“It has to Spike, it has to.”
Spike hung up his mum’s mobile and looked at Maria who was looking very tired.
“It’s going to be ok Maria, we’ll get some sleep soon, come on, let’s go!”
Taking Maria by the hand, much to his mum’s joy Spike lead her out of the shop and back to the car, Mars was curled up on the back seat, putting both Maria and Spike at ease. They had bought all of the items needed for the picnic and all that was required for them to do now was get back to the forest of Horse Shoe Close, set up the picnic and hide. What could possibly go wrong?
With Spike’s mum still humming to herself as they pulled out of the car park on their way home, Spike and Maria had a few seconds to stop and think about what had happened to them over the last few days. Spike began his summer holidays lonely, with everyone thinking he was some sort of monster who liked to hurt people. Since then he had not slept, watched N.J almost get badly hurt and helped in her rescue, realised he liked Jack a lot, crawled through a jungle which got him captured by the scariest woman in the world, gone to jail and seen the wonderful Maria save him from jail! Although so tired and scared of what the future would hold, Spike was also so happy.
Maria thought about how she was made to feel like a burden for her big brother, who thought she could not do anything productive until she single handily saved Spike from jail. The way her brother looked at her was the best moment of her life, for he looked at her with pride, something she had not seen before.
Mars was still thinking about doggy treats, until he felt something was wrong. Seconds later Spike and Maria knew it too, their daydreams were interrupted by a loud bang and the car swerving, banking from left to right it screeched until Mrs Julie managed to slow and eventually stop. Everyone sat in silence and all that Spike and Maria could hear was the sound of their hearts beating in their chests.
“Stay in the car” said Mrs Julie as she got out and investigated.
“Did we nearly crash?” asked Maria, clearly shaken by the experience. Spike told her a little white lie to calm her down.
“No Maria, it was just that mum had to stop and she tried to keep it fun!”
“It scared me” said Maria.
“Well I’ll tell her not to do that again.”
“Thanks Spike.”
Spike really was a good friend.
“Kids, we have a slight problem,” said Spike’s mum opening the driver side door. “We have a flat tyre, and I don’t have a car jack, I’m just waiting for your dad to come with his, stay here Ok?”
“Ok mum.”
“Ok Mrs Julie.”
“Mum, how long will this take?”
“Oh I’m sorry darling; you and Maria will be late for your little picnic.”
Spikes mum shut the car door and went back to inspect the flat tyre whilst waiting for Spikes dad to arrive and help her fit the spare one.
Spikes face turned grey.
“Maria, my mum is working for him!”
Chapter 23
“Right, are we happy with the letters?” said Jack getting up from the table. They had finished both the letter for Old Lady Maud and The Sleep Taker too.
“I am very happy with them” replied Jorge.
“Me too” said N.J, still slightly blushing from what had happened with Jorge.
“Good, right now Spike and Maria should be just getting to the forest and setting up the picnic.”
“Any problems?”
“No Jorge, they had to go out but I have heard nothing else so all should be fine. Right, now we have to do our next phase of this plan.”
“This is the bit I’ve not been looking forward to” said Jorge honestly.
“I know but we have no choice, these letters must get delivered, without us being seen and we have to make them meet.”
“Jack, I’m a little worried still about these two meeting, are you sure this will work?”
“There is only one way to find out, let’s go!”
With that said, Jack, leading the other two opened the door to Jorge’s lab and let the bright summer sun flood in. Shielding his eyes, he stepped into the heat knowing one way or another this adventure was going to end today.
Chapter 24
“What do you mean Spike?” said Maria. “What do you mean your mum is working for him?”
“Think about it Maria, I’m 9 and I can never remember my mum getting a flat tyre, ever. And she happens to get one right when we need to be back at the forest. It was no accident; she is trying to keep us away.”
“What are we going to do?”
“We have to get back, and we have to get back soon, because if Jack manages to get both Old Lady Maud and The Sleep Taker to the forest and we haven’t done our part, it will be over, and it will be our last summer. But Maria, I do not know what to do!”
Maria looked out of the window at Mrs Julie “I think I have an idea!” she said.
Chapter 25
“Right N.J, you know what to do?”
“I’m ready Jack” said N.J sounding worried. “I wish I had Mars here”
“I’m here N.J” said Jorge touching her hand.
“Ewwwwwww” was all Jack could manage.
“Sorry Jack, I’m ready” said Jorge.
Jack looked at his friends, his oldest and dearest N.J and his newly discovered in Jorge. He looked into their eyes and hoped his crazy idea of pairing the two most powerful forces in the world together would work, but deep down without admitting it he was as worried as everyone else was.
Giving his friends a final small nod of his head they all set off. Jack went towards The Sleep Takers, Jorge towards Old Lady Maud’s and N.J back to the conifer trees that became their hiding place before. They had to move fast and quietly, if they were seen it would be over. They had to move like the wind, darting and dancing undetected. Jack, head down sprinted until his back was against the side of The Sleep Taker’s house. Ducking he pressed into the wall and quickly scraped his way towards the front door. It was in this moment Jack began to feel it. The same feeling he had felt the previous morning, his head began to feel light, his legs began to feel hollow and his knees were showing the tell tale signs of starting to buckle. Jack wanted to stop, he wanted to rest but he knew that he must carry on. With his vision blurry Jack made it to The Sleep Taker’s front door. From where he was, he could see Jorge had made it to Old Lady Maud’s front door too. They looked at each other as they placed the letters on their door mats. Jack looked at Jorge and mouthed the countdown.
“3”
Both boys held their breath.
“2”
The moment of truth was upon them, in a second the final step, step 12, take him out and save the world would begin.
“1!”
Chapter 26
“Oh Maria, Maria, stop crying! Please stop crying, we’ll be back on the road before you know it.”
Mrs Julie was sat beside the open car door, desperately trying to calm Maria who was sobbing.
“I want to go home Mrs Julie” wailed Maria in between sobs “you see I promised my brother I would get the picnic stuff on time, he said I’m too little to be trusted and I want him to like me.”
Maria, really let the tears flow.
“Oh Maria, there, there. Listen, I’ll tell you what I will do. When Spike’s dad gets here, before he fixes the tyre I’ll get him to drop you 2 back first, that means you’ll be back a lot sooner than if you wait here, how does that sound?”
“How long will he be?” Maria asked as she wiped her eyes.
“He will be here any second now.”
“Thank you Mrs Julie.”
“Are you ok now?
“Yes Mrs Julie.”
“Good.”
Spike’s mum then closed the car door
and waited, looking down the road for Spike’s dad to arrive leaving Maria, Spike and Mars free to talk (well maybe not Mars.)
“Maria, that was incredible, how did you learn to fake cry?”
“I’ve always been able to do it!”
“You just convinced my mum that we needed to get back; she just said my dad will take us in a minute!”
“I know.”
“She is going to wait by the car even longer.”
“I know” said Maria again proudly.
“But Maria, it might be too late; Jack will be on his way now!”
“How much time does that give us?”
“We have 10 minutes to get back and make the picnic, we need a miracle.”
Just then Spike’s dad’s car pulled up and the 3 of them peered out of the back window to see Spike’s mum tell Spike’s dad how Maria needed to get back now and she was upset. They saw Spike’s dad shrug his shoulders and nod, it had worked! Both parents headed towards the car.
“Quick Maria, they’re coming!”
Throwing themselves back down facing the right way Maria began to gently cry again. Spike tried to look concerned.
The back door opened.
“Right kids, let’s go!” said Spike’s dad and with that Spike, Maria and Mars were back on the road, but they were running fifteen minutes late.
Chapter 27
‘KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.’
Both Jorge and Jack knocked on the doors of The Sleep Taker and Old Lady Maud’s at exactly the same time and as quick as they could they ran to find cover. Jack hid near the entrance to the forest and Jorge ended up in the conifers right next to N.J.
Flashing her an out of breath smile, Jorge pulled the edge of the conifer down so both he and N.J, cheek to cheek could peer through to see the doorstep of Old Lady Maud’s. Keeping his eyes facing forward, partly through needing to watch out and partly through shyness Jorge spoke.
“N.J?”
“Yes.”
“If this doesn’t work and we’re doomed to never have a day off school again, if I get to sit near you it doesn’t matter.”
“Do you mean that Jorge?”
“I do.”
“Jorge that’s love........”
N.J did not get to finish her sentence for the creaky old door of Maud’s had opened. With a scowl she looked left, and right, trying to figure out who would be daring enough to knock. Then she turned to walk into her house.
“She’s not going to see it!” whispered N.J with a panicked voice. All Jorge could do was close his eyes and hope that she would look down at the letter.
At the very last second as the door was almost shut she looked down and did in fact see the envelope, gently opening the door she picked it up, tore it open and read the contents. Both N.J and Jorge sighed through relief; their part of Operation Sleep Taker was complete. All they could do now was hope that everyone else was as successful as they had been.
Chapter 28
Still in the car, Maria was pretending to mop up her final tears as Spike’s dad was turning left back into Horse Shoe Close. Looking into the rear view mirror Spike’s dad cheerfully said “Don’t worry kids, we’re back, being a few minutes late won’t hurt, will it?”
“No” said both Maria and Spike in unison flashing each other a worried glance, they were over 15 minutes behind where they should be. Spike, Maria and Mars then stepped out of the car and began to run towards the forest of Horse Shoe Close. Spike shouting “thanks dad” as they ran.
Back at the edge of the forest, Jack hid behind a tree and looked at the front door of The Sleep Taker. He had just watched Old Lady Maud step outside, scowl, walk back in and then at the last second pick up and read the letter and yet, The Sleep Taker had not opened his door. It seemed that the whole world had stopped; the birds didn’t sing, the wind didn’t blow and Jack didn’t breathe. All that could be heard was the persistent yapping of The Sleep Taker’s dog.
Eventually the door of The Sleep Taker crept open and he stepped outside into the summer sun, Jack shivered and continued to hold his breath. He saw the letter straight away and he scooped it up shutting the door quietly as he stepped back inside.
“Oh no!” said Jack, “that wasn’t supposed to be what happened next”.
Looking from the hiding place near Old Lady Maud’s, N.J could just see Jack at the edge of the forest and she could see that he was crying.
“Something is wrong!” she said holding Jorge’s hand.
“Just hold on” said Jorge, “it has to work, Jack has not been wrong so far, and I think he was right about this plan too, it has to work.” He said a little too desperately. He then looked over to Jack and seeing him sad, made him have his doubts as well.
Chapter 29
Weaving though the dense, thick almost jungle habitat of the forest, Mars lead Spike and Spike carried Maria (because she was scared a little of the creepy crawlies that lived in forests). Out of breath they all reached the clearing, the place where Jack had told them to set up the items they had with them. They were so far behind and yet no-one had not made it back, looking around Maria asked “where are they?”
“I don’t know Maria, something must be wrong!” said Spike.
‘It’s over’ thought Jack, head in hands, almost as if he would never be able to look up at the summer sun again. ‘I have let everyone...’
A noise stopped Jack in his tracks; his heart skipped a joyful beat. Slowly, he lifted his eyes, to look once more towards The Sleep Taker’s door.
Back at the conifers near Old Lady Maud’s both N.J and Jorge were looking towards Jack, they had just watched him sobbing and they were both crying too. It was hard to see someone they care so deeply about look so sad. But then Jack stopped and looked up, and his tears were replaced with a beaming smile, a smile he turned and showed N.J and Jorge before hiding deeper in the forest of Horse Shoe Close.
“Yes!” said N.J offering a high five to Jorge.
“I told you N.J, Jack was right!”
As The Sleep Taker opened his door and stepped out shielding his eyes from the sun, he was holding the letter in his hand. He looked left and saw Old Lady Maud who was still stood on her porch. He looked back at his letter again, hardly believing what it said. Smiling, The Sleep Taker looked up again and saw that Old Lady Maud was smiling back at him. Slowly they began to walk towards one another.
“I cannot believe it’s working” whispered N.J who was front row for the action.
“It’s so clever” said Jorge “she thinks he likes her and cannot say, he thinks she likes him and cannot say, and both letters state that they have to talk about gardening and not about the letters. As they both think the other is too shy”
“And by doing so they will confirm they like each other!”
“Yes N.J and neither of them will have any idea the other letter exists, our friend Jack is brilliant!”
Taking Jorge by the hand N.J replied “we all are. Right I better get ready!” with that N.J positioned herself to unleash her skill of voice impersonations.
Standing face to face both The Sleep Taker and Old Lady Maud were lost for words, they both looked away bashfully and N.J unleashed her talent, and sounding exactly like The Sleep Taker she said “I would like to help you with your garden, if I may”
Thinking that he had said it and it really meaning ‘will you be my friend?’ (Because of what the letter said) Old Lady Maud replied saying “I would very much like your help” (which of course The Sleep Taker assumed meant ‘I would very much like to be your friend’ again because of his letter).
It was brilliant, the two most powerful, evil people in the world had been tricked into thinking the other one liked them, by a bunch of kids!
Jack, hiding deeper in the conifers but still able to see smiled at the simple ye
t brilliant plan as he watched both The Sleep Taker and Old Lady Maud look away from each other shyly. Suddenly they didn’t seem so terrifying anymore.
With sweat on his brow, Spike frantically began to set up the items Jack had instructed him to do. Maria helped where she could and Mars sat waiting for the others to arrive. “Spike, what if it has all gone wrong? What if The Sleep Taker has them?”
“Then I guess it’s just you and me Maria!” replied Spike, “but he hasn’t got them, I promise.”
“How do you know?” asked Maria.
“I just do.
“Then where are they?”
Spike didn’t reply, he just finished setting up the picnic, but quietly he was wondering the same thing as Maria and although he didn’t show it, he was panicking too.
Back outside The Sleep Taker’s house the evil old people were still looking away from each other bashfully, this was going better than they could have dreamt. N.J took a deep breath and in a voice that sounded identical to Old Lady Maud she said, “What is your name?” N.J really was the best at impersonations!
Thinking it was actually Old Lady Maud who asked, The Sleep Taker looked up and said “I’m Harry”
Old Lady Maud looked up and replied to what she assumed was him starting conversation and said “I’m Maud.”
With that she smiled as did he. They both returned their gaze to the floor unsure what to say next. N.J took another deep breath and again in perfect Maud tone said, “I really like you!”
This surprised The Sleep Taker who looked up in astonishment. Maud also looked unaware that he had heard what he thought was her saying ‘I really like you’.
“Is everything alright?” she asked.
“It’s perfect” he responded “I really like you.”
Old Lady Maud gasped, smiled, blushed and looked away once more; The Sleep Taker (or Harry as they all now knew) stepped forward and took her hand.
“It’s worked, it’s really worked!” whispered Jorge, as N.J made her way back to him “N.J you were magnificent!”
The Sleep Taker Page 7