Medical Mission by George Ivanoff Read Free Book Online Page A

in her cheeks wouldn’t show on her dark skin.
    â€˜What does the rest of the class think?’ asked the teacher.
    The kids all burst into cheers. Even Marceline reluctantly nodded.
    â€˜We can also make some more money,’ Josh went on, ‘if we bring food to sell. Any ideas on what we can do?’
    â€˜My parents own the milk bar,’ piped up Jason. ‘I’ll ask them to donate some lollies.’
    â€˜I’ll get some pizza,’ said Lee. Her parents ran the new Italian takeaway.
    â€˜The rest of us could bake some biscuits and cakes and things,’ suggested Ramone.
    The class was alive with suggestions and enthusiasm.

    â€˜It’s Hawaiian,’ said Josh, opening up the pizza box.
    â€˜Oh,’ said Dad, sitting himself down in front of it. ‘I guess I can pick off the pineapple.’
    Josh put a plate down on the table in front of Dad and got a slice for himself. He wondered if he should try to tell him about what happened at school – about how he got everyone to cooperate.
    â€˜It’s cold,’ said Dad as he took a piece.
    â€˜Sorry,’ said Josh. ‘Pete’s brother was late picking us up. And it’s a bit of a drive anyway. You could microwave it.’
    Dad grunted and ate his slice cold.
    â€˜Um …’ ventured Josh. ‘Could we ring Mum tonight?’
    â€˜She already rang earlier,’ he said through a mouthful of pizza.
    â€˜What did she say?’ asked Josh hopefully.
    Dad shrugged. ‘Nuthin’ new.’ He took another mouthful. He didn’t pick off any of the pineapple.
    Why don’t you tell me what’s going on? Josh screamed in his mind. Why don’t you talk to me? Can’t you see I’m worried? Can’t you tell I’m scared? Can’t you see I miss my mum?
    Josh bit into his pizza angrily, tore a piece off, and chewed until his teeth ground against each other. For a few minutes he was a tense ball of rage, wanting desperately to tell Dad how he felt. But each time heopened his mouth to shout, he took a bit of pizza instead to stifle his anger.
    They finished in silence.
    Dad got up to leave the table and Josh looked up into his face. He noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the weary expression. As Dad turned to go, Josh saw the way his shoulders slumped and the tired shuffle of his walk.
    Josh’s anger drained away.

Things went smoothly at school now that everyone was working together. Marceline was a little resistant at first, still trying to boss the others around, but even she began to get the hang of this cooperation stuff.
    Posters were amended and hung up all over the town, especially around the hotels. Flyers were photocopied and a mail dropwas organised, kids putting them into mailboxes each day after school. Marceline even convinced the hotel managers to place flyers into all the welcome packs in each room. The underground rooms were really popular with tourists, so having the flyers there was a good way to get attention.
    There seemed to be a general buzz around town about it. Everyone was rallying behind the school and its students.
    While Ratchet was still scaring people left, right and centre, Josh noticed that she appeared to be mellowing. And participating more than she originally said she would. She put posters up at the drive-in and handed out flyers to people at all the sessions in the days leading up to the charity screening. She even made announcements prior to the start of each film over the speakers.
    Josh went to the drive-in on Tuesday after school to discuss food for the screening and where they could set up. Ratchet looked at him in a weird sort of way, then said, ‘I may set up the popcorn machine.’
    â€˜That’s great,’ responded Josh. ‘People love popcorn while watching movies.’
    â€˜May!’ Ratchet barked. ‘I said may . Haven’t completely made up my mind yet.’
    â€˜Okay,’ said