Alice-Miranda At School Read Online Free Page A

suggested it. She supposed headmistresses had lots of important things to do and if she was unavailable, Alice-Miranda would have to try again tomorrow. In the meantime, there were so many people who needed her help that Miss Grimm would just have to wait for now.
    Alice-Miranda ran back to the house and called her parents again. This time her mother answered the phone. After a few minutes’ conversation, a plan was in place. It seemed that everything was going to work out beautifully for Mrs Smith after all.

Alice-Miranda skipped off towards the kitchen. She had to tell Mrs Smith to pack her things. Mrs Oliver would be arriving soon and Cook should be ready to head off immediately.
    â€˜Hello Mrs Smith.’ Alice-Miranda peered around the kitchen door. Cook was stirring an enormous pot, from which the most mouth-watering smell wafted. Alice-Miranda’s nostrils twitched as she tried to work out exactly what was simmering away so temptingly. ‘My goodness, that smells delicious.’
    Mrs Smith turned and smiled at Alice-Miranda – a warm smile that few students had ever seen.
    â€˜I’ve been to see Miss Grimm. I thought we could have a lovely chat and get you off on a holiday. But she wasn’t available and so I haven’t spoken to her after all.’
    â€˜Thank you for trying, miss.’ A tear welled in the corner of Cook’s eye. She brushed it with the back of her hand. ‘Must be the onions I was chopping.’ She took a deep breath and pursed her lips together tightly.
    â€˜Don’t be sad, Mrs Smith. I’ve fixed things, and I can just tell Miss Grimm later. I’m sure she won’t mind in the least. Mrs Oliver will be here in a little while and then Daddy has arranged for you to be picked up and taken to the airport so that you can go on our plane to the United States straight away. The plane has to go over for some special refitting, so it’s not the slightest bother at all. But you’ll need to pack your suitcase immediately.’
    Cook’s hands were trembling. ‘But I can’t leave without Miss Grimm’s approval. I’ll lose my job.’ She looked decidedly pale.
    â€˜No, of course you won’t. Miss Grimm is only worried that if you’re not here there’ll be no one tocook her dinners. Isn’t that right?’ Alice-Miranda asked with a frown.
    â€˜Well, that’s what I’ve always been told,’ Cook replied. ‘Who’s Mrs Oliver?’
    â€˜She’s Mummy and Daddy’s cook. She can stay for the whole time you’re away and she’s really not half bad either,’ said Alice-Miranda, ‘although she simply can’t bake brownies like yours. So, Mrs Smith, I think you should go pack your bags and I’ll keep an eye on that pot.’ Alice-Miranda pulled up a stool to stand on.
    Before she had time to change her mind, Cook handed the wooden spoon to Alice-Miranda and rushed to her room. She could hardly believe what she was doing – but it appeared that Alice-Miranda was not a child to be trifled with.
    An hour later, Alice-Miranda heard the familiar chop-chop-chop of Birdy’s whirring blades. It was a sound she had come to recognise well in her seven and one-quarter years. It usually meant that her parents were home and it always made her heart pound with excitement. Cyril landed the helicopter on the lower oval, and out hopped Mrs Oliver, suitcase in hand. She wore her trademark blue suit and her immovable brown curls sat immaculatelyin place as always. Hugh Kennington-Jones often teased that he thought Dolly must take her hair off at night and rest it on the nightstand. It was a running joke in the Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones household that Dolly could well have been the lost sister of the Queen. She had the same regal look – even when she was emerging from under the rotors of a helicopter. Within a minute Mrs Smith had hopped in and Birdy hovered overhead,