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

body that will allow me to perform a trick.
    That was what I needed now. I took a deep breath and exhaled, using every reserve of strength and energy to stretch my arm a little further. I managed to hook my index finger around the pen, at exactly the same time the lion turned his gaze away from Benny’s prime behind to look at me quizzically.
    Our eyes locked as if we were in a staring competition.
    â€˜Stunt, watch out!’ yelled Benny as the lion ran towards me.
    I pulled the pen free from the string and yanked my arm back into our cage with a nanosecond to spare.
    â€˜Good, Mr LOL cat, nice LOL cat,’ I said, clutching the pen and backing away from his side of the cage as he roared his disapproval that I had encroached on his territory.
    â€˜Good one, Stunt!’ said Benny, hugging me, his naked armpit right in my face so I could smell his fear, which smelt like BO, but I didn’t mention it, as Benny had been pretty brave as well, so he didn’t need to be told he had BO.
    I crushed the pen cap under my shoe and used the metal part inside as a tension wrench, and a piece of the pen’s shaft as a pick.
    The sound of the padlock popping open was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
    â€˜Get your clothes on, Benny boy,’ I said, smiling. ‘And let’s get out of here.’

    P.S. How to pick a lock with a pen:
    1. Remove the cap from the pen.
    2. Take the metal holder that is connected to the pen cap.
    3. Insert the pen cap into the lock, and push.
    4. Turn the lock clockwise.
    5. Open the door.
    6. Escape.

8
    It’s your circus war, not mine
    I slid the metal garage door up quietly and poked my head outside to check if any of Chesterley’s goons had been posted on sentry duty. Lucky for us the coast was clear. The sky had already turned black and the stars were out. It meant it was late enough that Benny would be grounded for the rest of his life because the Stoked people would have raised the alarm when we hadn’t turn up for dinner. I’d never miss dinner. They probably thought that we’d run away or even been kidnapped! There’d be pictures of us in our school uniform all over the news bulletins because that is what happens when kids get kidnapped or run away.
    We made our way back to the fence. I’d hoped with all my heart to see Blindfold, all wagging tail and floppy ears, patiently waiting for me, but there was no sign of him. I got a bit choked up, thinking about what might have happened to him. But I couldn’t let myself think about that now – we had to get away quick smart.
    There was only one problem. On top of the hole we’d dug sat two heavy boulders. They were too big for us to budge, despite Benny’s muscles and my determination. I stared up at the fence in the light of the half-moon, but there was no way of climbing over it, not with all that barbed razor wire running like tumbleweed along the top.
    â€˜We are going to have to sneak through the circus, Benny, and climb over the front gate,’ I said before making a mean joke. ‘But this time try not to scream like a girl if you get spooked. I don’t want to end up back in that cage.’
    â€˜Stunt, you know I hate heights,’ Benny replied. ‘Anyway, you’re not blaming me for getting caught, are you? I never wanted to come over here in the first place! It’s your circus war, not mine. The only reason I came was to keep you out of trouble, as usual, and where do I end up? In trouble, as usual. Anyway, what would you have done if an elephant had farted in your eyeball?’
    He had a point, but I wouldn’t have screamed like a girl, that’s for sure.
    â€˜Come on, let’s just get out of here,’ I said not wanting to have an argument about the pitch of Benny’s scream.
    We concealed ourselves in the shadows as we made our way along the fence and then through Chesterley’s circus, hiding behind caravans, then