LEITH AND THE LURKING EVIL

“TALK ABOUT MONSTERS! Some of the creatures you see down there are enough to curl your hair!” Dad took a bottle of duty-free aftershave out of a suitcase and slapped some of it onto his bald pate.

“They’d have a hard time curling your hair, Dad,” said Pippa.

“How did you two get on while we were away?” asked Mum.

“On the way to Camp Damble,” I said, “I dreamt all the counsellors were monsters.”

“And were they?” asked Dad.

“No, not monsters. They were robots.”

“Well,” said Mum, “maybe when you go back next year they’ll seem a little more human.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” said Pippa.

“What do you mean, next year?”

“Only if we go away again, Leith.”

“Look at all the great stuff we brought back,” said Dad. “And wait till you see the pictures!”

Smile for Auntie Mut! I thought with a chill.

“Here, son, try some of this.” Dad was breaking open another bottle of aftershave.

“Yuck! What is that?” I demanded as he gently slapped the smelly astringent on my face.

“Only a little something from Calvin Klein. The girls go crazy for this, take my word - and if we do send you back to Camp Damble next year, I might just let you borrow a bottle.”

“Make it a case,” said Pippa.

“Yes,” I said, reading the label, “definitely a case.” The name of the cologne was Escape.