Best Book Day Ever! (so far)

by Liz Pichon

  Julia Morton (who’s behind me) says I look like a Thanks, Julia.

  Then she adds, “You’re missing some scales.”

  I pretend that I’m bothered at all. It’s fine.

  “No one will notice,”

  I say.

  (Much.)

  Throughout the rest of the day, my scale problem gets worse …

  … and worse …

  … and worse…

  I’m shedding them

  Solid hands me another batch in the dinner hall.

  “We could try sticking them on with tape,” he says.

  It’s a good idea, but there’s no time and no sticky tape either.

  And the just gone, so everyone will be heading off for the BOOK PARADE at the school playing fields. Great Manor School have already arrived and are waiting for us.

  I can see some VERY impressive-looking costumes too.

  (Groan.)

  Class by class, Oakfield School file into rows opposite the Great Manor children.

  We leave a nice clear pathway

  Marcus Meldrew stands

  next to me and says,

  “Your costume’s a bit RUBBISH, isn’t it?”

  He’s holding more of my scales in his hand.

  So I say,

  Then I add…

  Marcus laughs and says, “More like a yellow kitten monster.”

  What does he mean, YELLOW FLUFFY KITTEN MONSTER?

  I didn’t take much notice of what Mum had – sorry, STUCK all my scales on to.

  I REALLY wish I had now.

  I find Derek and ask him, “Be honest, how many kittens can you see?”

  “Errr, maybe one or two … sorry, three … no, SEVEN, eight … actually, loads.”

  This is NOT good news.

  I can’t believe Mum used a

  YELLOW ALL-IN-ONE SUIT COVERED WITH FLUFFY LITTLE KITTENS!

  I’m like a tree losing its leaves in the autumn. I’ll have to keep my alien head on so NO ONE will see it’s ME. It’s VERY embarrassing.

  Mr Keen and Ms Taylor from Great Manor welcome everyone to the BOOK PARADE.

  Ms Taylor says.

  They’ve already taken a good at the costumes and now they’re about to read out the names of the for schools.

  Normally I’d be VERY excited. But wearing a yellow onesie covered in kittens isn’t exactly what I had in mind for the BOOK PARADE.

  Just when I think things can’t get any worse, Mr Keen points to a PHOTOGRAPHER from the local paper who’ll be

  (I’m thinking,

  PLEASE not me …

  The first names called out ARE:

  and Florence with their brilliant car.

  Then Solid’s called next (there goes my hiding place). Then some kid from Great Manor in a cool scary costume.

  There are more children from both schools – including Norman Watson,

  I’m beginning to think I’m SAFE … when I hear Ms Taylor say,

  Which is a MASSIVE RELIEF! I think

  I’ve avoided humiliation.

  Finally I begin to (a bit).

  I unfold

  Then Mr Keen says,

  “And LAST BUT NOT LEAST … Tom Gates dressed as an

  Alien Scale Monster!”

  Mr Fullerman can tell I’m keen to join the parade.

  “I’ve lost all my scales, sir,” I say.

  he says, as the photographer all the winners into a line. I can hear some kids whispering

  So I try hiding behind Solid

  (again).

  The photographer says,

  “Everyone look at me and say BOOK PARADE!”

  Norman Watson gets a bit over and does a MASSIVE , trying to get into the photo.

  He pushes me and I knock into Solid, who loses his balance and topples into another couple of kids.

  over and EVERYONE in the line is left around.

  Amy and Florence just manage to get out of the way so their car is safe.

  The teachers over to check everyone’s OK (they are).

  Somehow I’ve managed

  into a slightly

  patch of

  But while I’m down on the ground, I suddenly get an

  I need to make the most of this situation and get EVEN

  I do a few angel-wing moves, then a lot of quick around in the mud, which does the trick.

  I grab a few more handfuls of mud before the photographer is ready to try again for the photo. Only this time, I’ll be an ALIEN SWAMP MONSTER. (Which is fine by me!) When the photographer says “SMILE!” I’m happy to WAVE.

  Then I pick up my

  HOPEFULLY, NOW I can get a copy of

  Alien Scale Monsters – in SPACE.

  Which would be AMAZING.

  When I get home, it takes a while to explain what exactly happened to my costume.

  Mum says she won’t use glue on fluffy fabric again. “At least you won a prize, Tom,” she says. (Which is true.) Turns out the BIG JAR OF BEANS PRIZE was just a rumour after all.

  (Shame.)

  (I’m very glad I don’t have to wear my costume again, as it’s still a bit

  I’ve found a few (OLD) alien books for the

  after school too, which I mustn’t forget to bring.

  In class, everyone has brought books to swap as well. I’m looking at books while Marcus keeps going ON and ON and ON about his costume.

  He says… “I would have won a PRIZE if I’d remembered to bring it.” (Really … groan.) Marcus is driving me NUTS, so I get out my sketchbook and draw this doodle. Which helps me to IGNORE him … for a while.

  Marcus interrupts my drawing. He’s NUDGING me. WHAT NOW?

  He says, “That’s my book you’re drawing on.”

  And I say, “No it’s NOT.”

  And he says, “Yes, it is MY book actually.”

  I say, “THIS is book … oh it’s yours.” I tell Marcus I’m sorry, but he’s already put his hand up.

  (Groan.)

  Mr Fullerman comes over to see what’s going on. “Did you draw in Marcus’s book, Tom?”

  “Yes, sir, by accident – I thought it was mine!”

  He says I shouldn’t be drawing in ANY books. “Yes, sir.”

  Marcus says, “I wanted to swap this book – who’ll want it now?”

  (That will be me, then.)

  I swap my Alien Scale Monster book for a book on bugs.

  Mr Fullerman thinks it’s a very good solution. Then he adds,

  I wonder what that’s about?

  After school, I meet outside the hall so we can check out and together.

  I’m HOPING that maybe I might find a copy of ALIEN SCALE MONSTERS – IN SPACE.

  The hall quickly fills up. It’s very busy and Derek’s already found some good books.

  I’m showing Florence my alien monster books when she tells me,

  “There’s a kid over there who’s got an alien monster book to swap.”

  HE DOES?

  I my way through the crowd until I find him… There he is, HOLDING a copy of …

  … ALIEN SCALE MONSTER is HERE. Oh.

  AND it looks like MY old copy as well.

  “I swapped it with THAT boy over there,” he says.

  THAT BOY – is Marcus Meldrew. Who else.

  He’s already reading Alien Scale Monsters – In Space.

  Oh well, he’ll never swap it with me.

  Never mind. I spot a book that Granny Mavis might like instead.

  (You never know, she might even use it.)

  When I get home, Mum, Dad and are having some tea, which is handy. I show Mum the books that I swapped and give Granny Mavis her cookbook.

  She says, “How lovely! I’ll definitely use this one.” (She won’t.)

  Granddad Bob says, “We popped round because we have something to give you too, Tom.” Which, along with the CAKE, is a VERY nice surprise.

  (Especially after I picked off the whole pea pods that were on top.)

  Granny hands me a
bag and inside there is … let me see …

  (I can use my BOOK TOKEN PRIZE to buy something ELSE now – RESULT!)

  I think that THIS has actually been