Kingsview Kids Adventures:

8 Kids on the Lookout

Pete woke up at eight the next morning. He made his way to the bathroom. Everyone else was still asleep. Gary usually had a shower at nine and was in the Internet café by nine thirty. That gave him one hour.

Van opened her eyes. She could hear someone in the bathroom. She got out of bed and tiptoed to the door. She sneaked to Gary’s bedroom door; they were still in bed. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was five past eight. She tiptoed to Gary’s workroom and grabbed her bag. Then she made her way downstairs, glad the sound of running water drowned out the occasional squeaking stair.

The front door was securely bolted and locked, but Van gently slid the bolts open and picked the lock with her special pencil. ‘Great!’ she exclaimed as she opened the door.

‘And where do you think you are going?’ said Piggy as Van walked into him. He’d been just about to ring the bell. He nudged her safely into the house again.

‘Put your things back and this will be our secret,’ said Piggy. ‘You’d get in trouble with Gary and Dave if they heard you tried to escape. Believe me, you don’t want to see the nasty sides of those two.’

‘Am I bothered? You can’t keep me locked up here,’ replied Van, obeying Piggy’s suggestion.

‘

Have a look at this,’ said Piggy as Van returned to the hallway. It was a picture of her in a newspaper article. ‘We have to move you today.’

‘I thought I heard voices,’ said Pete as he walked into the hallway. ‘What’s up?’

Piggy and Van looked at each other. ‘Nothing,’ they both replied. Van was glad Piggy said nothing about her trying to escape; she could have hurt Pete’s feelings.

‘Good morning,’ said Gary as he joined the trio in the hallway. ‘Why is everyone standing in the hallway?’ he asked, snatching the papers from Van.

‘Oh no!’ he exclaimed. ‘We’ve got to move today – immediately. ‘Did you give them this information?’ Van nodded.

‘It’s a wonder they haven’t already located us, with Pete being questioned and all!’ said Gary. ‘Quick, Piggy, remove the signpost. I’m sure the police will come looking this morning; we have to be out of here fast. I’m going to take my shower. Pete, make Van some breakfast.’

‘Van?’ asked Pete.

‘Yep, that’s her name … not V,’ said Gary.

‘V for Van; it is my name,’ argued Van.

‘Oh, bother, get out of my way,’ said Gary roughly.

‘Be ready in ten minutes.’

‘We’ll try,’ said Pete cheerfully, trying to ease the tension.

As soon as Piggy and Gary disappeared, Pete and Van began planning her escape, making sure nobody heard them.

‘We have to think fast,’ said Pete. ‘We’ve got about seven minutes before Gary rejoins us,’ said Pete.

‘Can I borrow some of your clothes?’ asked Van.

‘Yes … now?’ said Pete, surprised. At the look on Van’s face, he disappeared for a few moments and returned with jeans, a jersey top, and a baseball cap.

‘Gee, thanks. I’ll be back.’ Van sneaked upstairs and changed into Pete’s clothes. She again grabbed her bag from Gary’s workroom. She stuffed her clothes into the bag and used some of her hairspray to straighten her mixed-raced hair; then she put on the baseball cap, hiding her hair totally. She put on her blue contact lenses. That’s it! I look like a boy; nobody will recognise me. The house was quiet as Van sneaked back downstairs to meet Pete.

‘Is that you, V?’ asked Pete. ‘Incredible! I don’t believe it.’

‘Sssh, let’s roll,’ whispered Van, taking some of the bread and butter Pete had prepared and sticking it in her bag.

‘Wait. We’ve got to change your bag,’ said Pete. He dashed upstairs and returned with another rucksack.

‘It’s new,’ said Van as they headed for the main door. They rushed through the gates.

‘Hi, Pete. Where are you off to?’ Dave called. He had just arrived and was parking his car opposite the gates.

‘I’m just walking my friend to the bus stop,’ replied Pete. Van kept quiet and disguised her walk under Dave’s watchful gaze.

‘Let’s run. The nearest bus stop is about five hundred yards away. Catch the bus to Trent shopping centre and call your family on the way,’ said Pete.

‘Phew!’ Van sighed her relief as they disappeared round the bend.

‘Hi, Gary.’

‘Hi, Dave,’ replied Gary as he rushed down the stairs.

‘Seen the papers? We’ll have to move the girl to my hideout,’ said Dave. ‘I told you it wasn’t a good idea to bring her here.’

‘Oh, there you go again, Dave. It was only temporary. We’ll move her today, as soon as she finishes breakfast.’

‘Is that where she is, in the dining room?’

‘Yep,’ said Gary.

Silence fell on the house as Gary continued getting ready for the day. Dave left in search of Van.

‘Van!’ Dave called, checking the dining room. ‘She’s not here!’ He called out suddenly. ‘Shoot, that little imp. It was Van,’ he muttered.

‘What?’ asked Gary, not quite following.

‘Quick! They’re trying to catch the bus,’ said Dave, rushing for his car with a bewildered Gary hot on his heels.

We can’t afford to lose her after all the pains we took to locate her, thought Gary, using his handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

‘There they are!’ exclaimed Dave, putting his foot down on the brake, thankful that nobody was in sight. Both men rushed out of the car.

Suddenly, Pete and Van felt two pairs of hands pulling them into the waiting car.

‘Not so fast, you little devils,’ snarled Dave. ‘Where on God’s earth did you think you were going? Nice try.’

Dave snatched the cap off Van’s head, and exposed her hair.