Free Summer Secrets by Sarah Webb

Prue looks horrified. “Please.”
    “It might be exactly what Denis needs. A bit of boy time. Go on, Prue.”
    “Why don’t you have a trial run?” I suggest. “If Denis behaves himself tonight, he gets to stay with Brains. If he doesn’t, then banish him to Ollie’s room.”
    “You always were the smart one, Beanie,” Clover says, ruffling my hair.
    Prue can hardly refuse now without looking petty, so she glares at me instead. Double oops. Then behind her back I spot Denis peeping round the corner. He catches my eye. I smile at him and he smiles back for a second before pulling his face into a scowl. Two scowling Sticklebacks, and a partridge in a pear tree. Lucky old me!



Chapter 16
    Later that evening the parentals are watching an ancient seventies film called The Big Chill ; Brains says the soundtrack is hopping – Motown and the Rolling Stones – so he’s watching it too.
    Clover and I are holed up in the Lilac Room. Brains has set up his Wii on the portable telly and Clover’s thrashing her opponent in the boxing ring. Gramps is reading in his room, the littlies are all in bed and I have no idea where Denis is lurking.
    “Thump.” Clover hits the air with the Wii controller. “Thump, thump, thump. Bash.”
    “You’re pretty good at that,” I say, watching her annihilate the other boxer.
    “Brains is obsessed. Plays it all the time. What is it with boys and computer games?”
    I shrug. “Not all boys. Seth’s not a huge fan.”
    She pauses the match. “How is lover-boy getting on in Roma?”
    “Fine, I think. He sent me an email today, but it was a bit funny.”
    “Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?”
    “Funny peculiar.”
    “Why?”
    I shrug again. “Don’t know. Maybe he’s going off me.”
    “Did you print it out?”
    “Yes, why?”
    “Read it to me while I sock it to this sucker. I’ll translate for you. Boy-talk can be rather cryptic.” She starts punching again.
    I’m glad Clover hasn’t asked to read the email herself – I’ve scribbled all over it. I know I’m probably reading too much into it, but sometimes I just can’t help myself.

    “Jin’s this girl in the arty-farty commune,” I explain to Clover. “She’s seventeen and wears bikini tops every day.”
    “Hmm,” Clover says and bites the inside of her lip. “Keep reading.”

    “OK, enough already!” Clover pauses the game again and puts her hands in the air. “Why does he keep going on about this Jin girl? Is he trying to make you jealous or what?”
    “Maybe he just likes her more than me.”
    Clover frowns, her face creasing up like pug dog’s. “No way. She’s a serial bikini-abuser; she’s clearly riddled with low self-esteem.”
    “Or oodles of it,” I suggest. “Her boobs probably wobble when she walks. Boys like girls who wobble.”
    “Oh, Beanie.” Clover sighs. “I hate to say it, but you’re right. Boys are pretty sad. Even Brains ogles girls with jelly puppies.”
    I scrunch up my nose. “Puppies?”
    “Boobs. Blame Brains; it’s his word.”
    “So what can I do about Jin?”
    “While he’s away, nothing, I’m afraid. Just act normal. Don’t let him know the whole Jin-a-ding-thing is getting to you.”
    “I could tell him about Kit.”
    “Kit? You mean the gardener?”
    I nod.
    Clover smirks and raises her eyebrows.
    “I don’t like him or anything,” I protest. “Just to make Seth jealous.”
    She shrugs. “You could. But you’re bigger than that. Don’t stoop to his level. Stay aloof. It might be just a fleeting crush. If Brains was here, he’d start singing ‘Puppy Love’.”
    I start to smile but it turns into a sigh. “I hope you’re right.” I don’t tell Clover about the Xs. Today Seth only gave me three Xs. Three! In his letter he gave me three rows . I’m utterly depressed.
    “Can I play?”
    I’ve been moping on the lilac bed for half an hour, watching Clover play on the Wii, when I hear Denis’s shrill voice.
    “Can I play?” he asks