79 The Penny Drops

79 The Penny Drops The day at school passed without incident. The teachers bought Peanut and Rockwell's explanations for being late— doctor (Peanut) and dentist (Rockwell)— and even the physics test went surprisingly well. Thermodynamics featured heavily and Peanut had to admit begrudgingly to Rockwell that she'd learned a thing or two from him during their time sketching hang-gliders back in the Ink District. She didn't tell him that she'd actually quite enjoyed doing the test. Neither Rockwell nor Peanut were ready for such an out-there revelation. She got home just after four o'clock, grabbed herself a snack and plonked herself down on the sofa. Leo came in a few minutes later with Little-Bit.

'PEEEEEEAAAAAANNNNNNUUUUUTTTTTTTT!' She ran into the living room and jumped on her big sister. I've not spoken about YOU-KNOW-WHERE to anyone at school today I've been soooo good I didn't even tell Marley.' She paused to catch her breath. 'Anyway, when are we going back?' 'Going back where?' asked Leo, suddenly interested. ' Oh, er, nowhere,' replied Peanut. 'It's just a game LB has invented.' Leo looked at Peanut. His eyes narrowed slightly. She shifted her position on the sofa. A game?' He shook his head. ' Right. Well, I'm going to my room.' Five minutes later, the girls heard the sound of the key in the front door. 'I'M HOME!' shouted Mum from the hallway. Hearing Mum's voice suddenly made Peanut realise how much she'd missed her. 'You're early!' she shouted, as she happily jumped up and ran into the hallway. She stopped dead in her tracks, however, when she saw who was standing next to her mother. It was somebody she'd forgotten all about. Hello there, Pernilla,' sneered Mr Stone in his high tenor. His piercing, pale grey eyes glinted as he looked her up and down as if seeing her for the first time. Peanut shuddered. 'Your mother, utterly charming woman that she is, has invited me to dinner.' He smiled, revealing a set of perfectly

straight white teeth. 'I hope you don't mind. I wonder, would you be so kind as to take my hat and coat?' Before she could answer, he flung his black jacket (with very, very, very dark grey stripes) at her, covering her head and shoulders entirely. She pulled it from her face to find that he was already holding out his hat for her to take. Peanut gasped. Somewhere deep inside her brain, a penny, that had been teetering on a precipice for quite some time, finally dropped. Mr Stone's hat was a white fedora.