I Think My Dad Is a Spy by Sognia Vassallo Read Free Book Online Page A

skidding toward me.
    S C R E E E E C H …
    I threw my hands up over my eyes and s creamed, “Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
    Everything went silent. It was a miracle I was still standing. Slowly I uncovered my eyes to see a very frightened and pale Michael McClain stooped over his handle bars. The front wheel of his bike had stopped just millimetres in front of me but had left a long black skid mark on the cement floor.
    â€œYOU SILLY MANIAC!” I shouted loudly.
    My legs were like jelly and I was lucky that I was still upright, but I couldn’t say that about my parcels which were everywhere.
    â€œOh gosh, Soph I…I am so sorry,” Michael stuttered, looking ghostly white.
    â€œI…I didn’t see you until the last minute…”
    â€œI’M SURPRISED YOU COULD SEE ANYTHING AT ALL WITH THE SPEED YOU WERE GOING!” I hollered back as I began picking up the dented boxes.
    â€œI’m sorry, I really am. You’re not going to tell your dad on me are you?” he begged.
    I didn’t reply.
    â€œC’mon do me a favour…SIS.” He added the ‘sis’ part after clasping his hands together like a prayer.
    â€œWHAT DID YOU CALL ME?” I yelled.
    I dropped the packages on the floor again and stormed right up to him on his bike.
    â€œI AM NOT YOUR SISTER AND YOU WILL NEVER BE MY BROTHER, SO DON’T EVER CALL ME ‘SIS’ AGAIN. GOT IT!” I scowled jabbing my finger hard into his helmet.
    I then thundered back over to my pile of crumpled boxes and paper. I picked them up and stamped across the depot and in through the back door of the post office. I tried to slam the door behind me but it was one of those stupid self-closing doors. Instead of making a dramatic ‘BANG’ it only made a soft ‘swiiiiffft’ sound.
    I dumped my paperwork hard onto Dad’s desk, put my scanner on charge then wedged my helmet and my safety jacket into my locker and slammed that shut with a BANG!
    I was quite surprised with all the screeching, yelling and banging, Dad hadn’t come rushing out to see what all the commotion was about.
    Something didn’t feel quite right…it was too quiet in here.
    I went back into Dad’s office and noticed his desk was neat and tidy except for the pile of paperwork I had just dumped in the middle of it. I popped my head around the corner and looked around the post shop.
    Chelsea was serving Mrs Glynt at the counter but Dad was nowhere to be seen. This was strange, I thought, it was nearly closing time and he always closed the post office.
    I could tell Chelsea was not really listening to Mrs Glynt and could see that her eyes were red like she’d been crying. Mind you if I had to put up with a son like Michael I would be crying all day too. The moment Mrs Glynt left the building I asked Chelsea why she was so upset, but before she answered we were interrupted by the sound of clattering and banging from the locker room out back. Then Michael entered the shop, cautiously sauntering over to us, his eyes flitting between his mother and me. I knew what he was thinking; he wondered if I had dobbed on him already, and I would’ve if only I could find my dad.
    I looked around the shop again just in case he was restocking shelves or something…no, he wasn’t here, it was definitely just the three of us standing in a small circle. I felt uneasy.
    â€œWhere’s Dad?” I asked carefully.
    â€œTo tell you the truth Sophie I’m really not too sure where your father goes these days,” Chelsea said turning her back to us. Michael and I shot a concerned look at one another.
    â€œMum, are you okay?” Michael asked putting his arm on her shoulder. I was shocked as I had never seen him act so human-like.
    â€œJoseph’s gone on a short trip and will be home in a few days,” she replied wiping away a tear as she turned back to face me.
    â€œWhere’s he gone?” I asked