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something Granddad rarely did when he was out and about, but mainly when he was at home or at Mrs Morgan’s. In fact, I’ll lay odds that few people had any idea that he liked a beer.
    â€˜What’s up, young feller?’ asked Granddad.
    I sat on the sofa and looked at them. I didn’t know where to start, or even if I should tell Mrs Morgan.
    â€˜Rough day,’ I said, flicking the leaves on a new pot plant.
    â€˜Well, let me tell you, they don’t get any better,’ said Granddad, who never misses an opportunity to give the young feller — me — a bit of wisdom.
    â€˜Don’t tell him that, Archie. Don’t listen to him, dear. And go and get yourself some lemonade out of the fridge.’
    I went into the kitchen, and could hear Mrs M giving Granddad an earful about the things he says to me — I swear I don’t know if she’s more like a mother or a wife to him. When I got back into the living room, she had a pleasant look on her face and started again.
    â€˜Looking forward to the last term of school, love?’
    I wanted to tell her that I was looking forward to just about anything that would keep me from being murdered, but I controlled myself, and looked at Granddad and her over the top of my lemonade glass. They were obviously having one of those rare moments when absolutely nothing is going wrong, and the beer is cold, and the glasses are chilled, which is theright way to drink beer, and they both had their feet up, and Granddad even had his tie off. They’ve settled in for the night , I thought, like they’ve been married for years . And I didn’t have the heart to tell them about my adventure, and how I might be dead by morning. I could see I’d have to wait until I got Granddad alone.
    â€˜You bet, Aunty … Mrs Morgan. I reckon school is terrific, ’cept next year I’ll be leaving St Felix’s, ’cos it only goes up to grade six.’
    â€˜Then what? St Dominic’s, I suppose?’
    â€˜Nah, I’ll probably go to City Boys High; it’s closer.’
    This was, strictly speaking, true, but I really wanted to go to St Dom’s, as all the other members of the Commandos were going there. Also, we had a few of the big kids from City Boys living in our street, and they’d told me of the terrible things the teachers do to the boys, like tying them up and whipping them for talking in class — I’d last about half an hour, I reckon. Also, my parents were worried about the fees.
    â€˜So you like school — that’s good.’
    Actually, I did like school. At school I got to play alleys every day, not to mention swapping comics, swap-cards and stamps. Swapping was definitely the main reason any of us went to school. When I first told Granddad about the swapping, he was very interested, and gave me a few tips for making sure I always got a fair go with the big kids. Naturally, the tips came in pretty handy for swapping with little kids, as well, though I never mentioned that to him, as he could be a bit touchy about being fair and I didn’t want him to throw a fit.
    Mrs M had reached the two-furlong post and was heading for home.
    â€˜But you’re enjoying the holidays, too, aren’t you?’
    â€˜The holidays are all right, but, except for the Commandos — that’s our club — and some of the kids who live around here I’ve hardly seen any of my friends.’ That was a fib, which is okay if you’re a kid. It was only Josephine Thompson I wasn’t seeing.
    â€˜But you’ve got a television. I don’t know where your granddad got it, and I don’t want to know, either, but I hear it’s a beauty.’
    â€˜It’s a beauty all right. It’s just that Mum hasn’t been too happy lately, and she won’t let me watch it before six. Anyway, I’m better off out of the house.’
    â€˜Then you must visit more often,’ said