shame because I couldnât possibly see how Michael could actually be her son. I mean at first I thought she had adopted him because he doesnât look anything like her and then thereâs the fact heâs a complete idiot and sheâs 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 thatâs 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. Iâm 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 heâs off to uni somewhere. I hope itâs 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 wasnât the worst of it, the Murphy brothers often threw rotten oranges from Mrs Kennedyâs 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 didnât start behaving themselves.
WHOOSH! SPLAT!
âIF JUST ONE OF THOSE HIT ME I SWEAR I WILL MURDER WHOEVER THREW IT!â 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 âsorryâ. I was shocked but of course I tried not to let my friends see that. I would have them believe itâs because sometimes when I growl people take notice of me. Janice and Theo would tell you itâs because the Murphy brothers are scared of Michael McClain and what he might do if they picked on his âlittle sisterâ.
We were almost at the school and I couldnât 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 âOrchard Mead High Schoolâ. The administration block is like a bazillion years old and looked it. I think it was the original homestead because itâs 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:
âOMG, I THINK IâVE GOT IT!â she screeched throwing her arms out in front of me.
WHACK!
âOWW!â I cried as I felt the harsh slap across my rib cage.
âWhoops sorry. I didnât mean to smack you Soph, it was an accident.â
If I didnât believe Theo before, I really did now think Janice was trying to kill me today!
âBut Soph, I think I know why your dadâs been acting so weird lately,â she said pulling hard on my school blazer so I would follow her off the footpath.
âIâm sure your dadâs gottaââ¦â but she stopped mid-sentence and cautiously looked around to make sure we couldnât be overheard.
âWell what is he?â I asked impatiently.
âI think heâs a spâ¦â
BEEEEP!
But Janiceâs words were drowned out by a car horn.
âA what?â 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, âI THINK YOUR DADâS A SPY, SOPHIE!â
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