Billy Mack's War Read Online Free Page A

the number. He was halfway through it when he realised that he couldn’t remember whether he’d done it right or not, so he hung up to start again.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ Dad called from the kitchen.
    â€˜Nothing’s wrong! Dad, can you go somewhere else? You’re making me all self-conscious.’
    Dad stood and picked up his mug. ‘All right, I’m going,’ he said with a chuckle. He pushed past Danny and headed up the stairs.
    â€˜And no listening in on the upstairs phone!’
    â€˜Well! Of all the dastardly suggestions!’ Dad replied. ‘Just make the call.’
    Danny picked up the receiver again. This time he got the number right, and the phone rang. It was a good line, clear and strong and loud. After a few rings the earpiece went clunk and he heard a voice. ‘McAuliffe residence,’ the woman said.
    â€˜Hello, is that the McAuliffes’ house?’ Danny asked. Idiot! he thought. She just told you that!
    â€˜Yes. Who is this, please?’
    â€˜This is Danny Snell. Mr McAuliffe … I mean William McAuliffe … Mr William —’
    â€˜I see. Could you hold on, please?’
    â€˜Uh … sure,’ Danny began, but by then he could hear faint footseps on a wooden floor. ‘Bill, it’s for you,’ the woman called. Then: ‘Eh? What’s that? I don’t know, love — I think it’s a child.’
    Danny groaned. Is it too late hang up now? Yes, I’ve told them my name. Definitely too late.
    There were more footsteps, then the sound of the receiver at the other end being picked up. ‘Bill McAuliffe.’
    Danny swallowed hard. ‘Mr McAuliffe, this is Danny Snell,’ he said.
    â€˜Ah, Daniel. You must have received my letter, then.’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜Very good, I’m glad it found you.’
    â€˜Yes, they gave it to me at school.’
    â€˜I see. And did it make sense to you, Daniel?’
    Danny paused. ‘Um … no, not really. It sounded like you felt bad or something … But you didn’t have to, you see,’ he rushed on, realising that he might have just said something insulting. ‘Like I said when I saw you —’
    â€˜Daniel, it’s quite all right,’ Mr McAuliffe interrupted. He sounded almost caring. ‘As I wrote in the letter, I was probably a little harsh with you the other day. I wasn’t being entirely fair. I can see that now.’
    Was he actually trying to apologise? If so, Danny wished he’d just say it so this increasingly uncomfortable call could be over.
    â€˜Did you think about what I suggested?’ Mr McAuliffe asked. ‘Do you think we could meet, perhaps?’
    â€˜I guess,’ Danny replied cautiously. Why couldn’t he just say whatever was on his mind and get it over with?
    â€˜Are you still there, Daniel?’
    â€˜Yes, sir, I’m still here.’
    â€˜So, could we meet? After school, perhaps? There’s nothing peculiar in this, Daniel. It’s completely above board. So tell me — what do you think?’
    â€˜Yeah, sure. I mean, yes, sir.’
    â€˜Very good. How does tomorrow sound, outside the front of your school at half past three? Is that time all right for you?’
    â€˜Fine, I guess.’ Danny felt his breath catch in his throat. Tomorrow? He didn’t know if he was ready for this — not so soon.
    â€˜Is one of your parents there, Daniel? I think I should talk to one of them, don’t you?’
    Danny nodded. ‘Yeah, my dad wanted to talk to you too.’
    â€˜Good, good. Well then, provided your father has no objection, I’ll pick you up at the end of school tomorrow.’
    â€˜Okay. I’ll just get Dad.’
    â€˜I’m here,’ said Dad from the top of the stairs, and he came down, totally unhurried. His mug still in his left hand, he took the receiver from Danny and put it to his ear. ‘Hello,’ he