‘So, what are we doing this afternoon?’ her dad asked.
Iris and Kick looked at each other.
I really don’t want to go to the war memorial or the art gallery like Mum suggested, but I’m not going to be the one to say so, Iris thought. She knew Kick was thinking exactly the same thing.
Their dad looked at them both, waiting for someone to say something. Iris bit her lip.
Her dad laughed and turned to her mum. ‘Well, that’s a huge vote of interest from the kids for the idea you came up with, darling!’ he told her.
‘I think it’ll be extremely interesting,’ their mum protested.
Without meaning to, Iris snorted in disbelief.
‘Iris!’ her mum gasped.‘You know, things can be more fun than they sound at first. I reckon you kids would be surprised.’
‘Amazed, even,’ said Kick, rolling his eyes.
Iris choked back a giggle. She’d been so focused on Kick being bratty, she’d forgotten how funny he could be.
‘All right then,’ her mum said, throwing her hands up. ‘I’m keeping out of it. You three decide what we’re going to do.’
Iris’s dad grinned. ‘What do you think, kids? Fairy floss at the fun park? Rollerblading in the city gardens? Or how about we find one of those horse-drawn carriages and ride around town?’
Iris wanted to hug him. It was like the holiday had begun all over again, and everyone was getting a second chance. Her mum had been right – the holiday wasn’t wrecked.
I guess that’s what she means about a family holiday, Iris thought.
A family holiday didn’t have to be completely perfect, and not everyone had to be completely happy every second of the day. But they were all together, whatever they were doing. Whether that was going roller-blading or having a fight.
Iris had to admit that Kick was still slightly painful some of the time, but then again, he was her little brother. It wasn’t his fault he was less mature than her.
Plus, the holiday wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without him. In fact, his pushiness was even useful. There was no way Iris would have begged for a show bag after spending the whole day at the fun park, but Kick did. And their dad agreed to buy them one each!
And Kick could be sweet, too. Like asking their mum for two dollars at the fudge factory, so he could sneak off and buy Iris a lollipop shaped like a saxophone.
It was even fun sharing a room with him. She thought it might have been spooky if she had to sleep alone. Her nan’s old porcelain doll was pretty in the daytime, but Iris didn’t like how creepy its glass eyes looked in the dark. And there were some weird creaking sounds in the roof, too. But none of that bothered her with Kick in the room.
There was just one problem. The holiday was slipping by too fast now that everything was going so well. The afternoon Iris spent trudging around the science museum in a bad mood had felt like it lasted for six months. But the next six days of their holiday were so full of excitement, they went by in a flash.
‘We need more time,’ she complained to Kick. ‘I’m not ready to go back yet. It feels like we just got to Nan and Pa’s.’
‘And I want heaps more time hanging out with Dad without him going off to work,’ Kick said.
‘Exactly,’ Iris agreed.
On the last day, Iris and Kick sadly zipped up their bags. Iris checked under the beds for anything they’d forgotten.
‘Time to go, kids,’ their dad called. ‘Say goodbye to Nan and Pa.’
That’s the worst bit, Iris realised. Now that the family holiday’s over, we have to leave some of our family behind.
Iris dragged her bag out of the bedroom, and saw her nan wiping her eyes as she handed Iris’s mum three plastic containers and said, ‘Just some fruit cake, scones and biscuits for when you get home.’
That made Iris smile, even though she felt sad.
‘Cheer up, Rissy,’ said her pa, giving her a bear hug. ‘Nan and I were talking with your dad, and we’re planning on coming to visit you lot for a holiday very soon.’
‘Really? How soon?’ Iris asked excitedly.
Her pa kissed her on the nose. ‘Soon soon.’
‘Come on, Iris,’ Kick said, bumping into her. ‘Remember, I’ve got the window seat for take-off this time.’
Iris grinned. That’s right, the plane ride home! The holiday’s over, but there’s still more to look forward to!
‘Did you have a good time?’ her nan asked as they hugged by the car.
After a shaky start to their trip, Iris was glad she could answer truthfully.
‘The best!’ she said. ‘This was the ultimate holiday!’
Holiday!
first published in 2008
this edition published in 2013 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior permission of the publishers and copyright owner.
A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia
eISBN 9781743580783
Text copyright © 2008 Rowan McAuley
Illustration and design copyright © 2013 Hardie Grant Egmont
Illustration by Aki Fukuoka
Design by Michelle Mackintosh
Text design and typesetting by Ektavo
Holiday Page 3