Alice-Miranda at Camp 10

Alice-Miranda at Camp 10 by Jacqueline Harvey Read Free Book Online

Book: Alice-Miranda at Camp 10 by Jacqueline Harvey Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jacqueline Harvey
completely unaware of their destination, as Miss Grimm had decided it was more fun to leave things as a surprise.
    â€˜Right.’ Miss Reedy stalked along the path armed with a clipboard and a whistle. She was dressed in khaki trousers and a white shirt with hiking bootsand a straw hat. ‘Alice-Miranda, Millie, Caprice, Sloane and Jacinta, you’re on the last bus. Take your things. Off you go.’
    â€˜What about the boys?’ Jacinta asked the teacher. ‘Are they coming on the same buses as us?’
    â€˜You just want to see your boyfriend,’ Sloane teased.
    â€˜I do not,’ Jacinta retorted, but of course that was exactly what she had in mind. Except that Jacinta wasn’t even sure that Lucas was attending the camp. Things had happened so quickly she hadn’t been able to find out anything.
    â€˜How come we’re on a minibus when everyone else has a coach?’ Caprice grumbled as the girls made their way to the last vehicle in the line.
    She hadn’t heard Miss Reedy’s footsteps behind them.
    â€˜Just lucky I guess, Caprice. Given the swiftness of the arrangements you’re fortunate not to be walking,’ the teacher quipped.
    â€˜Oh, you misunderstood me, Miss Reedy. I love minibuses,’ the child said sweetly.
    â€˜I am sorry, Caprice. I’ve heard a lot of whining this morning,’ the teacher apologised.
    â€˜That’s all right, Miss Reedy. Is there anything I can do to help?’ Caprice asked.
    â€˜No, everything’s under control but thank you so much for asking.’ Miss Reedy walked away to check on the other girls.
    Millie couldn’t believe the cheek of the girl.
    The group hopped on board and were surprised to find Mr Plumpton in the driver’s seat.
    â€˜Good afternoon, ladies,’ he said cheerily. ‘Welcome aboard the Plumpton Express.’
    Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘Hello Mr Plumpton. I didn’t realise you could drive a minibus.’
    â€˜It’s not often my skills are called upon but today there was no alternative. Charlie’s taken the school bus to be fixed, and Mrs Derby could only get three coaches at such short notice, so it was fortunate I could take the wheel.’ He noticed the new student and nodded at her. ‘You must be Caprice. My name’s Mr Plumpton. I’ll be teaching your science lessons, when I’m not driving a bus.’
    Millie was keen to hear Caprice’s response, after the girl had mocked the man so horribly at dinner the night before.
    â€˜I love science,’ Caprice said warmly. ‘I was reading Scientific American last month. Did you see that article about the Higgs boson?
    â€˜Oh yes, fascinating,’ Mr Plumpton replied, clearly enchanted by the girl.
    â€˜I’m sure that it will change the world of physics,’ Caprice said.
    â€˜Do you often read about science?’ Mr Plumpton asked.
    â€˜Mmm, sometimes. I like medical journals too.’
    Millie rolled her eyes.
    Mr Plumpton’s grin grew wider. Apart from Alice-Miranda he didn’t really have any students he considered prodigies. Perhaps that was about to change.
    The girls sat down, Millie and Alice-Miranda on one side and Jacinta and Sloane on the other. Caprice sat on her own in front of the older girls.
    Millie leaned forward and called out to Mr Plumpton, ‘Who else is coming with us?’
    Just as she did, Miss Reedy hopped on board. ‘Only the five of you,’ she said.
    â€˜A whole minibus for us?’ Sloane said. ‘Couldn’t we have just taken a couple of cars instead?’
    â€˜We could have but then we wouldn’t fit the Fayle boys and Mr Lipp in, would we?’ Miss Reedy replied. ‘Buckle up, girls.’
    Jacinta’s face exploded into a grin.
    â€˜Look at you!’ Sloane laughed.
    â€˜What?’ Jacinta tried to stop smiling. ‘Well, I haven’t seen Lucas for weeks and we’re just good friends,

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