Free Don't Ask Alice by Judi Curtin

was here on a romantic date, and then everything will change.’
    â€˜But what if your mum doesn’t find out?’
    Even as I said the words, I knew the answer. Alice was going to make very sure that her mum found out – after all, that was the whole idea, and Alice wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.
    I didn’t argue any more. There wasn’t any point. But by now I’d had far too much experience of Alice’s clever plans. I was fairly sure that this plan was going to end up like all of the others – a total mess.
    I decided I’d just better stick around to make sure that no one got killed.

Chapter fifteen

    T he girl at the checkout in the supermarket was very nice, but no matter how much Alice begged her, she wouldn’t let us buy a bottle of champagne.
    â€˜Sorry, girls,’ she said. ‘I didn’t come down in the last shower of rain, so don’t even try to pretend that you’re eighteen.’
    Alice and I spoke together.
    â€˜It’s for my dad.’
    â€˜It’s for my aunt.’
    The girl laughed.
    â€˜Here’s a little bit of advice girls – next time, at least try to get your stories straight.’
    Alice protested.
    â€˜But it is for my dad and her aunt. It’s for both of them. They’re…well… what I mean is…’
    The girl took the champagne from the conveyer belt, and stood it on a shelf behind her.
    â€˜Whatever. I don’t care if it’s for your granny and her pet elephant, just tell them if they want it, they’ll have to come here and get it for themselves. OK?’
    Even Alice didn’t dare to argue any more, so we just paid for the rest of the shopping and left the supermarket.
    We got back to my place and stashed all the food in the fridge. Then Alice took me next door to her house. She wouldn’t tell me why, of course, so I just followed her and waited to see what would happen.
    Alice rooted around in all the kitchencupboards for ages, and at last she pulled out a bottle of champagne.
    â€˜Ha!’ she said. ‘I knew that was in there somewhere.’
    â€˜Are you going to just take it?’ I asked.
    She nodded.
    â€˜Sure. We can’t buy any, and I think a romantic date needs champagne, don’t you?’
    I sighed. I’m only twelve, what am I meant to know about romantic dates?
    I tried again.
    â€˜Surely your dad will notice the champagne is missing from his cupboard?’
    She shook her head.
    â€˜Nah. It’s been there for years. Actually I think Dad gave it to Mum for her birthday a couple of years ago.’
    â€˜Great,’ I said. ‘On your dad’s hot date he’s going to be drinking his wife’s bottle of champagne. Very romantic, I’m sure.’
    Alice put down the bottle and glared at me.
    â€˜You’re right. It’s not really all that romantic,but this is an emergency.’
    â€˜OK. OK,’ I said. ‘As long as you’re sure your dad won’t recognise it.’
    Alice laughed.
    â€˜Don’t worry. Dad knows zero about champagne. He’ll have no idea, I promise. Now, you go and distract Linda, and I’ll hide this. Where would you think would be a good place?’
    I laughed.
    â€˜How about in the fridge, under the huge bag of organic spinach? Linda definitely won’t look there.’
    * * *
    Later, when the champagne was safely hidden away, Linda took Alice, Rosie and me into town. She bought us all hot chocolate with extra marshmallows, and Rosie was so happy she couldn’t talk for about ten minutes. She just sat there sipping her drink and smiling like crazy.
    Then we went into Threads and Linda let us each pick out a t-shirt. We pretended to say ‘no thanks’ at first, but luckily Linda insisted.
    â€˜I got a pay-rise last week,’ she said. ‘And I have to spend it on something.’
    I sighed. I love my mum, but I wished she could be a bit more