Friday Barnes 3 by R. A. Spratt Page A

nodding his head in agreement.
    â€˜Know what?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜Binky isn’t very good at that type of thing,’ explained Melanie. ‘You know, expressing himself and talking to girls.’
    â€˜He talks to me,’ said Friday.
    â€˜Yes, but I don’t think of you as a girl,’ said Binky.
    â€˜Why not?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜I think of you as more as a figure of authority who rescues me when I’ve got myself in a terrible bother,’ said Binky truthfully.
    â€˜Well, that is nice,’ said Friday. ‘But you could think of me as a girl as well.’
    â€˜I suppose,’ said Binky. His brow wrinkled as he thought about it. ‘But it’s not entirely my fault. You’re the one who chooses to wear those cardigans.’
    â€˜So who are you in love with?’ asked Melanie.
    â€˜I don’t know her name,’ said Binky.
    â€˜Why not?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜Haven’t had the courage to ask her,’ said Binky seriously. ‘She’s too beautiful for just a run-of-the-mill sort of conversation. I’d have to think of something charming to say, and that could take hours.’
    â€˜So where have you seen her?’ asked Melanie.
    â€˜Here,’ said Binky.
    â€˜In our room?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜She’s your neighbour,’ said Binky.
    â€˜Ah, the princess,’ said Friday. ‘Everyone seems to be falling in love with her.’
    â€˜No, not that one,’ said Binky, shaking his head. ‘She’s not to my taste at all. She’s too pretty and … princessy.’
    â€˜I didn’t know you had a type, Binky,’ said Melanie.
    â€˜I do,’ said Binky.
    â€˜So what does your love interest look like?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜She’s radiant,’ said Binky. His eyes glazed over as he imagined her. ‘She’s petite, has shiny brownish hair and has lips the colour of, well … lips.’
    â€˜So, in other words, she’s short, has clean hair and normal-coloured lips,’ said Friday.
    â€˜Yes, that’s her,’ said Binky happily. ‘And she has the warmest heart.’
    â€˜How do you know if you’ve never spoken to her?’ asked Melanie.
    â€˜Because she never says anything,’ said Binky. ‘She just glows through her eyes. At least, I think she does. It’s hard to tell because she wears rather thick glasses.’
    â€˜You’ve fallen in love with Debbie!’ exclaimed Friday.
    â€˜I have?!’ said Binky. ‘Jolly good. I knew I was doing the right thing to come here. You always help me out.’
    â€˜Why don’t you just knock on the door and say hello?’ said Friday.
    â€˜Are you out of your mind?!’ said Binky. He looked horrified by the suggestion. ‘What would that lead to?’
    â€˜A conversation,’ said Friday.
    â€˜Well, that’s not a good idea then, is it?’ said Binky. ‘Hardly my strength.’
    â€˜He’s got a point,’ agreed Melanie.
    â€˜Then what’s your plan?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜I was thinking of impressing her by going in the Potato Dash,’ said Binky.
    â€˜What’s that?’ asked Friday.
    â€˜Once a year they hold a race around the quadrangle,’ said Melanie. ‘Runners have to sprint through the corridors of the buildings that make the four sides of the quadrangle, then be the first to touch the flagpole in the centre, all while carrying a twenty-kilo sack of potatoes.’
    â€˜It’s a great honour to win,’ said Binky.
    â€˜The Vice Principal won it when he was a student here,’ said Melanie.
    â€˜Really?!’ exclaimed Friday.
    â€˜There was a bout of chicken pox that year,’ explained Melanie. ‘He was the only entry.’
    â€˜There is one flaw in your plan,’ said Friday.
    â€˜Only one?’ said Binky in surprise. ‘What is it?’
    â€˜You’re very