Cub Reporters

by Belinda Murrell

  But something dreadful had happened. The Kira sky, normally a deep periwinkle blue, had turned dark. Thundery grey clouds rolled in from the horizon. The air felt restless and heavy.

  ‘It looks like it’s going to rain,’ wailed Charlie, peering up at the ominous sky.

  ‘But it never rains on Kira Island,’ I said with disbelief. In fact, when I first moved here and was feeling totally miserable, I missed the drizzly London streets. Now I loved the vast blues of the Kira sea and sky.

  The heavens answered with a clap of thunder, then torrents of rain poured from above. We sheltered in the front door of the cafe, barely able to see a few metres in front of us.

  ‘When it does rain here, it really pours!’ said Cici. ‘It’s like a waterfall out there.’

  ‘We can’t take photos in this weather,’ said Meg.

  ‘Why don’t we take all our things upstairs to my room?’ I suggested. ‘And maybe it will clear up in a little while.’

  We gathered the tote bags and lugged them upstairs. On the way to my room I gave my friends a quick tour to see how the builders were coming along. The kitchen cupboards were finished now, but there was no benchtop or appliances yet. The view through the floor-to-ceiling windows was of thick, dreary grey clouds and torrential rain. It was almost impossible to tell where the sky ended and the sea began.

  We took the bags into my room.

  ‘What’s this?’ asked Cici, gazing at the left-hand wall.

  There was one change in my room that I was rather proud of.

  ‘It’s my mood board,’ I replied. ‘I took your advice and it really helped to inspire me.’

  I had stuck up loads of photos from Mum’s interior design magazines, as well as images from the internet to form a collage of ideas and colours. I’d also stuck up some of my sketches of seahorses, starfish and frangipani flowers, along with some of the paint colour chips that Mum had brought home.

  In London, we had lived in an old Victorian terrace, with high ceilings and ornate plasterwork. My bedroom had a fireplace with a white-painted mantelpiece, plush grey carpet and French doors opening onto a tiny wrought-iron balcony. It had been painted a soft dove-grey, with pops of rose-pink in the cushions, rugs and accessories.

  Thinking of my old room gave me that hollow feeling of missing London all over again. Missing my friends, my school, but most of all my dad. So, when planning my new Kira Island bedroom, I wanted it to be completely different. The girls crowded around, examining the pictures on the wall.

  ‘I love that one,’ said Charlie, pointing to a photo of a blue room with a big white bed and a filmy canopy hanging above it.

  ‘How cute is that little window seat?’ said Meg, looking at another cut-out.

  ‘I want a really beachy, tropical theme for my new room, a bit like this one.’ I pointed to a big photo that I’d printed off the internet. ‘I’m thinking white walls and white furniture, with splashes of turquoise and sea-green for the cushions and rugs. And I’m going to have fun accessories like seashells, frangipanis and starfish scattered around.’

  Cici nodded with approval. ‘That sounds adorable. Where are you going to put everything?’

  I looked around. The room was empty except for the cupboard built on the right side of my window.

  ‘The bed over there.’ I waved towards the left wall. ‘Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on the other side of the window. A sunny window seat in the middle, with lots of cushions. It will be a perfect place to read and draw.’

  Cici’s idea of the mood-board had helped me to visualise it all so clearly.

  ‘When do you think it will be finished?’ asked Charlie.

  ‘Mum says just another few weeks,’ I said. ‘I can’t wait!’

  Just then, Mum’s voice sounded faintly from downstairs, calling to us.

  ‘It must be the boys here for the photo shoot,’ said Meg. We clattered down the stairs. Alex and Rory were waiting just inside the open front door. It was still pouring outside.

  The boys had arrived dressed in their favourite clothes – brightly coloured board shorts, loose T-shirts and canvas sneakers. They were both completely drenched and Rory carried a football.

  ‘Hi, girls,’ said Alex, wringing out the hem of his T-shirt. ‘Are we going to get started?’

  ‘No,’ said Cici, grumpily. ‘The weather’s too awful.’

  ‘Don’t let a bit of water stop us,’ said Rory, tossing his ball up in the air. ‘One of our favourite things to do is play footy in the rain!’

  Cici rolled her eyes. ‘Nice try.’

  ‘It is meant to be photos of things kids love,’ I reminded everyone.

  ‘We can reschedule the photo shoot for tomorrow afternoon,’ said Meg.

  Alex shook his head. ‘Sorry. I’ve got a family barbeque tomorrow afternoon.’

  ‘And I promised to help my mum with some chores at home,’ added Rory, throwing the football to Alex.

  ‘So it’s now or never,’ I said. ‘Come on, let’s take photos of the boys playing footy in the rain.’

  We borrowed two umbrellas from the Beach Shack and ventured outside. I didn’t want to ruin Cici’s new sandals so I stowed them in my backpack in the cafe and went barefoot instead.

  Cici directed from under one umbrella, with Charlie huddled beside her. Her grumpiness soon evaporated.

  I held another umbrella for Meg, while she took the photos using her mum’s camera. I was itching to take some photos myself. The boys ran up and down the beach, kicking the ball to each other. It actually looked really fun. Soon Meg couldn’t resist.

  ‘Are you okay taking these shots for a few minutes, Pippa?’ she asked.

  ‘Sure,’ I said. Meg handed me her camera and quickly reminded me how to use it. Then she kicked off her shoes and ran towards the boys.

  ‘Over here, Alex,’ she called. Alex obliged and threw her the ball. Meg took aim and kicked it up the beach. Rory gave chase so Meg raced off after him.

  When Meg joined the game, Charlie slipped her sandals off and ran after the others too.

  It was tricky taking photos in the pouring rain. We had to juggle the umbrellas and our models insisted on tearing up and down the beach after the ball.

  ‘Cici, can I come under your umbrella?’ I asked. ‘I can’t shoot and balance mine at the same time.’

  So Cici walked us up and down, sheltering the camera while I shot photo after photo. Charlie and Meg were soon drenched too, but laughed as they kicked up sand and vied for the ball. Charlie kicked the ball to Rory, who trapped it and sprinted off up the beach. Alex and Meg gave chase. Rory kicked the ball away but Meg intercepted it and raced back down the beach to score a goal.

  Meg jumped up and did a victory dance in the rain. I snapped a close-up of her beaming face.

  After a few more minutes, we all headed back inside the empty cafe, where I showed the photos I’d taken to Cici and the others. It was my first attempt at sports photography so I wasn’t surprised that the first few shots had missing heads or partial bodies or were just a blur of movement. But the later ones were definitely an improvement.

  ‘I love that one,’ said Cici, pointing at a shot of Meg’s sand-smudged face.

  ‘You took some fantastic photos, Pippa,’ said Meg. ‘They’re really fun and natural.’

  ‘Well, Cici did say she didn’t want boring department store catalogue shots,’ I joked.

  ‘They show our theme perfectly: what kids love to do,’ Charlie added. ‘Run in the rain, play footy, dance …’

  ‘This is a fantastic start,’ said Cici. ‘I can’t wait to take some more tomorrow when the sun’s out!’

  On Sunday morning I woke up early but it was still pouring with rain. The four of us checked in with each other later in the day, but there was nothing for it but to postpone the photo shoot again.

  It was so frustrating. There were only four days left until the newspaper had to be finished. Time was running out.

  It was squishy enough living in a carav
an on a normal day, but when it was pouring with rain everyone got cabin fever. Mum had gone to the shops to buy food for the week, Mimi and Papa were in the cottage and Harry was on his bunk reading a book about the life of Harry Houdini, a famous escape artist and magician.

  I dragged out my backpack, which I’d taken to the photo shoot yesterday, and rummaged through it, looking for my notebook and pencils.

  I dropped the backpack next to my bunk and sat cross-legged on the floor, doodling pictures of Summer, who was curled up in her basket fast asleep. She looked totally adorable and angelic, although I didn’t know how she could sleep.

  Bella was on Mum’s bed playing with her dinosaur collection. The stegosaurus was eating the herd of iguanodons, which involved lots of roaring and stomping and gnashing.

  Thankfully, Mimi popped her head around the door. ‘I thought you all might like to come inside and watch a movie? It’s too wet to do much else.’

  Harry slammed his book shut. ‘Can we watch an action movie?’

  ‘Sure,’ said Mimi. ‘Just as long as it’s not too scary.’

  ‘What about that one about the escaping dinosaurs?’ suggested Bella. ‘Where everyone gets eaten?’

  Bella roared and leapt off the bed, scattering plastic toys everywhere.

  ‘No way,’ I replied, jumping to my feet and dropping my notebook on the table. ‘How about the one with the academy for kid spies?’

  ‘I’ve seen that one,’ said Harry. ‘But there’s a really good comedy about a school football team that loses every game. You’d love it.’

  We followed Mimi back to the house, dodging puddles as we argued over the best movie to watch. Papa made popcorn for us. We all sat in the dark, watching the football movie on the big TV screen.

  After about half an hour, there was a funny scene where the hero’s dog ran onto the field in the middle of the game and ruined everything.

  ‘Summer,’ I said suddenly. I’d forgotten all about her, fast asleep in her basket. Papa paused the movie.

  ‘Mimi, can I just check on Summer?’ I asked. ‘She’s probably still asleep but I should go and look.’

  ‘Good idea, Pippa,’ said Mimi. ‘Why don’t you bring her over here so we can keep an eye on her?’

  I dashed across the garden through the rain to the caravan. I flung open the door and leapt up the stairs.

  As I stepped inside, my heart sunk into my boots. Summer was awake. She bounded toward me, her pink tongue lolling out and a trail of destruction in her wake.

  Dinosaurs had been beheaded, paper was torn into tiny scraps and my backpack was gaping open, its contents spread across the floor. Scattered through the mess were tiny glittery beads.

  ‘Summer!’ I shouted in horror. I leaned down and picked up one of the beads. It was a turquoise gemstone. It looked horribly, terrifyingly familiar. Where had Summer found a turquoise gem?

  I stooped down and checked under the table in Summer’s bed. There, snuggled among the cushions, was a flat, leather sandal. Feeling sick, I pulled it out.

  It was, of course, Cici’s brand-new sandal – a present from her mother, all the way from Italy. And now it was covered in hundreds of tiny tooth marks. Summer had ripped every diamante and gemstone off the straps and strewn them over the floor.

  But that was not all. Finally, she had gnawed a large gouge out of the heel. The sandal was completely ruined. What was I going to say to Cici? How could I ever fix this?

  ‘Summer, you naughty, naughty dog,’ I cried. ‘This is all your fault.’

  Tears welled up. I sank down onto the floor, holding the sandal in disbelief. Summer bounded up to me and licked me all over the face. She gave me an adorable puppy grin. I pushed her away, feeling furious and ill.

  Maybe I could hide the sandal and pretend nothing had happened. But Cici would want to see the shoes at the photo shoot tomorrow. Maybe Mum would ring Cici’s mum and apologise?

  Summer looked up at me, her head cocked to one side. She didn’t understand why I’d pushed her away. She whined and pawed at my leg.

  I picked Summer up and cuddled her close. I had to remember that she was just a puppy. As Mimi said, it was up to me to use my human brain to make sure she couldn’t get into trouble. It wasn’t really Summer’s fault. I shouldn’t have left my backpack on the floor where she could reach it. I shouldn’t have left her all alone in the caravan with so much temptation. It was all my fault.

  What could I do? Mum always reminded me to have courage. But what would Mum advise me to do now?

  The first thing to do was to clean up this mess so that Summer couldn’t swallow any of the wreckage. I popped Summer in her basket and crawled around picking up diamantes and dinosaur heads. All Bella’s dinosaur toys went in a container on the kitchen counter. Cici’s sandals, plus all the gemstones I could find, went in a plastic bag inside my backpack. Luckily I found lots, which probably meant Summer hadn’t swallowed any.

  I fished around in my bottom drawer until I found my wallet. There was thirty dollars in there. My life savings from helping Mum in the cafe and the last of my birthday money. The money I was saving to buy a new swimming costume so Olivia couldn’t sneer at me anymore. The swimming costume I so badly wanted so I could fit in with the other girls.

  The safest place for Summer was with Mimi and Papa in the cottage. Mimi checked that Summer was all right and promised to keep a close eye on her. A very close eye!

  Armed with a raincoat and my backpack, I set off to Cici’s house. The rain poured down, soaking my hair and seeping down the back of my neck. As I came closer my feet dragged. I had to force myself to keep walking until I finally reached Cici’s front door.

  I knocked and the door opened. It was Cici’s mum, Nathalie.

  ‘Hello, Pippa,’ she said. ‘Have you come to see Cici?’

  ‘Hi, Nathalie,’ I said. Did my voice have a telltale wobble? ‘Yes. Is she home?’

  ‘Of course. Come in out of the rain. Cici’s just been telling me all about your fashion shoot for the school newspaper. What a shame it’s been washed out.’

  I took off my dripping raincoat and stepped into Nathalie’s crowded, colourful studio. As always, the house smelled of something yummy baking in the oven.

  Just then Cici and Muffin popped around the corner. ‘Pippa?’ called Cici. ‘I thought I heard your voice.’

  I stood near the doorway, feeling frightened and small. Perhaps I should go home and get Mum to explain everything instead? I wished Nathalie wasn’t there so I could just tell Cici.

  ‘Pippa?’ repeated Cici. ‘Do you want to come in and taste my new invention?’

  Have courage, I told myself. Just get it over with. I took a very deep breath.

  ‘Cici, Nathalie,’ I began. ‘I’m so terribly sorry. But something dreadful has happened.’

  ‘Is everything all right?’ asked Nathalie, looking concerned.

  ‘Are you okay?’ asked Cici. ‘Is someone hurt?’

  ‘Not exactly,’ I said. ‘It’s Summer …’

  I opened my backpack and pulled out the pair of sandals – one perfect and one destroyed.

  Cici gasped in shock. The look on her face made me gabble before my courage fled.

  ‘I left my backpack on the floor and Summer discovered your beautiful new sandals … I’m so very sorry. I’ve brought all my pocket money so I can buy you some new ones. I know it’s not enough but I can earn some more working for Mum at the cafe. Just tell me how much they cost and I’ll pay you every cent, I promise.’

  I took a breath. Cici took the ruined sandal from my hand and turned it over and over. Her face was shocked and disgusted. Cici must hate me. She’d never forgive me. Oh, why had I left my backpack on the floor where Summer could find it?

  I felt the tears welling up again and blinked them away. I pulled my wallet from my backpack and shoved the thirty dollars into Cici’s hands. Cici still didn’t say anything, she simply stared at the chewed sandal.

  ‘Is Summer all right?’ a
sked Nathalie. ‘She didn’t make herself sick swallowing anything?’

  ‘No,’ I replied. ‘Mimi checked her and she seems fine.’

  ‘Thank goodness,’ said Nathalie. ‘That’s the most important thing.’

  ‘How could you let Summer get them?’ Cici asked, pushing the money back at me. ‘I’d never have let you borrow my best shoes if I thought you’d be so careless.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Cici. I didn’t mean to …’ My voice trailed off. There was nothing else I could say.

  Nathalie put her hand on Cici’s shoulder, then gave me a hug. ‘It’s okay, Pippa. Thank you for coming around to tell us. It was brave of you. And thanks for offering to pay to replace them.’

  ‘We can’t replace them,’ snapped Cici. ‘You bought them in Italy. It was my present.’

  Nathalie looked at Cici sternly.

  ‘I know you’re upset, Cici,’ said Nathalie. ‘But we can replace them. I can phone my supplier in Italy and he can post us another pair. They can be here within a week.’

  ‘Really?’ I asked hopefully. ‘Are they very expensive? It might take me a while to save up but I promise I’ll pay you the money.’

  ‘Thanks, Pippa, but this money will be enough,’ Nathalie assured me. ‘And I don’t want you to worry about it anymore. It’s just a pair of shoes and Cici has plenty. No one was hurt. Summer is fine, so everything is easily fixed.’

  Cici looked shamefaced. ‘I’m sorry too, Pippa. Of course it doesn’t matter.’ She grinned at me. ‘And it’s good to know that Summer has fantastic taste! Do you remember, Mum, when Muffin was a puppy and ate your brand-new designer heels?’

  ‘How could I forget?’ said Nathalie. ‘Those shoes cost a fortune!’

  I felt giddy with relief. Cici wasn’t mad with me anymore. Which reminded me that I really needed to confess to Mum that Summer had eaten her shoes too. I made up my mind to do it that night over dinner. Or maybe at bedtime?