The Team and the Move (Team books Book 3)

by S G Read

The next morning they were up early, unusual as they were not going to school. They walked to the end of the road, with an eye out for the loudmouth who lived on the corner but he must have been at school. Again they turned right but instead of passing the old lady who had given them the door’s house, Stuart chose to ring her bell.

  'Hello again.' She greeted. 'Need another door?'

  'No but we are using it as a raft and we need some buoyancy aids on it!' Stuart replied.

  'Can you swim?' It was directed at both and both nodded. 'Why aren’t you at school?'

  'I have just moved here and my dad says I have the flu, it’s so I can settle in.' Stuart explained patiently. 'This is Stevey my best friend and he has flu too.'

  The old woman smiled. 'Well don’t give it to me. If you look in my shed there are plastic bottles of all shapes and sizes, help yourselves but don’t go getting yourself drowned!' She pointed to where the shed was then returned to her television, leaving them to help their selves.

  They made two journeys carrying the plastic bottles, they were glad the boy in the corner house was at school and not able to see them.

  Then came the task of attaching them to the raft. After several attempts, which saw them get wetter and wetter, they returned to the house and some help. David walked over with his tool box and surveyed the problem while the boys were changing into dry clothes. By the time they arrived he had worked out how it could be done and was making preparations. He made a frame to fit the bottles to, securely and then he fitted that to the door. Soon they were on the raft and paddling out into the middle.

  'It’s great dad! Thanks.' Stuart cried from the middle of the pond but then they started paddling back.

  They wanted oars or long sticks to punt themselves across and they also wanted David out of the way, to make sure he did not object to them landing on the other side, to investigate. They walked him across on the pretext of Stuart using the toilet, then returned with one of David’s saws. They soon had a long pole each to punt themselves across on the raft but even these would not reach the bottom when they were out in the middle. They used them like paddles to get nearer the other bank but the arrival of a ferocious dog, barking and slavering on the other bank, made them splash furiously to stop their movement towards it. They drifted nearer and nearer without being able to stop and panic ensued. Eventually sanity returned and Stuart pushed the pole toward the other bank and found the bottom. They stopped moving forward but Stuart did not hurry back the way they had come, he stopped there in the middle of the pond and watched the dog. It still barked as though it wanted to rip them to bits but not once did it let its paws get wet.

  'He doesn’t like the water!' Stuart said standing there holding the pole against the bottom of the pond near the far bank. 'Give us a push, I have an idea.'

  Stevey liked the idea of a push and pushed away from the far bank with all his might. They returned to the other bank and landed safely, the dog was watching them but now it had stopped barking. Stevey followed Stuart back to the house and watched, as he searched the cupboards in the kitchen.

  'What are you looking for?' He asked after a few minutes.

  'Anything to pacify a wild dog!' Stuart replied.

  'We’re going back?' Stevey asked in dismay.

  'Of course we are, Minton Cruisers never get beaten nowadays!' Stuart answered. 'Especially by a dog!'

  'What if you don’t find anything? Are you going to throw me over to it just so’s you can see what’s on the other side?' Stevey asked.

  'I never thought of that! It doesn’t matter anyway I’ve found some digestives.'

  Stuart and Stevey returned to the raft and punted to the middle but there was no sign of the dog.

  'Typical!' Stuart complained. 'When you don’t want a rabid dog, there’s one waiting to chew on you, and when you do want him to be there he’s nowhere to be seen!'

  The sound of him talking brought the dog back very quickly and it stood there, dancing forward then retreating, then dancing forward again. Stuart threw a biscuit but the dog jumped out of the way of it as though it was a stone.

  'It’s a biscuit you stupid dog.' He yelled. 'For you to eat!'

  The dog continued to bark and Stuart threw another then another, now trying to hit the dog or get it into the dog’s mouth but it was no good, the dog avoided them all and continued to bark. Crestfallen the two boys returned to the other bank.

  'I obviously have to think this out!' Stuart said as they tied the raft to a tree. 'At least the raft works!'

  They walked back to the house and played on the computer, with Stuart keeping a close watch on the time.

  'Why do you keep looking at your watch Stu?' Stevey eventually asked.

  'When schools out, I can go to the shops on my bike and get some proper doggy chews!'

  'That’s no doggy, that’s the hound of the Baskervilles!' Stevey retorted.

  'It still has a stomach,' Stuart replied, 'and dogs are always hungry!'

  'Not that one he’s probably still full of Baskervilles!'

  When it was time, Stuart left Stevey playing on the computer and rode of toward the shops. Once again the boy saw him and yelled out.

  'Don’t fall off small fry!'

  'At least I’m not fat and ugly like you!' Stuart shouted back, causing the boy to run up the road after him but Stuart was going fast enough to keep out of reach, he knew that, and that was why he shouted. He stopped at a local shop and bought three packs of doggy chews. On the way back, as he passed the boys house, keeping on the opposite side of the road a football flew across and hit his bike. He swerved but managed to regain control. 'Better luck next time sucker.' He shouted as he hurried up the road.

  'I’ll get you, don’t you worry!' The boy shouted back.

  -That’s it Stu, make friends why don’t you?- Stuart thought but it was to late now.

  He put the chews away in a draw for the morning and had a go on his computer.

  'That yob kicked a ball at me.' He said idly as he played.

  'What for? What did you say to him?'

  'Nothing much.'

  'What did you say?'

  'I just said he was fat and ugly!'

  'Nothing to upset him then.' Stevey replied. 'I must make sure I don’t get too near him, if we see him again!'

  They waited for the evening meal but it was in vain. They were going out to eat to give Wendy a well deserved rest. There would be no further adventures tonight as it would be dark when they got back.

  Silas Brent drove up to the car breakers gates and tooted his horn. He was well dressed and his light brown hair was well kept, even if it was going a little grey round the edges. He had a neatly trimmed moustache and a well pronounced middle age spread. He watched the man from the car breakers walk down to open the gate and wound down his window.

  'Is that dog of yours chained up?' He asked just to make sure, as he could no longer run as fast as he wanted.

  'I told you it aint my dog, it’s my brothers! And yes it is chained up.' The man answering was short and thick set, his hair dark, almost black but partly covered by a multi coloured woollen bobble hat. Anyone watching would swear it was Charlie.

  Silas drove up to the house while the man in the bobble hat closed the gate again and followed him.

  'Is it all set up?' Silas asked when Willie arrived.

  'No there was a problem with one of the presses! I had to order some parts but we should be up and running in a couple of days!'

  'Just make sure it is no longer!'

  'Yes boss.'

  'Are the plates okay?'

  'Yes boss, I left them wrapped up in the soft oily cloth they are in.'

  'But you checked them?'

  'Yes boss.'

  After breakfast the next morning the two boys hurried over to the raft, well Stuart hurried, Stevey was more reluctant. They paddled out to the middle but there was no sign of the dog. They moved closer to the landing place and called, then whistled. Still the dog did not show. Shou
ld they land or not? The answer was definitely not, they paddled around on the raft exploring the rest of the pond before they returned to the other bank. A little disappointed, they played football for a while then sat by one of the goal posts talking.

  'Where do you think the dog was?' Stuart asked.

  'Probably eating someone who strayed beyond the fence.' Stevey answered.

  Stuart laughed. 'Well at least it wasn’t us!'

  They walked back in time for lunch, then returned to the raft. This time when they spoke the dog appeared, barking and snarling.

  'He’s in good form!' Stuart noted actually pleased to see the dog.

  When they were close enough Stuart opened the packet of chews but before he threw one, he looked round the beach area for the biscuits, there were none to be seen.

  'I think he realised what I was throwing in the end.' Stuart exclaimed and held the first chew up so that the dog could see it. 'You can eat this as well!'

  'And your hand, if he get near enough to it!' Stevey added.

  'No it’s only noise!' Stuart replied.

  'We’ll see.' Stevey added.

  Stuart threw the chew and the dog caught it. He settled down to eat it ignoring the two boys.

  'That was quick!' Stuart commented.

  'So is the way he is eating it!' Stevey added as the dog stood up looking for more.

  The same thing happened again and again until there were no more chews. The dog stood waiting, then when they did not throw anymore chews, it sat down and watched them.

  'Well?' Stuart asked.

  'Well what?' Stevey inquired.

  'Do we land?'

  'There’s not going to be a "we" if you land, just a you!' Stevey said petrified at the thought.

  Stuart looked at the bank and the dog, then at Stevey. 'You’re right, we need more ammunition.'

  'There’s that we again!' Stevey replied. 'There is probably nothing over there of any interest.'

  'That’s not the point, we want to know what is behind the fence.' Stuart insisted.

  'You want to know what is the other side of the fence, not me.' Stevey pointed out.

  'But you did, admit it. It’s only the dog which has changed your mind.'

  'Too right.'

  They started to punt their way back to the other shore while the dog watched.

  'What sort of ammunition?' Stevey asked.

  'Bones from the butchers, something to keep him occupied while we can land!'

  'What bones with meat and blood on them, to give the dog the right idea how to eat us?' Stevey asked.

  'No, to keep him busy, so he won’t eat us!'

  'You’ll be first on the other bank!' Stevey replied.

  They landed, tied up the raft and walked back to the goal. It was too early to go to the butchers, so they played football until they were called in to get ready for dinner and Stuart nipped off on his bike to get some bones. He forgot about the loudmouthed boy and was promptly knocked off his bike by the ball. He stood up and glared at the boy before riding off.

  'That will teach you!' The boy shouted.

  Stuart stopped. 'You mess with me and you mess with all my friends!' He shouted back.

  'Oh, I’m really scared.' The boy cried and pretended to quiver in fear.

  Stuart ignored him and rode on, he was on a mission! He rode straight to the butchers and, after putting on his best helpless little boy face came away with a large bag of bones for twenty pence. Before he turned into his road, he stopped and made sure the boy was not about to ambush him, then pedalled furiously past the house. A cricket ball flew past his ear as he rode by but he did not stop, he would bring this up at their next meeting. He, like Billy at the hospital would be dealt with! It was nice to have friends. Thinking about Billy the porter reminded him that Jenny was still in hospital and he would like to go and see her. Seconds later he hit the gate to the field and flew through the air, into the field. Stevey came running over to where Stuart lay.

  'That didn’t do your bike any good!' He said looking down at Stuart. 'Or your head for that matter, we’re fresh out of coffee tables!' A reminder of his habit of breaking glass coffee tables with his head.

  'Did my dad see?' Stuart asked from the ground.

  Stevey looked across at the house. 'No, no one saw you trying to fly.'

  'I was thinking about Jenny.'

  'It looks dangerous to me!' Stevey replied. 'Think about Si that is probably safer.'

  'No I mean she is still in hospital and we haven’t been to see her since we moved.' He put his hand to his mouth. 'She doesn’t even know we moved!'

  'Of course she does, I told her when I visited her! I told her you were busy with the move and once you were settled in you would be in to see her!'

  'Thanks Stevey. Well I’m settled in now and we are going to see her tonight!' He climbed to his feet and looked over the fence at the bike. The front wheel was buckled and there were bones everywhere. He brushed of anything hanging on his clothes and Stevey brushed of his back. Then they both started to pick up the bones.

  'What about these?' Stevey asked.

  Stuart looked at his watch. 'I’ll put them in the freezer and get them back out when we are going over to see the dog again.'

  They walked over, Stuart carrying the bones and Stevey wheeling the bike on its good back wheel. The bones were wrapped and hidden in the freezer and the bike was dumped behind the garage out of sight.

  'Dad!' Stuart yelled when he walked into the kitchen from the garden.

  'Up here Stuart!' David yelled back.

  Stuart followed the sound of the yell upstairs with Stevey following him. They found David on the computer.

  'Jenny is still in hospital you know!' Stuart announced when he saw David.

  'And?' David prompted although he knew the answer already.

  'Can we go and see her tonight?'

  'We can.' David replied.

  'Can we-'

  'Stop off and get some flowers on the way?'

  'Chocolates actually but I might get some flowers as well!' Stuart replied.

  David looked at his watch. 'We’d best go soon and eat on the way, go and tell your mother.'

  Chapter 3

  They drove past the boy at the end of the street and Stuart glared at him. The boy returned the stare and added to it with a rude gesture. Only Stuart saw it and he made a mental note to tell the others about this boy, who was trying to make his life a misery in his new house. They stopped for a meal on the way to the hospital, then bought chocolates and flowers at the same shop Stuart had used before, as the hospital shop was too expensive. They knew the way to the ward blindfolded and left David and Wendy behind. When they turned the corner past the door to the room Stuart had been in and walked toward the main ward Jenny saw them, smiled and waved.

  'Hello.' She said sweetly when they reached her bed.

  A different greeting from when they had first met.

  'Hi.' Stuart replied. 'We bought you these.'

  Stuart had the chocolates and Stevey was carrying the flowers.

  'Thanks. The boys have just left!' Jenny replied.

  'What all of them?' Stuart asked.

  'Yes they came in Ben’s brother’s van! My dad didn’t come, he actually got a job! Not full time though, just while someone is ill.'

  A nurse appeared and put the flowers in a vase. Jenny opened the chocolates and passed them round.

  'I wondered why you weren’t with them.' She said to Stevey.

  'I’m staying at Stu’s new house.'

  'I heard you’d moved.' She said with a little disappointment on her voice at having to hear it from Stevey.

  'Sorry, I should have told you myself.' Stuart replied contritely.

  'Yes you should!' She said emphatically.

  'We’re ill.' Stevey added.

  'You don’t look ill.' She replied.

  'It’s so we can settle in and not have to go to school this week.' Stevey explained.

  'How are y
ou getting on?' Stuart asked.

  'Okay. They say I might get to go home next week but with dad at work, it isn’t going to be much fun!'

  'You can come and stay out at my place, until the man gets better and your dad doesn’t have to go to work!' Stuart offered without thinking.

  'What will your parents say about that?' Jenny replied.

  Stuart looked up the ward and saw his parents walking down toward them. 'We’ll soon find out!' He stood up ready to go and ask them but stopped. 'You do want to come, don’t you?'

  Jenny nodded, showing that big smile again.

  'It’s a big house!' Stuart warned, knowing her feelings about rich kids.

  'Don’t worry! I won’t say a thing!' Jenny declared.

  By now David and Wendy were close enough to hear.

  'When Jenny comes out of hospital can she come and stay with us? Her dad is working now and she will be all alone at home!' Stuart asked.

  'If it is alright with her father.' David answered. 'Does Jenny want to come?'

  'Yes please.' Jenny answered. This was not the same Jenny who had taken an instant dislike to Stuart when she had first met him!

  'Then we have another guest, if her father approves!' David replied and steered Wendy into the dayroom, as their presence was not wanted. 'I think our little adventurer is growing up!' He added when they were in the dayroom.

  'Surely not?' Wendy said in disbelief.

  'He has been in a jungle with the rest of his team and it was him who led them to safety.'

  'But she was not part of that!'

  'No but I think she will be part of it now!' David explained.

  Wendy peered round the edge of the door at the bed Jenny lay in and watched as they talked. 'Oh dear, I think you might be right. Still she is a strong willed girl.'

  David eased her head round, so that she was no longer watching them. 'I think we can be sure nothing will happen here in hospital.'

  Wendy smiled. 'I’m his mother, it’s only right for me to fuss but I’ll save it until she comes to stay.'

  You can have a room to yourself when you come,' Stuart said when David and Wendy were out of earshot. 'Unless the rest of the team are there, then it gets a bit crowded.'