How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant by Elen Caldecott

right. First, I don’t feel guilty. We’re not going to hurt anyone. Second, just because you don’t know exactly what I plan to do, you do know that I’m planning it.’
    Ben shook his head. ‘It just has to be this way, OK? So don’t tell me anything.’
    â€˜You really don’t want to know? Not even if my idea is so brilliant that you’ll have to worship my genius for ever?’
    â€˜Not even then.’
    â€˜Suit yourself,’ Kirsty said, and she strolled out on to the street.

.

    Chapter 28
    Kirsty walked away from the house towards the tower block that stood on the edge of the estate. The streets were quiet, but as she got closer she could hear the clatter and scrape of the boys practising on their skateboards. Good – they were there. She turned the corner at the end of the terrace. Now she could see the tower block before her. It stood by itself, with just the warehouses and the sea beyond. Today, the concrete space in front of the tower was full of boys of all different ages, flipping their boards, jumping plastic crates, falling, laughing, then doing it all again. The boy she was looking for sat on the steps in front of the entrance.
    â€˜Hi, Danny,’ Kirsty said. ‘Whatcha doing?’
    Danny raised his eyes slowly, taking in her cheerful grin. ‘Are you after something?’ he said.
    â€˜No. Well, yes. I thought we could say hello and stuff first though.’
    Danny shrugged. ‘Hello.’
    Kirsty sat down on the cold step next to him. His skateboard was on the step below. ‘Is that yours?’ Kirsty asked.
    â€˜Yes. Why?’
    â€˜It’s nice.’
    â€˜What are you after? It’s not lessons, is it?’
    â€˜No. But I do need a favour.’
    Danny pulled his hood up and seemed to slide deeper into his clothes.
    â€˜I just want to borrow your skateboard. Well, four skateboards,’ Kirsty said.
    â€˜Four? What do you need four for?’
    â€˜I can’t tell you. But don’t worry, I won’t hurt them. I won’t even ride them.’
    â€˜Then what do you want them for?’
    â€˜I can’t say.’
    â€˜Is it against the law?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Cool.’
    â€˜So, can I borrow them then?’
    â€˜What do I get out of it?’
    â€˜I’ll do all your English homework for two months.’
    â€˜What if you get caught?’
    â€˜Then having your English homework will give me something to do in jail.’
    â€˜OK. It’s a deal.’
    Kirsty stayed on the step while Danny went to speak to the older boys. They muttered to each other, then they did a complicated handshake, holding wrists and slapping knuckles. She would have to get Ben to teach her that later. Finally, a few of the boys went indoors and came out carrying their spare boards. Within a few minutes, she had the four boards lined up in front of her. This was fantastic. With a few simple modifications, she would soon have a set of elephant rollerblades! There was rope in Grandad’s shed. She could do it there.
    â€˜I need to take these down to the Jubilee Street allotments. Can you help?’ she asked Danny.
    He grinned at her. ‘Do you think you can stay on one of those?’
    â€˜Yes. Easy,’ she said, stepping on.
    â€˜Hold tight, then.’
    Danny grabbed Kristy’s hand and one of the spare skateboards; another boy grabbed her other hand and another board. Suddenly, they were whizzing down the street. A third boy, with the last board under his arm, sped behind them. She was hurtling along, the wind whipping her hair, the wheels rumbling on tarmac under her feet. She leaned and bent into each corner. This was fun!
    Too soon, they arrived at the allotments, the boys grinning and out of breath, Kirsty wobbly-legged, but filled with excitement.
    â€˜Thanks!’ she said. ‘Actually, Danny, when this is done, can I have a lesson?’
    Danny smiled back.