Free Davina Dupree Catches a Crook by SK Sheridan Page B

Aardvark a bit better. Angel and Diya are like me, they think he’s absolutely amazeballs.
    Anyway, must go now, Diary, as it’s lunch time and there are delish.com smells coming from the kitchen...
Tuesday Afternoon, 2 nd March
    Our whole school’s gone animal crazy, Diary!
    We’ve just been treated to the most SPECTACULAR animal show EVER! Our resident famous explorer has the most amazing collection of rare and wild animals and birds – and he just showed them to the whole school during assembly!
    We were all sitting in the hall in our comfortable armchairs – I don’t think I’ll EVER get used to how luxurious our school is – when Mrs Fairchild danced out on to the platform at the front. After she’d finished twirling and whirling around, she sang a short song about a buzzy bee, (#SO eccentric, #and I love it!) then introduced Dr Aardvark and his collection of animals.
    On came Dr Aardvark, with an eagle perched on his head, a hawk on his shoulder and an eagle on his arm. These are SERIOUSLY big birds, they look like they might be able to pick up someone small, like little Lottie, and fly off with them. Their hooked beaks and sharp eyes gave me the shivers, but I have to say it was most spectacular.com when Dr Aardvark made them all fly around the hall above our heads. A few of the girls were screaming but most of us loved watching the great birds of prey spread their wings and swoop around. When Dr Aardvark gave the signal they all flew back to him and he took them off stage; we all held our breaths wondering what he’d bring on next!
    We weren’t disappointed – he came back holding the hand of a chimpanzee, who walked on stage as though he’d been an actor all his life!
    ‘Say hello to Monty,’ Dr Aardvark roared, flashing round his best celebrity smile. ‘I rescued him from a hunter while living with chimpanzees for a year, no doubt you’ve all read about it in my book.’ Arabella rolled her eyes. I snorted rather loudly.
    The show didn’t end there; Dr Aardvark brought out Toxic the snake wrapped round his neck, then a baby tiger cub holding a bottle of milk in its paws, then a rare breed of chicken and an enormous furry spider. (Have to admit I didn’t really like the last one).
    Honestly, what a lot of treats we’ve already had this term!
Wednesday, 3 rd March
    Hmm, Diary.
    I’m feeling confused.
    Yesterday, after school, I took my geography homework to Dr Aardvark’s study as I wanted to show him my drawing of a grass snake. Art’s my favourite subject and I’d worked on the drawing for AGES, using my new pastels and colouring pencils, getting the scales and colours
just
right. So I was a
little
bit shocked when I knocked on the door and Dr Aardvark said,
    ‘
What
?’ In a really snappy way.
    ‘Um,’ I said, pushing the door open and going in. Dr Aardvark was leaning back in his gold armchair, sipping a glass of dark red wine. ‘I wanted to show you my drawing of a grass snake, Dr Aardark, do you think-‘
    ‘Oh for goodness sake! Can’t it wait until the lesson?’ He growled, his blue eyes looking quite fierce. ‘Can’t you see I’m very busy? Golly, I hope constant interruptions aren’t an aspect of the job. Go away, will you. Show me your little doodle at the end of the next lesson.’
    Well! How rude! Can you see why I’m feeling so confused, Diary? How can this brave explorer who was so charming in the lesson suddenly turn so rude? Hmm. Maybe Arabella’s right. She says she thinks there’s something not quite right about Dr Aardvark but she can’t put her finger on exactly what it is.
    I’ll wait and see what he’s like during our next geography lesson before I make up my mind once and for all...
Thursday, 4 th March
    Worst fears confirmed, Diary.
    At first, Dr Aardvark appeared to be back to his usual self at the start of our geography lesson yesterday afternoon. He beamed as we all filed in, Cleo and Clarice making a big deal about strutting across the classroom