Swap Over by Margaret Pearce Read Free Book Online

was much too high priced for ordinary people, and the air show with the stunt planes.
    â€œWouldn’t be a surprise if we told you first,” Mrs. Walton said. “Wear your new gold velvet to piano class. We will have an early lunch in town and keep going.”
    â€œGoing where?” Maddy insisted.
    Were they going somewhere in the city, or were they having an early lunch because they had a long drive afterwards? There was a big country rodeo about two hours’ drive from the city. Was that where they were going? What about the exciting Disney ice show in town at the moment? Was that where they were going?
    Maddy took in a deep breath of sheer pleasure and excitement. Hanging around for the Walton’s weekend was the right thing to do! Life just couldn’t get any better.
    â€œYou’ll have to wait and see,” Mr. Walton said and winked. “But I do guarantee you’re going to love it.”
    Maddy flew off and showered, remembering to hang up her towels and tidy up afterwards. She put on the new, gold velvet dress and inspected her reflection with delighted awe. The gold velvet made her look like a beautiful stranger, as if her dark hair and dark eyes were something attractive instead of something ordinary.
    Jennifer was so lucky to have such wonderful expensive clothes and spend her weekends going to wonderful, exciting places. I am so lucky, she reminded herself, as she danced out to the car.
    Mrs. Walton pulled the car under the shelter of the post office and produced the letter addressed to Mr. Brown. “Post this please, Maddy,” she said pleasantly.
    Maddy hesitated. Post that horrid, grovelling, sucking up apology to Mr. Brown! She would rather stuff it in the rubbish bin or drop it in the fast- flowing gutter.
    â€œHurry up, Maddy,” Mrs. Walton said, still pleasantly, but there was a firm note in her voice.
    Maddy opened the car door. Could she accidentally drop it in the gutter? She sneaked a look back at Mrs. Walton, who watched her with a glint in her grey eyes. Maddy sighed and swung out to drop the letter into the letter slot.
    Her pleasure at living life as Jennifer Walton dimmed through the tedium that was called her piano lesson. The teacher, old Miss Rofe, nagged and carped about her not practising, not sitting correctly, not pressing foot pedals correctly and not turning pages correctly. Worst of all, she threatened to tell Mrs. Walton to make Maddy practise more regularly.
    It was still raining when the lesson was over. Mr. Walton was waiting for her with an umbrella, looking very smart in his dark grey suit. Mrs. Walton was driving and smiled happily at them. She was wearing a loose coat over a dark blue dress with beading glittering on it.
    Maddy immediately felt happy again as she climbed into the back seat. Mrs. Walton wouldn’t wear a glittering beaded dress to a rodeo, nor would Mr. Walton wear a suit. They must be going to the Disney ice show!
    She had a crumbed cutlet with salad for lunch, and studied the wonderful desserts on the menu. It was wonderful to be rich and eat out. Wouldn’t it be fun to eat in cafés all the time?
    â€œCan I have chocolate ice-cream cake for dessert?”
    â€œAs this is a special day, I suppose just once won’t hurt you,” Mr. Walton said doubtfully.
    â€œI don’t really think you should, Maddy.” Mrs. Walton looked at the way Maddy’s face dropped and sighed. “Don’t blame me if it makes you sick.”
    The chocolate ice-cream cake was the most delicious sweet Maddy had ever tasted. Plain Maddy Matson never ate like this.
    Afterwards they got back in the car and Mr. Walton drove across town to an indoor car park. Maddy was so excited, she had trouble sitting still. The placards for the Disney ice show were all over the front of the big building as they drove past. People were queuing up to go inside. They drove up the spiraling ramps until they found a spot to park the