CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

THE CLIMB OF HIS LIFE

Immediately, Jonny raced over to the tree and began to climb. The Hanging Pants of Doom were stuck on a high branch, much higher than Jonny had ever climbed before. Ted and J2 watched from their tree, Pete-Pip and Henry stared up from below and Hari just kept on eating beetles, as Jonny slowly but determinedly pulled himself up through the branches.

‘I’m not sure this is a good idea, Jonny,’ shouted Ted. ‘You’re not a great climber.’

‘He is kind, though,’ said Pete-Pip. ‘I mean, you can say that for him, can’t you?’

‘Sorry, who are you?’ Ted asked.

‘I’m Pip, one of Jonny’s Sibling Swap brothers,’ she said. ‘He was good to me. He tried to get me off the Xbox in the middle of the night so I could rest. I was doing this whole “I’m addicted to Xbox!” acting thing to test out Sibling Swap and sort of force him to send me back, so I could see how it all works. I’m not even a boy, as you can see! Anyway, he was very patient with me, even when I was being pretty awful. He also wanted us to go for a walk so we could hang out together, which was nice.’

Hari squeaked in agreement, then went back to his beetles. Then Henry spoke.

‘He showed that he was brave and loyal too,’ said the dead king. ‘He looked after your mother, who unfortunately fainted away when she saw me. (It happens.) He defended his dog and was determined to find you and establish the brother bond again. These are excellent characteristics. You’re a fine fellow, Jonny.’

‘You got my name right,’ muttered Jonny, smiling briefly, before reaching for the next branch.

‘He also saved Alfie’s life,’ Henry added.

‘He did what? To who?’ Ted gasped.

‘Another brother – Alfie,’ said Henry. ‘A bit of a rogue. The little fellow climbed a tree and then fell. Jonny saved him with a box of sweetmeats. I observed it all in my all-seeing ghostly way.’

‘A box of … Oh, never mind,’ said Ted. ‘Is this true, Jonny? Did you save a boy’s life?’

There was no answer, though. Over in his tree, Jonny was now up high. All the brothers stared up at him. He was clinging to a branch with one arm while the other arm was slowly, slowly, slowly reaching out towards the Hanging Pants of Doom.