Live and Let Swim
Page 9
‘Let’s see what she can do when we go back on air . . . now that she has a lot more competition up here,’ Solomon said, looking around at the talented pets that surrounded him.
‘Come and take a seat in the audience,’ the casting director said, ushering the rest of us to seats. ‘We need to get started again.’
The green light came back on just as the casting director ducked out of shot.
‘Welcome back to the second half of tonight’s show. As you all know, we’ve met some super-talented pets already this evening, so let’s recap on what they can all do before we meet the rest of tonight’s contestants and choose a winner to go to the grand final!’
He read from a card the casting director had passed him.
‘This is Charlie, the painting beagle.’ The crowd cheered.
‘This is Tugger, the ferret magician.’ The crowd clapped.
‘These clever little bunnies are Siegfried and Roy, and just look at them skate!’ he went on as the crowd ‘Oohed’.
‘And of course we have lovely little Cutie Pie . . .’ Fang sharpened her claws. ‘I mean Fang, who . . .’
The camera panned over to Fang who was sat on the pedestal munching on some lettuce.
‘No way, that’s the talent you’re left with?’ I heard Mark cry. Unable to take the humiliation, he ran out on stage and picked up Fang. ‘Come on, girl! Do something really evil for your talent, at least?’
As if on cue, Fang sicked up the lettuce all over Mark.
‘She . . .’ Solomon continued, ‘has a very interesting talent indeed.’
‘It smells really evil,’ I said to Pradeep.
We watched the rest of the show and cheered for the talented pets from the audience. Boris sat on Geeky Girl’s shoulder and Toby sat on Sami’s lap as we waited for the final vote.
‘And the winner is . . .’ Solomon spoke as the drum rolled. ‘Well, this hasn’t happened before! It’s a three-way tie between Charlie, Tugger and Siegfried and Roy!’
The audience went wild as Mark and Fang slowly crept off the stage. Mark glared at us and Fang hissed at Frankie.
Frankie flipped out of his bucket for a moment and let his eyes glow slightly green, which made Fang’s eyes go red with rage. Then he flopped back down and floated in a chilled-out pose on his back.
‘I think Frankie is done with talent shows,’ I said to Pradeep.
‘Me too,’ said Pradeep. ‘Come on, Sami, time to go home.’
As we got up to go, Geeky Girl asked, ‘What about Mark and Fang? Are we going to just let them get away?’
‘I heard the casting director say that the internet clip of Fang throwing up on Mark has over two million views already,’ Pradeep answered.
Geeky Girl was already on her smartphone. ‘Yup, it’s called Creepy Orange Kid versus Kitten Barf-fest.’ She paused. ‘Nice title.’
‘Mark has to go to school tomorrow knowing that every kid in the country has watched that video again and again and again.’ I added. ‘That’s gotta be punishment enough.’
As we said goodbye to Geeky Girl outside, I couldn’t help but notice that Boris wasn’t hovering over her shoulder any more. One moment he was there, but the next he was sitting on Frankie’s bucket wing-fiving Frankie, then he was on Sami’s shoulder saying goodbye to Toby, then almost instantly he was back on Geeky Girl’s shoulder again.
‘Did you just see what I saw?’ Pradeep said to me.
I looked over at Toby, who was gently levitating over Sami’s lap.
Geeky Girl stroked Boris’s head. ‘There’s something different about you, dude,’ she said. ‘But you look happier than I’ve seen ya in ages so it can’t be bad.’
‘They all look happy,’ I said, looking at all the chilled-out pets around us.
‘See you guys around sometime,’ Geeky Girl said. ‘Look after my favourite fish!’ She leaned over Frankie’s bucket. ‘And Frankie, you look after them, OK?’
Frankie splashed at her playfully and then Geeky Girl turned to Pradeep. ‘Well done, Brainiac. This would never have worked if you hadn’t had the scanner reversal idea. We make a good team.’ She smiled at Pradeep and he went bright red. For a split second I actually thought that Geeky Girl was gonna give Pradeep a kiss on the cheek, but then she pulled back her fist and punched him on the arm again.
‘Later, dudes,’ she said as she and Boris strolled away.
‘Ouch!’ said Pradeep as he watched her go.
Sami looked up at us and yawned. ‘Toby tired,’ she said.
‘I know,’ Pradeep said to her, and smiled. ‘Let’s go home.’
‘Do you think Toby will miss the super-speed of being a teleporting tortoise?’ I whispered to Pradeep as we walked away.
‘I think after the scooter ride on the way here, the zip-wire, and being thrown across a room, Toby will be happy to live his life the slow lane for a while,’ Pradeep replied.
‘At least for now,’ I said.
Mo O’Hara grew up in Pennsylvania, USA, but now lives in south-east London. She began her writing and acting career by touring theatres and schools across the UK and Ireland, working as a storyteller. As well as writing books for children Mo has written comedy sketches for Radio 4 and performed her own material in London and Edinburgh. Mo and her big brother once brought their own pet goldfish back from the brink of death.
Books by Mo O’Hara
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: The SeaQuel
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Fins of Fury
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Any Fin Is Possible
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: Live and Let Swim
Quotes from My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish readers
‘This Franktastic story was so much fun it blew my socks off!’ Sharif (aged 8)
‘I wish I had a swishy fishy!’ Robin (aged 7)
‘Don’t look at Frankie! He’ll zombify you and you won’t be able to stop reading!’ Adil (aged 8)
‘My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish is a zombitastic book you won’t be able to put down’ Leon (aged 9)
‘It’s really funny and Frankie makes me laugh lots’ Spike (aged 7)
‘It was awesome. I read all day when I got it and I couldn’t put it down until I was finished’ Becky (aged nearly 9)
First published 2015 by Macmillan Children’s Books
This electronic edition published 2015 by Macmillan Children’s Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-6382-1
Text copyright © Mo O’Hara 2015
Illustrations copyright © Marek Jagucki 2015
Cover illustration by Marek Jagucki
The right of Mo O’Hara and Marek Jagucki to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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