Free I Think My Dad Is a Spy by Sognia Vassallo

father?” the man said chuckling under his breath.
    â€œI know you’re not my father because he doesn’t speak Russian,” I said smugly.
    The man in the black leather armchair chuckled quietly.
    â€œOkay then…umm,” he thought for a moment with his hand on his neatly shaved chin.
    â€œI took off my socks and gave them to you to wear so your skates would fit you better. There are you satisfied?” he asked grinning widely.
    â€œOh, Daddy it is you!” I gushed but now I was really confused.
    â€œOf course it’s me silly, who did you expect it to be?”
    â€œAn imposter,” I blurted truthfully
    Before Dad could respond Chelsea popped her head around the doorway once more.
    â€œAre you two ready now?” she snapped, sounding a bit cross.
    â€œYes, of course we are?” Dad said calmly standing up from his big chair and walking out towards the back garden.
    As soon as the family pictures were taken, Chelsea asked the photographer if he could take a few pictures of just Michael and me together. It was so gross!
    This whole stupid photo thing took forever; he made us sit on a picnic rug while he took a million photos and then he made us lean against the willow tree and took another million more. But I absolutely refused to participate when the photographer wanted Michael to put his arm around me. I almost puked—seriously!
    Finally when all the photos were taken, Chelsea made Michael help the photographer pack up his equipment and load it into his van.
    â€œSucker!” I whispered as I walked past him holding Dad and Chelsea’s hands as we walked around the front of the house together.
    Just as the photographer sped off down the road, Mrs Riley pulled up onto the nature strip. Theo and Janice raced out of the car holding a colossal-sized trophy between them.
    â€œI take it you won,” I said throwing my arms around Theo.
    â€œI’m sorry you couldn’t make it; but it’s okay, Mum recorded it. I’m sure you can ask her for a copy anytime,” he said turning a little pink.
    â€œOh I will for sure,” I said as I play-punched him in the arm.
    Dad said my friends could stay for the surprise, which made Janice’s face light up like a Christmas tree. Mrs Riley was invited also but she was so excited she wanted to show off Theo’s trophy to her friends at the Orchard Mead Country Club. While Dad and Chelsea were occupied saying goodbye to Theo’s mum on the front nature strip, my friends and I snuck around the backyard so we could talk in private.
    â€œJanice told me what happened this morning, how’s it been?” Theo asked eagerly. I told them everything.
    â€œOMG!” said Janice, her mouth gaped open. “Your dad speaks Russian!”
    Theo was so gobsmacked he put his hand up to his open mouth and stared at me.
    â€œSoph, this is getting a little too freaky for me! I mean what if your dad really is a spy?” said Janice freaking out.
    â€œWhat? You can’t bail on me now Janice, not when you’re the one who’s been saying he is a spy right from the start?” I scoffed feeling disappointed with her.
    â€œJanice is right Soph, maybe we should just leave you to it,” Theo whispered.
    â€œOH NO, YOU DON’T!” I cried. “We are all in this together. We’ve spent ages trying to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Don’t you want to know what Dad’s been up to?” I asked angrily.
    â€œI think we all would like to know what’s going on!” said a familiar voice behind us…
    Everyone was soon crammed into our tiny living room like a tin of sardines. Theo had pushed the black ottoman up against the wall and sat slumped under the window ledge. Janice was the first in the room so naturally she chose to sit in the single armchair that I always sat in.
    Grandma had just politely thanked Chelsea for her cup of black tea, while Michael was