BBA & HBWC Administrator
Andrea Reece
30 Winton Avenue, London, N11 2AT
Tel: 0208 889 1292
Mob: 07807 893369
Email: branford.boase@gmail.com
Press Enquiries
Andrea Reece
Tel: 07807 893369 | Email: branford.boase@gmail.com
Dad’s gone out for the night and I’m alone at home for the first time. I should be doing homework, but I’ve got the television on, staring out the window into the garden. The moon paints the swaying oak tree silver, a cat stalks mice from its branches. There are fireworks crackling up on the hill; green, red, purple.
It happens all at once. The television stalls, paused on the newsreader. The oak stops swaying, the cat is frozen mid-pounce. A firework hangs in the sky. I stand up, search about, feel my heart race. I look out the window, and I spot it, beyond the bushes.
Something is moving in the garden.
I slowly open the garden door, my heart pounding. Before I think about it, I call out.
“Hello?” There is no reply. I shout louder, trying to sound tough. “Who’s there?”
Still, no reply. I’m about to go inside when I hear a loud yell. “BOO!”
“ARGH!” I jump in alarm. I run inside, wondering why that voice sounded familiar when I see a cheeky face at the door. I open it, before starting the questions. “Why are you here? Did you do this to time? What ARE you wearing?”
All the questions come flooding out. I have to breathe very heavily at the end and start searching for my inhaler. I am asthmatic, so must have my inhaler with me everywhere I go. It’s quite annoying as there are some things I can’t do. Finally, I find the bag with my asthma equipment on the kitchen worksurface.
I take a few puffs before getting a small drink of water. I quickly walk back to the living room. The television is unfrozen, as I am very glad to see. Outside the window, I see the fireworks shooting up, and the cat pounce on the mice. Just as it should be.
I regard my best friend (who is lounging on the sofa) with suspicion. I think I know what happened but need to check for certain. “Did you…”
“Of course I did. I’m exploring exactly what I can do. It’s such a cool power, don’t you agree?”
“Well, yeah, but…”
“You wish I didn’t keep using them on you. I get it. It’s just that I need someone to test them on who won’t take it badly. You get annoyed sometimes, and I understand why. But you don’t yell at me or turn me away. You joke around with me about it. I probably shouldn’t do it to you, because of your asthma. Though you can stop an attack…”
My best friend looks at me, hopefully. She knows how to win me over, and that is puppy eyes.
“It’s fine. You can test them on me. Just text me, or warn me, so I can be prepared.”
“OK, noted. Next time I try again – when hopefully I will get it right – I’ll text you.”
“What do you mean, hopefully get it right? Mira, you are a great superhero! You have been getting it right ever since you got superpowers… haven’t you?”
“Cierra, I didn’t let time start for you again. It just… did.”
I do my I’m thinking look, which is something I do a lot.
“Maybe… you have a set amount of time to pause?”
“I didn’t think of that. Thanks Cierra. Got any plans tomorrow?”
“No. Why?”
“A villain is planning to destroy Earth and I was wondering if you wanted to help me beat him.” How she said that so calmly, I don’t know.
“OK, we are going to need a plan. Ideas?”
“Cierra, you are taking this far too seriously!”
“I’m not! I’m using common sense! We have less than 24 hours to form and test a plan. How are we going to do it?”
Unbelievably, Mira just put a hand up, clearly saying stop. “I’ve already got a plan! And it’s tested!” I stare at her in disbelief. “Well, are you going to tell me or what?”
After a good night’s sleep, I inform Dad of last night’s events and he gives me permission to go with Mira, so long as I take my inhaler. We leave together, and it isn’t long till we reach the villain’s house. Taking a deep breath, Mira readies her powers. “Ready?” she asks me. “Yes.”
Mira pauses time for the villain, before knocking on the door. We hear a yell of alarm, before the door slowly opens, and a small face peeps out. I know from recognition that it is Mira’s twin.
“Mira, Cierra, go round the back. I’m ready to help. Also, the machine has been turned on.”
Once we are round the back, Neera helps with final preparations, before we open the back door. Neera has been posing as the villain’s trustworthy assistant. Therefore, she has access to everything.
“On three,” says Mira. “One… two… three… CHARGE!”
Neera, Mira, and I run through the door, before taking in our surroundings. Immediately, we spot the huge machine that the villain plans to destroy the world with. There is an army of robots guarding the machine. Unfortunately, that means they are right in our path.
“Oh yeah, the villain has a team of robots. Probably should have mentioned that earlier.”
We run forwards, trying to find a path to take towards the huge machine. Suddenly, I hear a yell. “Cierra, use your inhaler! Throw it! Throw it as hard as you can towards that huge button labelled STOP!” Mira has the most incredible and inventive ideas sometimes. Why didn’t I think of that myself?
I throw my inhaler as hard as I can, before watching as it glides through the air. My throw was perfect. It landed right on the button. I can’t help but let out a cheer of delight. Who knew saving the world could be so fun?
The next day, stories of our adventure are spreading over the school. Apparently, we are going to be interviewed on TV, for the newspaper and by the police (though that is only to see how long the villain will be in prison for). I’ll have to get a new inhaler, but Dad doesn’t mind because I’ve saved the world!
I’m very popular in school and the nation now, which I never thought would happen to me. In theory, if there is any problem that worries the public about the world, then someone should call me, Neera, and Mira. If that does happen, then we will be in very big demand 24/7. At least we would always have something to do.
Anyway, I need to go now. Dad’s taking me out for a meal to celebrate. What adventure will be next?