Free Izzy's River by Holly Webb Page A

handing them round. “Cheer up, Ems, we’ll be fine under here.”
    “If we don’t get struck by lightning,” Emily said gloomily, shivering as the thunder rumbled around them again.
    “We won’t!” Poppy put an arm round her. “Don’t be so miserable.”
    Izzy was sucking her mint, and staring out at the sludge-grey water. She looked round at the others worriedly. “I’ve just had a horrible thought.”
    “What?” Maya asked anxiously. “Not something else that costs money? I thought we were all sorted.”
    Izzy shook her head. “No. Look at all that water.”
    Emily scowled. “We know there’s water, that’s why it’s called a river.”
    Everyone else ignored her, knowing she was still upset about the thunder.
    “What do you mean, Izzy?” Poppy asked.
    “It’s full of rubbish – not just that bike that Billy got caught in, but loads of other stuff. And lots of it’s right out in the middle of the river. How are we ever going to get that out? We won’t be able to reach it.”
    The others looked round at the water. “We didn’t think of that,” Poppy said slowly. “Oh, rats…”
    “However much we clean up the bank, the water’s still going to look a mess,” Maya sighed.
    “We need a boat,” Emily muttered. “And no, I haven’t got one.”
    “My dad has,” Maya said, without really thinking about it. “But it’s in France, so that’s no use.” Then she blushed, realising she sounded as though she was showing off. “Sorry…”
    Emily laughed. “You’re so funny.”
    Poppy squeaked. “Boats! I know where we can get a boat! Well, not a boat exactly, but close.”
    “You haven’t got a boat you’ve not been telling us about?” Emily asked her disbelievingly.
    “No, stupid. But Alex has got a canoe!”
    “Ohhhh!” Izzy looked at the water thoughtfully. “A canoe would do, wouldn’t it?”
    Emily peered out at the rain. “Has Alex said he’ll help, then?”
    “Nooo…” Poppy admitted.
    “Because I can’t see him paddling up and down the river all weekend picking up rubbish, somehow.”
    A smile spread slowly across Poppy’s face. “You’re totally right,” she said happily. “Absolutely right. But he will. Won’t he, Izzy?”
    “Why? Oh!” Izzy laughed. “Yes, I think he will… You’re so mean, Poppy!” But her voice was admiring.
    “Have you got something on him?” Emily asked eagerly. “You have, haven’t you? Something he wasn’t supposed to have done? Something you can threaten to tell your mum about?” She sighed. “Toby and James are always trying to do that to me, but luckily they’re useless at it. As if Mum cares that I got ketchup down my skirt. Not much, anyway. Notenough for it to be worth six toffee bonbons, which is what they were asking for.”
    Izzy and Maya, who were both only children, exchanged “we’re so lucky” looks.
    “Alex had a date two weekends ago,” Poppy said smugly. “A secret date. And then he went out with her again last weekend, and he’s supposed to be seeing her today too, to go shopping.”
    “Why’s it so secret?” Maya asked.
    “Well, because he doesn’t want anyone to know – me and Izzy heard him on the phone. But mostly because the girl he’s going out with is somebody my other brother fancies. Alex doesn’t want to tell him.”
    “So you’re going to blackmail him into helping us by threatening to tell Jake?” Emily asked.
    Poppy nodded. “Yeeees.” It did sound a bit mean, now Emily said it like that. She eyed her doubtfully. Was it too horrible a thing to do?
    “Excellent.” Emily grinned at her.

    They hurried back as soon as the rain eased off, although Emily kept flinching every time a car drove past, thinking it was thunder again.
    “Mum, is Alex home?” Poppy asked as soon as they got into the house.
    “Yes, I think he’s in the living room. You poor things, I saw all that rain, you must have been soaked.”
    “It wasn’t too bad, we sat under the bridge,” Izzy