Chapter 13

Wednesday evening Mrs Sharma was standing at the main door, welcoming people into the care home. She was delighted to see that we'd arrived with a cake, as they were fast running out. It seemed that most people had turned up for the affordably priced refreshments and the game of bingo they were putting on. (The main prize was a cut and blow dry at Shear-Lock Combs Hairdressers in town.)

No one was really interested in having a tour of the facilities with a view to moving in in their old age. Even Mr Pike turned up for a cheap iced bun, and he never leaves the house, the old miser. Mrs Sharma pointed in the direction of the dining hall and told us to help Bob, the kitchen assistant, in the canteen. He was on his own, trying to manage an onslaught of tea orders from a coach-load of grey-haired bingo fiends. He was doling out a million cups of tea when we got there and couldn't boil the kettle quick enough. I have never met

a man with such fear in his eyes. Like a baby deer surrounded by a pack of wrinkly hyenas with ill-fitting dentures.

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Oli and Agung sat down at a table in the corner. I gave them some orange juice and biscuits to keep them occupied while Mam and I took over serving tea. Bob wobbled off to take an aspirin and lie down in the pantry for a bit. Agung put his bag on the empty chair next to him. I wanted to tell him to leave it in the car boot (so I could sneak back later and rescue Hulk). But I couldn't speak Chinese and trying to say that in sign language would have made me look like I was dancing the macarena. I didn't want to confuse Agung. He was confused enough as it was! Oli couldn't help as I hadn't told him that I thought Hulk was in the bag. He would have scuppered my plans with his big mouth, so it

was all down to me. After five thousand hours, Agung finally got up to go to the loo, leaving Oli to supervise the bag. The grey-haired bingo fiends had all been served, so now was my chance! I sloped off towards where the bag was placed. It took ages to get there, as people kept stopping me and asking for stupid sachets of sugar and clotted cream for their scones. I was almost there when I felt a giant hand grab my arm. I turned around and it was Ged Sponger! UGH. He was here visiting his granny. 'Oi, Yip! You in charge of cake?' he boomed. 'Erm... kind of,' I squeaked back.