Free Shrunk! by F. R. Hitchcock Page A

‘I’m not fat – I’m just, well built.’
    â€˜Whatever,’ says Eric.
    There’s a silence while Jacob examines his stomach, rolling it in and out like a Mexican wave.
    â€˜So, Model Village, what you going to do? You’ve been a bit careless with the solar system. Will I be able to tell the world that you’re an idiot that messes about with the cosmos? That you, single-handedly, destroyed the Eiffel Tower?’
    â€˜You won’t be able to tell them anything,’ I say, ‘from my pocket.’
    â€˜They’re looking for me.’
    â€˜They are,’ says Eric.
    â€˜You’d get in so much trouble if they found out what’s really happened.’
    â€˜The size you are now, they’d probably just swat you – think you were a giant ladybird or something.’ I smile. ‘Or a bird might carry you off. You need us, you know.’
    â€˜Yes,’ says Eric. ‘Without us to explain just what’s happened, someone with eyesight like Tom’s grandma would think you were a mouse. If you start running around and squealing on the floor – well, who knows . . .?’
    Jacob’s tiny face wrinkles up, as if he’s just realised what’s going on.
    â€˜But I could tell them afterwards, when I’m big.’
    â€˜You could,’ I say. I can’t think of a reason why he couldn’t. Except that he might never be big again.
    â€˜Hmmm, you could – but
I
wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it happen, right in front of me.’ Eric shrugs. ‘So go ahead,’ he says. ‘But they’ll think you’re mad – like my dad. The only person who ever believed him about the aliens was Tom’s grandma. No one else did, not even my mum, not even his mum. He’s had years of ridicule. Look at him now.’
    â€˜Do you believe him?’ I ask.
    â€˜Probably. Something massive happened to him.’ I can’t tell what Eric thinks as he says this – the light shines off his glasses. He points at Jacob. ‘A bit like you, really.’
    We both stare at Jacob. His face is all crumpled. He’s smaller – well, he’s not smaller, he’s just stopped being big and full.
    â€˜I promise.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜I promise to keep quiet. At least I promise to keep quiet while I’m small.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Because.’
    â€˜Because why?’
    â€˜Because I just do.’

Chapter 25
    I charge into the house and pound up the stairs, but Grandma’s sitting out on the landing, knitting a tiny tent.
    â€˜Hello, Tom, love.’
    I push Jacob deeper into my pocket.
    â€˜Hello, Grandma.’
    I dodge for my room.
    There’s a game lying on the floor outside. Tilly must have left it.
    â€˜Tom – is there anything you want to tell me?’
    I wish she’d stop asking that.
    â€˜N-no.’
    I crash in through the door, throwing the game on the bed.
    Jacob leaps out of my pocket and runs for the catch-the-baby thing. He seems bigger now. How did he ever fit in that treasure chest?
    â€˜Aren’t you going to help?’ I whisper, just in case Grandma’s listening at the door.
    He stares at me for a moment. ‘But I always play computer games when I get home from school.’
    â€˜Shhh.’ I turn on the radio. ‘Well, this isn’t home. It’s a crisis and you gotta help,’ I say, dropping to my hands and knees and looking under the chest of drawers for the millionth time.
    He takes a long look at the game, opens and closes the lid, then clambers off the table and, much to my surprise, crawls off under the bed. ‘Better be a reward, Model Village. Yuk – what’s this?’ He kicks a cheese and pickle sandwich out from under the bed that I hid from Grandma the first weekend we were here. I was too scared to tell her that I don’t like pickle.
    I shake each of my shoes