I Think My Dad Is a Spy. Sognia Vassallo
Theo let out a dramatic gasp with both his hands clasped over his mouth. He always showed a lot of enthusiasm during conversations; I liked that about him.
“Who’s Tiffany?” Janice asked as she stopped and waited for us to catch up to her.
“I don’t know. I’m not even sure if he was talking to a woman called Tiffany or he just happened to mention the name,” I said.
“Well it sounds to me like he’s got another girlfriend,” announced Janice.
Janice’s comment took me so by surprise that I coughed and choked for air. Theo quickly pushed her out of the way and began patting me hard on the back.
“You shouldn’t say things like that Janice, Sophie could’ve choked to death!” he exaggerated. “Besides Mr George would never do anything to hurt Chelsea, they’ve been together for ages and he really loves her!”
“Yeah I agree. (Cough, cough.) It’s just her idiot son Michael I can’t stand!” I spluttered.
Theo nodded agreeing with me while he kept patting my back.
“Did you see him at lunch yesterday picking on poor Dunstan again?” I asked in a croaky voice.
“Yeah, that Michael’s a real idiot. I feel so sorry for you Soph. Can you imagine if your dad marries Chelsea, then Michael would become your step bro…”
“DON’T EVER SAY IT, JANICE!” I yelled.
Theo shot a nasty look at Janice as he grabbed me by the arm. “Are you trying to kill Sophie today, Janice?” he scowled escorting me briskly up the lane way. Janice followed behind us sulking. “Hurry up or else we’ll be late for school,” he said.
We walked in silence and my head swirled about with so many thoughts. Chelsea was such a nice lady, and it was such a shame because I couldn’t possibly see how Michael could actually be her son. I mean at first I thought she had adopted him because he doesn’t look anything like her and then there’s the fact he’s a complete idiot and she’s so nice. He also thinks he can boss me around and yet my dad really likes him. I am beginning to wonder if Dad always wished he had a son instead of a daughter.
Maybe that’s why Dad split my after-school post-route in half, so Michael and I would have to work together and try to get along? Dad did say it would only be temporary, just until Michael learned the ropes and then he can have a route of his own. I’m not so sure I like the idea of all four of us working at the post office together. Lucky for me I only have to put up with him for another year and then he’s off to uni somewhere. I hope it’s far away like Siberia, where ever that is! Ugh, the thought of Michael becoming my step-brother makes my stomach turn. Yuck!
We turned the street corner from a quiet lane into the main street, which bustled with teenagers going to school. We had to dodge cars, bikes, scooters, kids on rollerblades and any other thing that had wheels. But that wasn’t the worst of it, the Murphy brothers often threw rotten oranges from Mrs Kennedy’s orchard trees at anyone who looked like a good target.
The boys were five horrible bullies who gave their poor mum such a hard time. I remember once when I was delivering their mail I heard Mrs Murphy threatening she would start adopting them out one by one if they didn’t start behaving themselves.
WHOOSH! SPLAT!
“IF JUST ONE OF THOSE HIT ME I SWEAR I WILL MURDER WHOEVER THREW IT!” I bellowed grumpily over my shoulder. The brothers often annoyed us but after I yelled at them they just walked right on by and Mitchell even mumbled a ‘sorry’. I was shocked but of course I tried not to let my friends see that. I would have them believe it’s because sometimes when I growl people take notice of me. Janice and Theo would tell you it’s because the Murphy brothers are scared of Michael McClain and what he might do if they picked on his ‘little sister’.
We were almost at the school and I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like something out of a story book. Originally the land was an orchard belonging to the Mead family which is why it was called ‘Orchard Mead High School’. The administration block is like a bazillion years old and looked it. I think it was the original homestead because it’s made from stones, clay and straw. The rose garden surrounding the school is always so neat. Sometimes I thought it was such a shame to have all these grotty teenagers trampling through them every day. Mr Ferguson, the groundskeeper, must be a very patient man.
Suddenly Janice squealed with excitement:
“OMG, I THINK I’VE GOT IT!” she screeched throwing her arms out in front of me.
WHACK!
“OWW!” I cried as I felt the harsh slap across my rib cage.
“Whoops sorry. I didn’t mean to smack you Soph, it was an accident.”
If I didn’t believe Theo before, I really did now think Janice was trying to kill me today!
“But Soph, I think I know why your dad’s been acting so weird lately,” she said pulling hard on my school blazer so I would follow her off the footpath.
“I’m sure your dad’s gotta’…” but she stopped mid-sentence and cautiously looked around to make sure we couldn’t be overheard.
“Well what is he?” I asked impatiently.
“I think he’s a sp…”
BEEEEP!
But Janice’s words were drowned out by a car horn.
“A what?” I yelled back, but another car horn had double-beeped over me as well.
BEEEEP! BEEEEP!
Frustrated, Janice took a deep breath and shouted out as loud as she could, “I THINK YOUR DAD’S A SPY, SOPHIE!”
The busy street fell silent but Janice’s words echoed around the school car park. This time there weren’t any car horns beeping or bicycle bells ringing. Everybody had stopped what they were doing to stare at us.
I felt so embarrassed. I looked straight down at my shoes and I urged them to just walk in the direction of the school gates. My face felt hot and my heart was racing. I made a point not to look up when a group of students giggled at me as I scurried passed them. I even ignored Nichole McGerny when she yelled out, “Hey Sophie watch out!” But I really shouldn’t have ignored her because…”
BANG!
OMG!
How embarrassing, I had slammed headfirst into Principal Mr McNabb.
I could tell it was him just by looking at his expensive Italian shoes, which I was now standing on.
All the students and some of the parents erupted into laughter. I wanted to run off in the hope this hadn’t just happened. Maybe I was still sleeping and this was all a nightmare, I thought. I shut my eyes tight and pinched myself sharply. Ow! No, I was awake all right!
I opened my eyes. I am never going to live this down, I kept thinking to myself over and over.
“Sophie George what are you doing?” asked the deep gravelly voice of Mr McNabb. Suddenly everyone fell silent. I did not want to look up but knew I couldn’t stand on his feet forever. Slowly I moved my gaze from his shiny black shoes all the way up to his navy blue suit. My eyes reached his grey necktie, which looked like it was choking his chubby neck.
“Perhaps you should watch where you’re walking Miss George,” he said in a surprisingly good mood as he ushered me off his shoes.
“SORRY SIR, IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN!” I blurted in a booming nervous voice. Whenever I felt nervous my voice got louder, which was just another embarrassing trait of mine.
“Come on,” he said warmly as we walked through the large gates and into school.
Mr McNabb patted my shoulder as he left me standing on the main pathway alongside the rose bushes. I pretended to be interested in the flowers while I waited impatiently for my friends to catch up.