Making Your Mind Up Read Free

it,” Nat said immediately.
    Ruby chimed in, “It wasn’t us.”
    Tyler looked over at Lottie Carlyle. Maybe he’d made a mistake. Catching his concerned expression, she rolled her eyes. “Please don’t believe them. They always say that. You can catch Nat with a mouthful of chocolate and he’ll still swear blind he hasn’t had any.”
    â€œBut it wasn’t us,” Nat repeated.
    â€œWe didn’t do it,” said Ruby, “and that’s the truth .”
    â€œThe more guilty they are, the more they deny it.” Lottie sensed Tyler’s unease. “Last week they were playing with a slingshot in the bathroom and the mirror happened to get broken. But guess what? Neither of them did that either.”
    â€œMum, this time we really didn’t take your clothes,” said Ruby.
    â€œNo? Well, this man here says you did. Because he saw you,” Lottie explained, “and unlike you two, he doesn’t tell lies. So you can climb down from there and go get my clothes this minute.”
    â€œWe don’t know where they are!” Ruby let out a wail of outrage.
    Without a word, Lottie disappeared inside the cottage. Through the open windows they heard the banging and crashing of cupboards and wardrobes being opened and shut. Finally, triumphantly, she reemerged carrying a scrunched-up pink dress, a pair of flat silver sandals and a yellow-and-white-striped bath towel.
    â€œIt wasn’t us,” Nat blurted out.
    â€œReally. Funny how they happened to be in the backyard then, isn’t it?” As she spoke, Lottie was shrugging off the miles-too-big suit jacket, handing it back to Tyler and wriggling into her crumpled sundress. “Now listen, taking my clothes was bad enough. Telling lies and denying it is even worse. So you can forget about going to the balloon festival this weekend, and you won’t be getting any allowance either.”
    â€œBut it was somebody else,” squealed Ruby.
    â€œThis man says it was you. And out of the three of you, funnily enough, I believe him. So get down out of that tree, get into the house, and start tidying your bedrooms. I mean it,” said Lottie. “This minute. Or I’ll stop your allowance for the next six weeks.”
    First Ruby, then Nat dropped down from the branches. Dark eyes narrowed in disgust, they glared at Tyler. As Ruby stalked past him she muttered, “ You’re the big liar.”
    â€œRuby. Stop that.”
    Nat, with bits of twig caught in his hair, looked up at Tyler and said with a scowl, “I’m going to tell my dad on you.”
    â€œOoh, he’s so scared.” Lottie deftly swept him past Tyler. “Inside. Now.”
    Nat and Ruby disappeared into the house. By this time, feeling terrible, Tyler said, “Listen, maybe I did make a mistake.”
    â€œThey’re children; it’s their job to get up to mischief.” Knowingly, Lottie said, “I’m guessing you don’t have any of your own.”
    Tyler shook his head. “No.”
    â€œLook, they hate you for telling on them.” Lottie’s eyes sparkled. “They’re doing their best to make you feel bad. But you never have to see them again, do you, so what does it matter?” As she spoke, someone inside the cottage burst into noisy heaving sobs. “That’ll be Nat, standing by the window to make completely sure we can hear him. I’m surprised he didn’t tell me an eagle flew off with my clothes then dropped them in our backyard. Anyway I’d better go. Thanks for the jacket. I hope it isn’t too damp.” She paused, raking her fingers through her wet hair, then broke into a dazzling smile. “It was kind of nice to meet you.”
    â€œWaaaaahhh,” bawled Nat, evidently inconsolable.
    â€œKind of nice to meet you too.” Tyler had to raise his voice to be heard over the heartbreaking