The TV Time Travellers Read Online Free
Author: Pete Johnson
be taken to the farm in Little Milton by
Strictly Evacuees.
If you are evicted – or when you win – you may change back into your usual clothes. Now there’s no time for any more questions. But one thing I’d advise you to remember: expect the unexpected. Now, good luck to you all – I think you may well need it.’
CHAPTER FIVE
My Own Magic Carpet
Zac
IT WAS QUITE a long walk to the station and some people were grumbling about that until I explained, ‘Everyone walked far more in 1939 – as most people didn’t have cars then, and if they did there was petrol rationing. Most people didn’t have telephones either and even a train journey was a special occasion.’ I paused. ‘Sorry if I’m going on too much, but I could talk about this time for hours.’
‘Well, you just talk away,’ said Leo, ‘until you notice us slipping into a boredom coma.’
Trying to be friendly, I said, ‘It’s incredible really; we’ve travelled back in time seventy years – and no jet lag.’ But Leo didn’t even smile at my little joke. And I decided I didn’t like him very much – too sneery. But Harriet laughed when I told the same joke to her. She asked me loads more questions too. I think she was highly impressed by my knowledge.
At the station we tumbled into our carriage, which was marked: FOR EVACUEES ONLY . I gave a little shiver of delight when I saw that. There was a cameraman in the carriage too, operating a smallish portable camera. ‘Hey there, how’s it popping?’ said Leo to him.
The cameraman put his finger up to his mouth and this voice roared, ‘You never,
ever
address any camera operator. Surely you have been told that.’ Someone had been sitting so still in the darkest corner of the carriage that no one had realized he was there. Now he shot to his feet and bellowed, ‘And how dare you all charge in here like that. All go out and come in again properly.’
Even Leo looked a bit scared by this furious character. We quickly exited and came back in very quietly. The man stood watching us, still bristling with fury.
We guessed, even before we were told, that he was the person Miss Weed had called the controller: Mr Wallack. He wasn’t especially tall, but he had an enormous bright red face with a small, neatly trimmed moustache and piercing eyes which seemed to stare right through you.
He reminded me of those nervous, twitchy dogs which you approach very warily, because if you alarm them even a tiny bit, they’ll leap up and attack you.
We sat in a rather uncomfortable silence with just the sound of the camera whirring about. Outside the window though, there were shouts and cries. A crowd was gathering. And then Mr Wallack told us they were all there to see us off. This seemed incredible to me. ‘But they don’t even know us,’ I whispered to Izzy.
‘They know we’re going to be on the telly,’ she replied. ‘And that’s enough.’
Mr Wallack allowed us to go to the window to wave to them. Leo started doing his royal wave. ‘Thank you, my subjects, for coming,’ he called. ‘And feel free to bow before my mighty presence. Oh no, my mum’s here embarrassing me in front of my multitude of fans. I told her not to bother. And do you know what she’s just shouted at me: “Behave yourself.” What a diabolical cheek. Are your ’rents here?’ he asked me.
‘My what?’ I cried.
‘Your parents.’
‘No, they’re not,’ I said quickly.
‘You’re so lucky,’ he replied.
I knew my dad wouldn’t be here, as he was in France. And I was so glad Aunt Sara hadn’t waited. It made me feel as if I’d left my old life behind already.
But masses of Barney’s family and friends were there. They had even made a huge banner: GOOD LUCK BARNEY AND SOLLY , it said. ‘Why have you got top billing?’ demanded Solly. ‘
I’m
the star.’
Izzy (she’d been given a new name – Isobel – but she practically begged us not to call her that), who had been waving to her mum, suddenly
Strictly Evacuees.
If you are evicted – or when you win – you may change back into your usual clothes. Now there’s no time for any more questions. But one thing I’d advise you to remember: expect the unexpected. Now, good luck to you all – I think you may well need it.’
CHAPTER FIVE
My Own Magic Carpet
Zac
IT WAS QUITE a long walk to the station and some people were grumbling about that until I explained, ‘Everyone walked far more in 1939 – as most people didn’t have cars then, and if they did there was petrol rationing. Most people didn’t have telephones either and even a train journey was a special occasion.’ I paused. ‘Sorry if I’m going on too much, but I could talk about this time for hours.’
‘Well, you just talk away,’ said Leo, ‘until you notice us slipping into a boredom coma.’
Trying to be friendly, I said, ‘It’s incredible really; we’ve travelled back in time seventy years – and no jet lag.’ But Leo didn’t even smile at my little joke. And I decided I didn’t like him very much – too sneery. But Harriet laughed when I told the same joke to her. She asked me loads more questions too. I think she was highly impressed by my knowledge.
At the station we tumbled into our carriage, which was marked: FOR EVACUEES ONLY . I gave a little shiver of delight when I saw that. There was a cameraman in the carriage too, operating a smallish portable camera. ‘Hey there, how’s it popping?’ said Leo to him.
The cameraman put his finger up to his mouth and this voice roared, ‘You never,
ever
address any camera operator. Surely you have been told that.’ Someone had been sitting so still in the darkest corner of the carriage that no one had realized he was there. Now he shot to his feet and bellowed, ‘And how dare you all charge in here like that. All go out and come in again properly.’
Even Leo looked a bit scared by this furious character. We quickly exited and came back in very quietly. The man stood watching us, still bristling with fury.
We guessed, even before we were told, that he was the person Miss Weed had called the controller: Mr Wallack. He wasn’t especially tall, but he had an enormous bright red face with a small, neatly trimmed moustache and piercing eyes which seemed to stare right through you.
He reminded me of those nervous, twitchy dogs which you approach very warily, because if you alarm them even a tiny bit, they’ll leap up and attack you.
We sat in a rather uncomfortable silence with just the sound of the camera whirring about. Outside the window though, there were shouts and cries. A crowd was gathering. And then Mr Wallack told us they were all there to see us off. This seemed incredible to me. ‘But they don’t even know us,’ I whispered to Izzy.
‘They know we’re going to be on the telly,’ she replied. ‘And that’s enough.’
Mr Wallack allowed us to go to the window to wave to them. Leo started doing his royal wave. ‘Thank you, my subjects, for coming,’ he called. ‘And feel free to bow before my mighty presence. Oh no, my mum’s here embarrassing me in front of my multitude of fans. I told her not to bother. And do you know what she’s just shouted at me: “Behave yourself.” What a diabolical cheek. Are your ’rents here?’ he asked me.
‘My what?’ I cried.
‘Your parents.’
‘No, they’re not,’ I said quickly.
‘You’re so lucky,’ he replied.
I knew my dad wouldn’t be here, as he was in France. And I was so glad Aunt Sara hadn’t waited. It made me feel as if I’d left my old life behind already.
But masses of Barney’s family and friends were there. They had even made a huge banner: GOOD LUCK BARNEY AND SOLLY , it said. ‘Why have you got top billing?’ demanded Solly. ‘
I’m
the star.’
Izzy (she’d been given a new name – Isobel – but she practically begged us not to call her that), who had been waving to her mum, suddenly
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