Read Online Drip Dry by Ilsa Evans - Free Book Online Page A

and continues to look at me questioningly. ‘Yes, I know the smell. Why?’
    â€˜Well, you know how Mr Waverley’s wife disappeared?’
    â€˜ Ben ! You habn’t said happy birthday!’
    â€˜Oh, Ben! She did not disappear! She left him and went back to Tasmania, that’s all. And for god’s sake, say happy birthday to your sister!’ I frown at him as I depress my plunger and then pour my coffee into a cup. Oh, what an aroma! Elixir of the gods.
    â€˜Well, what if she didn’t go to Tasmania at all? Yeah, happy birthday, CJ. You know, what if she’s the smell?’
    â€˜Sometimes I wish that you’d put that imagination to good use . . . like schoolwork.’ I fetch the milk from the table, pour a dribble into my cup and lean back against the counter nursing my coffee between both hands. I don’t really want to even think about the smell next door, I only want to breathe deeply and simply lose myself in the much more heavenly fragrance of fresh coffee.
    â€˜No, seriously. I reckon she’s under the house. And with this hot weather she’s really going to gooff.’ Ben finally stops talking as he concentrates on shovelling cereal into his mouth. CJ, on the other hand, has stopped eating altogether and is staring agape at her brother.
    â€˜CJ, swallow what’s in your mouth, please. And, Ben, don’t put ridiculous ideas in your sister’s head. She’ll probably have nightmares now.’
    â€˜It’s not ridiculous,’ he answers thickly, while chewing cornflakes. ‘I’m going to check out under there after school today. I’ll need a gasmask. Can I bring a friend?’
    â€˜Oh, Ben! Can I come?’
    â€˜Seeing as how your father will be arriving some time later today, Ben,’ I say as my stomach contracts at the thought, ‘perhaps you’d better ask his permission before you go hunting for dead bodies under his house. But you can have a friend over if you want. Is it Jeff from down the street?’
    â€˜No, it’s a new guy. Called Max.’
    â€˜Is he nice?’
    â€˜Yeah, he’s cool.’ Ben looks thoughtful for a second. ‘Well, as long as he remembers to take his meds.’
    â€˜What!’ I look at Ben in horror. ‘You mean medication? What sort? What for?’
    â€˜Oh, just tablets. For A.D.D. or something, I think.’ Ben tips his bowl forwards to get the last of the contents. ‘But usually he’s cool.’
    â€˜I see,’ I comment, but actually I don’t. I mean, what happens when he doesn’t take his meds? I don’t really care if he just becomes a little ‘uncool’, but I do care if he starts screeching like a banshee and climbingup onto the school roof with his eyes gyrating fitfully in his head.
    â€˜A.D.D.’ repeats CJ slowly. ‘That spells add. So are the tablets for his maths? Is he bad at maths? We don’t do maths at school yet but Sam gibs me maths sometimes. So can you take tablets when you’re bad at maths? Because I’m not berry good at maths too. Can I hab some? Can you put them on the shopping list, Mummy?’
    â€˜No, they’re not for maths. And have you forgotten that it’s your birthday party today?’ I finally give up trying to lose myself in any coffee aroma and just take a gulp instead.
    â€˜Oh yes !’ CJ says rapturously.
    â€˜Is that party today ?’
    â€˜Yes and we’re all dressing up as fairies. There’s Caitlin and Jaime and –’
    â€˜That reminds me, Ben, I meant to tell you –’ I wait patiently until I have his full attention – ‘Keith is coming to CJ’s party this afternoon. I just thought I’d let you know.’
    â€˜Oh.’ Ben’s face immediately closes down and I feel a rush of sympathy for him, and also the usual degree of impotent anger for being in this position. Bugger Keith.
    â€˜â€“ and Parris