The Trespassers Club

By Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Trespassers Club was just supposed to be a game, but sometimes going places you shouldn't has consequences …

Laura has always spent her free time playing Trespassers Club with her sister, Katy. But Katy just turned thirteen and isn't interested in playing games anymore.

When their family moves suburbs, Laura discovers an old abandoned house on her street. It seems like the perfect hideout, but something – or rather someone – is already hiding inside.

Laura meets Jacob, a runaway teen in a lot of trouble. Who is Jacob and what is he hiding from …

Will Laura get herself into trouble if she gets involved?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Helen Vivienne Fletcher
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780473456900

Helen Vivienne Fletcher

Helen Vivienne Fletcher is a children’s and young adult author, spoken word poet and award-winning playwright. She has won and been shortlisted for numerous writing competitions including winning the Outstanding New Playwright Award at the Wellington Theatre Awards, making the shortlist for the Storylines Joy Cowley Award, and the finalist list for the Ngaio Marsh Best First Book Award. Helen has worked in many jobs, doing everything from theatre stage management to phone counselling. She discovered her passion for writing for young people while working as a youth support worker, and now helps children find their own passion for storytelling through her work as a creative writing tutor. She lives in Wellington with her disability assistance dog, Bindi – a five-year-old, playful Labrador who loves soft toys, cuddles, and can fit three tennis balls in her mouth at once. Overall, Helen just loves telling stories and is always excited when people want to read or hear them.

Book preview

Chapter One

We crouched low to the ground. I shuffled forward and signalled to the others that it was safe to move on. No-one had seen us yet, but we were in danger of being spotted.

Behind me one of my team yawned then stifled a giggle. I frowned and crouched lower in case our enemies had heard. We couldn’t risk getting caught now.

We heard a shout; our names called. Someone was on to us, we had to hurry or ...

Behind me the giggling grew louder. Didn’t they realise how important this was? The whole mission depended on our not being seen.

I froze as a flicker of moving cloth caught my eye. A woman carrying a washing basket appeared to my right. I dropped lower to the ground. She came closer but didn’t see me. I was sure she must be able to hear me breathing.

She picked up a red beach towel and pegged it to the line. Perhaps this was a signal to her spies? I glanced around, trying to spot any other targets.

My team shuffled forward while her back was turned. Mud squelched up between my bare toes. I wrinkled my nose, but kept quiet.

I heard a whisper behind me. It was my sister, Katy.

Why did we agree to play this stupid game?

Oh, come on. It’s fun. That was Amy. Anyway, we’ll probably never have to do it again.

The woman at the washing line looked up, and the conversation stopped. She had just started pegging again when:

Laura? Katy?

The shout caught me by surprise. I toppled over into the grass. Katy and the other girls fell down beside me, laughing. The woman jumped, then laughed too as she recognised us.

Trespassing again, are you? she asked.

Last meeting of the Trespassers Club, Mrs Taylor, I said.

Last meeting, I thought to myself.

Chapter Two

T here you are. My mother appeared above us. What’s so funny?

Nothing Mum. Katy rolled her eyes and gave an irritated huff. We pulled ourselves up and stood staring at each other.

Mum gave Mrs Taylor a smile, then ushered us out of her garden.

We’re just about ready to leave, Mum said You should say your goodbyes now. She turned and walked back towards the house.

I didn’t look at the other girls. I didn’t want them to see how upset I was.

Amy rubbed my arm. It’s okay, Laura. We can e-mail each other. She flicked her long, red plait over her shoulder, but it whacked my chest, bouncing back. Oops, sorry! She giggled, covering her mouth.

I looked away, blinking. Amy was by far the nicest of our neighbours, and I hated the idea of not seeing her every day.

Hannah gave Katy a hug. And we’ll still see you at school, Katy.

Katy noticed me watching and pushed me away. Get lost, Laura, she snapped. They are my friends, not yours.

But ...

I said, GET LOST!

I looked at Amy and Hannah. Amy stared at her feet and Hannah tried to hide a smirk.

I turned away. My stomach hurt, but I didn’t think Katy would care. I swallowed and walked towards the car.

You shouldn’t be so hard on her, Katy, Amy said quietly.

I looked back, but Hannah’s cloud of frizzy hair blocked Amy and Katy’s faces from view.

It’s not my fault she doesn’t have any friends. Katy didn’t bother to lower her voice.

I started to run.

Mum and Dad had the car all packed up ready to go. Mum stood beside it, ruffling her hair up into a half ponytail. She looked worried and I could tell she thought she’d forgotten something.

I put my shoes on and climbed into the back seat. The car had been sitting in the sun, causing everything to heat up. It was already boiling inside, and we hadn’t even started driving yet. I put my water bottle in the seat pocket in front of me and fished my book out of my bag.

I’ve told you before: don’t read while we’re driving. It’ll make you sick, Mum said.

I made a face at the book and opened it anyway. I watched over the top of it as Dad cleaned his glasses on his sleeve. He looked funny without them, like a mole, the way he peered short-sightedly at everything. Katy looked like him. Not the short-sighted part but she had the same soft, round face and features. I looked more like Mum, all sharp angles and cheekbones.

Katy walked back to the car with a scowl on her face. She flopped down on the seat next to me and took out her phone.

Hey, Katy, do you want to ... I stopped as Katy glared at me. She put on her headphones and turned away. Dad gave me a little smile and shrugged.

My head started to ache almost straight away, but I didn’t want to admit it to Mum. I put the book down and reached forward to get my water bottle.

Katy slapped my back. I gasped. My skin stung where she’d hit me. I turned and glared at her. She stared out the window with a stupid smile on her face, like she hadn’t done anything. I flopped back in the seat and closed my eyes. Ignore her, I thought, just ignore her.

What you gonna do, Laura? Katy leaned right over me to whisper, and I felt her breath on my cheek.

I opened my eyes,