Winning a Giraffe Called Geoffrey Read Free Page A

yours. He’s been trained by Alfredo.’
    â€˜Sounds like a hairdresser. Does your dog have his hair curled?’ laughed India, with her hands still on her hips.
    â€˜Alfredo is the best trainer in the business. My grandfather says so. ‘ Mario thumped his fist on the fence. “We’re going to make a packet on our dogs.’
    â€˜Don’t bet against the greyhounds,’ hissed Art. If India lost this bet how would she pay his? India listened, then turned around to face Mario.
    â€˜When?’
    â€˜Wednesday after school.’
    â€˜You’re on.’
    â€˜My Grey Flash could beat your Tiny.’
    Mario’s dog Grey Flash was a professional racer. Running was his full time job. What was India planning with Tiny?
    â€˜Art, are you still a part-time spy?’
    Art nodded. ‘Part-time.’
    â€˜Could you find something out for me?’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜How fast can Mario’s greyhounds run?’
    Art worked it out. ‘You mean at the race track, down the bottom of my street?’
    That’s where Mario’s grandfather ran the dogs every morning. India nodded. ‘They run very early in the morning. And Mum makes me look after my little sister then.’
    Art wondered how he’d record their times.
    â€˜Want to borrow my stopwatch? ‘India smiled.
    Art looked up. ‘Can you read minds?’
    â€˜Of course not. But if you’re going to time the dogs you’ll need something to do it with.’
    Art nodded. She was too quick.
    â€˜If you find out about Grey Flash’s time, I’ll swap you for things about giraffes,’ offered India.
    â€˜Okay.’ That was fair.
    At home time, India called out.’ Got something for you.’ She gave him a newspaper.
    â€˜There’s a giraffe picture too.’
    â€˜What else did you find?’ asked Art. India was so fast, Art felt like a snail. What if he had trouble with the times tomorrow?
    â€˜How many bones d’you reckon are in a giraffe’s neck? ‘India had that look of someone who knows the answer when you don’t.
    â€˜I dunno.’ Art made a guess. ‘Sixty?’
    â€˜Only seven. Same as your neck. But giraffe’s are longer.’
    Art could have told her that.
    â€˜A giraffe looks skinny, but it weighs as much as five lions. It has soft, dark eyes and it’s very shy. That’s why giraffe houses at the zoo often have signs asking people to be quiet.’
    India stopped for a breath and Art felt pleased. Geoffrey might be big on the outside, but he could be shy inside.
    â€˜I found out that male giraffes fight by swinging their heads at one another. And they kick lions or men with their hooves…’
    â€˜Thanks.’ Maybe Geoffrey would need to fight one day. Or maybe he could just use his head?
    As they walked out of school together, Art clutched the newspaper. He didn’t want to try and read it now. He’d wait until he got home and was by himself. Then he could put his fingers under the words.
    He asked a last question. ‘How do giraffes hide?’
    India shrugged. ‘I dunno. Use their spots I suppose.’She pointed to the Grade 6 window on the second storey of the school. ’A giraffe is tall enough to look in that window. How could you hide someone that tall?’
    Hiding Geoffrey was a problem, all right. Already.
    At the school gates, Mario was speaking Italian to his Gran. She often waited for him there after school. Today she was telling him off. The words tumbled out.
    â€˜D’you think Mario’s Gran heard about the milkbar visit?’ grinned India. She didn’t understand Italian, but anyone could understand Mario’s Gran.
    â€˜Or his maths test mark. He cheated again. ‘ said Art.
    Mario pretended not to see them. His grandmother wasn’t even up t his shoulder, so he leaned over to listen to her.
    â€˜D’you reckon giraffes speak to each