Holiday (7 page)

That’s the worst bit
, Iris realised.
Now that
the family holiday’s over, we have to leave some
of our family behind
.

Iris dragged her bag out of the bedroom, and saw her nan wiping her eyes as she handed Iris’s mum three plastic containers and said, ‘Just some fruit cake, scones and biscuits for when you get home.’

That made Iris smile, even though she felt sad.

‘Cheer up, Rissy,’ said her pa, giving her a bear hug. ‘Nan and I were talking with your dad, and we’re planning on coming to visit you lot for a holiday very soon.’

‘Really? How soon?’ Iris asked excitedly.

Her pa kissed her on the nose. ‘
Soon
soon.’

‘Come on, Iris,’ Kick said, bumping into her. ‘Remember, I’ve got the window seat for take-off this time.’

Iris grinned.
That’s right, the plane ride
home! The holiday’s over, but there’s still more
to look forward to!

‘Did you have a good time?’ her nan asked as they hugged by the car.

After a shaky start to their trip, Iris was glad she could answer truthfully.

‘The best!’ she said. ‘This was the ultimate holiday!’

Holiday!
first published in 2008
this edition published in 2013 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior permission of the publishers and copyright owner.

A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia

eISBN 9781743580783

Text copyright © 2008 Rowan McAuley
Illustration and design copyright © 2013 Hardie Grant Egmont

Illustration by Aki Fukuoka
Design by Michelle Mackintosh
Text design and typesetting by Ektavo