Page 62 of Cadenbury Town Does Halloween

“What? You’ve gone mad Sal, we need you better,” I say, trying to look and sound innocent. “Pa, Sal’s gone mad,” I yell loudly.

Those sat in the tearoom look our way and smile. Pretty much the whole town is used to us by now. I mean we do try and include the town in everything, why should we hog all the madness or our moments?

“I’m not surprised being friends with you,” my Pa shouts back.

I hear Alfred laughing again, mind you, so is everyone else now.

“Nice Pa, I’m telling Ma.”

Pa walks closer to the tearoom. “Son, your Ma already knows you drive people mad. Why do you think she was out of the house so much while you were growing up?”

I gasp. “Nice Pa. See if I buy you anything for your birthday.”

Suddenly Jude, Temp and Elaine rush into the tearoom.

“What’s wrong Dark?” Jude asks squatting down next to Sal and touching his forehead.

Sal huffs. “Nothing’s wrong,” he starts to say when Nix comes rushing in.

I see Alfred stood by the tearoom counter chuckling.

“You’re sick, thank goodness Justice, Elaine and Temp are here. Do you need to go home? Cam and I can look after Connie so she doesn’t get sick too,” he says.

Sal looks at me and frowns. “I hate you so much right now.”

Justice and I laugh as Adhan walks in with Ebby, Sly and the boys.

He looks at all of us. “What’s wrong?”

“Sal’s sick,” Jude says, just as Cal, Justice and I say, “Sal’s gone mad,” and Sal says, “Nothing’s wrong.”

“I’m confused,” Adhan says, looking around.

“It’s easy to explain Adhan,” my Pa says, walking closer. “Being friends with Ernest has sent Sal mad.”

“I’m taking my cottage back,” I say to Pa while the others laugh.

“Course you are,” Pa replies, pretty sure that’s his, ‘I don’t believe you’ tone.

“Don’t you have books to shelve?” I say to him.

“Nope, I’ve done my pile, the rest is for you,” Pa replies, before walking back into the bookshop, Alfred at his side.

“So, what’s really going on?” Adhan asks.

“Gah,” Sal says. “Ernest asked what was new and I said nothing, that our lives were boring.”

“Have you gone mad?” Titus asks, walking into the tearoom and joining us.

“That’s what we said,” Justice tells him.

“Wait, you think life is boring? Do you not like working with me?” Nix asks. I see him biting the inside of his cheek, I think he’s trying not to laugh.

“Oh no I really do, honestly, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a job,” Sal replies sounding and looking panicked, he pauses. “I hate you so much right now as well.”

Nix bursts out laughing. “The look on your face.”

“You guys suck,” Sal gripes out.