Forest Secrets Read Online Free

scraped like a claw down my spine. ‘Let’s forget all about the asteroid and dinosaur for now,’ I said, feeling my lips go all wobbly and realising that I didn’t need to hear anymore. ‘Let’s go into town. I’ll shout you an ice-cream at Sam’s shop.’
    Snook and I had seen the same dinosaur.

Chapter 5
----
    S am’s shop sold lots of things: grocery items, knick-knacks, books, magazines, newspapers, plus all kinds of lollies, soft drinks and ice-creams. It was the sort of place that if you didn’t know where to look for something, then it was probably a waste of time looking. Snook’s mum reckoned it was clean, though. We often went to Sam’s.
    The customer bell dinged as we pushed the door open and walked inside. It was just after four-thirty. Shadow, who’d tagged along, took up his usual spot on the footpath just outside the door; he didn’t mind it there; he liked all the pats from the locals and anyone else that happened to walk past.
    We could hear Sam fiddling with something behind a row of fruit and vegetable boxes that ran parallel to the long, wooden shop counter. Hearing us coming in, he poked his head around one of the rows and grinned. ‘It’s the Kelly gang,’ he said, wiping his hands on the front of his shop apron and then walking over to see us. ‘What’s it going to be today? I’ve got a new batch of drumsticks you might like; chocolate flavoured with crushed nut toppings.’
    â€˜Sounds good,’ I said, grinning back. ‘I’ll ask Snook.’ But when I turned to do just that, he wasn’t there. He’d wandered off to the other side of the shop where he was looking at a larger than normal poster that was pinned to the community notice board. I crossed the shop floor and joined him. Looking over his shoulder, I read the notice.

    I was pleased that Snook’s mind was on something other than exploding asteroids. I was still worried about him though; I strongly suspected that he was feeling a bit like me … confused and still wondering about the strange images we’d both experienced. I continued to gaze at the poster and after reading it about a dozen times, I said, ‘I didn’t know you liked photography?’
    Tearing his eyes away from the notice board, he told me in a matter-of- fact way, ‘As of today I do. I’ve just decided that I’m gonna be like one of them paparazzos.’
    I couldn’t help grinning. ‘A paparazzo?’ I said, trying to keep the scepticism out of my voice. ‘You mean like those photographers that go stalking famous people like film stars and royalty just to get their photos. You’re not going to do that, are you? A lot of people think they’re kind of nasty ’cause they invade people’s privacy.’
    â€˜Whatever. Anyway, I wouldn’t take photos of famous people; I dunno any for a start. I’ve got a better idea.’
    â€˜Oh, what’s that? And why the sudden interest in …’ I didn’t wait for an answer. I knew before I’d finished the sentence. ‘Gloria!’ I said. ‘You want to win the photography prize so that you can ask her out for a classy dinner. You devil! You’d be in Gloria’s good books then, wouldn’t you?’
    â€˜Well, it’s worth a try. The $250 wouldn’t hurt either. I could buy her a bunch of flowers, maybe even a friendship ring. Girls like that sort of stuff, don’t they? Whatcha think?’
    I couldn’t help laughing. ‘Oh, girls like that sort of stuff all right but I think you’d better think about winning the competition first, don’t you?’
    Although teasing Snook a little was meant to be tongue-in-cheek and good natured, he did look a bit put out. Thinking he was being a bit precious, I was about to say something when he beat me to it. ‘I have thought about winning it, Miss Know-it-all, and