2 The Sleepover

Chapter 2 The Sleepover The bedroom door swung open and a small girl with a big voice came rushing in. 'PEEEEEEEAAAAANUUUUUUTTTT!' Little-Bit Jones jumped up on to the bed and immediately started rummaging through the Post-it notes in the box. ' Which one's your favourite?' she said, spreading a selection out on the duvet. 'I like Daffy Duck.

I've always thought him vastly underrated in the Looney Tunes canon. His insatiable ego and explosive temperament are perfect comedy fodder, and 1953's Duck Amuck is a classic of the genre.' Peanut stared, wide-eyed, at her five-year-old sister. Her precocious intelligence never failed to surprise. It had also proved to be incredibly useful during their adventures together in Chroma. Anyway, can we go soon? I'm bored. If we waste any more time, another painting might turn to dust.' Little-Bit was already feeling the drag of summer holiday listlessness, despite only starting school the previous year. 'Also, I can't wait to see Doodle again! Marley's new puppy is cute and everything, but I think a magic dog like Doodle is even better!' 'GIRLS! IT'S GONE FIVE O'CLOCK!' Tracey Jones, their mother, was standing at the bottom of the stairs with her hair wrapped up in a towel. She was halfway through painting her fingernails the same colour as the dark red jumpsuit she was wearing. 'YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THE SCIENCE MUSEUM IN TIME!' she called. Little-Bit tried to stifle a giggle. 'She thinks we're actually going to go to the Science Museum, doesn't she?' she whispered through her fingers. As if!'

'I do feel bad about lying,' said Peanut, 'but we can't run the risk of her telling him where we're really headed.' She picked up the bandolier, folded it twice and carefully put it into her sports bag. Ah. There you are!' said Mum, looking up from her nails as the sisters appeared on the landing. 'Now, have you got everything you need? Oh, I'm so excited for you! They didn't have museum sleepovers when I was a girl. How I would have loved to spend the night among all that lovely scientific, er... stuff. Peanut, I'm so glad you're finally embracing the important things in life.' Peanut sighed as she walked down the stairs. Her relationship with her mother had been strained since Dad had vanished. Mum had

been worried at first, but after he'd sent a mysterious postcard from Mexico City telling them all to forget him, she'd become angry, thinking he had abandoned them because of his failings as an artist. But Peanut had never believed that story. In fact, it seemed to Peanut that these days Mum blamed everything that ever went wrong on art and creativity in general. Only last year she had insisted that Peanut leave her beloved Melody High and attend St Hubert's School for the Seriously Scientific and Terminally Mathematic. If Peanut's heart hadn't already been broken because of Dad's disappearance, that had certainly done the trick. Mum licked her finger and rubbed her eldest daughter's forehead vigorously until she was satisfied it was clean. 'Right then, off you go. Have fun.' She kissed them both on the cheek. 'I'm sorry I can't give you a lift to the station, but Milton is going to be here soon and I've still got to tong my hair.' Peanut and Little-Bit looked at each other. Mum put down the nail polish and turned to face the large mirror by the front door. 'I hope I pass muster. I've not been to the ballet for years.' She pulled her cheeks back towards her ears with her thumbs and index fingers. ' Now, where on earth is Leo? He was meant to be back ages ago. He promised me he'd walk the dog. Honestly, that brother of yours... The mere mention of Milton Stone's name had sent a chill down Peanut's spine. He was a partner at Mum's accountancy

firm and, now that Dad was missing, it seemed like he wanted to be her boyfriend too. Not only that, but Peanut was certain that there was more to him than met the eye. She glanced up at the white fedora hanging on the coat hook that Mr Stone had left behind the last time he'd visited. A white fedora that, unfortunately, looked all too familiar.