Sleepover Club 2000 by Angie Bates Read Free Book Online

round to her place to film her every day. Suddenly she leaned forward.
    “Listen up, you kids,” she said in a loud clear voice. “Nature might seem dead boring, compared to TV or computer games. But at least you HAD the chance to play hide and seek in Browses Piece. If we don’t protect these beautiful wild places, one day they’ll all vanish under concrete. What kind of future is that for your little brothers and sisters? So take care of Browses Piece before it’s too late. OK, Cut! That’s it folks,” Jewel announced.
    “Wow,” said Lyndz. “That was excellent.”
    “Brilliant,” said Kenny.
    Frankie was blinking back tears. I think Jewel’s words hit her really hard, now she’s got that new little baby sister to take care of.
    “Right,” beamed Jewel. “Now let’s think of some ways you can REALLY get one up on the M&Ms.”
    “
Yess!
” we all said at once.
    We had a truly brilliant brainstorming session with Jewel. For someone who doesn’t go to school, she’s incredibly smart. (Oh, in case you were wondering, by this time Jewel and Frankie were getting on like a house on fire.)
    We were having such a great time, we completely forgot we’d left Mum out in the snow, talking to Mrs Diggins! Luckily Andy remembered, and dashed off to find her. “I want you girls to meet us by the car in ten minutes,” he said.
    You’ve probably noticed Rosie hadn’t said much, since we’d hooked up with Jewel? She wasn’t sulking. She was
bursting
for the loo!
    She told us later she was really nervous, in case Jewel and her mum had one of those really gross chemical toilets. But finally she got so desperate she didn’t care
where
she went!
    Jewel quickly showed her the tiny cupboard loo. Actually, I think Jewel guessed what the problem was, because she said, “It shouldn’t be TOO bad, Rosie. Mum only emptied it the other day.”
    “Can I ask you something personal?” I said, while we waited for Rosie to come out of the cupboard. Jewel nodded. “Why do you need so many bracelets?”
    “The friendship bracelets?” said Jewel. “Oh, I sell them. That way I don’t have to ask Mum for money every time I want a Twix,” she grinned.
    “They’re cute,” said Lyndz.
    Frankie fingered one. It was mostly silver, with a lavender blue and minty green pattern running through it. Frankie’s favourite colours.
    “Would you like that one?” Jewel asked her. “It matches your jacket.”
    Frankie blushed. “You’re giving me a friendship bracelet?”
    “Of course, man,” said Jewel, laughing. “I want you all to have one.”
    When Rosie came out of the loo, Jewel told her she was forbidden to leave until she’d chosen a bracelet.
    Rosie’s face lit up. “Oh, coo-ell!”
    I chose a pink one, surprise, surprise. SIX different shades to be accurate, from zingy shocking pink to pale pale rose.
    After we’d chosen them, Jewel personally tied the bracelets on our wrists. “Now you’re all my friends. And you can’t ever take them off,” she teased. “Not even in the bath.”
    “You ARE kidding,” said Kenny.
    But actually, I don’t think she was.
    Jewel insisted on coming with us, to make sure we didn’t get lost on the way to the car. But when we got there, she gave a little businesslike wave. “I’m not big on goodbyes,” she said. “Love and Peace, you guys.”
    And she kind of melted back into the dark.
    I twisted my bracelet on my wrist. Jewel and her mum were really hard up, but she’d given us these brilliant presents. Not to mention saving our skins from Mrs Cruella DeVil Weaver!!
    I wish I had something to give Jewel, I thought.
    But I didn’t have time to feel bad, because Mum and Andy turned up. Mum had been having this big discussion with the protest women about natural beauty products!
    “Some of those girls could look quite sweet,” she said thoughtfully, “if they’d remember to pluck their eyebrows. Oh, Mrs Diggins says you can go round and interview her,” she