Read Online Don't Ask Alice by Judi Curtin - Free Book Online

house,’ she said. ‘That makes things a bit easier.’
    I was starting to feel scared.
    â€˜What exactly are you doing? I don’t think Mum and Dad will be too happy if you blow up the house.’
    She made a face at me.
    â€˜I’m not totally stupid you know.’
    Then she reached up and flicked a switch marked Lights .
    â€˜All I’ve done is switch off the lights. Will Linda know how to fix them do you think?’
    I shook my head.
    â€˜Linda is totally useless at stuff like that. Mum always teases her that she has to call an electrician to change a plug.’
    Alice gave a happy smile.
    â€˜That’s what I hoped. So later on, when it gets dark, Dad will have to come and save the day. Linda will be so impressed that she’ll be dying tosee him again tomorrow.’
    I wasn’t so sure about that, but as Alice’s plans go, this one seemed harmless enough, so I said nothing and we went back into the house to wait for it to get dark.
    Some time later, Linda, Rosie, Alice and I were lying on the floor in the family room watching our second hour of television. I was full from the yummy Chinese takeaway we’d had for tea, and the three bags of crisps and the litre bottle of lemonade that we’d finished between us.
    Alice nudged me. I repeated the line she’d made me practise earlier.
    â€˜It’s getting a bit dark, isn’t it?’
    Linda ignored me. She was busy feeding Rosie even more crisps.
    Five minutes later, Alice tried.
    â€˜It’s getting a bit dark. Will I put the light on, Linda?’
    This time Linda paid attention.
    â€˜Sure. Thanks, Alice.’
    Alice got up and made a big production of flicking the switch.
    â€˜Doesn’t seem to be working,’ she said.
    Now Linda sat up.
    â€˜Probably just the bulb.’
    Alice ran into the kitchen and loudly flicked the lights.
    â€˜No, they’re all broken.’
    Now Linda stood up.
    â€˜Oh well,’ she said. ‘It’s too late to get the lights fixed tonight. It’ll be fun sitting here by candlelight. Where does your mum keep the candles, Megan?’
    Alice poked me hard in the ribs.
    â€˜Er, em, we don’t have any candles,’ I said. ‘Mum em… she…’
    Alice dived in.
    â€˜Megan’s mum thinks candles are a fire hazard. She doesn’t allow them in the house.’
    Linda made a face.
    â€˜That does sound like Sheila. But what will we do, Megan? I don’t fancy a whole night in thedark. Do you know the name of your electrician? Do you think he’d come out at night?’
    Alice grinned at her.
    â€˜You don’t need an electrician. I’ll get my dad. He’s brilliant at stuff like this.’
    â€˜Are you sure?’ asked Linda. ‘I wouldn’t like to bother him.’
    Alice nodded.
    â€˜Sure I’m sure. He’s very kind-hearted. He’d love to help.’
    Minutes later Peter was at the door. It took him about three seconds to figure out that the fuse switch had tripped. He flicked it back, and the house lit up instantly. Linda clapped her hands like Peter had just performed a magic trick.
    Peter looked puzzled.
    â€˜That really shouldn’t happen,’ he said. ‘But call me if the lights go out again.’
    Linda smiled at him.
    â€˜Thank you so, so much. I don’t know what we’d have done without you.’
    Peter smiled back at her.
    â€˜Don’t mention it,’ he said.
    Then he went back home, whistling as he went.
    â€˜What a nice, helpful man,’ Linda said as she closed the front door.
    Alice smiled as she whispered in my ear.
    â€˜Did you hear that? She said he was nice. And did you hear Dad whistling? He only whistles when he’s really happy. I think they like each other. We’re halfway there. I’m looking forward to tomorrow already.’
    I wanted to know what she had planned, but at the same time, I didn’t want to know. It