Clementine Rose and the Special Promise 11 by Jacqueline Harvey Read Free Book Online Page B

host.’
    Clementine felt her eyes sting. It wasn’t fair. She knew she could have done it perfectly if she hadn’t been distracted by Saskia and all the mean things the girl had said at lunchtime.
    â€˜Bad luck,’ Saskia whispered as they made their way to sit down. She flicked her hair back and preened.
    Clementine sniffled and went to sit next to Poppy.
    The rest of the afternoon dragged on. Clementine was so flustered she also fluffed the lines of her poem, which made Mrs Bottomley very cross. Saskia giggled at her and made a face when no one was looking. Clementine usually loved school but she would rather have been anywhere else that afternoon.
    When the school day finally came to an end, Will joined Clementine at the gate. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
    Clementine rubbed her shin and nodded. The spot where Joshua had kicked her had already swelled into a big bump.
    â€˜There’s Dad,’ Will said, pointing at the four-wheel drive pulling up to the kiss-and-drop area.
    Lady Clarissa stepped out of the passenger seat. ‘Hello there,’ she called to the pair. ‘Hop in.’
    Clementine spotted Saskia walking past with a smirk on her face. She was with her mother, who was wearing even taller heels than the ones she’d had on the evening before.
    â€˜Hello Saskia, how was your first day?’ Clarissa asked.
    â€˜I’m the host for Grandparents’ Day,’ the child boasted.
    Clarissa smiled. ‘Goodness, that’s exciting,’ she said. She hoped Clementine wasn’t too upset at the news.
    Clementine clambered into the back of Drew’s car without saying goodbye. She shuffled over as Will hopped in beside her.
    â€˜We’d better run,’ Mrs Baker said. ‘Sassy’s getting her hair coloured this afternoon. She’s as brown as a fieldmouse without it. Lucky I got an appointment, seeing that she has the main part on Friday!’ The woman giggled and threw them all air kisses before whisking her daughter along the street.
    Drew looked at Clarissa as she climbed back into the car. ‘Did Mrs Baker just say what I thought she said?’
    â€˜She certainly did,’ Clarissa replied.
    Drew grimaced. ‘How old does she think Saskia is? I want our kids to stay kids for as long as possible.’ He smiled at Clarissa and reached across to squeeze her hand.
    Clementine thought back to what Saskia had said and went pale. The girl might have been right after all.
    â€˜We’ve got a big surprise for you two,’ Drew said, glancing at the children in the rear-vision mirror. ‘Are you all right, Clemmie?’ he asked, noticing the expression on the girl’s face.
    â€˜I’ve got a tummy-ache,’ she lied, and leaned her head against the window.
    â€˜Oh, that’s no good,’ the man said. ‘We were going to go for a milkshake and a treat at Pierre’s.’
    â€˜It’s not Pierre’s anymore. It’s Roger’s,’ Clementine huffed. ‘Can we just go home?’
    Drew frowned at Clarissa, who turned around and patted her daughter’s leg. ‘Did something happen at school today?’ she asked. ‘Are you sad about not being picked to host Grandparents’ Day?’
    â€˜No, I just want to go home,’ the child said. ‘Can you help me with my homework, Mummy?’
    â€˜I can give you a hand,’ Drew offered.
    Clementine shook her head. ‘I want Mummy to do it.’
    â€˜Okay, sweetheart,’ Clarissa said. ‘I guess our big surprise will have to wait.’ She put away the envelope she had pulled out of her handbag.
    â€˜Don’t you want to know what it is?’ Drew asked.

    Clementine shook her head again.
    â€˜What about you, Will?’ Drew asked.
    â€˜I don’t feel like any surprises at the moment,’ Will mumbled.
    And that was that. The children didn’t say a word the entire way home, despite Drew and