Free The Citadel and the Wolves by Peter Goodman

Kevin (the monster from the deep) Willis.
    “Pretty please,” she begged.
    I sighed, giving in easily on my special day. “All right.”
    She hugged and kissed me again.
    “Thanks, Sis, you won’t regret it.”
    Oh, yes, I would, because I knew that Kevin Willis still had a crush on me, and that’s more than double ZOOTWOSOME!
    When I returned to my room, I didn’t open Wendy’s present and card straightaway. I put them on my dresser.
    After my quick, early morning shower, I dressed.
    I remained extremely excited, for I knew what was waiting for me downstairs in the hall. It was tall and oblong in shape and covered in brightly coloured gift wrapping paper. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find where the others had hidden something so large! Even bribes didn’t work. Wendy remained unmoved, and I’d even promised to do her maths and science homework for the rest of term, but no, she wouldn’t tell me where it was hidden.
    As I sat in front of my dressing table mirror in my school uniform, I put on my school tie. Then I noticed her for the first time in the corner of my mirror. Wendy stood by the door with an odd look on her face, puzzling me.
    “Wendy?”
    She stepped behind me without saying a word. She touched my hair briefly. My world was suddenly plunged into darkness as she blindfolded me with a scarf or something.
    I was a little worried. “Wendy?”
    “Trust me, Jade.”
    She took my hand and led me to the door blindfolded.
    I was standing on the edge of a precipice. In reality, I was standing at the top of the stairs. I remained a little apprehensive in my purple world. But I trusted Wendy implicitly as she guided me downstairs. Of course, I could’ve simply removed the blindfold, but that would have spoilt the game. I took one tentative step at a time until we reached the bottom. I usually fly down the stairs, taking two at a time. Mum has warned me often enough about it, telling me that I’d break my neck one day. I dared not today. When we had finally reached the bottom of the stairs, Wendy removed my blindfold, and I blinked.
    Mum, daddy and Tommy too were standing at the bottom of the stairs to greet me. My eyes strayed to it briefly.
    “Many happy returns, Jade,” the others chorused cheerfully.
    “Fade!”
    I laughed happily as I gave Tommy a big, wet kiss on the lips. Then I kissed the others on the cheek.
    I hesitated, standing in front of the large, oblong box that was covered in brightly coloured gift wrapping paper in the hall.
    “Go on, you’re dying to,” prompted Wendy impatiently.
    The others watched amused as I ripped away the wrapping paper excitedly. Tommy decided to join in because he liked this game, ripping up paper. There was an illustration of an Electro Scoot MK2 on the box and the wording:
    ELECTRO SCOOT ELECTRIC SCOOTER MK2
    MADE IN THE USA
    Daddy cut the industrial size staples that held the heavy cardboard box together with a pair of heavy duty clippers. I opened the side of the box. When I saw it for the first time, I caught my breath. It was beautiful, all new and gleaming metal. I loved the smell of the leather saddle. I touched it reverently. I hugged daddy with my grateful tears. Then I hugged the others too including Tommy, who was enjoying all these hugs and kisses from his big sister. The others helped me remove it from all the packaging inside the box that had protected it on its long journey from the USA to me.
    Wendy sat behind me as I rode the new Electro Scoot MK2 on the pavement for the first time outside our house. We laughed loudly.
    Oh, yes, my other birthday presents: Wendy got me a bottle of Chanel, which surprised and delighted me. It’s very expensive perfume. I only briefly thought that it might be a bribe. Like me, she saves up her Saturday job money. She works on the checkout in a local supermarket. Tommy’s present was the real surprise though. He’d got me a plastic clockwork mouse. It’s what I’ve always wanted. He chose the gift