Roll Over Roly - Anne Fine [5]
In a flash, Roly was across the room and safe in Rupert's arms. Rupert held him tight. He could feel his little pet's heart thumping. Furious with Gordon, he shouted at him from the doorway.
“You are the meanest, nastiest, rudest –”
Behind him, he heard a soft cough.
Rupert swung round. Great Aunt Ada was in the hallway, looking the picture of innocence and holding a plate of biscuits.
8 Accidents Will Happen
“AFTER MY REST,” Great Aunt Ada said, “I usually have a little snack. Do come and join me.”
Spotting the biscuits, Roly began struggling in Rupert's arms. Rupert bent down to release him, then turned to give the parrot one last angry look before following Great Aunt Ada into the kitchen.
She was holding the plate at a very slippy angle.
“Careful,” he warned. “You're –”
Too late. One of the biscuits slid off on to the floor.
Plop!
Instantly, Roly made a dive for it.
“Sit!” said Great Aunt Ada, without even turning round.
Roly sat.
Another biscuit dropped.
“Sit!” repeated Great Aunt Ada.
Roly lifted his backside a tiny bit from the floor. For a moment, it trembled. Then he obediently parked it back again.
“There's a good boy,” said Great Aunt Ada, and gave Roly a biscuit to reward him.
Rupert stared.
“You try,” Great Aunt Ada said, handing Rupert the plate.
“But –”
“Go on. Have a go.”
So Rupert had a go. He tipped the plate till yet another biscuit fell on the floor and broke in half. Roly jumped to his feet and set off after one of the bits.
“Sit!” Rupert told him.
Roly sat.
“Excellent!” said Great Aunt Ada. “Let's see what else he's learned.” She moved her chair back safely. “Run round the table,” she told Rupert. “Get him excited.”
“But –”
“Go on.”
So Rupert ran round the table, and, almost at once, Roly started after him, barking.
“Be quiet!” said Great Aunt Ada.
Roly fell silent.
“There!” said Great Aunt Ada. “Very good indeed. Dear Gordon has made the most excellent start on his training.”
Rupert gave Great Aunt Ada a suspicious look. “You locked poor Roly in there, didn't you?” he accused her. “You did it deliberately. You shut him in there on purpose! All through our rest time!”
“On purpose?” Great Aunt Ada's eyes widened. “Good heavens, Rupert. In these little houses, doors are forever
slamming shut. Accidents will happen.”
She held the plate of biscuits out towards him.
Furious, he ignored it.
She offered it again. “Come along, Rupert,” she told him. “He who is angry at a feast is rude.”
Biscuits were hardly a feast, Rupert thought bitterly. But, on the other hand, he didn't want to behave like Gordon the parrot.
Absolutely not.
So, curbing his temper, Rupert reached out for a double-filled chocolate Wagon Wheel with strawberry piping.
And said thanks.
9 Faster, You Dozy Lump! Faster!
AND IT WAS wonderful to have a pet who came when he was called, and didn't spoil games by jumping up and barking all the time. First, they played Trackers through the garden. Then they played Alien Landing. Then they played Outlaws on the Run.
And then, before he knew it, his parents' car was pulling up outside.
Rupert rushed to the gate. Roly ran after him. As soon as his parents were out of the car, and looking, Rupert said proudly to Roly, “Sit!”
And Roly sat.
“Roll over!” said Rupert.
Instantly, Roly rolled over and came up the right way without messing.
“Well!” said his mother, and stared admiringly.
His father said, “Smart idea, Rupert! A good way to spend the day: training Roly!”
Rupert considered. He could just take a bow. (After all, he and Roly had been practising “Sit!” and “Be quiet!” and “Roll over!” all through Trackers and Alien Landing and Outlaws on the Run.)
Or he could tell the truth.
“Well,” he admitted. “Great Aunt Ada helped a lot.”
He paused, and then added, “And so did Great Uncle Percy.”
“Great Uncle Percy?” His mother looked puzzled. “But, Rupert, that's impossible. We've just come back from –”
“I know,” said Rupert. “But he did help. Honestly. With his awful rudeness.”
“Rudeness?” His mother shook her head.