Page 5 of The Shobble Secret (Space Brigade 2)

Everybody scattered. Nicola dialled Greta's number, gritting her teeth in preparation. Normally it took only about thirty seconds of conversation with Greta before Nicola found herself wanting to bang her head against the nearest wall.

'Hello?'

'Hi, Greta, it's Nicola.'

'My mother says it's bad manners to call anyone this early.'

Nicola turned and gently bumped her forehead against the kitchen wall.

'Sorry. It's just that the Space Brigade has another mission -'

'What? When did you hear about this? Why didn't you tell me earlier?'

'Well, I -'

'I suppose Katie and Tyler and Sean already know about it?'

'Well, yes, sort of.'

'Typical. Favouritism. A good leader shouldn't favour anyone. Anyway, I'm very busy today.'

'Oh! Well, that's okay. I just thought I should ask -'

'But I suppose you need me. It's not like you could have managed the last mission without me. So when and where do we meet?'

'Ten o'clock at my place,' said Nicola weakly. 'Pack clothes for all seasons and anything that you think might be useful.'

'You're not very organised - you really should have given more notice and sent out memos and a schedule. That's what I would have done. But all right, I'll see you then.'

Nicola hung up the phone. Sean called down from the top of the stairs, 'Shimlara just i-mailed back! She hopes it's even more dangerous than last time!'

'Well I don't!' called back Nicola, but suddenly she was in an excellent mood. She ran up to her bedroom to start packing.

4

As Nicola was going through her drawers looking for warm clothes to pack, her mum poked her head into the bedroom. She was still wearing her dressing gown, and her hair was sticking out around her head as if she'd just been electrocuted.

'Good morning! Caught any worms?'

'Huh?'

'The early bird catches the worm.'

'Oh. Um, no. Ha ha.'

Her mother yawned hugely and walked into the room. Nicola kicked the bag she was packing out of sight.

'What does "fortuitous" mean?' asked Nicola.

'It means something happening by accident that turns out to be good luck. For example, let's say that one day, on a whim, I decide to take up pottery, and as it happens there is a special promotion where Brad Pitt is giving a kiss to every lady who signs up for pottery that day. Well, that would be fortuitous. Extremely fortuitous.'

Her mother looked dreamy for a second before pulling herself together and saying, 'Your dad and I are going shopping for Grammy's present today. Do you want to come? Or are you too busy? I thought I heard Tyler and Katie this morning.'

'Sorry,' said Nicola. 'I can't. We're . . . doing something.'

'Oh, okay.' Her mother stretched her arms above her head for another gigantic yawn.

Don't ask what we're doing. Don't ask what we're doing.