Run, Kid, Run!

By Andrew Daddo

It's school holidays but Archie and Jess's mum has to go to work at the tV studio. Problem is, children have been banned from the studio, but there isn't anywhere else for Archie and Jess to go. Can they get through the day without being sprung by the big, burly security guard? And what's going to happen when they are discovered on the set of the hit, A PLACE LIKE OURS, pretending to be extras? A hilarious chapter novel for young readers by one of Australia's most-loved authors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jan 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9780730495376

Andrew Daddo

Andrew Daddo is an author, columnist, broadcaster and TV presenter. He has written 25 books (including the bestselling Goodnight, Me), presents the Golf Show for Fox Sports, has a regular column in Golf Australia Magazine and creates podcasts for Mamamia Women's Network. Andrew lives on Sydney's northern beaches with his wife and three children.

Book preview

ONE

Mum cracked the whip.

‘Comeoncomeoncomeoncomeon! We’ll be late.’ She sounded like she was calling a horse race.

‘It’s holidays. What’s the panic?’ said Harrison.

‘Did you grow a mental year overnight?’ Mum said.

Harrison curled his lip.

Mum could’ve taken off; that was the sort of flap she was in. ‘Listen, Buster. There’s been another emergency at work, so it’s not quite holidays for me. Unfortunately, that means if’s not quite holidays for you, either — or your sister. Could you wake her up? Gently?’

Jess mooched into the kitchen. Her face was a bit puffy and her hair was all over the place.

Aren’t we on holidays?’ she moaned. ‘Doesn’t that mean…’

‘Sleep in until bedtime. Normally, yes,’ Mum sighed. ‘But I have to work — sorry — and you have to come with me.’

‘I thought we were going away. Isn’t that why we packed our bags?’ Jess had a point. Mum never worked during school holidays. It was her thing.

‘Oh, don’t make me feel worse,’ cranked Mum.

‘Well, can’t we hang out at the Mac’s?’ said Harrison.

Mum’s shoulders fell foward. ‘No. The MacPhersons have gone south to freeze. The Johnsons have gone north to cook. Timmy Douglas has chickenpox. Isabelle Mincer’s got lice — that’s a secret — and your dad is out of town on business’ — he says.’ She threw a pair of jeans at Jess. ‘I should be able to knock the job over by lunchtime. Then we’ll go away to — ‘

‘Grandma’s again. Cool. Mini-bikes and lollies and sleeping in,’ said Harrison.

Mum pumped a fist and smiled, then kicked the dishwasher shut and marched us to the door. She was late. Again.

‘But I haven’t had breakfast,’ said Jess.

‘They do great breakfasts at work — in the canteen.’

‘But you always say only rats would eat there.’

‘And you’re not a rat?’ Mum squeaked and held Jess