Free Tennis Shoes by Noel Streatfeild Page A

was my tongue.’
    â€˜Never mind which,’ said Pinny severely. ‘Pick up those things and bring them to the pantry.’ She looked at the sky. ‘I think we’re going to have a thunderstorm. I must be quick. If your father is not back soon with the car I shall fetch Susan with a mackintosh and umbrella.’
    Umbrella! Nicky looked in horror at the sky. It was true it did look like rain. The sun that had seemed as if it would shine for ever was gone. In its place were huge black clouds.
    â€˜Do you think it will?’ she faltered.
    â€˜Yes, I do. Come on, let’s get everything in. Come along, David. You had better play indoors.’
    In the house David sat on the drawing-room floor and arranged his farm. He sang all the time. Nicky pressed her nose against the window. It was certainly going to thunder, and that would mean rain. If only her father got back in time he would go in the car for Susan. Then nobody would think of those silly umbrellas. About half-past five the storm started. Crash, roar; crash, roar; and in between, sheets of rain. Nicky glared at the gate but there was no sign of the car. Presently the door opened and Pinny came in. She had on gum-boots and a red mackintosh. Over her arm she had Susan’s mackintosh.
    â€˜Now be good, dears,’ she said. ‘I shan’t be long. I’m just slipping round for Susan with a brolly and her mackintosh and gum-boots.’
    Nicky flew up to her.
    â€˜Don’t go. You might get hit with the thunder.’
    Pinny did up the belt of her mackintosh.
    â€˜Don’t be foolish, dear. The thunder has passed off. I had hoped your father would have been back to fetch her. But as he isn’t I shall go. She’s only got that little linen on. If they lend her things they probably won’t cover her properly.’ Pinny went into the hall. Nicky followed her. Since the awful moment had got to come she thought it would be better to get it over.
    It came at once. Pinny went straight to the umbrella-stand. Then she uttered a sort of cry.
    â€˜The umbrellas! They’ve been stolen! Annie!’
    Annie dashed out of the kitchen.
    â€˜Well, what is it?’
    Pinny, almost speechless, pointed at the umbrella-stand.
    â€˜The umbrellas! Stolen!’
    â€˜Stolen?’ Annie went and had a look. ‘Well, that’s queer. They were here at the time the telephone rang for the doctor, ’cause I caught the handle of the big one on me apron and said: “Drat the thing!”’
    Pinny ran about like a frightened hen.
    â€˜Who has come to the door since then?’
    â€˜No one hasn’t been in nor out. The bell hasn’t rung once.’
    â€˜Oh dear! Oh dear!’ Pinny sat down. ‘This is most unfortunate.’
    David came out of the drawing-room, holding a sheep in one hand and a goat in the other.
    â€˜What’s the matter?’
    â€˜You haven’t touched the umbrellas, have you, David?’ asked Annie.
    â€˜Umbrellas?’ He shook his head.
    â€˜Nor you, Nicky?’ Annie fixed a firm eye on her.
    Before Nicky could think what to say, Dr. and Mrs. Heath came in with Susan.
    â€˜What a storm!’ the doctor said. ‘We fetched Susan in case she drowned.’ He looked round. ‘Anything the matter?’
    â€˜Indeed, yes.’ Pinny held her head. ‘I was just slipping out to fetch Susan. I had her mackintosh and her gum-boots and I went to find an umbrella and then——’ She pointed dramatically at the empty stand.
    â€˜Stolen!’ The doctor looked round. ‘Any one been, Annie?’
    â€˜No.’ Annie looked grimly at Nicky. ‘Before you send for the police, sir, I’d see if any of the family knows anything.’
    The word ‘police’ was too much for Nicky. She dashed to her father and caught hold of his coat.
    â€˜Don’t get the police. I took them. Only I didn’t steal them. I sold them. You