Billy Wizard Read Online Free Page B

His mother was chatting and laughing with Billy’s so-called mother, who, Joe now realized, must really be some kind of terrible witch, just like Billy had said.
    “Hello, Joe,” said his mum. “How was your day?”
    “Er … hi, Mum …” said Joe, looking sideways at Billy’s “mother”.
    “Are you OK?” asked his mum.
    Joe didn’t answer. He was too busy trying to see if he could see any sign of the witch beneath the disguise.
    “Joe?” said his mother. “Are you all right?”
    “What? Me?” said Joe finally. “Yeah … I’m all right …”
    “Well, I’ve got a little surprise for you,” she said. “Billy’s mother has said you can go back with Billy for a while.” Joe stared open-mouthed. “I’ll pick you up about five thirty.”
    “No!”
    “Joe?” said his mother. “What’s the matter?”
    “No! I can’t!” said Joe, backing away. Joe’s mother looked at Billy’s mother. Billy’s mother looked at Joe’s mother. They both shrugged.
    “I’m so sorry,” said Joe’s mother.

    “Joe is behaving very oddly.”
    “Oh that’s all right,” said Billy’s mother. “Billy behaves oddly all the time. I’m used to it.”
    Billy suddenly appeared.
    “Why are you always the last to come out?” said his mother.
    “Don’t know,” said Billy.
    “Well,” said Joe’s mother. “Maybe another time. Thanks for the offer anyway.”
    “What was all that about?” she asked, when she and Joe had walked to the end of the street. “That was very rude. Have you and Billy had some sort of fight?”
    “No,” said Joe. “Not really. It’s complicated.”
    “Try and explain it to me,” said his mum. “I’m quite clever when I want to be.” She smiled at him.
    Joe opened his mouth to begin, but could not think what to say. “You’d never believe me,” he said. “
I
wouldn’t believe me,” he said. “And I
am
me.”
    His mother raised one eyebrow. “I see,” she said, shaking her head.
    Joe could not settle when he got home. He couldn’t even concentrate on his favourite TV programme, so he went up to his room and flopped down on the bed. He picked up the book his gran had given him. He looked at the picture of the wizard again: although the wizard had a long white beard, there was something about the eyes that really did look like Billy.

Chapter 6
    New Friends
    “ DO YOU KNOW what happened to Rick yesterday?” said Neil at break time the next morning.
    “Well … yeah,” said Joe, a little relieved to be able to share it with someone. “I didn’t think anybody knew—”
    “Everybody knows,” said Neil. “Good riddance too.”
    “I know you didn’t like him,” said Joe, “but I’m not sure he deserved to be … you know …”
    “He deserved a lot worse than that , if you ask me.”

    “A lot worse?” said Joe, amazed at how calmly Neil was taking it.
    “Doesn’t strike me as so bad.”
    “Not so bad?” said Joe. “Are you kidding?”
    “Look,” said Neil. “He was horrible. He was a bully and he liked hurting people. He got off lightly.”
    “You call being turned into a mouse getting off lightly?”
    Neil stared at him. “Being turned into a what?”
    “A mouse,” said Joe.
    Neil stared at him again. “Er … what are you talking about?”
    “Rick,” said Joe. “I’m talking about Rick.”
    “Rick has been taken out of our school by his mum and dad,” said Neil. “They’ve been thinking of doing it for ages, but when he threw the firework yesterday and bunked off, that was the last straw.”
    “Firework?” said Joe in a daze. “Bunked off?”
    “Are you all right?” asked Neil. “Rick’s been sent to a private school by his parents. It’s some tough place where they reckon he’ll be knocked into shape. Serves him right.”
    “What’s this about a firework?” said Joe.
    “What is the matter with you?” said Neil. “You must be the only one in the school who doesn’t know. Rick threw a banger at playtime. Didn’t you