The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [59]
‘I don’t suppose any harm’s been done, but next time you must tell me when you intend to go out. We were very worried. It’s only Jack’s first time out and I can’t believe you woke Timmery up in the middle of the day. You were supposed to give him my message after supper.’
Camelin winked at Jack as he hung his head down as far as it would go.
‘Timmery was very pleased to see us,’ added Jack. ‘He didn’t seem to mind being woken up.’
‘I’m very sorry,’ said Camelin. ‘I won’t do it again.’
He gave Nora his pathetic, forlorn look and she forgave him.
‘Your Grandad’s calling round for you after dinner on his way home from the Cricket Club. I invited him to eat with us but he said he was having a pub lunch with some friends from the Gardening Club.
Jack and Camelin waddled over to the herborium. Jack lay on the floor once he’d transformed back. His arms and legs ached very badly, worse than they’d done before.
‘Take this with you,’ Nora said as she put a brown jar on the table. ‘Rub that on your arms and legs tonight before you go to bed. It’s for aching muscles.’
‘Thanks. It was worth the pain. Being able to fly is the best thing in the whole world.’
The rest of the day went quickly. It was a hot afternoon and the animals settled down to sleep. Elan, Nora and Jack got their wands out after lunch and went into the garden. Nora wanted to make Grub look more like a tree and turned his clothes into bark. Elan made his hair into branches and Jack added the leaves.
‘That’s better,’ Nora said as she stood back to make sure Grub’s face couldn’t be seen. ‘The sooner we hear from Chief Knuckle the better. It took nearly twenty minutes to feed him this morning.’
‘When do you think he’ll get the acorn back?’ asked Jack.
‘It depends where Peabody is,’ replied Nora. ‘With any luck he’ll still be hiding out in the Gnori at Newton Gill. If he is we’ll have it back in no time.’
‘Are you ready for tomorrow?’ Elan asked Jack as they watched Nora repair the picnic table.
‘Tomorrow?’
‘School! It’s your first day, isn’t it?’
‘It is,’ sighed Jack, ‘I don’t want to go. I wish you were coming with me.’
‘I don’t think I’d fit in. I can learn what I need to know from Nora’s library.’
‘I’m worried about those boys I saw on the field last week.’
‘I’ll come and meet you if you want. Nora’s already asked your Grandad if you can come round and do your homework here every night after school. She just didn’t tell him what kind of homework you’d be doing!’
Jack and Elan laughed.
‘The day won’t go quick enough. Now I can fly I just can’t wait to do it again.’
‘Do you want me to meet you?’
Jack didn’t know what to say. It would be good to walk home with someone but that someone was a girl and if the boys saw him they’d probably torment him about it. Then he thought of a solution.
‘If you don’t mind I’m going to see if Grandad will meet me, just for the first few days. You could come along with him if you wanted.’
‘That’s a great idea,’ Elan agreed.
The thought of school was a bit more bearable now Jack knew he’d be back at Ewell House every night.
‘I might have other homework to do as well and I’m going to have to do it before I go home.’
‘It’s not a problem. Nora and I can help you if you get stuck and we’ll make sure Camelin doesn’t disturb you until you’ve finished.’
‘Thanks,’ replied Jack. He couldn’t believe he’d only been at Grandad’s for just over a week. So much had happened in that time.
Before Grandad arrived Jack went up to see Camelin and collect Orin.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow night then.’
‘Naw,’ Camelin laughed. ‘Why wait that long? I’ll be round later tonight. When I see your bedroom light go on I’ll tap on your window.’
‘Brilliant!’ We’ll be able to carry on with your lessons. Grandad won’t hear us because he has the