Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 It was one day until the school dance, two days until his father was going to move out and Charlie had a LOT of explaining to do to his friends. 'OK,' said Wogan. 'Let's go through this one more time. You turned into a tiny worm and you jumped on to Dylan? And then you saw him open his locker?' 'That's right,' said Charlie, licking his dry lips. 'Exactly how small were you?' asked Mohsen. 'You must have been absolutely tiny for us not to be able to see you.' 'Yeah, I was really teeny-tiny,' said Charlie. 'So how did you jump on to Dylan? Because worms really can't jump very far. At all. Especially not teeny-tiny ones.' 'I… erm… Well, I… erm…' 'He's erming, Wogan,' said Mohsen, eyeing Charlie. 'Some seriously suspicious erming there.'

'I told you what happened,' said Charlie, crossing his arms. 'If you don't want to believe me…' 'We want to believe you,' said Wogan. 'I just think your story has more holes than my favourite underpants.' Mohsen shuddered. 'Ugh, yes, those pants do have a lot of holes. You should really think about throwing them away.' 'Fine! Don't believe me!' growled Charlie. 'We do, Charlie! We do! Anyway,' said Flora, desperately changing the subject, 'isn't it great you can finally control what animal you change into!' 'I guess so… I mean, I think I've cracked it, although–' 'Because, you know, you wanted to change into something tiny, and then– hey presto!– you turned into a mysterious, invisible jumping worm,' added Mohsen. 'Yes,' said Charlie, glaring at Mohsen. 'Are you sure you're telling us everything?' Flora said, looking concerned. 'You know you don't have to keep secrets from us. It's better to share–' 'I can't,' said Charlie in a small voice. 'You can!' 'I can't,' Charlie said with an air of finality. 'Oh come on! It can't be as bad as being dropped in a bath of Wogan's wee!' said Mohsen. 'It's worse. It's actually the worst thing possible.' 'Worst thing possible?' said Wogan. 'No way. It's not like Dylan accidentally ate you and farted you out! Now that would be the worst thing possible.'

Charlie made a strangled noise of shock. "HOLYYYY MACKEREL!' gasped Wogan, mouth flapping, fish-like. 'That's what happened, isn't it?' Charlie looked at the floor, his face bright red. He didn't reply. He wanted the ground to swallow him. 'That is actually, ACTUALLY the most amazing thing I have ever heard. You're the first person ever to go inside a human body! Wow!' Wogan slapped Charlie on the back. 'Charlie McGuffin, you are the most awesome person in the world!' Charlie let out a shy smile. Suddenly he didn't want the ground to swallow him. Suddenly he felt quite proud and lucky to have such good friends. He felt tears of happiness prickling in his eyes.

'So Dylan had a bear costume in his locker?' said Mohsen quickly. 'He's always up to no good!' Charlie nodded. 'Yup.' 'Now we have proof it's definitely him pretending to be animals. He is trying to set you up, to make it look like you're eating them. But why is he keeping them in the basement and what is he going to do at the school dance?' asked Flora, her brow furrowed. Charlie's heart ached at the thought of the Great Catsby, trapped in the basement, so close to him. 'Why don't we just tell the teachers?' he asked. Flora shook her head. 'Dylan would just deny he put the animals down there and we'd get the blame.' 'Get the blame for what?' asked Daisy suddenly from behind the four friends. 'ARGH!' yelped Flora in surprise, spinning to face Daisy and Lola. 'How do you two keep doing that? You're so silent!' Charlie quickly explained what he'd discovered to Daisy and Lola. 'So we have one day to get the key off Dylan and the animals out of the basement before he carries out his plan!' Flora added. 'OK!' said Daisy. 'That's all great and super- interesting and everything, but I was actually just here to ask if Wogan would go to the dance with me?' Flora buried her face in her hands and groaned. 'I'm confused now,' said Wogan. 'I thought you'd already asked me and–' 'YES OR NO?' snapped Daisy.

'Yes,' nodded Wogan, his look of terror badly disguised behind a smile. 'Great!' said Daisy. 'Do you and Moh want to practise dance moves in the playground?' 'We can't,' said Wogan glumly. 'We have to find a way into the basement!' 'It's OK, you go!' said Charlie, a smile on his face. 'Flora and I will get our thinking caps on and try to work out how to get the key from Dylan.' Mohsen and Wogan walked out, chattering to Lola and Daisy, leaving Charlie and Flora alone. A moment of weighty silence stretched out between them. 'So… Flor… I was wondering–' Charlie began, before Flora interrupted him. 'Charlie, would you go to the dance with me?' Charlie tried playing it cool but he couldn't help his beaming smile. 'I was just about to ask you– yes! Yes, I would. Definitely.' 'Great!' Flora returned Charlie's smile with a grin just as big.

'Great!' replied Charlie, still smiling from ear to ear. Charlie's smile lasted through doublemaths and geography, all the way until the end of the school day, right up until he bumped into Dylan on the way home. They squared up to each other. 'Looking forward to the dance tomorrow, McGuffin?' 'Get lost, Dylan. I know you're up to something. But we'll stop you,' said Charlie. 'Stop me? You don't even know what I'm planning!' Dylan scoffed. 'Well, isn't this the moment you reveal your plan and tell me there's nothing I can do about it?' 'Oh no, McGuffin. I'm not telling you a thing.'