Katy Read online

  We clutched each other, suddenly really scared. Then I heard a triumphant mew. I snapped on the kitchen light – and there was our old cat Sally, now as bouncy as a kitten, chasing a tiny mouse here and there about the kitchen floor.

  ‘A mouse, a mouse, a mouse!’ Elsie squealed.

  ‘Yes, a mouse, stupid, not a burglar. Well, a cat burglar,’ I said, laughing. I grabbed one of Izzie’s empty Kilner jars, pushed poor Sally out of the way, and neatly captured the mouse inside the jar.

  ‘Ugh! Oh Katy, you’re so brave!’ said Cecy, who seemed almost as scared of the mouse as silly Elsie.

  ‘It’s only a little field mouse. It’s so sweet! And luckily it doesn’t look hurt at all,’ I said, showing Cecy the glass jar filled with the tiny rodent, but she shrank away from me.

  ‘OK, OK. I’ll take it out into the garden,’ I said, and did so. ‘There you are, little Mousy. Run fast! Keep away from our Sally!’

  Sally was mewing crossly, deprived of her fun, so I let the littlies feed her a cat treat each.

  ‘Can we have a treat too?’ Dorry asked.

  ‘No, we’re all going back to bed. Come on, who can get into bed first?’ I said.

  We all tore up the stairs, pushing and yelling, making a mad dive for the bed. Elsie got in too, huddling up close.

  ‘There! Everybody’s in now,’ I said. ‘All safe.’

  ‘Everybody except Philly,’ said Jonnie.

  ‘Mum will bring him back all better,’ said Cecy.

  ‘But he will hurt,’ said Jonnie.

  ‘Let’s play bears,’ I said quickly, because I couldn’t stand the thought of dear little Phil hurting either. ‘I’m Father Bear and Cecy can be Mother Bear and you’re all our little bear cubs and we’re safe in our cave. Pull the covers right up over our heads to make the cave.’

  There was an ominous ripping sound. Oh no … Izzie’s vintage peach counterpane. I didn’t dare get up and switch the light on and see what we’d done. Perhaps it was just a little rip. Maybe I could turn the counterpane round so that Izzie wouldn’t notice. I decided to play bears and distract everyone for ten minutes or so, and then I’d put them all back in their own beds and deal with the counterpane. Clover and I were rubbish at sewing, but maybe Cecy could manage a neat repair if necessary.

  ‘We’re bears, we’re bears! Big fat growly bears. Grrrr! Grrrr!’ I said. ‘I’m big Father Bear and I’ve climbed a tree and found honey for all my baby bears. Snuggle up and have some honey, yum yum yum!’ I said, trying to distract myself as well as all the others.

  ‘Honey!’ said Dorry. ‘Where? Bags I have first lick!’

  ‘It’s pretend honey, Dorry!’ I said.

  ‘I want real honey!’ said Dorry.

  ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake!’ I said. ‘All right, all right. I’ll go and get you some.’

  I climbed out of bed and started down the stairs, desperate to keep them all happy. Tyler came with me and I couldn’t help tripping over him in the dark.

  ‘Sorry, sorry, Tyler! Are you all right?’ I asked anxiously.

  Tyler leaped up and licked my face reassuringly. But then he suddenly started to bark loudly.

  ‘No, shh, Tyler, stop that row! Don’t be silly. There’s nothing to bark at,’ I hissed.

  Tyler took no notice. And then I heard something myself. A car door slamming outside. Then scurrying footsteps. I ran to the living room, peeped round the curtain and saw Izzie hastening towards the front door!

  I gasped and then flew up the stairs as if I had a real family of bears chasing me.

  ‘Quick, quick! Get back to your own beds!’ I shrieked. ‘Izzie’s back already! Move!’

  I started yanking every child out of bed and giving them a shove. They scattered wildly, stumbling in the dark.

  ‘Ouch! You landed right on top of me, you great lump, Dorry!’ Elsie moaned. ‘Put the light on, someone!’

  ‘No, no! Izzie will see. Just feel your way in the dark – and hurry!’ I said.

  I pushed Elsie in the direction of her little room and yanked at Dorry and Jonnie, trying to herd them towards their own shared bedroom.

  ‘Quick!’ I commanded, now grabbing Clover and Cecy.

  The three of us ran along the landing like the wind and then jumped into bed, Cecy in with me and Clover burrowing down into her own bed.

  I heard Izzie’s key in the lock.

  ‘Shh, now! Everyone pretend to be fast asleep!’ I said.

  ‘But she’ll wonder where my mum is, and little Phil,’ Cecy whispered.

  ‘Oh goodness, yes! Well, act all sleepy and innocent when she wakes us up,’ I said.

  I started pretend snoring as I heard Izzie down in the hall. Clover tried too, sounding like a little piglet. Cecy giggled nervously and I couldn’t help giggling too. Our bed shook we were laughing so much. I pulled the covers over our heads to try to drown the noise.

  We heard Izzie run into Elsie’s room first and start talking to her urgently. Oh no, Elsie would be bound to tell on all of us. And sure enough, after a minute’s muttering, we heard Izzie rush into her own bedroom and snap on the light.

  Suddenly I stopped laughing. I thought of the spilt make-up, the discarded jewellery, the clothes and broken shoe shoved hastily back into the wardrobe. I thought of the torn peach counterpane.

  ‘Oh Lord,’ I whispered.

  We heard Izzie going into Dorry and Jonnie’s room and the sound of her raised voice. Dorry and Jonnie tried to stay silent, but soon we heard them mumbling. Izzie seemed terribly cross. It sounded as if both Dorry and Jonnie were crying now.

  Then Izzie swept into our room and switched on the light. I don’t know about Clover or Cecy, but I kept my eyes tight shut and tried to breathe regularly.

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous, girls! I know you’re wide awake,’ said Izzie.

  I sat up reluctantly, thinking fast. Divert her!

  ‘Izzie, you mustn’t worry. It’s only a little cut, but Philly’s at the hospital with Mrs Hall,’ I gabbled, hoping this would immediately make her charge off to the hospital and forget about rowing us.

  No such luck.

  ‘I know Phil’s in A & E having his finger stitched, you silly girl. That’s why I’m back early. I listened to Eleanor’s message. She explained that she’d left you in charge!’ said Izzie. She might have gone on more about this decision, but she couldn’t very well call Mrs Hall an idiot in front of her daughter.

  ‘I can’t believe you could all have been so naughty! My bedroom is a wreck!’ said Izzie. Her voice sounded strange, as if she were about to burst into tears. ‘You’ve been wearing my clothes, using my make-up – even tearing my silk counterpane!’

  ‘We didn’t mean … I just wanted …’ I faltered.

  ‘It wasn’t all Katy’s fault. It was all of us,’ said Clover.

  ‘That’s right,’ said Cecy bravely.

  ‘I know that,’ said Izzie. ‘I’m thoroughly ashamed and disappointed in all of you, but especially you, Katy, as you’re the oldest and the others look up to you so. I’m sure it was your idea to go into my bedroom.’

  ‘Yes, all right, it was my idea,’ I said. ‘I only wanted to comfort everyone.’

  ‘Well, you’ve succeeded in getting all your siblings and your friend into serious trouble,’ said Izzie. ‘Goodness knows what your father will say.’

  ‘Will you have to tell him? Oh please, dear Izzie, I know we’ve been bad, but could you possibly not tell Dad? It will upset him so,’ said Clover, sitting up and looking adorable in her pink budgie-patterned pyjamas.

  Most people can’t resist Clover when she begs so prettily. But Izzie resisted easily.

  ‘Of course I’m going to tell your father,’ Izzie said coldly. ‘He’s gone straight to the hospital to check on Phil and relieve Mrs Hall. You’re to stay here tonight, Cecy. Now, I suggest you all settle down and go to sleep. I dare say your father will have words with you in the morning.’

  Izzie stalked off. We heard her back in her bed