Gecko Gladiator Read Online Free Page B

curtains at all times!” scoffed Danny. “What does she think we are—spies? Doesn’t she know we have to go to school? And bed?”
    â€œShe’s going a bit crazy,” Josh said. He rubbed his nose and looked worried. “I thought she might if we told her about the marbles.”
    â€œHey—she’s lost her marbles!” quipped Danny, but Josh gave him a stony look. “OK, I’ll shut up,” Danny sighed.
    They stepped out into Princessland, trying to act normal again. Or more normal than last time. And then a series of things happened very fast.
    First, Josh was knocked over as somebody ran past him. Then someone else tripped over him, cursing loudly, and then a large coat was shoved in his face and then a loud alarm went off.
    Danny, who’d gone ahead, trying to avoid looking at the fairy outfits, was spun around by the impact of someone bashing into his shoulder. It was the woman in the long coat, running past him. Her daughter, who wasn’t wearing a long coat anymore, was pulling stuff out of her jumper and chucking it on the floor as she skidded after her mother, bawling “Maa! Maaa! Wait for meeeee!”
    Danny ran over to Josh, who was struggling out from under the coat. Just as his surprised faceemerged there was a shout. “OY! You two! STOP RIGHT THERE!” And a heavy hand landed on Danny’s shoulder.
    â€œSO! You think nicking stuff from Princessland is a joke, do you?” said the voice. Danny looked up, shocked, into the face of a burly security guard. “Well, sunshine, I’m calling the police … and you two …” The guard dragged Josh up by his collar, “… are coming with ME!”

Josh and Danny were dragged along by their elbows through the shop, loudly protesting their innocence. The store manager, a thin, nervous-looking man in a pale pink shirt, hurried behind them carrying the dumped coat and all the things that had dropped out of it. They all arrived in a small square office with two-way mirror windows, a desk, and three chairs. On the wall was a sign that read “WE ALWAYS PROSECUTE SHOPLIFTERS!” The guard shoved them across the room and pulled the door shut, while the manager hit a button on the wall that silenced the alarm.
    â€œRight!” snapped the security guard. He wore a gray uniform, a peaked cap, and a menacing look on his rather square face. “So … let’s see what we have here, shall we?” He took the coatand the things bundled up with it and began slapping them all, one by one, onto the desk. “ONE—Diddly DeeDee double doll set. TWO—Diddly DeeDee fashion boots set. THREE—Diddly DeeDee doggy kennel including Diddly Doggy and DiddlyDoggy Dinner Dish.”
    Danny let out a snort of laughter. He just couldn’t help it. The security guard’s large sausage-thick fingers paused just as they were about to pluck yet another Diddly DeeDee treat from the coat. “You think this is funny, do you, boy? You thinking cheating us out of Diddly DeeDees is just a joke, do you?”

    Danny snorted again. Josh bit his lip. Then they both burst out laughing.
    â€œHave it your way!” snarled the security guard, emptying another ten or twelve packets of Princessland goodies all over the desk, including three yellow toy microphones. “Let’s see what the police have to say about this, shall we? Mr. Butch—please call the police!”
    â€œErm—I’ll have to call from the manager’s office,” Mr. Butch said. “You’d better come with me to verify what’s happened …”
    â€œFine—we’ll lock these two young thieves in here until they arrive!” the security guard said. And then he and the manager went out and slammed the door shut, locking it firmly behind them.
    â€œOh dear,” gurgled Danny, wiping away tears.
    Josh got control. “This is not good, Danny! This is really not