Gasp of the Ghoulish Guinea Pig (6 page)

He tried not to smile. If only Mum and Toby knew that, at that very moment, Flash was sitting on the floor nibbling Toby’s lunch crumbs!

“That’s so sad,” said Toby. His lip was trembling. “I liked Flash best!”

Flash puffed up his chest proudly.

“What are you going to wear to the party, Joe?” asked Mum, trying to change the subject.

“It’s a monster party,” said Toby, still looking tearful. “I’m going as a troll.”

Joe looked desperately at Mum. “I don’t have to dress up, do I?”

Mum smiled and shook her head. “Don’t worry, Joe. You can wear what you like!”

CHAPTER NINE

A few hours later, Dad, Joe and Toby were on the Crawfords’ doorstep. There were balloons tied to the letterbox and a big “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” banner taped across the front door. Flash had already scrambled out of Joe’s rucksack and vanished into the house.

Through the front window they could see a crowd of kids dancing round the living room. The sound of laughter and shrieking and loud music boomed out.

“Do you think the present will be OK?” asked
Dad, ringing the bell again. “Maybe guinea-pig toys aren’t the best thing to give a boy whose pet has just died!”

Toby hugged the brightly wrapped box tightly. “He’s still got Bolt and Lightning!”

Not for much longer if I don’t find that snake
, thought Joe.

“Toby! Joe!” The door burst open and George stood there, wearing a Frankenstein costume. He had a pretend bolt through his neck and scars painted on his face. “We’re playing musical statues!”

“Hi, Joe,” said Erin, appearing behind Toby. She was dressed as a zombie – her hair messy, her raggedy dress covered in red paint. “Want to come through to the kitchen – away from the little kids?”

“Hey!” George made a cross face, then darted off. “Quick, Toby!” he yelled. “In the living room.”

“Goodbye then, boys! Have fun.” Joe’s dad turned and headed towards the car.

“Do you want some lemonade, Joe?” asked Erin. “Watch out!” she yelped as three small monsters zoomed past them, spilling handfuls of cheese puffs everywhere.

“Wow!” Joe said, when he saw the kitchen.

Every surface was covered with food and right in the middle was a giant chocolate monster cake!

“Help yourself to some snacks,” Erin said.

As Joe scooped up a handful of crisps, Erin
poured some lemonade into two paper cups.

“I’m laying out the treasure-hunt clues. You can help me if you like.”

“Uh-huh,” mumbled Joe, but he wasn’t listening. He was peering behind the fridge. Was Thor there?

“What are you doing?” Erin gave him a funny look.

“Nothing,” said Joe. “I think we’ve got the same fridge as you…” he added.

“Did your mum tell you what happened to Flash?”

Joe nodded.

“I miss him!” Erin sniffed.

Joe shuffled his feet uncomfortably. He never knew what to say when people were upset.

“JOE!” Flash burst into the room. “The guinea pigs have gone. They’re not in their hutch!”

“Where are they?” Joe said, realizing too
late that he had spoken to Flash out loud.

“Who?” Erin frowned.

“Er, I mean, where are the other guinea pigs?” asked Joe.

“Outside in their run. Mum thought it would be safer for them with all the little kids in the house.”

“Phew!” said Flash. “Right, let’s start looking for the snake.” He vanished back through the kitchen door.

“Where are you going to hide the clues?” Joe asked Erin, taking a quick look in the kitchen bin, just in case Thor had snuck inside.

“I’ve done most of them. There’s just a few we need to put upstairs.” Erin picked up some bits of paper and sticky tape and headed for the door. “Follow me!”

As soon as her back was turned, Joe quickly opened a couple of kitchen cupboards and peered inside.

“Joe?” Erin was watching him.

“Sorry! I like your cupboard doors. They … don’t creak when you open them.” He wiggled them a bit. “See? Ours creak all the time!”

“Oh, right,” said Erin, looking at him as though he was mad. “Anyway, come on.”

For the next ten minutes Joe helped Erin with the clues, keeping an eye out for the snake the whole time. He checked inside the laundry basket, in the airing cupboard, under the beds…

“Come on,” Erin called from the bathroom.

As Joe crossed the landing, Flash zoomed out through a door. “Seen it?” he squeaked.

Joe shook his head.

“Me neither. Hurry, Joe – this is our only chance!” And he scuttled off again, vanishing through another door.

Inside the bathroom, Joe noticed a tall cupboard with a latch at the top. At the bottom of it was a small hole next to the skirting board. Joe peered at it. Was it big enough for a snake to squeeze through? “What’s in there?”

“That’s the door to the loft,” said Erin, taping the last clue to the shampoo bottles.

“Can I look inside?”

“No, Dad doesn’t like us playing up there. It’s not safe – there are no proper floorboards.”

Joe looked at the hole again and then up at the ceiling. What if that was the way Thor had got into the house? Maybe he’d wriggled over
from Spiker’s loft into the Crawfords’ house? Maybe he was up there now!

Joe thought quickly. “Erin, I just need to use the toilet.”

After she’d left the bathroom, Joe stood on tiptoes and unhooked the latch on the door that led to the attic.

“Joe? What is it?” Flash had appeared through the bathroom door. “Have you found something?”

“I’m not sure…” Joe opened the door. Inside was a narrow cupboard with a ladder leading up to the attic. There was a flashlight on the ground.

“Pick me up, Joe!”

With Flash clinging to his shoulder and the torch stuffed down his belt, Joe began climbing the ladder.

“Hey!” Joe yelped, halfway up. “Don’t hold on so tight. It hurts!”

“I can’t help it!” squeaked Flash. “I’m nervous.
What if it’s up there?”

“Well, it can’t hurt you. You’re dead already!” Joe replied.

But he was thinking the same thing. He’d never come eyeball to eyeball with a snake before. Even if Thor wasn’t dangerous to humans, Joe still didn’t like the idea of creeping up on him!

Cautiously, Joe eased his head up through the hole. He turned on the torch and flashed it around.

“Nothing.” He breathed a sigh of relief. “Just some spiders and a few bits of old junk!”

“Hey!” Joe felt a tug on his leg. He turned and bumped his head. “Ow!”

“What are you doing? I heard you banging around in there!” Erin was staring up at him. “Dad will go bonkers if he sees you!”

Joe floundered, desperately trying to think of a fib.

“Don’t tell me. You want to know if our attic is as dusty as yours!” Erin said sarcastically.

Joe flicked the torch off and clambered down.

“Tell her, Joe. Erin will understand. She’s nice,” said Flash.

Joe hesitated, then he sighed and said, “I’m looking for a snake.”

“What?” Erin rolled her eyes. “Very funny!”

“It’s true! It escaped from Spiker’s house – you know, the boy next door. It’s a corn snake called Thor. Me and Spiker think it’s come through the wall into your house.”

“Awesome!” Erin breathed.

“Aren’t you freaked out?”

Erin shook her head. “I love snakes!”

“How could she!” Flash squeaked indignantly.

“It’s just that, I thought maybe you wouldn’t want it near the guinea pigs…”

Erin’s face fell. “Do snakes eat guinea pigs?”

“Well, they eat mice,” said Joe.

“Oh!” Erin looked worried. “Where could it be?” She glanced round the bathroom.

“I’ve looked everywhere,” sighed Joe. “I thought the attic was a good bet but it’s probably too cold up there. Snakes like the warm.” Joe flicked some dust and cobwebs off his shirt. “I’m not sure where to look next.”

Erin frowned. “I don’t understand why we haven’t seen it. Mum and Dad have been cleaning for days for George’s party. How come they didn’t spot it?”

Joe shrugged.

“Maybe it’s gone home again,” said Erin.

“We could check with Spiker,” Joe suggested.

Just then there was a loud cheer from the
back garden, followed by excited shrieks.

Erin flipped open the bathroom window and peered out. “It’s Doctor Franken-Bubble!”

Joe looked over her shoulder. A
crazy-looking
man with a green wig, a white lab coat and bright red trousers was standing in the middle of the lawn with a bubble blower spitting out hundreds of bubbles.

“ERIN! JOE!”

“That’s Mum,” said Erin. “Come on, we’d better go down.”

CHAPTER TEN

By the time Joe and Erin got outside, the lawn was a sea of bubbles. George and his friends were racing around after them.

“Look, Joe!” shouted Toby. “They’re amazing!”

“I can see Lightning and Bolt!” squeaked Flash. “Put me down, Joe!”

The guinea pigs were on the other side of the garden in their run.

“I’m going to check on them,” Flash said.

Joe looked round the garden. Maybe Thor
was out here somewhere, soaking up the sunshine!

Just then, there was a squeal of excitement from the children as Doctor Franken-Bubble picked up an enormous hoop, dipped it in a paddling pool full of gloopy bubble mixture, and wafted it above his head, making the most humongous bubble Joe had ever seen! “In a moment, I’ll show you how to put a boy inside a bubble!” shouted Doctor Franken-Bubble. “But first, let’s turn up the bubble machine!”

Joe spotted Spiker waving to him from across the garden fence.

“Did you find Thor?” Spiker demanded.

Before Joe could answer, Erin appeared.

“We’ve looked everywhere,” she said. “But there’s no sign of your snake!”

Spiker glared at Joe. “Did you tell her?”

“It’s OK. I like snakes.” Erin smiled.

“Really?” Spiker’s face softened slightly. Then his frown came back. “We’ve got to find him! Harley’s on his way home. He’s just called Mum – he’s coming back early. If Thor’s not in his tank, I’ll be dogfood!”

“JOE! JOE!” Flash came hurtling over. “Joe! Stop them!” he squeaked. “They’re taking the guinea pigs inside!”

Joe turned. Doctor Franken-Bubble was having a break. He was chatting to Erin’s mum and dad, with a mug of tea in his hand, while the kids chased after bubbles from his automatic bubble machine.

But that wasn’t what was upsetting Flash.

“Look!” he squealed.

A small group of children were disappearing indoors. George and Toby were among them – and they had Bolt and Lightning in their arms!

“What are they doing?” said Erin. “Mum told George not to get the guinea pigs out when there
are so many kids about. They’ll be terrified!”

“The obstacle course,” groaned Joe. “Toby was going on about it in the car. I bet he’s asked George to set it up again.”

“The snake will get them!” squealed Flash.

“We’d better stop them.” Erin turned to Spiker. “Want to come and look for the snake?”

Spiker nodded. He climbed over the fence. Joe scooped up Flash and shoved him into his pocket. They raced across the lawn.

As they reached the house, Joe heard a shriek from inside. It sounded like Toby!

The kitchen was in chaos.

“They’ve escaped!” Toby was yelling.

George was crying.

“What happened?” Erin demanded. “Where are the guinea pigs?”

“They got scared and ran off!” he wailed.

“Found one!” shouted a girl from the living room.

Erin went off to see.

“It’s Lightning!” she called back a moment later. “No sign of Bolt, though.”

George began crying even more.

“Stop it, you’re making too much noise!” growled Spiker. “Snakes hate noise,” he added in a whisper to Joe.

Joe glared at Spiker. His pet wasn’t the only one in danger. What if the snake had got the guinea pig!

“I’m going to look for Thor,” said Spiker, heading upstairs.

“What about Bolt?” squeaked Flash. “Find him, Joe!”

“Check the hall!” shouted Erin from the living room. “See if Bolt’s in amongst the shoes.”

Joe raced over to the shoe basket and began rummaging inside…

Nothing!
He groaned. Then he spotted a sports bag by the front door. He pulled it open.
Someone’s sweaty sports kit, but no guinea pig!

“Any luck?” shouted Erin from the living room.

“Do something, Joe,” squeaked Flash. “We have to save Bolt! He could be getting gobbled up right now!”

Joe looked around desperately. Where would a panicking guinea pig go? Then suddenly he had an idea. He leaned in close to Flash.
“Where would you hide in the house if you were scared?”

“What?” Flash stopped squeaking and looked at Joe.

“Where would you hide? That’s where Bolt will be!”

Flash twitched his nose. “Under the floorboards in the dining room!”

“What?”

“There’s a gap behind the bookcase. I went there once when I escaped out of my hutch,” Flash squeaked.

Joe dashed into the dining room. He spotted the bookcase immediately.

“Bolt?” he called, bending down to look.

“See,” said Flash. “There’s a gap behind it.”

Joe peered round and saw a half-broken floorboard, with a gap big enough for a guinea pig to hide in. He tugged at it with his hands and then gasped.

An orange snake’s head popped out, its tongue flicking as it tasted the air.

Flash gave a loud squeal and darted away.

“Thor!” Joe breathed.

“You found him!” Spiker appeared behind Joe. His face was glowing with happiness. He carefully picked up the snake. It wrapped its body round Spiker’s arms. “You’re safe now,” he crooned.

“Good job we got him,” Joe said. “He might have gobbled up Bolt!”

Spiker rolled his eyes. “Thor prefers dead mice!”

“Wow!” Erin appeared next to them. “He’s awesome!”

“Where’s Bolt?” asked Joe.

“He was in the kitchen, hiding behind the vegetable rack. George’s getting a telling-off
from Mum!” Erin giggled. She pointed to the snake. “Can I hold him?”

“He’s a bit scared of strangers,” said Spiker.

“WHAT’S GOING ON IN HERE?” Erin’s mum stood in the doorway. She blinked at the snake as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“This is Spiker from next door and his pet snake, Thor,” said Erin calmly. “I asked Spiker to bring him round to show George, as a special treat for his birthday.”

“That’s very kind of you … Spiker,” Mrs Crawford said. “But maybe it would be better when there’s less chaos!”

“MUM!” George was calling from the hall.

As Mrs Crawford went out, Spiker smiled at Erin. “Thanks for not telling.”

Erin shrugged. “Want me to help you take the snake home?”

“Sure!” said Spiker. “Have you got a box?”

“Yeah, I think so. There’s a shoebox in my room. Come on!”

Joe went to follow them, but just then he heard a small squeak. Flash was sitting on the ledge next to the open window.

“Bye, Joe!”

“What? Are you going already?”

Flash smiled at Joe and a stream of bubbles popped out of his mouth. “Thanks for everything.”

And with that, he vanished, leaving nothing but a few bubbles floating round the room.

“Hey, Joe!” Toby stuck his head into the room. “Doctor Franken-Bubble’s about to make square bubbles. Come and see!”

Joe grinned and turned to go when suddenly he heard a strange high-pitched whine coming from behind the armchair.

“Who’s there?” Joe said.