Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8 The following morning at first break, Flora called a meeting to discuss what they had discovered at the zoo. 'OK, so now we know a boy is involved,' she said, as they guzzled their fruit snacks. 'But does anybody have any ideas who has stolen these animals and why?' 'Rustled,' corrected Mohsen. 'Who's Russell?' asked Wogan. 'Is he the one we're looking for? He sounds like a right desperate criminal.' 'Not Russell. Rustled,' Mohsen replied. 'Rustling is the proper word for stealing animals.' 'I wonder why,' said Wogan, thoughtfully. 'Maybe they rustle if you hide them under a blanket when you steal them?' 'That's not a bad–'

'Anyway,' interrupted Flora, 'as I was saying, does anybody have any idea why these animals are being stolen?' 'Or eaten,' said Wogan. 'Pardon?' 'Just because they're being stolen first doesn't mean they aren't being eaten afterwards.' 'By a boy?' asked Flora, despairingly. 'A llama- eating boy? You think there's a chinchilla-munching child stalking our town?' Wogan looked embarrassed. 'Maybe not.' 'It's much more likely somebody is stealing these animals and trying to make it look like they're being eaten!' 'So here's what we do know, then,' said Mohsen. 'A number of animals have gone missing from the zoo and the school and people's gardens. We know that it was a boy that took the animals from the zoo, and a bear that took the chickens from the school. So we are possibly looking for a boy who owns a bear.' 'Or,' said Wogan, waggling a finger in the air, 'a boy who can change into a bear? A boy who we know changes into animals but who maybe can't remember doing it?' Mohsen gasped. 'You're saying the wild side has taken over Charlie? That the monster inside him can't be controlled?' Wogan nodded his head once firmly. 'Exactly.' 'RIGHT, THAT'S IT!' Charlie roared. 'I'VE HAD ENOUGH! I AM NOT A MONSTER! IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, THE GREAT

CATSBY IS STILL MISSING! DO YOU THINK I HAVE EATEN MY OWN CAT?' Charlie was burning with anger. Anger that his friends didn't believe him, anger that his family was falling apart. 'I'm SICK and TIRED of not being trusted! WHY would I be stealing these animals?' Charlie ranted. 'What possible reason could I have for stealing– now let me get this right–' he counted them off on his fingers– 'chinchillas, cats, dogs, chickens, penguins, eagles and a llama? And where on earth do you think I'm keeping them all? I–' 'Shush!' Flora jumped up. 'What do you mean, "shush"? You can't shush me when I'm ranting!'

'Charlie, do shush just for a minute! I'm trying to think!' Flora said, closing her eyes. Charlie, Wogan and Mohsen fell silent, waiting eagerly to hear what was on Flora's mind. After about eight seconds the silence was too much for Wogan. 'I think she's coming up with an idea,' he whispered. 'That's definitely her ideas face,' replied Mohsen. 'Yeah– it's all scrunched up and red.' 'Yes, she always does that scrunched-up, bright red face like she's straining to do a poo when she's concentrating really hard and–' 'WOULD YOU TWO BLATHERING CHATTERBOXES BE QUIET FOR JUST ONE MINUTE!' Flora thundered. 'I AM TRYING TO ENTER MY MIND PALACE!'

Mohsen and Wogan froze in terror, not daring to ask what a mind palace was. After a few more moments of intense thinking,fn1 Flora opened her eyes and announced calmly: 'I think I know what's going on.' 'What?' asked Wogan and Mohsen urgently. 'You're being framed, Charlie,' Flora said simply. The three friends gasped in unison. They had a hundred questions but Flora continued to speak. 'Big cat footprints in people's back gardens– that doesn't make sense. Bears in the school playground? That makes even less sense. Unless somebody is trying to make it look like there are lots of different animals on the loose in town, eating people's pets. Somebody who knows Charlie can change into animals and is trying to make it look like it's him.' 'But who?' Wogan asked. 'Dylan,' said Charlie. 'Apart from us, he's the only one who knows I can change into animals.' 'Lola and Daisy both know,' said Mohsen. 'They don't count,' replied Flora. 'They only found out after the disappearances started.' 'Ah,' said Wogan. 'That's not exactly true. There's a small chance I might have actually told Daisy everything just after the first time you changed.' The others stared at Wogan. 'In fact, it's more than a small chance. I'm pretty sure I told her. Definitely, I mean. I absolutely did tell her.' 'Great! Now we have two suspects!' groaned Mohsen.

'It's not Daisy!' Wogan blurted out. 'Daisy is sweet and lovely and like an angel!' 'Aww thank you, Wogan! That's sweet of you to say so!' The friends all swung round to see Daisy and Lola standing right behind them. 'How long have you two been there?' asked Wogan, face glowing bright red. 'Oh, ages,' said Daisy. 'And how do you keep managing to creep up on us like that?' asked Flora. 'So, Lola was wondering,' Daisy continued, ignoring Flora's question, 'whether Mohsen would like to come to the dance with her.' Flora slapped her forehead. 'Oh, for goodness'–' Mohsen stared down at one of his two left feet and muttered 'yes'. 'Honestly,' continued Flora. 'I'm starting to think I might not even bother going to this ridiculous dance!'