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From: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies.com

To: Edmund@kidmail.com

Date: Monday, 12 May, 5:45pm

Subject: Invaders!

Hi Edmund

The island is going to be invaded again! Jack’s inviting four other scientists here for a conference on turning algae into biofuel. I can hardly believe it. I know how much he loves plankton and algae – but we’ve spent our whole lives trying to keep our home secret. He says it’ll be okay because the World Organisation of Scientists will choose who gets to come, so they’ll be people who understand how special this place is.

Nim – as confused as Fred sleeping on Selkie’s back and ending up at sea

P.S. They won’t even have to run away from home like the last invader …

From: Edmund@kidmail.com

To: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies.com

Date: Monday, 12 May, 4:55pm

Subject: re: Invaders!

And they probably won’t get grounded when they get home.

But maybe they need an assistant? Someone who wants to be a scientist when he grows up, who already knows you and Selkie and Fred and Jack, and has already helped conduct important scientific research on the island?

Edmund – as green as a tree frog with envy

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From: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies. com

To: Edmund@kidmail.com

Date: Monday, 12 May, 5:58pm

Subject: Are you still grounded?

From: Edmund@kidmail.com

To: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies.com

Date: Monday, 12 May, 4:59pm

Subject: Grounding officially finishes June 30.

When is the conference? Have you got a plan?

From: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies. com

To: Edmund@kidmail.com

Date: Monday, 12 May, 8:12pm

Subject: My plan is useless

The conference is Monday, 23 June. And Jack says the World Organisation of Scientists won’t accept research done by kids so we can’t be assistants. And they’ve already chosen the scientists so he can’t change the date. AND he’ll send you right back if you run away again.

Nim – as mad as a hermit crab who’s lost her shell

From: Edmund@kidmail.com

To: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies.com

Date: Monday, 12 May, 7:13pm

Subject: It was worth a try

Edmund – as crushed as a shell-less hermit crab underneath Selkie

From: Edmund@kidmail.com

To: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies.com

Date: Tuesday, 13 May, 4:30pm

Subject: Negotiations

If I wash the dishes every night, take out the garbage, keep my bedroom clean AND babysit the twins downstairs – the naughtiest kids in the whole world – for the next two Saturdays, I’m ungrounded on Sunday the 22nd June.

Edmund – rushing to clean my bedroom, just in case

From: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies.com

To: Edmund@kidmail.com

Date: Tuesday, 13 May, 5:35pm

Subject: Yay for ungrounding

But I still haven’t got a plan.

I’ve never met any twins. I think it would be fun. How do you sit on them both at the same time? Maybe Selkie could help you. Ha ha! (I know that’s not what babysitting means! I’ve read books about it.)

Nim – laughing about Selkie babysitting the naughty kids

From: Edmund@kidmail.com

To: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies. com

Date: Tuesday, 13 May, 4:37pm

Subject: Selkie babysitting

I’d like to see that.

From: Nim@RusoeSanctuaryforRare&EndangeredSpecies. com

To: Edmund@kidmail.com

Date: Friday, 16 May, 10:11am

Subject: Cross your fingers

Jack got an email yesterday about the scientists who are coming. Two of them are married to each other and they want to bring their children. The other two work at a university in Brisbane but they aren’t married to each other and neither of them have kids. The family scientists have a boat so they’re going to sail it here and pick up the others on the way.

So I told Jack if other kids were coming that you should too, because you know all about babysitting, and we don’t know how old these kids are. This morning he FINALLY said he’s going to email your parents and the Brisbane scientists and ask if you can come with them!!!!

Nim – as excited as Fred with a smashed-open coconut

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