7.

The rabbit lay on the dressing table, its eyes glazed over and little white maggots wriggling in the fur round its mouth.

“It smells like fart,” said Royce. “I should do something about it tonight.”

But he didn’t. And when we had been in the room for a while, we got used to the smell.

Royce was drawing pictures of the raft we were going to build in the morning. I thought the plans were a bit grand, but I didn’t say anything. Royce’s inventions were interesting but they didn’t always work out.

“The tubes are good and strong now,” he said. “I reckon they’ll be safe enough for the little kids to have a turn.” He looked at me. “They really want to come.”

“Okay,” I said. “Good.”

“The tubes will hold us. I don’t want you to worry about it.”

“I’m not worrying,” I said.

“You are. You’re frowning.”

“I am not. I’m just concentrating.”

“You’re always worrying,” he said.

“Not!”

It was Uncle Leo who stopped the argument. He called up the stairs, “Mickey? It’s your mother on the phone. Better rattle your chains. I just told her we put you in slavery and we’re working you to death.”

I ran down the stairs and grabbed the phone, warm from Uncle Leo’s breath. “He didn’t, Mom. I mean, they haven’t been making me work.”

“Michael, what on earth are you talking about?” said Mom.

I looked at Uncle Leo’s grinning face and then relaxed. “Oh, nothing. How are you, Mom?”

“Very well, thank you, Michael. Your father had a very pleasant day on the golf course and now we’re going out to dinner. Are you all right, Michael? I realize you can’t talk, but can you answer yes or no?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Are you managing at Auntie Rose’s?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Are you eating well? Lots of fruits and vegetables? Are you taking your medicine and going to bed on time? Not forgetting to brush your teeth?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“You’re not homesick, are you?”

“No, Mom!” I said it too quickly and there was a funny little silence at the other end. “Well, sort of,” I added.

“It’s only until tomorrow afternoon,” she said. “We’ll pick you up about four o’clock. I have to go now, Michael. The car has arrived to take us to dinner. What’s that noise?”

“That’s our dinner.”

“Your dinner?”

“Auntie Rosie bangs a saucepan to let us know it’s ready.”

“Oh. Well, be good, Michael. It’s not for long. Tomorrow you’ll be back home in your own nice room.”

I put the phone down. For dinner there was macaroni and cheese and salad. None of us liked macaroni and cheese, but Auntie Rosie had put a face on top of it: curly hair made of spaghetti and tomato sauce, mashed potato nose, olive eyes and sliced red pepper for a mouth. It looked like Uncle Leo.

Auntie Rosie said that she’d also put two dollars of coins in the macaroni and cheese but that wasn’t true. When we got sick of looking, we left the stuff on our plates.

“It’s gruesome!” said Miranda, who was reading a book at the table.

“Absolutely foul,” muttered Johnny.

Honey spat into her bowl.

Auntie Rosie shrugged. Uncle Leo looked at her and then said to the rest of us, “The cook thanks you for your compliments and regrets that the homemade chocolate ice cream is not now available.”

Miranda dropped her book. “You didn’t tell us you were making ice cream!”

We picked up our forks and ate the macaroni and cheese in record time. Royce ran to the freezer, yanked open the door, and peered into trails of steam. “Where is it?”

Auntie Rosie turned. “I didn’t say there was chocolate ice cream.”

“I didn’t either,” said Uncle Leo. “In fact, I recall saying it was not available.”

There were howls around the table and Jeannie yelled, “You mean, rotten parents! I’m going to divorce both of you!”

Auntie Rosie laughed. “But there is the rest of the carrot cake,” she said. “And carrot cake sits well on top of macaroni and cheese.”

After the cake, I helped the others with the dishes. We were all tired from the late night on Friday, and we wanted to go to bed so we could have an early start on the raft. Jeannie was yawning and Honey was already asleep with her smudged face against the table.

“Good night, Auntie Rosie,” I said.

She grabbed my chin and tilted my head. “Mickey, you haven’t been brushing your teeth!”

I didn’t say anything.

“Green!” she cried. “Positively green! You grubby little rodent! Find your toothbrush or I’ll run the lawnmower over them!”

That was it! I laughed and laughed. I went on laughing until my stomach hurt and I had to cross my arms over it.

Auntie Rosie looked puzzled. “It wasn’t that funny,” she said.

I hugged her. “Wow! Thanks, Auntie Rosie!” I said, and I ran upstairs.