‘But I don’t want chocolate beetroot cake! I want multicoloured rainbow cake!’ Tilly snarls in the doorway. ‘And no one’s given me ANY PRESENTS YET!’
I turn away and stare through the kitchen window into the model village, watching the church grow and shrink like a living being. It might be that dust; there’s more of it all the time. This morning I was all sticky with it and couldn’t get my socks on properly. We’re going to have to do something about it.
We’re going to have to do something about Eric’s dad too – he still hasn’t turned up. And it’s been more than twelve hours. Grandma was so sure he would be here somewhere, within the village, but I’m worried that she’s wrong. Eric slept with us last night, but rushed back to check the house first thing this morning.
I feel about 75% bad about Eric’s dad. I should have stopped him going in the disappearing cabinet – but it’s at least 25% my dad’s fault, because he’s a grown-up and should know better.
And I’m pretty sure it’s at least 47% the professor’s fault.
‘Tilly,’ says Grandma. ‘I got up at five to make your cake. It’s very special and you will like it.’
Personally I wouldn’t argue with Grandma, but I hear Tilly’s intake of breath as she prepares to let off one of her killer screams, so I make a run for it.
I make it to the garden by the time the scream breaks. It’s bad – very bad – but gets worse when the stupid cockatoo, which no one can catch, lands on the growing church tower and joins in with ‘Tom made a stinky one’, before flying off, laughing.
I hesitate, watching a tall column of grass-green smoke rise from the model blacksmith’s forge. I look back towards the house. I wonder if I should hang around to help Grandma, or join Eric looking for his dad. He’s searching the model village, on his hands and knees, in case his dad’s somehow been shrunk.
While I’m standing in the garden, I see Lily Lee creep towards the house. She looks as if she doesn’t want to be seen.
For a moment I wonder whether to keep quiet and just see what she’s up to, but then decide that’ll only get embarrassing, so I step up to the fence. ‘Lily,’ I say.
‘Oh!’ she says, jumping. ‘I – um.’
‘What are you doing here?’ I ask, immediately wishing I’d just hidden in a bush and kept quiet.
‘Tilly’s birthday,’ she says, handing me an envelope. ‘Just wanted to give her a card – I can’t come to the party.’
I take the card, but notice that in her other hand, she seems to be holding a hammer, even though it’s tucked behind her back.
She sees me staring at it.
‘Oh – er – thought I’d do a bit of fossil hunting,’ she says and walks off down the street.