Belly Flop by Morris Gleitzman

her lids.
    â€˜Because,’ she whispered, ‘he’s your dad.’
    That’s when my own eyes started to get hot and drippy.
    Mum pulled me onto her lap and put her arms round me and we sat like that until Gran lit a cigarette and inhaled a piece of muesli.
    OK, Doug.
    I know this is the point where you’d normally leap into action.
    But this time I don’t want you to.
    You’ve had enough interruptions and it’s more important you finish the drought job.
    I’ll take care of this bank bloke.
    After Mum had gone to look after Dad, I asked Gran for a hand.
    â€˜It’d be a tragedy if Dad got the boot now,’ I said, ‘before the drought breaks. He’d be remembered forever as a mean and nasty person.’
    Gran agreed.
    â€˜What we need to do,’ I said, ‘is get hold of Mr Grimmond between the airstrip and the bank and keep him somewhere till it rains.’
    Gran stared at me.
    â€˜The roof of the school hall,’ I suggested.
    Gran coughed and spluttered so hard that muesli pinged off the microwave.
    â€˜That’s kidnapping,’ she said.
    â€˜OK,’ I said desperately, ‘we could bribe him.’
    â€˜What with?’ said Gran. ‘Empty soft drink bottles?’
    I had an idea.
    â€˜Your savings,’ I said. ‘Dad’ll pay you back once the drought’s broken and the bank can afford to give him a raise.’
    â€˜Sorry,’ said Gran. I’m skint.’
    I knew why.
    â€˜Dumb cigarettes,’ I said. ‘They shouldn’t make ’em so expensive.’
    Gran looked hurt and took a deep wheezy breath.
    She started to say something.
    â€˜It’s OK, Gran,’ I said gently. ‘You don’t have to make excuses. We’ll kidnap him.’
    Gran put her spoon down.
    â€˜In my experience,’ she said, ‘there’s something that works better than bribery or kidnapping.’
    I hoped she wasn’t gunna say murder.
    â€˜Friendship,’ she said.
    I thought about it.
    I thought about Carla and how good that was while it lasted.
    I reckon Gran’s right.
    This is just to let you know, Doug, that everything’s under control.
    I won’t be going to sleep tonight till I’ve figured out how I can get to be such good mates with Mr Grimmond that he’ll keep Dad in the job and give him extra money to lend Mrs Fiami to keep her going till you’ve ended the drought.

 
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    Just a quick update, Doug.
    I was awake most of last night, but I couldn’t crack it.
    The idea didn’t come to me till this morning at school.
    Even then I was so tired I almost missed it.
    Ms Dorrit made the announcement in assembly and it just rolled over me like mineral water off a duck’s back.
    Then all the other kids started cheering and yakking to each other excitedly.
    â€˜Swimming carnival!’ they were saying. ‘We’re having a swimming carnival!’
    Suddenly I was listening so hard I could hear the sheets of paper rustling in Ms Dorrit’s manila folder.
    â€˜. . . very fortunate,’ she was saying. ‘The council were going to close the pool from today on account of the filter being clogged by Saturday night’s dust storm. However they’ve agreed to leave it open one more day so tomorrow we can have our first school swimming carnival for eight years.’
    Everyone cheered again, including me.
    â€˜So,’ said Ms Dorrit sternly, ‘make the most of it.’
    That’s exactly what I’m doing, Doug.
    I worked on the idea all day at school, and as soon as I got home I put it to Dad.
    â€˜Invite Mr Grimmond to the swimming carnival,’ I said. ‘Then, after I’ve won the diving and he’s mega impressed and wants to be my friend, we can tell him about my future diving career and how I’m available for sponsorship.’
    As Dad put his cup of tea down he knocked the spoon out of the sugar