NO ORDINARY ROOM Read Online Free Page B

prepared to start the first day in their new home.  Leanne looked very disappointed when Kevin told her that ‘Fred’ the mouse had escaped.  When Debbie asked what the banging was that she’d heard earlier, Kevin said that he would explain later.  He had managed to trap the rat in Uncle Stanley’s old overcoat, but things hadn’t worked out as planned.
    Jamie joined the rest of the family in the kitchen and pestered his dad about using the computer, but was told once again that he would have to wait until the removal men had been before he could play with it.  In the meantime he was ordered to take Leanne on a walk to the local shops for some urgent items that his mum needed.
    ‘That was a bit mean, Kevin, keeping our Jamie in suspense,’ Debbie said after she had waved the children off.
    Kevin smiled.  ‘You know want he’s like.  If there’s something of interest on that computer we won’t get any help from him once he gets playing with it and there’s a lot to do.  Anyway, he’ll enjoy it all the more by having to wait.’
    ‘I suppose you’re right.  Leanne was disappointed about the mouse.  It’s a pity he escaped because it might have taken her mind off being homesick.’
    Kevin coughed and then explained that it was a rat and that’s what the banging was about.
    Debbie pulled a face.  ‘Oh, Kevin, we can’t stay here, not if we’ve got rats!’
    ‘I don’t think we’ve got rats.  We had one and now he’s gone.’
    ‘So how did you catch it and why all that banging?’
    ‘Well, I had it trapped inside of Uncle Stanley’s old overcoat.  I could feel the so and so under the cloth and I whacked it as hard as I could with a hammer I got out of the shed.  I must have hit it five times because  I wanted to make sure that I’d killed it outright, not wanting it to suffer.’
    ‘I didn’t think you had it in you and before breakfast.  So, it’s dead then?’
    ‘Not exactly,’ Kevin replied.
    ‘Well you made enough noise to kill an elephant never mind a rat,’ Debbie said.  
    ‘I know, but when I’d delivered the last blow,  I carefully unfolded the overcoat, expecting to see …’  Kevin paused and then continued, ‘expecting to see one very squashed and dead rat, but it had managed to move out of the way and all my blows had missed it.’
    ‘So, it’s still in the house?’ Debbie asked anxiously.
    ‘No, I let him go outside.  Thing is, Debs, when I peeled back the coat I saw these two beady eyes looking up at me and they seemed to be begging for mercy.  I thought it deserved a reprieve after all my attempts to finish it off.  I suppose it was a bit like a condemned man surviving the electric chair.’
    Debbie smiled, shook her head and said. ‘You, big softy,’ before giving her hero a kiss on the cheek and then added, ‘I think you can cross the local abattoir off your job hunting list.’
    *  * *
     The removal men had arrived later than promised due to heavy traffic, but by mid afternoon the place was looking more homely with all their own furniture in place.  Kevin had done a deal with the removal men and they had taken away Uncle Stanley's old furniture.  Leanne had changed her mind about wanting the big bedroom and Jamie had tidied it up before asking his dad once again if he could clean up his ‘special’ room and have a play with the computer.
    ‘Go on then,’ replied Kevin and handed Jamie the key to his special room and then added, ‘but not for too long mind, because I want you to help me in the garden later.  I found an old mower in the shed, so you can make a start on the lawns.  I’m thinking of having a natural garden.  You know, one with plenty of wild flowers.’
    Debbie rolled her eyes, knowing that Kevin’s idea of wild flowers meant a garden full of weeds.  
    Jamie had dashed up stairs when his dad had given him the okay and he was soon sitting in front of the PC screen and filled with anticipation.  He had his very own