I Think My Dad Is a Spy by Sognia Vassallo Page B

shame because I couldn’t possibly see how Michael could actually be her son. I mean at first I thought she had adopted him because he doesn’t look anything like her and then there’s the fact he’s a complete idiot and she’s so nice. He also thinks he can boss me around and yet my dad really likes him. I am beginning to wonder if Dad always wished he had a son instead of a daughter.
    Maybe that’s why Dad split my after-school post-route in half, so Michael and I would have to work together and try to get along? Dad did say it would only be temporary, just until Michael learned the ropes and then he can have a route of his own. I’m not so sure I like the idea of all four of us working at the post office together. Lucky for me I only have to put up with him for another year and then he’s off to uni somewhere. I hope it’s far away like Siberia, where ever that is! Ugh, the thought of Michael becoming my step-brother makes my stomach turn. Yuck!
    We turned the street corner from a quiet lane into the main street, which bustled with teenagers going to school. We had to dodge cars, bikes, scooters, kids on rollerblades and any other thing that had wheels. But that wasn’t the worst of it, the Murphy brothers often threw rotten oranges from Mrs Kennedy’s orchard trees at anyone who looked like a good target.
    The boys were five horrible bullies who gave their poor mum such a hard time. I remember once when I was delivering their mail I heard Mrs Murphy threatening she would start adopting them out one by one if they didn’t start behaving themselves.
    WHOOSH! SPLAT!
    â€œIF JUST ONE OF THOSE HIT ME I SWEAR I WILL MURDER WHOEVER THREW IT!” I bellowed grumpily over my shoulder. The brothers often annoyed us but after I yelled at them they just walked right on by and Mitchell even mumbled a ‘sorry’. I was shocked but of course I tried not to let my friends see that. I would have them believe it’s because sometimes when I growl people take notice of me. Janice and Theo would tell you it’s because the Murphy brothers are scared of Michael McClain and what he might do if they picked on his ‘little sister’.
    We were almost at the school and I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like something out of a story book. Originally the land was an orchard belonging to the Mead family which is why it was called ‘Orchard Mead High School’. The administration block is like a bazillion years old and looked it. I think it was the original homestead because it’s made from stones, clay and straw. The rose garden surrounding the school is always so neat. Sometimes I thought it was such a shame to have all these grotty teenagers trampling through them every day. Mr Ferguson, the groundskeeper, must be a very patient man.
    Suddenly Janice squealed with excitement:
    â€œOMG, I THINK I’VE GOT IT!” she screeched throwing her arms out in front of me.
    WHACK!
    â€œOWW!” I cried as I felt the harsh slap across my rib cage.
    â€œWhoops sorry. I didn’t mean to smack you Soph, it was an accident.”
    If I didn’t believe Theo before, I really did now think Janice was trying to kill me today!
    â€œBut Soph, I think I know why your dad’s been acting so weird lately,” she said pulling hard on my school blazer so I would follow her off the footpath.
    â€œI’m sure your dad’s gotta’…” but she stopped mid-sentence and cautiously looked around to make sure we couldn’t be overheard.
    â€œWell what is he?” I asked impatiently.
    â€œI think he’s a sp…”
    BEEEEP!
    But Janice’s words were drowned out by a car horn.
    â€œA what?” I yelled back, but another car horn had double-beeped over me as well.
    BEEEEP! BEEEEP!
    Frustrated, Janice took a deep breath and shouted out as loud as she could, “I THINK YOUR DAD’S A SPY, SOPHIE!”
    The busy