Darkmoor Read Free Page A

touching the freckles on her face. Looking beyond Matthew’s bedroom into the garden, Catherine could see that clever crow!
    Overjoyed to see him, Catherine turned to Matthew.
    “Have you seen a crow?” Catherine asked.
    “Yes I met him earlier,” Matthew answered.
    “What do you mean you’ve met?” Catherine said, slightly shocked by Matthew’s casual tone about Crow.
    With Catherine’s full attention, Matthew once more told the story of his encounter with Clever Crow.
    “Well I was going to unload the van when...” Matthew started.

    1st May
    Dear Diary,

    Well it’s now 10.30pm.
    Mum, Dad and of course me have just come back from visiting the Old Vicarage. Mum didn’t want to go across, but thankfully Dad is just as curious as me. The new neighbours are Jack and Matthew. Dad got on so well with Jack that he’s invited them to come to the car boot with us tomorrow.
    I got to have a good look round. It’s not what I imagined it to be, not as mysterious as I always thought it would be. Sure needs a lot of work doing on it. Apparently Jack and Matthew are going to live there, do it up, then sell it on (to me I hope lol.)
    Matthew is gorgeous and is only two years older than me. He doesn’t talk much, but that will change when he gets to know me. Don’t know what’s going on with his Mum, maybe she is with someone else, or maybe she’s dead.
    Oh and you will never believe who is still living there, Crow! Acting like he still owns the place. I couldn’t believe he let Matthew touch him. Still at least he’s ok.
    Anyway early start tomorrow-6am,
    Good night.
    Oh almost forgot...
    Mum and Dad had an almighty fight this morning, Mum accused Dad of having an affair. Dad would never do that.
    Also there are NO missing kids hiding in there. Lol

Chapter Three
    Car Boot mayhem
    “Come on Catherine sleepy head, Matthew will be waiting,” her dad, Pete, whined at Catherine trying to get her out of bed.
    “Oh,” Catherine moaned “6 o’clock is too early,” she barked.
    Pete prowled up and down the landing like a lion hunting its prey, “Come on Cathy!” he roared.
    “Ok! Ok! I’m up,” finally Catherine yawned.
    The thought of spending the day with her new handsome neighbour, Matthew, did make getting out of bed a little easier.
    Throwing on her black leggings and her stripy blue-grey jumper, she quickly noted,

    2nd May
    Dear Diary,

    Just a quick note as it is 6.15 in the morning! Setting off to the car boot soon for the first time in ages, I can’t wait. I get to spend the whole day with Matthew. Wait till I tell everyone at school, they will be so jealous, especially Abigail.
    Bye for now xxxx

    Catherine placed the diary in her colourful fabric bag.
    “Hair brushed, check, teeth cleaned, check, best clothes on, well we are going to a car boot, leggings and jumper will do, looking good? Check.” With that, she threw her bag across her shoulder and skipped happily downstairs.
    Pete, Julie, Jack and Matthew were stood waiting for her.
    “Hi everyone,” Catherine said trying to sound lively.
    “Hi Catherine,” Jack replied. Matthew just nodded his head.
    “Come on then there’s no time to waste if we want to get all of the good stuff,” Pete said, grabbing his car keys off the sideboard.
    Pete, Jack and Julie lead the way to the car while Matthew and Catherine dragged their feet along behind.
    “What’s in the bag?” Matthew asked.
    “Oh it’s just my diary she, I mean it, comes everywhere with me.”
    “Hum,” Matthew mumbled.
    “So, have you been to any car boots before?” Catherine asked Matthew, trying to spark a conversation.
    “Nope,” Matthew replied rather abruptly as they both got into the car.
    It wasn’t too long until Pete announced they had arrived.
    “Right, Jack let’s leave these young ones to fend for themselves,” Pete put his arm around Jack’s skeleton shoulders. Julie headed off in the opposite direction leaving Matthew and Catherine alone.
    Hardly a blade