Page 204 - Mobile Magic

204
CHAPTER 17.
TOM DISAPPEARS
Early the next morning Tom came into Saffron’s room and woke her up. ‘Here I’ve made you a cup of tea ... nobody’s up yet, but as you got to bed early ...’
She interrupted, ‘Thanks, I’d love some. What time did you lot get to sleep last night? Where did they all fit?’
‘You’ll see!’ he chuckled. ‘We got to sleep well before two a.m. I want you to run down to the shops for me now - get some breakfast supplies.’
‘Do I really have to go to school today, Tom?’
‘Yes, chicken, it’s still the middle of the week. You’ll have all weekend to recover. I won’t even be here to disturb you. The lads are going to tour the state for a couple of weeks, camp out and give the bikes a good run. Your stuff’s all right ‘n tight now ... Ange agrees I’m due for a break. I’ll drop in to The Big Smoke on my way back. Got some business to do in the city.’
Saffron listened in stunned silence. Is life never going to return to normal? she thought. Oh, stuff it! What is “normal” anyway?
When she left her room she understood why her father had laughed. There were sleeping bodies all over the house, draped over the chairs, tucked under the tables, and in neat lines of swags on the floor.