Everyone’s talking in the kitchen when we come inside.

Uncle Stan and Aunty Sophie give me a huge hug. I introduce them to Chelsea, but something makes me stop before I tell them she’s nearly world-famous.

Jarrod’s sitting at the table eating biscuits.

‘Hello, Jarrod,’ I say. ‘This is Chelsea.’

‘Hi, Juliet, not even a vet,’ mumbles Jarrod, a little too quietly for any of the adults to hear. He just smirks at us.

Chelsea and I look at each other and she frowns. I did try to warn her about my cousin Jarrod.

‘We’re going back outside,’ I say.

‘Jarrod, you should go outside with the girls,’ says Grandpa. ‘You can keep an eye out for snakes for them.’

Chelsea stops in her tracks.

‘Don’t worry about snakes, Chelsea,’ I say. ‘The dogs go nuts if there’s a snake around.’

‘I want to stay here,’ moans Jarrod.

‘Off you go, please,’ says Uncle Stan.

‘Stay in the house yard, Jarrod,’ says Aunty Sophie. ‘And look out for the girls.’

I can’t help but roll my eyes as I walk out the door. I’m nearly a vet. I certainly don’t need a babysitter looking out for me, and neither does Chelsea.

We go back into the yard. Jarrod follows along, but he doesn’t speak to us.

‘Let’s collect the eggs, Chelsea,’ I say.

‘Are you coming in?’ I ask Jarrod, as I hold the chook gate open.

‘Nah. I hate chickens. They stink.’

Chelsea gasps.

‘Fine,’ I say, and I slam the gate shut.

The laying boxes have lots of eggs in them. I think Grandma might have

left some there for us to collect.

‘Jarrod, can you pass that bucket in, please? We can’t carry all these eggs.’

He seems to think about whether he’ll do it, then slowly wanders over to get the bucket under the washing line. He stands back about a metre from the pen and holds it out to me.

‘Um, my hands are full of eggs,’ I say. ‘Can you bring it in?’

‘I’m not going in there. I told you – it stinks.’

‘I’ll get it,’ says Chelsea helpfully. She opens the gate to reach the bucket and a chook makes a charge for freedom.

‘Yuck! Get away,’ says Jarrod as it runs towards him.

I’m sure I see him try to kick the chicken.

‘Hey!’ yells Chelsea. ‘It’s never okay to be cruel.’

‘Well, I told you I hate them! It shouldn’t have come near me,’ Jarrod yells back and storms inside.

Chelsea and I collect the rest of the eggs then gently round up the escaped chook and put her back in the pen. We both sniff her. She doesn’t stink in the least.

We carry the eggs inside then go and find Max and Jack. They are in the end room unpacking their suitcases. Jack has brought just as many dinosaurs as Max.

‘Hey, Juliet, look at this. Jack and I have the exact same diplodocus! They’re even the same colour.’

‘That’s amazing,’ I say, wishing Jarrod liked me as much as Jack likes Max. I’m so glad Chelsea’s here.

‘Do you guys want to come to the barn with us?’ I say.

‘Yeah!’ they say together.

‘We’re going to the barn to find Ratter,’ I tell Mum on our way back out.

‘Oh dear, is that a good idea?’ says Aunty Sophie.

‘Rachel and I grew up playing in that barn, honey. It’s fine,’ Uncle Stan reassures her.

Aunty Sophie doesn’t look too sure. She grew up in the city and she doesn’t go outside much when they come to the country to visit.

‘You going too?’ asks Uncle Stan, looking at Jarrod.

‘No,’ he says. ‘I hate barns. They stink.’

Uncle Stan shakes his head. ‘Maybe if you tried playing in one, you’d see how much fun they are.’

Jarrod gets up and goes off to his room.

Chelsea, Max, Jack and I head towards the back door.

‘How could anyone not like barns?’ I ask Chelsea when we enter the lovely coolness of the big shed.

She shakes her head and shrugs. ‘Ratter,’ she calls softly. ‘Where are you?’

The boys have climbed up onto a tractor each and are pretending to race them.

‘Hey, Jack,’ I ask. ‘Is Jarrod always so cranky?’

‘No, not at home,’ he says, jiggling around and bouncing up and down on the seat.

‘Maybe it is just me?’ I whisper to Chelsea.