Winning a Giraffe Called Geoffrey (5 page)

Chapter 9

‘Were you spy training or cross country running?' asked Mario curiously.

‘Both. I'm a good spy,' winked Art. ‘And you bet me I couldn't do it.'

‘Ah ha!' said India in a loud voice. ‘Your turn Mario.'

‘My turn for what?'

‘Excuse me, Mrs. Tasker. Could I have Tiny's rubber ball?'

Mrs. Tasker reached inside her large pocket.

‘Here you are.'

Mario watched with dismay.

‘You made the bet,' India was trying not to laugh.

‘All right. I'll do it.' He knelt down. He put his nose to the ground. He pushed the ball with his nose.

Everybody laughed and cheered.

‘Good on ya, Mars Bar!' cried Art.

‘On the oval,' said India grinning. ‘ That was the bet.'

But before Mario could get up, Tiny grabbed the ball in his mouth and ran across the oval.

‘Stop Tiny!' called India, starting after her dog.

Art smiled. He'd probably never have to worry about giraffe-nappers. Dogs were easier to hide.

Chapter 10

Someone knocked at the door.

Art pretended not to hear. Perhaps they'd go away.

Or perhaps they'd tie the giraffe to the letter box.

‘Hello. Anyone home?'

It was the voice of Mr. Cookies, the man with the funny tooth. Art peered through the spy hole. He could see something orange with brown markings. India had told him about giraffes blending into the background. It must be Geoffrey.

Slowly, Art opened the door.

‘Hullo Rick. Congratulations! Here's your giraffe. We'd like to take a photo of you with the giant cookie.'

Art stared in amazement at the three metre high giraffe.

Geoffrey was a little different from what he had expected.

Monday morning, play noises filled the schoolyard.

‘Hi India. Come over here.'

‘Why should I?'

‘I've got something for you.' Carefully Art opened his lunch box.

‘Have a bite.'

‘What is it?'

‘It's Geoffrey's ear. Part of my giraffe. The rest of him is at home, behind the shower curtain.'

India's mouth fell open. ‘I don't eat meat. I'm a vegetarian.'

Art laughed. ‘Go on. It's a chocolate cookie. Sprinkled with hundreds and thousands. Made by the Annie's Amazing Animal Cookies Company.'

India took a bite.' Tastes okay.'

‘I thought they were giving me a real giraffe,' said Art sadly.

‘I know. So where's my hundred dollar bet?'

Art shook his head. ‘Tell you what. I've got three loose teeth. If they come out while I'm eating Geoffrey the cookie, I'll have some money anyway.'

‘If…? Don't worry about it. ‘India laughed and fumbled in her pocket. ‘Look, I found this down the supermarket.' She pushed the paper into Art's hand. ‘Read it.'

Art slowly mouthed the words.

‘The Un…'

‘The Unusual Pet Competition,' interrupted India. ‘It's the Petty Pet Food Company. If you send a photo of yourself and your pet, you might win a year's supply of food.'

‘D'you want me to take a photo of you and Tiny? ‘ Offered Art. ‘That rainbow coat is VERY unusual.'

‘I couldn't show Tiny's singing in a photo,' said India.

‘We could record him,' suggested Art. ‘You could write the words of the song. Just in case they don't know dog language.'

‘Tiny's singing is unusual.' India looked pleased with herself.

That old feeling of competition excitement was beginning to work again. Art scrabbled in his bag for his spy camera.

‘Okay. I'll take one of you with your giant pet cookie giraffe,' laughed India. ‘That will be unusual enough. From the side they won't see his missing ears.'

‘And teeth,' added Art.' I ate them last night. They came out easily.'

‘ Wikipedia said that although giraffes see well, they don't talk much or sing,' giggled India.' So we won't need a second recording for Geoffrey. Unless you want to make up some giraffe singing?'

Art thought for a moment, and then he shook his head.

‘A giraffe singing audio would be cheating. Pretending is fun. But cheating with a fake audio, that's different.'

‘Yeah. Tiny's singing is so good anyway.' India agreed. ‘Listen! If you win,'cos it's your camera and my idea, we'll share the prize.'

A thought stuck Art. ‘But if the prize is a year's supply of pet food, what will they give us for a giraffe?'

‘Don't worry about it,' said India. ‘Let's win first.'

As Art looked through his camera at India and Tiny, he had a feeling that they just might win.