Vacation Dreams by Sue Bentley Page A

teasing her about being too enthusiastic and not taking no for an answer.

    She stood looking out at the view of the farmyard with its huge barns and fields full of corn and vegetables.
    There was the faint outline of a village far away in the distance; beyond that, all she could see were thick woods and the green slopes of rolling hills.
    Becky sighed as she turned away from the window. The farm was miles from any other people. She had no choice but to make the best of things.
    As she dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, she tried hard to think of something Leon might like doing besides playing computer games. Soccer! All boys likedthat, didn’t they? Maybe she could persuade him to come outside and play.
    She was pulling on her sneakers when there was a knock at the door.
    “Come in!” Becky called.
    Leon stuck his head around the door. He had sandy hair that flopped over his forehead and serious blue eyes. At twelve years old, he was three years older than Becky.
    “Hi, Leon! Do you want to kick the soccer ball around later? I’m pretty good at sports. Look!” Becky shuffled her feet encouragingly as if she was dribbling a ball. But in her eagerness she caught the toe of her sneaker on the rug and almost tripped.
    Leon looked at her curiously. “Er, sorry, I can’t. I’ve got stuff to finish.”
    “Oh…okay. Well, when you’re done, maybe we can do something together?” Becky tried again. “How about tennis or baseball? Or you could show me around those woods—”
    “Maybe later.” Leon edged outof the doorway and called from the landing. “I only came to tell you that breakfast’s ready!”

    Becky tried to ignore a growing feeling of dismay as she followed her cousin downstairs. Maybe Leon didn’t like hanging around with younger kids. Whenever Becky was here, he always stayed in his room.
    Uncle Den sat at the kitchen table drinking tea and reading a farming magazine. He looked up and smiled as Becky came in. “Hello, honey. Did you sleep well?”
    “Yes, thanks.” Becky returned his smile and sat down next to Leon, who was staring into space as if he was deep in thought.
    “This is Mrs. Kelly.” Her unclenodded toward a small round figure bustling about at the stove. He explained that she’d be doing the cooking and house-keeping while Becky’s aunt was away.
    “Hello, Mrs. Kelly,” Becky said cheerfully.
    “Good morning.” Mrs. Kelly smiled back at Becky, but only briefly. Her gray hair was pinned into a neat bun and a spotless apron covered her blue flowered dress. She placed a steaming dish of eggs, bacon, and sausage on the table, followed by a stack of toast.
    “Here you go. Help yourselves.”
    Becky could feel her tummy rumbling at the sight of the feast in front of her. She began loading her plate.
    While they all ate, the housekeeperwashed pots and pans at the speed of light. She then strode into the laundry room next to the kitchen. Becky heard a whooshing sound as the washing machine went into action.
    “I’ll be giving those bed sheets a good airing,” Mrs. Kelly said loudly, to no one in particular. “I don’t use those new-fangled tumble-dryers.”
    What’s the big deal?
Becky wondered.
Mom dries our laundry—doesn’t everyone?
    Becky finished everything on her plate. She was just enjoying some toast with butter and jam when Leon stood up and asked to be excused from the table. “It’s okay, isn’t it, Dad? I’ve got something really important to do.”
    “Sure, go ahead. But I don’t want you shut away upstairs for hours onend while Becky’s staying with us,” his father said. “I’m relying on you to entertain our guest.”
    “Yeah, of course I will. I just have to finish this first!” Leon said over his shoulder, already rushing out.
    Becky heard him clattering upstairs and then slamming his bedroom door.
    Uncle Den shook his head slowly as he turned to Becky. “Leon writes a column for an online magazine—or ‘’zine’ as he calls it. He takes it very