The Adventures of Stunt Boy and His Amazing Wonder Dog Blindfold by Lollie Barr Read Free Book Online Page A

sixteen hours a day, right?’
    Wow. That’s more than Jem sleeps. Seriously, once she slept fifteen hours in one go. That happens when you’re a teenager. You sleep a lot and get really cranky at stupid things. I’m thirteen next birthday and I have already noticed that I am way more irritated than usual.
    â€˜Benny, you’re going to have to take your clothes off, so he can really smell you. Get his tastebuds working.’
    â€˜What?’ said Benny. ‘Seriously? You want me to get naked?’
    â€˜It’s the only way,’ I replied. ‘If he thinks he’s getting a nice bit of chicken he might just move his lazy bum.’
    â€˜Why do you keep comparing me to poultry when you know I’m a vegan?’ asked Benny, sounding cranky. Benny would be thirteen in just two months. He was getting crabbier as well. ‘Anyway, why do I have to get naked? Why don’t you take your clothes off?’
    â€˜All right sure, if you reach your whole arm into the lion’s cage, grab the pen and then pick the lock, I’ll do the naked thing,’ I said, knowing Benny wasn’t going to put his arm inside a lion’s cage, plus he had no clue how to pick a lock. I had the most dangerous job, as the lion could come charging at me at any moment and I could lose an arm, which would make it really hard to ride a motorbike, or juggle for that matter.
    â€˜Okay, but I’m not going butt-naked. I’m leaving my underpants on,’ said Benny.
    â€˜Good!’ I said. ‘That would be too weird otherwise!’
    Benny pulled his top over his head, then took off his shoes and slipped out of his tracksuit pants. I was expecting to see his all-in-one wrestling trunks. Sometimes he even wears them to school under his uniform. It takes him ages to have a wee. He can’t use the urinal because he has to go into the bathroom stall and take his whole uniform off.
    But today he was wearing boxer shorts with teddy bears dressed in Santa outfits. Even though I was scared and we were in trouble, I couldn’t help sniggering at his undies. I wouldn’t wear those undies even at Christmas!
    â€˜Cute knickers,’ I said.
    â€˜Shut up, Stunt Boy!’ he said, all mad. ‘My mum has been at the restaurant and hasn’t had time to do the washing.’
    â€˜Get a bit closer to the bars, so he can smell you,’ I said, knowing not to push it any further.
    Benny edged closer and closer until he was squashing his chest and stomach against the bars. ‘Mr LOL cat, over here, do you want some hundred per cent prime vegan flesh for dinner?’ he said, making us both laugh despite the fact he was in danger and mad at me for laughing at his pants.
    The lion lifted his head lazily, sniffed the air, and licked his chops before standing up and moving towards the bars. Benny backed away quickly.
    â€˜Nice one, Benny,’ I said as he turned around and wiggled his rump at the lion. ‘Just keep him at that end of the cage.’
    â€˜I’ve got your back, Stunt,’ said Benny, who was an awesome best friend even if he did wear dodgy underpants. ‘Go for it!’
    I crept over to the corner on the lion’s side of the cage and reached through the bars, dropping my right shoulder down my back and leaning out as far as I could to extend my arm, but I was still too far away. However, when you’re a circus performer, you always have to push your body that bit further than you think it will go.
    Every day apart from Sunday we meet in the big top at 7 am for conditioning, stretching and training. The whole circus troupe turns out, bleary-eyed and dishevelled. Leonie, who is in charge of our aerials team, leads the exercises. Lots of times I just want to stay in bed, but unless you train you can’t be good. Sometimes I think my thighs will snap or my arms will pop out of their sockets, but I always try to find that little bit of extra give in my