Odd One Out

by Louise Park

  ‘And your purple tutu!’ laughed Grace.

  Grace took out her SpaceBerry and contacted Space Surfer.

  ‘Be there in five minutes,’ Space Surfer replied.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘Welcome home, girls,’ said Mrs Lamrock. ‘What a successful mission you’ve had. Congratulations! Oh, and well done for using the translator application. Points to both of you for downloading it.’

  ‘How do you already know about the app?’ asked Addie. ‘We told Space Surfer a lot of things on the way home but we didn’t tell him about that.’

  ‘Have you forgotten all about your watches?’ asked Mrs Lamrock.

  ‘They were loaded with that new device that allowed us to listen in.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Grace looking disappointed. ‘That’s right. We forgot all about that, Addie.’

  ‘Yes, well it worked up to a point and then we lost you,’ said Mrs Lamrock.

  ‘Really?’ said Addie. ‘I mean, er, that’s no good. When did it drop out?’

  ‘Not long after you entered the small tunnel,’ said Mrs Lamrock. ‘It must have affected reception being under that mountain and it never worked again after that.’

  Addie squeezed Grace’s hand. ‘We stopped the factory by smashing the computer,’ she said to Mrs Lamrock. ‘And we had help from the life forms on Plantagan.’

  ‘Yes, and without needing the help of the holographic teacher. Well done to both of you,’ said Mrs Lamrock. ‘High points earned there. We’ve sent a team in to remove the factory and everything in it. The air on Plantagan is already very much improved.’

  ‘I need to get back to my dorm room,’ said Grace, looking a bit glum. ‘Thanks, Mrs Lamrock, and thanks for a great mission, Addie. You rock!’

  ‘Wait, Comet XS,’ said Mrs Lamrock. ‘You both earned bonus points on this mission. Don’t you want to hear about them?’

  Addie still had hold of Grace’s hand and pulled her back. ‘Of course she does,’ she told Mrs Lamrock.

  ‘Bonus points for saving the Plantagan creatures in the cave,’ said Mrs Lamrock. ‘Very clever. Bonus points are awarded also for working with the Plantagan creatures. Most importantly, bonus points are rewarded for both of you working together and facing your fears.’

  ‘Both of us?’ said Grace.

  ‘Particularly you, Comet XS,’ said Mrs Lamrock. ‘Facing fear takes a lot of courage and space agents need that quality.’ Then she turned to Addie. ‘This mission might just get you on the Cadet Scoreboard, Star Girl. We’ll see. Off you go now, girls. Dinner has just started in the dining hall. I’m sure you’re both hungry after your trip.’

  ‘Yes, Mrs Lamrock,’ said Grace with a big smile on her face.

  Addie and Grace arrived in the dining hall halfway through dinner. Everyone was busy eating.

  ‘Grace,’ called Valentina. ‘Come and sit with us. I hope I’m back in the number one spot after your mission. I scored well on my trip yesterday. Scored a zero, did you?’

  ‘Come with me,’ Grace said to Addie. ‘There’s something I want to tell Valentina.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Addie. ‘You go. I’m okay. I’m going to go over and sit with Miya.’

  ‘No,’ said Grace. ‘Come with me and then we’ll both go and sit with Miya.’

  The girls walked over to where Valentina and her friends were sitting.

  ‘Hello, Valentina,’ said Grace. ‘We had a really successful mission. Bonus points and everything! Addie was great. Mrs Lamrock was right. At the FlyBy she said not everything is as it seems. On the outside I saw what I thought was a boring old school space shuttle but on the inside it was amazing. I got the inside wrong with you too. You aren’t so amazing after all.’

  Valentina looked a little flustered and turned her back on both of them.

  After dinner Addie curled up on her bed in her dorm room.

  ‘Sorry about your favourite tutu, Addie,’ Miya said from her bed. ‘When you go home for school holidays maybe you can get another one.’

  ‘It’s okay. I’m so glad I had it with me in the end. Anyway, I think I kinda like this pink tutu Miss Styles left on my bed for me,’ Addie said. ‘And I think I might check out the spaceball team. Miss Styles left a note about it with my tutu.’

  ‘Good plan,’ said Miya. ‘Goodnight.’

  ‘Don’t let the bed bugs bite!’ said Addie. ‘I’m just going to send Dad a message and then I’ll turn the light out.’

  ADDIE

  Hey Dad, How R U? I still miss home but getting better. Good friends and lots of fun here.

  DAD

  All good here. Glad it’s getting better. Your Mum would be so proud of you.

  ADDIE

  LOL you always say that. CYA Dad xoxo

  DAD

  CYA Ads, my extra special space cadet xoxo