Free Bonjour Cherie by Robin Thomas

fun.’
    â€˜Sure, I’ll think about it.’ We chatted for a few minutes longer, Lauren trying to make up for being the overbearing sister.
    When she hung up, I was feeling worse than ever. Yet again my sister had managed to make me feel like a failure, while trying to ‘motivate’ me. I turned off the DVD player and switched off the lights. It was time for bed and the end of what had been a very long and miserable day.
    I was no sooner tucked up in bed when I heard a sound like someone in army boots running across our tin roof. Possums, I thought. Nothing to worry about; even when the outside sensor light came on, I told myself sensibly that possums or some other night creature had obviously set it off. But still, I locked my door and got out my torch from the bedside table. It was heavy, a good weapon. Not that I would need it. I pulled the doona up to my chin and determinedly closed my eyes. I’m not the nervous type, and it didn’t usually bother me to be on my own. After all, Clearwater Creek was not Sydney or Melbourne, or even Brisbane. While crime was not completely unheard of, it was rare.
    I was just starting to drift off again when I heard a huge crash outside that jerked me into wakefulness. What the…? I cautiously crept out of bed and went to the window. I was glad the wraparound verandah did not extend as far as my bedroom and there was only one way into it. I looked down at the moonlit back yard that stretched back to the couple of mango trees and the Hills Hoist, where a couple of tea towels moved listlessly in the light breeze. No one was there, but what had that crash been? I listened anxiously for a few tense moments, but the only thing I heard was the beat of my own heart that had somehow jumped up into my mouth.
    Then I heard the splinter of glass from the front. Oh God, someone was breaking in. My mouth went dry. After what seemed an eternity, I managed to move over to the bed to grab my torch and phone. Damn, the phone was dead. I’d forgotten to charge it after I’d talked to Lauren. What the hell was I going to do now? I crept to the bedroom door, putting my ear against it and listening for the sound of footsteps. Nothing. But weren’t burglars usually very quiet and stealthy? I searched around for a hiding place in case I needed it. There was only the cupboard, the most obvious place in the world and I didn’t fancy being trapped in there. At least if the burglar came into the bedroom I could hit him on the head and run like hell.
    Then I remembered that my charger was in my bag, which was next to my bed. I scooted over and grabbed it, digging around through make-up, a wallet, a packet of mints and keys before my fingers tightened around the charger. Breathing a huge sigh of relief, I connected it to my phone and plugged it in next to my bed. I waited for a few minutes for the phone to become active again and I pressed triple 0.
    â€˜There’s a burglar in my house. I need the police straight away,’ I blurted out to the voice that answered me. How could someone be so calm when I was in such danger? By the time I’d given her the address and a few details, I was a mess. Any minute now someone could break into my room wielding some horrible weapon and this cool, composed voice was telling me the police would be there as soon as they could. She was about as emotionless as an automated call from the library telling me I had an overdue book. I clutched my phone in one hand and the torch in the other. I guess I would just have to wait it out. At least the police were on their way. But I wanted someone I knew to be there, someone I could trust and rely on. Mum and Dad were away, Lauren was in Brisbane, Aunt Jan lived in Caloundra and Ryan andRex, the terrible twin cousins (even they would be welcome at this point) were interstate at uni. Then his name just popped into my head. Zach.
    No way, I told myself. That just wouldn’t be a cool thing