Bill Rules by Elizabeth Fensham Read Free Book Online Page B

‘that Herbert Riley could be stirring up some trouble.’
    â€˜Why would he want to do that? And how?’ asked Pam, astonished.
    Herbert Riley, living as he did between the Grubs’ house and Mabel Flint’s house, had often been the chief subject of Mrs Flint’s gossip. Until late the year before, Mabel and Herbert hadn’t spoken for twenty-two years. One of Herbert’s worst crimes had been to accuse Mabel of deliberately letting her liquid ambar drop leaves into his yard. He also had been rather unfriendly to Mabel’s cat. Something to do with a garden hose. Pam had always suspected that there might be another side to the story, but since thetwo old people had made up, she had not delved any further. But obviously, Mabel Flint still had her suspicions about Herbert Riley.
    â€˜Well, your Bill was walking home from school the other day (I was at my letter box, checking my mail), and as he passed by Herbert’s place (he was raking leaves, does he ever do anything else?), Herbert calls out, “Where’s your young mate, that Matty?”
    â€˜And Bill says, “We’re just having a bit of a break from each other.” Then Herbert says, “Women troubles again, eh?” and Bill steps up to Herbert’s fence and says, “Sort of.” And then...’ Mabel paused both for breath and to add drama to her story, ‘Herbert says, “Maybe it just needs some flowers and chocolates to patch things up” (as if that Herbert Riley would have ever done that for a lady), and your Bill says, “I’m not sure I want to patch things up,” and Herbert says, “Well I’d be sad to see you two carry on like that for twenty-two years. How about getting it off your chest?” and Bill says, “You wouldn’t understand,” and Herbert says, “Try me.”’ Mabel Flint paused to take a sip of tea.
    â€˜And?’ asked Pam.
    â€˜And your Bill leaned close to Herbert’s ear andwhispered something. I tried to listen, but I couldn’t hear a thing. And then Herbert looks all astonished and says to Bill, “You stick to your guns, lad!”’
    Bill did stick to his guns. Nothing Pam said persuaded him to make contact with Mat. He made all sorts of excuses for not accepting invitations to the Grubs’ place. Pam would go over there for dinner and cards, but Bill stayed behind. He felt lonely, but he also felt safe. That is, until one Saturday when his mum and the Grub adults were away at a craft market. He was kicking a soccer ball on the front lawn when he heard a scream.
    â€˜He-e-lp!’ It was Mat’s voice and it sounded urgent. This was followed by lots of barking from Uncle Len, the Grub family’s dog.
    Bill climbed through the fence into the Grubs’ place. ‘Where are you, Matty?’ he called. There was no answer, so Bill ran down the side to the back garden. There was Mat crumpled up at the bottom of the verandah steps. She was groaning. Uncle Len was licking her face. At first, Bill thought she must have had a bad fall. When he reached her, he saw that she was covered in a red rash.
    â€˜What happened?’ asked Bill.
    â€˜Ants,’ gasped Mat. ‘Jumping ones.’
    â€˜It wouldn’t be that,’ said Bill.
    â€˜Get help,’ she wheezed. ‘No one’s home.’
    Bill ran to Mr Riley’s side of the fence and bellowed for attention, but Mr Riley was nowhere to be seen. Bill knew that whatever was happening to Mat was a medical emergency. He ran back to her, checked that she was still conscious, told her he was getting an ambulance, and bounded up the back steps into the Grubs’ house. He went straight to the telephone to ring 000. An operator answered quickly. She asked for an explanation of Mat’s problem.
    â€˜My friend says it’s ant bites. She reckons they jumped on her. But maybe she’s wrong.’
    â€˜Ah. No adults