99 Red Balloons. Elisabeth Carpenter

       Chapter One

      I squint at him. The sun’s in my eyes and he looks like a shadow monster.

      ‘I can’t,’ I tell him. ‘I’ve got to get home. I’m only meant to be getting sweets from the paper shop, then straight back.’

      He crouches in front of me. He’s wearing a woolly hat, which is funny as it’s really warm today.

      ‘But your mum asked me to fetch you.’ His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles.

      I fold my arms. When I tilt my head, his face blocks out the sun.

      ‘You might be lying,’ I say. ‘Mummy warned me about men with sweets and puppies.’

      The man laughs, like Gramps does when he’s Father Christmas.

      ‘I know,’ he says. ‘What’s she like? She’s such a worrywart.’

      He’s