Noura gave Alfie a confused look. She didn’t want to give away his secret. ‘Um, how can I put it, sir? This wolf here is …’
36
Mad?
‘Alfie,’ said another voice.
‘What … what’s going on now?’ Mr French asked.
Three wolves stepped out of the bushes.
‘This little wolf is definitely Alfie,’ one of the three announced. Anyone could see they weren’t real wolves. They were wearing bathrobes with little wolves on them, they had on grey gloves and they were wearing wolf slippers.
The biggest of the three grabbed his wolf mask and pulled it off. It was Tim’s father. Then the other two took off their masks as well.
‘Mum!’ shouted Alfie. ‘Tim!’ He ran up to Tim and threw his arms around him. ‘You’re here at last. I wished for it so many times.’
Tim’s mother hugged Alfie.
‘Can someone finally tell me what this is all about?’ Mr French asked. ‘I don’t understand anything any more.’
‘Neither do we!’ shouted the children from Years 3 and 4. ‘We understand even less than that. Why does Alfie look like a wolf?’ They all looked at Alfie, who felt rather uncomfortable. Tim’s father walked over to Mr French.
‘Take it easy, Mr French. No need for panic. I’ll explain exactly what it’s all about.’
Alfie held his breath. He didn’t get it. Why was Tim’s father going to betray his secret? Had he gone mad? Alfie turned to Tim with a helpless look on his face. Tim smiled. ‘Don’t worry,’ he whispered. ‘Dad has worked it all out perfectly.’
Dad gave a little cough. ‘You see, it’s like this. We’re a family with traditions. And we like unusual things. Especially me, if I say so myself.’ Tim’s father winked at his wife, who blew him a kiss.
‘For instance, I’m fond of wandering around with a tea cosy on my head,’ Dad went on. ‘A biscuit tin is another possibility, or a flower pot. I think high heels are cool too, sometimes. As long as it’s different from usual. Sometimes I even wear a dress or clogs or a cute little bathing suit. You’re familiar with that kind of thing, aren’t you?’
Mr French stared speechlessly at Tim’s father and shook his head.
‘No?’ Tim’s father said. ‘Oh well, in any case, I like things to be different. And that’s why we hold a wolf day every now and then.’
‘A what?’ asked Mr French.
37
Wolf Day
‘A wolf day,’ Dad said with a smile. ‘When we all dress up as wolves, mostly at full moon. We put our wolf masks on and pull on our wolf slippers and then we run wild in the woods. Or sit on a hill and howl at the moon.’
‘Traditions?’ Mr French mumbled.
Dad nodded. ‘Exactly, Mr French. Traditions.’ He looked at Tim and Mum and clicked his fingers. ‘Give it to them, sweethearts.’
Mum and Tim put on their wolf masks, looked up at the moon and launched into an ear-piercing howl. They did dance steps to go along with it and clicked their fingers in time to the howling.
The children from Years 3 and 4 screamed with laughter. Most of them covered their ears with their hands. Others just pointed and almost wet themselves. Alfie got a lump in his throat. He could see how Mum and Tim were doing their very best to make fools of themselves.
And they’re doing it all for me! he thought.
Dad gave a sign and Mum and Tim stopped. Quickly, they took off their wolf masks. They both had red sweaty faces from all the exertion.
‘Magnificent, don’t you think?’ Dad said.
Mr French stared at Dad as if he was totally crazy.
Dad smiled back cheerfully. ‘And you haven’t even heard Grandpa yet. He’s much better at it. Would you like to hear him too?’
Dad pointed at Grandpa Werewolf who was watching the scene with a big grin on his snout. He waved at Mr French with his walking stick.
Mr French waved back hesitantly. ‘No, no, I don’t need to hear any more. It’s all very convincing.’
‘Alfie and Grandpa have the best outfits,’ Dad continued. ‘They’ve got real wolf suits. To be honest, I’m a bit jealous of them. The zips don’t even show.’
‘Zips?’ mumbled Mr French.
‘Yes, the zips of their wolf suits, of course,’ Dad sniggered. ‘Or did you think maybe they were real wolves? Feel free to have a look. Would you like to feel Alfie’s coat?’
Mr French wavered, then took a step towards Alfie.
38
Fibs
Suddenly Alfie felt horribly frightened.
Mr French smiled. ‘No, that’s all right. I understand now. Last night Alfie was trying on his suit in the boys’ toilets. And then Rose came in and thought he was a real wolf. That’s why she got such a fright, of course.’ Mr French screwed up one eye and stared hard at Alfie. ‘I must say, that suit looks so real!’
Alfie sighed with relief and looked at Tim. ‘Your father’s great at fibbing,’ he whispered. ‘It’s fantastic that he thought all this up to save me.’
Tim looked at him for a moment. ‘What did you expect?’ he whispered. ‘He loves you! We all do.’
Mr French ran his fingers through his hair, shook his head and squeezed his chin with one hand. He stared at Tim’s father. ‘But, um, what are you doing here tonight? If you don’t mind my asking.’
Dad burst out laughing. ‘I thought you understood. I’m very sorry, but we’ve come to pick up Alfie. Our wolf day just happens to be important to us as a family. It’s a cosy get-together. Just like Christmas, if you know what I mean. But then without a Christmas tree, of course. And on an occasion like that we can’t do without Alfie. He is just as important to us as Tim.’
Mr French pondered for a moment. ‘Couldn’t you have thought of that before? Before Alfie came away on the school trip with us, I mean.’
Dad turned the wolf mask around in his hands. ‘You’re right, Mr French. You are absolutely right, but we just didn’t realize. You see, Tim forgot to tear the page off the week planner. And as a result we didn’t know that it was already full moon this week. We were a week behind, you see?’
Wow, that’s smart, thought Alfie. Dad’s story is partly true.
Mr French thought for a long time, rubbing his nose and staring into space. Everyone was quiet.
‘Um, it’s quite an exceptional story you’re telling me here, but fine. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of such an important family celebration. Alfie, you can go with your family. I’ll see you back at school the day after tomorrow.’
‘Thanks, sir,’ Alfie growled.
Mum, Dad and Tim put their wolf masks back on.
‘We’ll be off then,’ Dad said. ‘Grandpa Werew— I mean, Grandpa, where … did we park the car? Shall we go?’
Grandpa Werewolf stared thoughtfully at Noura.
‘Grandpa, are you coming?’ Dad asked again.
‘What? What? Oh, yes, I’m coming, that’s right.’
All of a sudden the old werewolf seemed confused. He gazed at Noura one last time, then followed the family. Alfie waved goodbye to Mr French and Years 3 and 4.
‘I’ll see you the day after tomorrow,’ he growled softly to Noura.
She smiled sweetly and blew him a kiss, copying Tim’s mother.
‘We’ll see you the day after tomorrow, Alfie,’ called Mr French. ‘We’ll take care of your sleeping bag and stuff. That’s a cool costume you’ve got there, really. That mask is fabulous. Very lifelike. Can you breathe all right in there?’
‘Stupid,’ said Rose. ‘I wish we had wolf days in my family too. Then I could go home now, just like Alfie in his stupid wolf suit.’
‘Stop moaning, Rose,’ Mr French said.
Alfie just nodded, then disappeared quickly into the bushes before his teacher could ask him any more questions.
39
What’s that Noise?
Mr French shook his head as he watched them go. ‘What a strange story! What a mega-strange story. But there’s still one thi
ng I don’t get.’ He turned around to Noura. ‘Maybe you know, Noura. You were here before us. Who was the big, grey wolf Hunter Sam shot at? Is he part of Alfie’s family too?’
Noura gave a big nod. ‘That’s a cousin of Alfie’s, sir.’
Mr French looked at the trees thoughtfully. ‘His wolf suit was fantastic too. That horrible hunter almost shot the poor boy dead.’
Just then Hunter Sam groaned and moved a little.
‘Come on, guys, it’s time to head back now,’ Mr French said.
‘What about Hunter Sam?’ asked Miss James.
‘Leave him here. I’ve had more than enough of his company.’
Miss James nodded. ‘Good idea. And what about that gun?’
‘We’ll take it with us! And accidentally lose it in a ditch on the way back. Does that sound like a good idea to you, Miss James?’
‘An excellent idea, Mr French.’
Mr French sniggered. ‘This time we’re in complete agreement, Miss James.’
Suddenly he offered Miss James his arm. ‘Those pancakes of yours really are excellent, did you know that? And I suspect you’re quite good at football.’
Miss James just smiled, looking almost shy as she slipped her arm through Mr French’s.
‘Come on, boys, girls, let’s go.’
The teachers and children strode off.
‘Look, there’s the car!’ Dad shouted. He was still wearing his wolf mask. Mum and Tim were carrying theirs under their arms.
Grandpa Werewolf laid a paw on Alfie’s shoulder. ‘You’re in good hands, Alfie. Tim and his parents are crazy about you. They worry about you and they do their best to protect you. They’re the best family you could ever hope for.’
Alfie nodded as they walked out from under the trees to where the car was parked on the edge of the forest. ‘I know.’
‘There’s something else I wanted to ask you,’ Grandpa Werewolf whispered. ‘About that girl, Noura. I was wondering—’
That was as far as Grandpa got. Suddenly Alfie stopped and pricked up his ears. ‘What’s that noise?’
‘What noise?’ asked Tim.
‘Listen.’
A quiet sobbing was coming from behind the car.
They hurried closer. Someone was sitting on the bumper, crying.
40
Teeth Marks
‘Leo!’ Alfie shouted. ‘What’s wrong?’
The big werewolf immediately burst in to more sobs.
‘Leo be sad. Leo’s ear be busted up. All smitherees. It hurtses, Leo’s hurtsing like hellsbells. His ear be on fire.’ He held his head in his two front paws.
Grandpa Werewolf walked up to him. ‘Hush now, Leo. Let me have a look.’
‘Ow, ow, it hurtses!’ Leo screeched.
‘Hmm, I see the problem,’ Grandpa growled. ‘You were lucky. The bullet only nicked your ear. There’s just a teensy-weensy little bit missing.’
‘Hurtsing,’ Leo roared. ‘Terriballistically hurtsing.’
Dad looked on, totally flabbergasted. He gave Alfie a gentle nudge. ‘Um, who’s that, Alfie?’
‘Oh, that’s Leo. Another one of Grandpa’s grandsons. He’s my cousin.’
‘Hurtsing!’ Leo sobbed. ‘Leo’s ear be brokened up!’
‘Leave it to me,’ Tim’s mother said. ‘Mums are dead good at things like this.’ She grabbed the first aid kit out of the car, whipped out a bandage roll and started dressing Leo’s ear. To finish off, she wrapped the bandage around his head like a turban. ‘So, Leo, I bet it feels a lot better now.’
Leo beamed with pride. ‘No hurtsing any more. Leo be happy.’
‘See,’ Mum said. ‘There’s a big boy.’
Leo looked at himself in the wing mirror. ‘Cool!’ he growled. ‘Leo’s got a handsome gobber.’ He turned around to face the whole family, stood up straight and pounded his chest with his front paws. Then he looked up at the moon and let out a deafening howl, a bloodcurdling cry.
‘Wow!’ Dad whispered.
‘Leo says byesie-bye now,’ the big werewolf growled. ‘Byesie-bye, little wolfie. Byesie-bye, Grandpa. Byesie-bye, big brother. Bye, Mumsy. Bye, Dadsy.’ And with two enormous leaps, Leo disappeared into the trees.
‘So,’ Tim’s father said, having taken off his wolf mask in the meantime. ‘It’s time for us to go home too. Are you coming with us, Grandpa?’
The old werewolf shook his head. ‘No, not this time. I’m going after Leo, just to be on the safe side. He lives all alone in Sulphur Forest, you know. He has done for more than ten years.’
‘All alone? The poor thing,’ Mum said.
‘Not at all,’ Grandpa said. ‘He’s happy here. When he was seven he escaped from an orphanage. Then he found out that he was a werewolf, just like Alfie, and he never went back. He’s lived here by himself ever since. I always look out for him, and that’s what I’m going to do now.’
‘You never told me I have a werewolf cousin,’ Alfie said. Grandpa Werewolf grinned.
‘There are lots of things I haven’t told you, but you’ll hear it all in good time.’
‘Great,’ Tim’s father said, ‘We’ll see you next time then. I love werewolf secrets.’ He waved and got into the car. Mum and Tim climbed in after him.
‘Bye, Grandpa,’ said Alfie.
‘Um, one thing, Alfie,’ Grandpa said. ‘About that girl.’
Alfie looked at Grandpa with surprise. ‘Noura?’
‘Yes. I saw teeth marks on her neck,’ Grandpa growled. ‘There was even a little bit of blood. Did you do that? Did you bite her?’
Alfie nodded reluctantly. ‘It was an accident, Grandpa. I was really happy. I didn’t mean to bite her, it just happened.’ Grandpa Werewolf nodded thoughtfully. ‘Hmm, then it can’t be helped, I’m afraid.’
‘Why? What do you mean, Grandpa?’
For a moment, Grandpa looked deep into Alfie’s eyes. Then he shook his head. ‘Nothing, son. Nothing to worry about. There’s no use crying over spilt milk.’
Tim’s father wound down the window. ‘You coming, Alfie? We should get going.’
Alfie looked imploringly at Grandpa Werewolf. ‘What do you mean, Grandpa? Tell me.’
Again Grandpa Werewolf shook his head. ‘Don’t worry, Alfie. Things happen the way they happen. Wait and see. Everything will become clear in time.’
‘But …’ Alfie started.
Grandpa Werewolf waved his walking stick, turned and walked in under the trees. ‘See you next time, Alfie. Take care.’
Alfie watched his Grandpa until he too was swallowed up completely by the shadows. Then he got into the back of the car.
‘So, off home again,’ Dad exclaimed cheerfully. ‘That’s the end of our wolf day.’
41
Full Moon
In the night, Alfie shot up in bed, knowing immediately what had woken him. It was the third night of the full moon. Moonlight was shining on his bed and stroking his face.
Alfie stretched, then started scratching all over. His arms, his head, his legs. The werewolf itch got stronger. The moonlight got brighter and brighter. He felt hair growing on his cheeks. His ears started to stretch. His fingernails turned into claws.
Through the curtain, the moon shone into his room as Alfie scratched his hairy throat. His hands had changed into wolf’s paws. His face had changed into a wolf’s muzzle.
He kicked off his duvet and jumped out of bed, quickly pulling off his pyjamas. Then he heard a quiet howling outside. Was it the howl of a wolf? Alfie’s ears stood up. Wolves? Here? At home? Could it be Grandpa? Or Leo?
He walked over to the window and slid aside the curtain. The moon was as bright as a lamp that had been flicked on. The whole garden was bathed in light.
Sitting in that light, under Alfie’s window, was a wolf. A small, pitch-black wolf, more or less the same size as Alfie.
‘Huh?’ growled Alfie. He opened his window and leant out with two paws on the window ledge. The black wolf was looking up at him. He knew those eyes! B
rown eyes with golden speckles. A sudden chill seized him. All the hairs in his coat stood on end. His heart started pounding faster. And suddenly Alfie remembered Grandpa Werewolf’s words.
‘Wait and see,’ Grandpa had said. ‘Everything will become clear in time.’
Now Alfie understood! Noura! And Grandpa had known all along. Tears welled up in his eyes as he was overcome by powerless rage. Powerless sorrow.
‘No!’ he growled softly. ‘No, no, no!’
42
Catch Me If You Can
The black wolf looked up silently.
Alfie peered down over the window ledge. ‘I’m sorry, Noura,’ he growled. ‘It’s my stupid fault. I accidentally bit you and now you’re just like me.’
The black wolf didn’t answer. She hates me, thought Alfie. She hates every rotten thing about me. Maybe she wants to rip me to shreds. But I still have to go to her. It’s all my fault! I have to go down, no matter what happens. He climbed on to the window ledge. With one leap he was in the garden. He sat down next to her. He had never felt so terrible in all his life.
‘Are you really upset, Noura?’
The black wolf didn’t answer. Alfie hung his head.
‘I wish it hadn’t happened. I really do!’
Alfie didn’t dare to look at Noura. For a few seconds there was total silence. Suddenly he heard a soft snigger and looked up in surprise. The black wolf was looking at him and laughing. At least, that was what it sounded like.
‘Are you laughing?’ asked Alfie.
‘You bet,’ Noura replied. Then she snapped her teeth down hard on his ear. Alfie got the fright of his life.
‘There, now we’re even,’ Noura growled. ‘Catch me if you can.’ She pushed Alfie over and raced off at top speed.
Alfie the Werewolf 2: Full Moon Page 8
