Christmas Countdown Read Free

listened.
    â€˜Mum? In hospital? Which one, Dad?’
    EJ swallowed. Grandma is in hospital? ‘What’s happened?’
    â€˜Okay, Dad, I’ll come straight away. Bye!’ Emma’s mum hung up the phone.
    â€˜Mum, is Grandma okay?’ Emma’s eyes began to water a little. Even thinking about something happening to Grandma was too much.
    â€˜I think so, Em,’ replied her mum, still looking worried. ‘She fell over in town and is in hospital but Grandpa says she seems okay. She’s having X-rays.’
    â€˜X-rays!’ said Emma, but before she could ask more, she was interrupted.
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    Piinngg!
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    This time it was Emma’s phone and it was flashing indigo. It was a mission alert from SHINE .

    Normally Emma was excited when she received a mission alert but not this time.
    â€˜Mum, I can’t report in,’ she said. ‘I need to come to the hospital with you to see Grandma.’ She looked pleadingly at her mum.
    â€˜No, Em. You need to. Grandma will be fine. Come on, get your bracelet and I’ll drop you at the Light Shop on the way to the hospital.’
    â€˜Mum!’ pleaded Emma.
    â€˜Grandma would want you to go,’ said Mum.
    â€˜No she wouldn’t.’
    â€˜Yes, I really think she would,’ said her mum, looking around to see if Emma and her were alone before whispering, ‘Grandma fell OM, and I think that’s why SHINE is now calling you.’
    â€˜Grandma works for SHINE ?’ whispered Emma. ‘She did. She was in the code-cracking division, just like you. These days she just helps out every once in a while. She says it keeps her young at heart. When she left us in the city, she went OM but it seems she fell over and hurt herself. SHINE Home Delivery has collected her and she is now in hospital. I’m sure she’ll be fine, Em.’
    â€˜Does Grandpa know she was OM?’ asked Emma.
    â€˜Of course not, Em,’ replied her mum. ‘ SHINE is strictly girls only.’
    â€˜Will Grandma really be okay?’ asked Emma.
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    Piinngg!
    Â 
    It was Emma’s phone again but this time it was a normal text message. It was from Grandma.

    Emma couldn’t believe it, it was as if Grandma had read her mind—all the way from hospital. Emma felt a bit better but not completely.
    â€˜Okay, Mum. I’ll go get my bracelet.’
    It was no ordinary bracelet that Emma was collecting. It was a special SHINE spy gadget CHARM (Clever Hidden Accessories with Release Mechanism) bracelet filled with charms that with a single twist became high-tech spy gadgets. Emma had hers hidden in a secret box hidden in a secret shelf in her room. Not even her brother would ever be able to find it. Putting her bracelet on, she went out to the car where her mother was waiting. Minutes later, Emma’s mum pulled up outside an ordinary-looking light shop in an ordinary-looking shopping village. The sun was only now coming up and there was no one in the street.
    â€˜Good luck, Em. You can do it,’ said Mum, smiling. ‘Let’s make sure we’re all home in time for Swedish Christmas!’
    Emma smiled, gave her mum a kiss and got out of the car. She walked up to the Light Shop and pushed the door. It opened, just as she knew it would, even this early. As the door’s buzzer went off, an elderly lady appeared from behind a Christmas tree aglow with bud lights.
    â€˜Good morning, may I help you?’ she asked. ‘Are you looking for anything in particular?’
    EJ remembered the access words. ‘Yes, please,’ she said. ‘Do you have any Christmas lights you can show me?’
    â€˜Oh yes, of course we do,’ cried the lady. ‘Just follow me.’
    They walked to a desk at the back of the show room. ‘Please put your hand on here,’ said the lady, placing a small black box on the counter.
    EJ put her hand on the pad, which buzzed for a moment then stopped. Then a