Free Earthling Ambassador by Liane Moriarty Page A

planet right now, young lady, and come back home and get ready for school.” Her father would probably make a bad joke.
    â€œYou’ll have to stand on this chair like Squid does,” said Mully. “Otherwise you won’t be able to see the screen.”
    Nicola climbed onto the chair and there on a flat screen on the wall were her parents, sitting at the kitchen table back home. It was strange seeing the familiar old kitchen table. It gave Nicola a funny nostalgic feeling to see the old china bowl filled with elastic bands, bits of paper, coins, paper clips, and one wrinkly old apple.
    â€œNICOLA! NICOLA! CAN YOU SEE US?”
    Her dad bounded to his feet and waved his arms back and forth as if he was on a mountaintop.
    â€œHi, Dad,” said Nicola. “I can see you.”
    â€œOh, okay.” He sat back down and drummed his fingers on the kitchen table. “Hi there, Nic. How are you? Bit of an adventure for you, eh?”
    â€œAre you warm enough, darling?” asked her mother anxiously.
    â€œNow don’t be nervous, Nic.” Her dad looked terrified. “The prime minister explained to us that you’ve been specially chosen for a top secret mission to save the world. We’re very proud of you.Well done!”
    â€œBut don’t worry if you can’t do it,” said her mother quickly. “Remember, it’s not about winning, it’s just about trying your best. It really doesn’t matter if you don’t succeed.”
    Nicola’s dad scratched the side of his face and spoke through the side of his mouth. “Ah, it sort of does matter, darling. Apparently the whole world is depending on her.”
    â€œWell,” said her mother vaguely. “But more importantly, Nicola, what are you doing about clean underwear ? I mean, we didn’t have a chance to pack a bag for you!”
    â€œYo, Nic.” Her brother, Sean, had wandered into the kitchen. He lifted a casual hand in greeting as if he made interplanetary phone calls to her every day and took a big swig from a bottle of soft drink.Then he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and sat down on a chair, putting his feet on the table. “How’s it going? Have they figured out yet that they messed up big-time and they should have sent me ? What’s this top secret mission all about, anyway? Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
    Suddenly a man wearing a dark suit, sunglasses, and an earpiece appeared in the kitchen and put his hands flat across the screen.
    â€œSecurity breach, security breach,” he said. “No requests for details of the mission! We’re shutting you down.”
    â€œBye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Bye, Sean!” shouted Nicola trying to see her family through the man’s pudgy fingers.
    â€œEAT SOME SARDINES BEFORE YOUR MISSION!” cried her mother. “And don’t forget to say ‘THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME’!”
    â€œDON’T LET ANYBODY PUSH YOU AROUND!” called her father. “Remember you’re BOB BERRY’S DAUGHTER and you can DO ANYTHING!”
    â€œSHOOT TO KILL, NIC!” yelled Sean.
    The screen went fuzzy.
    â€œOh,” said Nicola sadly. “They’re gone.”
    Right then, she could think of nothing more wonderful than to be home in her own kitchen with her mom, dad, Sean, and that wrinkled ordinary old apple.
    Mully put her arm around Nicola’s shoulders.
    â€œIt sounds to me like you’ve got a lovely supportive family,” she said. “Although I really wouldn’t recommend you kill Princess Petronella—that’s just my little tip. Now,
    I had a nice chat with your mom before you got on the phone and I’ve had the Telepathy Chef prepare a wonderful breakfast for you—sardine cereal with sardine milk and a nice tall glass of sardine juice! Nicola, what is it? Are you okay? Your face has turned bright green.”

CHAPTER 12
    â€œYour appointment