The Ideas Pirates by Hazel Edwards Read Free Book Online

said twins were enough for any parents.
    â€˜I must change my baby.’ The anxious mother spoke to the attendant. She meant change the nappy and Amy smiled wondering what would happen if the crying baby were swapped for another, silent baby or even for a gnome.
    Flicking the glossy colour magazine, Amy read the first page and tried to ignore the baby’s cries as it was taken up the aisle. Security had let Sebastian the spider man came on board . He sat a few rows behind the twins.
    â€˜Did you know that deer’s antlers can be shaved?’ Amy said, looking up.
    Christopher imagined a picture of a deer with a beard being shaved.
    But that’s not what Amy was talking about. She showed him the in-flight magazine article , but Christopher just looked at the photos.
    â€˜Where’s the beard?’
    â€˜A deer doesn’t have one!’
    â€˜What do they use the shavings for?’ Christopher was interested now.
    â€˜Traditional eastern medicine. They’re smuggled from India. Some medicines have wildlife extracts in them - like monkey!’
    â€˜Yuk.’
    As Dr Chung tripped near seat 13, something fell from his bulging bag. He bent down and put it back inside. Amy peered across but she couldn’t see exactly what had fallen.
    Christopher recognised Dr Chung from his black rimmed glasses. He always noticed glasses. Some were harder to draw than others.
    Dr Chung’s worn leather bag was full of bumpy shapes with the strap pulled tightly now.
    â€˜Excuse me.’ He put it under the next seat and placed his feet either side.
    Then he sat back and closed his eyes, breathing slowly. A faint smell, not after- shave, clung to him. Christopher turned to the photographs of bones. He read the words under the picture.’ Tiger bone is used for stiff necks. The jumble of bones on the market stall photo looked very real.
    â€˜What d’you think happened to the rest of the tiger?”
    Amy shrugged. ‘Don’t know. Might say on the other page.’
    She skimmed the page. ‘No. It’s just tiger bone.’
    Dr Chung eyes were closed and he breathed deeply. Perhaps he was meditating?
    â€˜What’s tiger bone used for?’ asked Christopher.
    â€˜It’s supposed to cure aches and pains.’
    â€˜Aunty Viv has an ache in her neck.’
    Amy grinned. ‘She says you’re a pain in the neck too, Christopher Lee.’
    â€˜Could we have your attention please!’ said the flight attendant’s voice. Dr Chung’s eyes opened.
    â€˜Shhh. They’re going to do the safety bit.’ warned Amy as the screen lowered from the ceiling of the plane. ‘D’you reckon they use actors or real people in that safety video?
    â€˜Actors. No -one else would want to look such a dag.’
    The twins watched as the safety video warned them about what to do if they crashed. In the aisle, the flight attendant pointed out the exits when the film voice got to that bit. She had her polite face on.
    â€˜How many times d’you think she’s done that?’ As usual, Christopher was looking at the safety diagrams card in the seat pocket in front of him.
    â€˜Millions.’ Amy watched through the window as the plane gathered speed for the take-off. The baby started to cry again. Amy’s tummy always felt empty and left behind as the plane went up. The plane levelled off smoothly, but her tummy still needed a lemonade.
    â€˜Even Aunty Viv would like that take-off.’
    â€˜Really cool.’
    Aunty Viv was afraid of flying. She always drove them to and from the airport in her Animal Actors van, but she avoided flying.
    â€˜Look. The seat belt signs are off.’ Amy unclipped her belt. She pulled down her table. As the attendant walked past, she bent down and flicked a catch beside Amy’s seat. It was the one Dr Chung had tripped on.
    â€˜What’s that for?’
    Christopher leaned across. ‘We’re opposite the