‘OK, well, what you’ll get from me is total loyalty. One hundred and ten per cent. Loyalty, plus the aforementioned spare sandwich.’
Martin considered his friend’s plea.
‘P-Dog – you know I can’t say no to a sandwich. You’re in!’
‘In what?’ came a voice behind us.
We turned to find Declan Mannion staring at us, with a cigar in his mouth. He was certainly not part of the plan.
‘In, eh . . .’ Martin tried to think quickly of something. ‘In . . . school. I was just telling Padraic that he’s in school. He was saying that this was a hospital, and I was assuring him that he’s not having surgery today. Because he’s in school.’
‘Good save, buddy,’ I lied.
‘In what?’ Declan repeated, this time looking at Padraic.
‘We’re all in a big party!’ Padraic replied excitedly.
‘It’s not a flippin’ party!’ Martin hissed.
Declan noticed the entry form in Martin’s hand and snatched it from his feeble grasp.
‘What the flip is an Invention Convention?’ he demanded.
‘Oh, it’s just some boring classwork-based nonsense. It’s certainly not the kind of thing you’d be—’
‘The winners get gold medals?’ Declan noted, still reading the entry form. ‘Grand, I’m in too.’
‘What? But . . . I don’t think you’ll enjoy it, Dec—’
‘I need gold. I don’t trust paper money any more. All my operations are moving to gold.’
Martin looked to me. I shrugged. I’ve always liked Declan. He’s the kind of guy that’s good to know. In prison.
‘Cool,’ Martin lied. ‘I’ll let you know the details when I—’
But Declan had already walked off. He was in.
‘Now it’s a party!’ Padraic added, before skipping off to the toilets.
Martin considered the newly formed team. He seemed less than impressed with what he’d just created.
‘Sean, I bet those kids from St Whimmion’s are as sharp as a Wonkey’s front teeth. What have we got?’
I looked out at Padraic skipping happily away with a party in his step, Trevor poorly bouncing a basketball in his auntie’s reading glasses, and Declan ‘Can’t-Stop-Failing-Sixth-Class’ Mannion playing blackjack on a beer keg.
‘It’s not just about brains, Martin. Finding the right mix is the key to a successful team,’ I told him confidently.
‘I don’t know, Sean . . .’
‘Look at the A Team*. They’ve got a wily** old con man – for us, that’s Declan. They’ve got the handsome charmer with a twinkle in his eye – that’s Trevor.’
‘Yeah,’ Martin agreed. ‘Those new glasses do make his dull eyes sparkle.’
‘They’ve got the tough guy who’s afraid of aeroplanes.’
‘I did once see Padraic duck under a table when he saw someone making a paper jet,’ Martin agreed.
‘And lastly, they’ve got the crazy loon.’ As I pointed at Martin, he seemed unimpressed by his status in the group.
‘The crazy loon?’
‘The wild card,’ I assured him. ‘The man of mystery who always surprises the enemy.’
‘Well, I do surprise myself many times daily,’ he agreed. ‘You’re right, Sean. We can do this!’
*THE A TEAM – an underground crime-fighting force. Their mysterious endeavours were compromised when a documentary was made about them and broadcast on television throughout the 1980s and 1990s. They were then easily found and arrested by two policemen who watched the show.
**WILY – shrewd, astute and especially deceitful. Originally named after a gentleman named Willy, who was as canny as a fox, but a terrible speller.
‘We sure can, kiddo. All we need now is a better name.’
‘Hmmm,’ Martin thought. ‘How about The A-Team?’
‘I feel like that one’s kinda taken, buddy.’
‘The B-Team?’
‘The B-Team? Hmmm. I like it! I like it a lot.’
‘Agreed, Sean!’ he cried. ‘What sounds more like victory than The B-Team?!’
Andy Griffiths lives in an amazing treehouse with his friend Terry and together they make funny books, just like the one you’re holding in your hands right now. Andy writes the words and Terry draws the pictures. If you’d like to know more, read this book (or visit www.andygriffiths.com.au).
Terry Denton lives in an amazing treehouse with his friend Andy and together they make funny books, just like the one you’re holding in your hands right now. Terry draws the pictures and Andy writes the words. If you’d like to know more, read this book (or visit www.terrydenton.com).
Books by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
The 13-Storey Treehouse
The 26-Storey Treehouse
The 39-Storey Treehouse
The 52-Storey Treehouse
The 65-Storey Treehouse
The 78-Storey Treehouse
The 91-Storey Treehouse
The Treehouse Fun Book
Coming soon!
The 104-Storey Treehouse
The Treehouse Fun Book 2
First published 2018 in Pan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
First published in the UK 2018 by Macmillan Children’s Book
This electronic edition published 2018 by Macmillan Children’s Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-5098-8123-9
Text copyright © Flying Beetroot Pty Ltd 2018
Illustrations copyright © Terry Denton 2018
Moone Boy: The Notion Potion extract text copyright © Chris O’Dowd and Nick V. Murphy 2017; illustrations copyright © Walter Giampaglia/Cartoon Saloon 2017
The right of Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton 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.
Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third-party websites referred to in or on this book.
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.
Typeset in 14/18 Minion Pro by Seymour Designs
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Terry's Dumb Dot Story Page 2
