cushion!” scowled Grandma loudly interrupting me.
    Theo and Janice shot a curious look at me. I knew exactly what they were thinking—something else was going on.

Journal entry:
Two weeks later…
Saturday, 11:30 pm
    Two weeks have passed since Dad proposed to Chelsea and nothing else exciting has happened. Dad is still receiving the odd midnight phone call here and there but mostly on his mobile phone.
    On the night of the wedding proposal Dad pulled me aside and gave me some pathetic excuse about the reason he was speaking fluent Russian on the phone. He said it was because he was doing language lessons over the phone and was repeating everything his teacher was saying. I didn’t believe him for a second.
    I asked him about the text messages and the phone call from Grandma’s assistant, but he gave me