Page 47 of The Vanishing Place

Adam lifted his hands and splatted them down on the water, sending big splashes out of the bath and over Dinah’s dress.

“Adam, stop!” Big sister pulled a funny face, her eyes squished up. “Adam! You’re getting the floor wet!”

He gathered bubbles around his tummy, but the bathwater gobbled them up and his belly button peeped through the water. He thumped the water again, and it spilled over the bathroom floor.

“Adam, stop!” Dinah laughed. She leaned over the bath and gripped his hands. “You’re making a mess.”

Then big sister scooped up bubbles and plopped them on his head.

“There.” She smiled. “Now you’re an important police officer in his police hat. So you have to behave.”

“Just five more minutes, you two.” Mummy’s voice sneaked in under the bathroom door. “Dad will be home soon.”

Adam pushed the open shampoo bottle under the water, making it heavy. Then he squeezed the plastic, and bubbles exploded out of the top.

“Yay.” He giggled.

Big sister laughed, then she got a cloth and wiped the bubbles from his face.

“No eyes,” Adam squealed. “Not in eyes.”

Dinah smiled. “I’m nowhere near your eyes.”

Big sister needed to wipe her face too. Her cheek was all grubby, smudged blue and purple.

“Just three minutes.”

“Yes, Mum,” Dinah called.