Angel Creek by Sally Rippin Read Free Book Online Page B

the smell hit his nostrils.
    â€˜Poor angel.’ Pik was still standing by the doorway and his voice was small and frightened. ‘We should take it to the creek to cool it down.’
    â€˜We’re not taking it to the creek,’ Gino snapped.
    â€˜It’s a good idea, Gino,’ Jelly said.
    â€˜What? And let it go?’
    â€˜No, just cool it down. Look at it. It’s too hot in here.’
    â€˜We can tip water on it.’
    â€˜That won’t be enough.’
    â€˜You have to do what Jelly says, Gino.’ Pik was almost crying.
    â€˜It’s none of your business, Pik.’ Gino turned to Jelly, lips tight. ‘How would we get it there, anyway? Without anyone seeing?’
    â€˜Sophia’s pram,’ Pik suggested. ‘We could hide it in there.’
    â€˜Good thinking, Pikster.’ Jelly grinned at him.
    Gino frowned. ‘Suppose you’re going to send me back to get it?’
    â€˜No, we should stick together in case those boys are around.’ She touched the angel’s hair.
    â€˜Don’t worry, little angel,’ Pik called as they backed out of the shed. ‘We’ll be back soon.’

    The house was still quiet when they got back, but even so Jelly tiptoed upstairs to see who was home. Her dad was in the study, eyes glued to the computer screen and his bird thesis spread out all around him. Sophia was sleeping in a cot next to him. Jelly tugged one of her sunhats off the back of the door, shoved it under her T-shirt, then tiptoed out of the room.
    â€˜Jelly?’ her dad whispered, as she reached the landing.
    Jelly froze. Did her dad know they were up to something? She turned around slowly.
    â€˜I almost forgot. Stef called.’
    Jelly’s heart soared.
    â€˜She wanted to wish you a happy Christmas. I said I’d get you to call back.’
    Jelly was torn. She desperately wanted to talk to her best friend. She had so much to tell her. And it felt like days since they’d spoken. But Pik and Gino were waiting downstairs and the angel was baking in the shed.
    â€˜I’ll call her tonight.’
    â€˜Really?’ her dad said. ‘You’re always complaining that you can’t get onto her.’
    â€˜Gino and Pik are waiting for me. I have to go.’
    Jelly’s dad shrugged. ‘I’m glad you kids are getting along so well. I thought you’d gone off Gino a bit.’
    â€˜Nah,’ said Jelly. ‘He’s okay.’ She scooted back downstairs.
    Gino had already brought Sophia’s pram around the back and Pik was almost wetting himself with excitement.
    â€˜Shh, Pik, you’ll get us busted.’ Jelly tossed the sunhat into the pram. ‘We’ll have to go the long way round. There’s no way we’d get the pram over the back fence.’
    The old lady from across the road was sitting in the shade of her front porch as they passed. She was fanning herself with junk mail. ‘ Buon Natale! ’ she called out, waving so that the pale flesh underneath her fat arms jiggled.
    â€˜Merry Christmas,’ Jelly called back, without slowing down.
    â€˜You taking your baby sister for a walk?’
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Good children.’
    Jelly giggled. Even Gino couldn’t hide a grin.
    At the hole in the fence, Jelly told Gino and Pik to wait with the pram while she fetched the angel.
    â€˜Hurry,’ said Gino. ‘I don’t want those boys catching me here. Especially with a pram .’
    Inside the shed it smelled even worse than before. Jelly breathed through her mouth. The air was hot and dry. ‘Hey, little angel,’ she cooed, approaching slowly. It didn’t stir.
    Jelly had brought one of Sophia’s blankets with her. She tucked one side under the angel’s limp body and rolled it onto the blanket, folding in its good wing first. Gently she lifted the injured wing. It dangled loosely in her hand. The angel didn’t even flinch.