So Gross! by J A Mawter Read Free Book Online

tracing the familiar patterns in the wood.
    She wants something cultural, thought Marley, getting back to his immediate problem and looking at the box. I’ll give her something cultural.
    Marley decided to go to the library to do some research. He was determined to give such a goodpresentation that Miss Riley would get off his back. Maybe even score him a Two-By-Four.
    After getting some help with the catalogue he searched the shelves for as much information as he could find on Africa. There were hundreds of books to choose from.
    ‘How am I ever going to be able to read all that?’ he wailed out loud.
    ‘Shh,’ said the librarian. ‘You must keep your voice down. Now tell me what it is you’re trying to find.’ Luckily, Great Grandpa Wal had been very specific and Marley knew the exact name of the tribe he was looking for. ‘Well, that narrows things down considerably.’ The librarian smiled and typed ‘MBUTI’ into the computer. ‘Ah, yes.’ She walked to a shelf and took down one slim volume.
    Pygmy Tribes of Africa .
    Marley felt hugely relieved. He thanked the librarian, twice, promising to let her know how his presentation went.

Chapter Four
    It wasn’t until after midnight that Marley finished reading Pygmy Tribes of Africa . The next morning he slept in. ‘Marley!’
    In his dream he was being chased by pygmy hunters, tiny men with spears. He moaned with fear as he tried to get away.
    ‘Marley, wake up. Are you sick, or something?’ A hand grabbed his shoulder.
    He screamed.
    ‘It’s me, Marley. Mum.’
    Marley opened his eyes with a start.
    Mum?
    He looked around frantically for the hunters.
    Lleyton Hewitt smiled down at him from a poster beside his bed.
    ‘Oh, Mum,’ he said. ‘I was having the worst dream.’
    ‘It’s five to eight, Marley. Aren’t you meant to be at tennis?’
    Five to eight! He’d have to go through a time warp to make it there in five minutes.
    And everyone knew what Miss Riley did to latecomers.
    ‘Maybe I don’t feel too well,’ he said to his mother. ‘Maybe I should stay home today.’
    Marley’s mother felt his forehead. ‘Nonsense,’ she said. ‘Nothing that a freshen up and some breakfast won’t fix. I’ve got an important meeting at work, Marley. Today, of all days, I can’t stay home.’
    ‘But Miss Riley will give me a hard time,’ he wailed, diving back under the covers.
    Strong hands wrenched them off. ‘Come on. Quick sticks,’ said his mother. ‘Just this once I’ll pack your lunch and drive you to school.’ She gave him a hug. ‘That gives you exactly two minutes to brush your teeth and get dressed. You can eat a banana in the car.’
    Marley flung his arms around his mother, returning her hug. ‘Gee, thanks, Mum.’ Even though he put his jumper on inside out he still managed to shove the box into his pocket before racing downstairs.
    Despite their best efforts he was ten minutes late. Marley’s little sister, Alyssa, had taken the car keys and it was a good while before she told him they were in the flower pot. Marley hadn’t yelled at her, though. He was the one who’d started that silly baby game of hide-the-car-keys. That would teach him to play stupid games.
    ‘Sorry I’m late, Miss Riley,’ he said. ‘Mum couldn’t find her car keys.’
    Eagle eyes bored into him, making him squirm.
    ‘Don’t you usually walk?’ Miss Riley never missed a trick.
    ‘Yes, Miss.’
    ‘So, why were you waiting for a lift from your mother?’ She reminded him of a bloodhound on a scent. ‘Why didn’t you just walk?’
    Marley felt his face burn but he wasn’t going to say those three little words, I slept in . That would get him into an awful lot of trouble. He shrugged, scuffing his toe in the dirt.
    ‘Just didn’t, Miss.’
    ‘Well, Mr Morgan. The rest of the team are running ten times around the tennis courts as a warm-up. As punishment for being lazy you can do twenty.’
    Marley knew better than to argue. With gritted teeth