The Adventures of Stunt Boy and His Amazing Wonder Dog Blindfold by Lollie Barr Page A

world now.’
    â€˜I think he just might,’ I said suddenly feeling optimistic for the first time in ages.
    Then something strange happened. My dad’s good leg moved as if he was trying to kick me.
    â€˜Dad!’ I said, racing up to the other end of the bed and staring right into his eyes. ‘Are you there? Can you hear me? Dad?’
    Dad didn’t answer but the twitch of his leg was a sign that somewhere, beneath consciousness, my dad was listening to every word we were saying. The thing I most wanted in the world was to make him proud of me. I wasn’t going to let Stoked Stunt Circus disappear. I was going to save it. And nobody was going to stop me.

12
    You’re my hero
    T o: Caleb Calloway
    From: Stunt Boy
    Dear Caleb Calloway,
    This is Stunt Boy. My sister Jem and I met you last year with our dad. We are the Stoked family from Stoked Stunt Circus. Do you remember us? I was eleven at the time and now I’m twelve. My sister is nearly seventeen (in six weeks). You talked to her for a long time. You said that my dad Evan Stoked was your hero when you were growing up because he was the most ace motorbike stunt man ever and it was after watching him you got into motorbike acrobatics. I told you that you were my hero because you can do a Suicide Can and you get to tour the world doing fantastic stunts.
    You signed my helmet.
    Now something really bad has happened. I don’t mean my autograph rubbing off the helmet, although that was pretty bad when it happened. It rubbed off because the marker pen you used wasn’t permanent (I’m not saying this is your fault! It wasn’t as you borrowed the pen from the canteen lady! She wouldn’t have known either).
    The bad news is my dad had an accident and he’s in a coma in hospital. I think someone sabotaged his bike but nobody believes me. Now our circus is going broke! They are going to take our motorbikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as well as shut down our circus and sell everything we own.
    We need to have a fantastic headline act to get lots of people to come to Stoked, so I wondered whether you would help out by being our headline act. We don’t have much money but I will make sure you get free food and a very comfortable bed with a fluffy doona. Please say yes.
    Your friend,
    Stunt Boy (William John Stoked)
    I added all the exclamation marks because Caleb, being a motorbike aficionado, would know the awfulness of someone taking away your motorbikes. It would be the worst thing on earth, apart from your dad being in a coma or your dog being shot.

13
    Someone was trying to steal our circus
    I was in the office checking my email for the hundredth time since I’d sent Caleb the message six days ago when a sweaty bicycle courier dressed in tight yellow bicycle shorts rushed in.
    â€˜Are you authorised to sign on behalf of Stoked Stunt Circus?’ he said pulling a fat envelope from his cycle bag. He didn’t even say hello, which I thought was a bit rude.
    Blindfold stood up and took two paces in front of me, the hackles on his back rising. He’d been very protective since our misadventure at Chesterley’s circus.
    â€˜Sure, I’m the owner’s son,’ I said.
    He handed over a big yellow envelope, which was addressed to Ginger Styles, Stoked Stunt Circus and I signed the form. William John Stoked (Stunt Boy). Usually I sign it the other way around but it was official Stoked business.
    After he left, I turned over the envelope and there was a stamp that read Banker’s Bank. It felt as if I had a little piece of the puzzle in my hands as I’d overheard Ginger talking to Lefty about money. I had to know what was in that envelope.
    â€˜Come on, Blindfold, let’s go,’ I said, stuffing the envelope up my T-shirt and tucking it into the waistband of my jeans.
    When I got back to our caravan, Jem was making a snack. ‘Just in time for food, Stunt Boy – as usual,’