Dad is terrific. He is under enormous pressure but still he keeps his cool. There is only one thing left to do. I take out my secret weapon.
4 I place the yellow fly swat on the table next to my knife.
Everyone looks at it lying there on the white tablecloth. They stare and stare and stare. But nothing is said. I pick up the fly swat and start to lick it. I lick it like an ice cream. A bit of chewy, brown goo comes off on my tongue. I swallow it quickly. Then I crunch a bit of crispy, black stuff. Mr Spinks rushes out to the kitchen. I can hear him being sick in the kitchen sink. Dad stands up. It is too much for him. He cracks. ‘Aaaaaagh,’ he screams. He charges at me with hands held out like claws. I run for it. I run down to my room and lock the door. Dad yells and shouts. He kicks and screams. But I lie low. Tomorrow, when he calms down, I’ll own up. I’ll tell him how I went down the street and bought a new fly swat for fifty cents. I’ll tell him about the currants and little bits of liquorice that I smeared on the fly swat. I mean, I wouldn’t really eat dead flies. Not unless it was for something important anyway.
How do you think Dad will react when he finds out the truth? 38