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Chapter 34

The rest of the night was a blur. Angela whisked Dawn and Ben away before Kirsty could even say thank you to them. Kirsty was tucked up in bed with a hot-water bottle as soon as they stepped through the door. She slept without dreaming for hours. She woke around lunchtime, with the sounds of the day creeping in through her open window and a breeze fluttering the curtain. When she finally got out of bed, she could hear voices downstairs. Dad and Mum were talking to someone. A grown-up someone. The police? Kirsty wrapped her dressing gown about her tightly and pulled hard at the belt. She crept downstairs.

She trod carefully down the hall until she reached the living room.

‘Oh, you’re awake, then?’ Mum had seen her. Mr Thomas was sitting on the settee, a cup balanced on a saucer on his knee. He smiled at her. Dad sat next to Mr Thomas. His beard was gone. He was wearing his favourite red T-shirt. Kirsty stared at him. He was out of bed! There was a glowing kind of joy in her stomach that she had never felt before. Even if she ended up in prison after last night, it would be OK, because Dad would be able to come and visit.

Mr Thomas spoke. ‘I thought it was a dream! Really, I did. Mrs Thomas set me straight. She said in all her years she had never been woken up by a stuffed elephant before, and it set me laughing all over again.’

‘Morning, Mr Thomas,’ Kirsty said.

Mum went into the kitchen and came back with a mug of tea. She passed it to Kirsty with a wink. The tea felt nice and warm, and Kirsty was glad of something to hide her face behind.

‘Sit down,’ Dad said, pointing to the empty armchair. Kirsty lowered herself into it, keeping both hands wrapped around the mug to stop them shaking. ‘Am I going to prison?’ she blurted out.

Dad looked serious for a moment, then smiled. ‘No, not this time. The museum isn’t going to press charges. It seems that Mr Thomas is on the board of trustees. Which is not to say that you won’t be punished, young lady.’

Kirsty’s eyes widened. Was this the lifetime of hard chores that Ben had predicted?

Mr Thomas spoke. ‘Yes. We’ve been talking. We think that a few months’ community service is in order.’

Kirsty’s heart sank as she thought of the miserable things she had seen on the TV: the toilet cleaning, the wall painting, the stupid overalls they had to wear.

‘Yes,’ Mr Thomas continued. ‘We think it would be a good idea for you to do a spot of work out in the community, helping others. We were thinking you might take over one of the recently vacated allotment plots, thus ensuring the continued vitality and –’

Had she heard right? An allotment plot? Kirsty squealed, put down her mug and ran over to Mr Thomas. She threw her arms around him in a bear hug. Luckily, his cup was empty before it hit the carpet.

‘Thank you! Thank you!’

She stepped back and looked at Dad. He smiled, but his eyes still had a far-away look. She reached out and touched his face. ‘It’s all right, Dad. There’s no need to be sad. Everything’s going to be better soon.’

Dad smiled. ‘I know. But you’re so like your grandad. This is what you both wanted. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before. I haven’t been well. I wasn’t paying attention to the good things that I’ve got. I was too caught up in the bad stuff. But I feel a bit stronger now. Come on.’ He stood up. ‘We’ve got work to do down the allotments. Go and get your wellies on.’

‘Dad! Brilliant!’ Kirsty threw herself into Dad’s arms and felt him hug her tight. He was on his way back to them. When he finally let go, Kirsty asked, ‘But would you mind if I went by myself? Just for this first time.’

Dad exchanged a look with Mum, as though something was being decided. Then he said, ‘Sure. We’ll come over later. You can tell us all your plans.’