Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12 Charlie slept fitfully that night– his dreams full of trapped cats and squashed snails– and when the day of the school dance finally arrived, he couldn't have felt less like celebrating or dancing. He was exhausted. The recollection that the Great Catsby was still missing hit Charlie like a punch and the house felt deathly quiet as he ate his soggy cornflakes, as if sadness had sucked all the air out of it. Charlie felt he could hardly breathe. His dad was moving out tomorrow. It was their last day living together as a family. It was actually happening. SmoothMove walked into the kitchen carrying an empty breakfast bowl, which he chucked into the dishwasher. He looked at Charlie, who looked mournfully back at him. 'It sucks, right?' said SmoothMove. Charlie nodded.

'It doesn't mean they love us any less, though, you know.' Charlie stared into his cereal. He could feel tears starting. SmoothMove came over and ruffled Charlie's hair. 'And we've always got each other.' And then Charlie cried. SmoothMove put a comforting arm round Charlie, and Charlie swung round and buried himself into SmoothMove's chest and sobbed, long and hard. SmoothMove held him tightly, letting his pyjamas get soaked with his brother's tears. 'It's not fair!' Charlie wept. 'It's not fair!'

'You're right,' said SmoothMove. 'It's totally not fair. It's life, though. And we always get through these tough times and out the other side.' Charlie stopped crying and felt a bit better. He smiled at SmoothMove and felt a little burst of bravery swell in his chest. 'Now, wipe your eyes and get ready for school,' SmoothMove said. 'You've got your school dance tonight, right?' 'Yup!' said Charlie, and then, very quickly, whilst he gobbled his cereal, he filled in his brother on everything that had been going on with the missing pets and Dylan trying to frame him. 'And,' he added, 'Flora asked me to go to the dance with her. But I don't know how to dance!' Charlie grimaced. 'Wogan said he would teach me how to do some basic toprocks, possibly even the windmill and headspin, but I don't reckon we'll have time today, what with trying to get the key to the basement from Dylan and whatnot. So on top of everything else, I'm going to embarrass myself in front of Flora tonight.' 'Charlie,' said SmoothMove. 'Let me give you some advice. You don't need to breakdance to impress Flora. She likes you for who you are. Just enjoy yourself– have fun, do whatever– that's the best way to dance.' 'Thanks, SmoothMove. You know, you're all right– for a smelly big brother!' Charlie grinned and ran upstairs to get ready for school.

***The day seemed to disappear in a blur, and no matter what Charlie and his friends did, they couldn't get the key from Dylan. At first break, Charlie changed into a tiny mouse and climbed up Dylan's trouser leg to get the key out of his pocket, while Flora tried to distract Dylan by asking if he wanted to go to the dance with her. But Dylan had felt mouse-Charlie and screamed, so Charlie had to run away without being seen. At lunch, Wogan tried bamboozling Dylan by doing headspins while Mohsen sneaked up on him from behind and picked his pocket. But Mohsen got his hand stuck, and Dylan turned round and poked him in the eye.

By the end of the day, the four friends were in despair. 'It's hopeless,' said Charlie, his face like a wet Wednesday. 'I really am finished. There's nothing we can do to stop Dylan this time. All the stolen animals are still missing and he's got the video of me changing, so all the evidence points to me. The whole town is going to think I'm a freak who's been going around eating their pets.' 'Maybe we could get his phone off him?' said Mohsen. 'Then he wouldn't have anything to show on the big screen?' 'No,' replied Charlie, forlornly. 'He'll have a backup. It's pointless.'

'Maybe we could just smash our way into the basement?' suggested Wogan. 'We can't do that either,' said Charlie. 'Mr O'Dear's office is just down the corridor, so he'd hear us and we'd totally get in trouble for damaging school property.' 'So we're back to square one then.' 'I have another idea,' said Flora. 'But it's risky.' 'Go on,' said Charlie. 'We kidnap Dylan, force him to open the basement and then lock him in there until the dance is over. I know it's extreme,' Flora continued, 'but if we can prove the animals are alive AND stop Dylan showing the video this evening, Charlie will be OK.' 'Dylan could still upload the video on the internet,' Mohsen pointed out. 'But once the stolen animals are all back, people will just think it's fake. No one's stupid enough to believe something like that on the internet.' The boys all nodded. 'We're agreed then?' 'Definitely,' said Charlie with grim determination. 'In that case,' said Flora, 'here's the plan…' ***That evening, the four friends arrived at the dance early. The hall had been totally transformed. Lights and lasers were beaming across the room, which now looked like a dance floor. Streamers, which the