My dad lives on the other side of the estate from us. Even though he’s not Rose’s biological father, we both usually visit him on Saturdays and Thursdays, but given the EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES this definitely called for a break from tradition. I decided to drop round on my way to school.

There’s a balcony that runs all the way round the estate, past all the identical red doors to all the flats including MY BEST FRIEND LUKAS’S. Lukas is from the EU. As he would already have left for school, I didn’t knock for him on the way past.

I went down the steps that led to the first floor where Dad’s flat was. He lives at NUMBER FOUR. I rang the bell and waited. There was no answer. Perhaps I was too late, and he had already left for work.

There was only one thing for it. I started BASHING THE DOOR VERY LOUDLY and SHOUTING, whilst RINGING THE BELL and CLATTERING THE LETTER-BOX. This was bound to get his attention if he was still at home.

‘What the hell?’ I heard a voice mutter. ‘Hang on a minute.’

I heard the chain being drawn across, the bolt slide back, and the latch click, and then SUDDENLY the door was open and standing there in his shirt and tie, looking as smart as always, was DAD. Even his suit couldn’t hide his dreadlocks which hung over his shoulder and down to his knees.

‘Jake, son. What’s up?’ Dad asked as he scratched his head and exhaled sharply. ‘I was just about to leave.’

Behind him, the flat looked PRISTINE (really tidy), the windows sparkling in the early morning sun. Dad picked up his briefcase from just inside the front door and hustled me outside as he closed it firmly behind him.

‘I need to get to work,’ Dad continued as he locked up. ‘Why aren’t you on your way to school?’

‘Mum’s missing.’ I blurted out. ‘She wasn’t at home this morning when I woke up. Her bed’s not been slept in and she wasn’t at breakfast either. Rose had a total fit. You should have seen her. And Grandma’s in the kitchen sleeping. So, I thought—have you seen her?’

Dad was MOMENTARILY SPEECHLESS. He opened his mouth and then closed it again without saying a word. He scratched his head once more and looked A BIT CONFUSED. I wondered if he was IN SHOCK. Perhaps he was just worried about being LATE FOR WORK.

‘Dad?’

We were still standing on the balcony, Dad checking his watch anxiously and trying to get me to move along towards the gate that led out into the street. Dad works for the local council. He takes his job VERY SERIOUSLY and doesn’t like to be late. ESPECIALLY ON A MONDAY.

‘Nah. Last time I saw her was yesterday evening. Down by Tesco. Round ten I think it was.’

This was an INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT because yesterday was SUNDAY, and Mum never went out on a SUNDAY, apart from to get CHICKEN AND CHIPS from the high street. She’d been in when I went to bed.

‘Did she say anything?’ I asked.

‘I didn’t speak to her. She looked like she was in a bad mood.’ His face darkened temporarily (he was probably thinking about being late for work again).

After a second he added, ‘It did seem like she was in a bit of a hurry, though.’

‘Do you think we should call the police?’

I felt like ALERTING THE AUTHORITIES was the least we should do GIVEN THE SITUATION. Perhaps the reason she had been in such a rush was to GET AWAY FROM AN ARMED ROBBER or something.

‘Let’s not jump to any conclusions now, son. I’ll try to ring the house at lunchtime, speak to your gran. I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this. She probably just had an appointment this morning and forgot to tell you. Or she did tell you and you forgot to remember.’

I opened my mouth to PROTEST VIOLENTLY but Dad cut me off before I could even begin to DRAW BREATH.

‘Don’t you think it’s time for you to go to school?’ Dad looked pointedly down at his watch again. ‘Don’t worry about your mum, I’ll sort it.’

He was right, it was now TEN TO NINE, and I was almost certainly going to be LATE for school unless there happened to be a SPARE TARDIS lying around somewhere, so I decided I better GET MY SKATES ON and get out of there before I got a DETENTION.

I said goodbye to Dad and raced along the balcony and down the stairs, pausing briefly at the bottom to inhale some much-needed fresh air. Dad called out behind me to SLOW DOWN or I’d BREAK MY NECK.

Having established that Mum wasn’t at Dad’s, I took out my notebook and crossed him off the list. I thought it was interesting that Dad had mentioned seeing Mum at Tesco the previous evening and made a note to come back to that later.

Once I’d updated my notes, I continued on my journey to school. There wasn’t much chance of Mum being there I decided, but it wasn’t a complete WASTE OF TIME as I could ask Lukas if I could go round to his after school and see if his mum had any idea where she might be.

Also, he could be WORRIED that I hadn’t been there this morning as we always walk to school together EVERY MORNING. Apart from on SATURDAYS and SUNDAYS of course as there is NO SCHOOL on those days.

In case you were wondering I am usually A VERY PUNCTUAL person.

Being a DETECTIVE was turning out to be QUITE HARD WORK. Perhaps what I needed was a trusty sidekick, a Watson to my Sherlock Holmes. My next task was to FIND LUKAS. Perhaps he could be my righthand man and help me solve THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING MUM.

places mum might have gone:

1. The EU

2. The Bahamas

3. Prison

4. Tesco

5. Christmas Shopping

6. Oxford Street (see point five above)

7. Hospital

8. Lukas’s house

9. Dad’s

 

10. Dead?