99 Red Balloons
Скачать
Начало книги
I squint at him. The sun’s in my eyes and he looks like a shadow monster.
‘I can’t,’ I tell him. ‘I’ve got to get home. I’m only meant to be getting sweets from the paper shop, then straight back.’
He crouches in front of me. He’s wearing a woolly hat, which is funny as it’s really warm today.
‘But your mum asked me to fetch you.’ His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles.
I fold my arms. When I tilt my head, his face blocks out the sun.
‘You might be lying,’ I say. ‘Mummy warned me about men with sweets and puppies.’
The man laughs, like Gramps does when he’s Father Christmas.
‘I know,’ he says. ‘What’s she like? She’s such a worrywart.’
He’s right: she is. I drop my arms to my sides.
‘Anyway,’ he says, holding out both of his hands, ‘I’ve no sweets and I’ve no puppies. My name’s George – she’s always talking about me, isn’t she? She’s waiting at the bus station, says she’s got a surprise for you, for being a good girl at school.’ He taps his nose. ‘And we all know what you’ve been asking for.’