Page 189 - Mobile Magic

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In fact, there were more people that seemed to know her, than people she actually recognised. Strange adults kept shaking her hand and wishing her luck; as did lots of the kids from school. She felt as though none of it was quite real.
Harassed looking councillors started making their way into the chambers for the meeting. A line of police officers kept the steps clear for them. Saffron knew that her mother was somewhere inside the building, making submissions or something. The crowd began to get more rowdy. People started chanting.
‘Two, four, six, eight, save our bush, it’s not too late!’ they all cried together. ‘Keep Green Mountain green! Keep Green Mountain green!’ Saffron kept an eye on the front-door ... she was waiting for the Mayor to arrive. She knew that it was really him, not the rest of the council, who was the enemy of The Mountain and its residents.
Athol took over the mike and gave an impassioned speech about the environmental impacts of a new suburb. He was cheered and thanked, but Saffron could sense a growing uneasiness in the crowd. The crowd began to close in towards the front steps of the Council building. Obviously, she was not the only one there who was waiting for the Mayor.
In the distance she could hear sirens and soon could see flashing blue lights. ‘Perhaps they’re giving the Mayor an escort,’ she shouted over to her friends. The crowd was tight and they were getting rather squashed.