completely unaware of their destination, as Miss Grimm had decided it was more fun to leave things as a surprise.
âRight.â 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. âAlice-Miranda, Millie, Caprice, Sloane and Jacinta, youâre on the last bus. Take your things. Off you go.â
âWhat about the boys?â Jacinta asked the teacher. âAre they coming on the same buses as us?â
âYou just want to see your boyfriend,â Sloane teased.
âI do not,â Jacinta retorted, but of course that was exactly what she had in mind. Except that Jacinta wasnât even sure that Lucas was attending the camp. Things had happened so quickly she hadnât been able to find out anything.
âHow come weâre on a minibus when everyone else has a coach?â Caprice grumbled as the girls made their way to the last vehicle in the line.
She hadnât heard Miss Reedyâs footsteps behind them.
âJust lucky I guess, Caprice. Given the swiftness of the arrangements youâre fortunate not to be walking,â the teacher quipped.
âOh, you misunderstood me, Miss Reedy. I love minibuses,â the child said sweetly.
âI am sorry, Caprice. Iâve heard a lot of whining this morning,â the teacher apologised.
âThatâs all right, Miss Reedy. Is there anything I can do to help?â Caprice asked.
âNo, everythingâs under control but thank you so much for asking.â Miss Reedy walked away to check on the other girls.
Millie couldnât believe the cheek of the girl.
The group hopped on board and were surprised to find Mr Plumpton in the driverâs seat.
âGood afternoon, ladies,â he said cheerily. âWelcome aboard the Plumpton Express.â
Alice-Miranda grinned. âHello Mr Plumpton. I didnât realise you could drive a minibus.â
âItâs not often my skills are called upon but today there was no alternative. Charlieâs 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.â He noticed the new student and nodded at her. âYou must be Caprice. My nameâs Mr Plumpton. Iâll be teaching your science lessons, when Iâm not driving a bus.â
Millie was keen to hear Capriceâs response, after the girl had mocked the man so horribly at dinner the night before.
âI love science,â Caprice said warmly. âI was reading Scientific American last month. Did you see that article about the Higgs boson?
âOh yes, fascinating,â Mr Plumpton replied, clearly enchanted by the girl.
âIâm sure that it will change the world of physics,â Caprice said.
âDo you often read about science?â Mr Plumpton asked.
âMmm, sometimes. I like medical journals too.â
Millie rolled her eyes.
Mr Plumptonâs grin grew wider. Apart from Alice-Miranda he didnât 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, âWho else is coming with us?â
Just as she did, Miss Reedy hopped on board. âOnly the five of you,â she said.
âA whole minibus for us?â Sloane said. âCouldnât we have just taken a couple of cars instead?â
âWe could have but then we wouldnât fit the Fayle boys and Mr Lipp in, would we?â Miss Reedy replied. âBuckle up, girls.â
Jacintaâs face exploded into a grin.
âLook at you!â Sloane laughed.
âWhat?â Jacinta tried to stop smiling. âWell, I havenât seen Lucas for weeks and weâre just good friends,