Free Three's a Crowd by Margaret Pearce Page A

were slowly stored away and he left the room.
    Drew and I sort of swayed closer. “Never been so glad in my life that I am a one and only,” he whispered, his lips very close to mine.
    The door banged as Brat returned. “Mum’s home,” he said. “I’ll put your cans in the bin so she doesn’t yell at you for being in her room.”
    Drew looked startled at that and began shuffling all his notes and my notes together and packing them into his bag. I heard Mum speak to Brat and then her footsteps as she came down the passage and into the sun room.
    â€œHello, Mrs. Baxter,” Drew said with his nice smile as he stood up.
    â€œHi, Mum,” I said cheerfully. Not that I felt cheerful but Mum was witch-like the way she could suss out situations. “This is Drew Jamison. We’ve been going over some English assignments together.”
    â€œI’m just leaving,” Drew said smoothly. “Nice meeting you Mrs. Baxter. See you, Amanda, Brett.”
    I walked as far as the gate with him, but Brat skipped out beside us. All I could call after Drew was, “Might see you at the pool in the morning.”
    â€œGoody,” Brat gloated. “We’re going to the pool in the morning.”
    â€œThat’s what you think,” I yelled as I lunged for him. He ducked and streaked for the house. We both reached the kitchen together but Mum was waiting. “I’m going to murder that little brat,” I threatened. “You’ve got to make him behave or I’ll leave home.”
    â€œWhat is it now?” Mum laughed. “I don’t see why you can’t be more mature, Amanda. Brett is the one who is ten.”
    â€œAnd won’t live to be much older if you don’t do something about him,” I raged. “He hung around Drew and me like a bad smell.”
    â€œI didn’t,” Brat protested. “I only came in to show Amanda what I bought with the money Drew gave me, and share my sweets.”
    Mum raised her eyebrows and looked at me. I felt myself going red. Put that way it sounded as if Drew had paid him to go missing.
    â€œHe refused to buy us some cans of drink unless Drew paid him to do it,” I accused.
    â€œI’m missing my cartoon show.” Brat shot into the lounge room and turned the television up full blast.
    â€œQuite,” Mum said drily. “Come and help me prepare dinner. I tried to get home earlier tonight because I was worried about Brett. I don’t think it helps to keep bullying your little brother when he’s been sick.”
    â€œHe’s all right now,” I muttered.
    I waited for her to say something else but she didn’t. I had myself all psyched up to defend Drew’s presence in the house. I know she didn’t mind my friends coming around after school, but I had this gut feeling that she was likely to object to Drew being alone in the house with me.
    â€œJeebie did the back lawn this afternoon,” I said.
    â€œHe’s a solid citizen,” Mum said absently as she looked out the back window. “Wish you would do the lawns that well.”
    â€œYeah,” I agreed flatly.
    â€œJohn Belano is staying with his grandmother for three months as his parents have gone overseas and he is so helpful.”
    â€œYeah,” I said. What was helpful about the news that he was going to be around for three whole months?
    â€œHis father is a physicist and his mother a medical doctor,” Mum said. “Very clever people, the Belano's. John is a credit to them.”
    I thought about Jeebie and his patched jeans and his lack of inhibitions and decency. What did his parents think of having a son like that? What was creditable about having a son who howled like a wolf and trotted like a dog?
    â€œYeah,” I said again.
    It was one of those situations where least said soonest mended, as the olds say. I finished setting the table and went into the lounge room to