Around the Bend: Grass

"I don't know," I said.

"Just let us live for a while, and we will give you anything you want!" said the whispery voices.

"Anything?" I asked.

"Anything within reason."

"OK," I said. "I've always wanted a brother. Can you give me a brother?"

"We'll try."

"It's a deal!"

And then I woke up. I tell you, it was the weirdest thing. I didn't know whether it had really happened or what, but I thought I'd at least give the grass-people a try. But then Mum came to nag me again.

"It's half past ten. Get up!"

"I can't do the lawns today, Mum."

"Why not?"

"It's an... experiment. I have to let them grow."

"What kind of experiment? For school?"

"School?"

"Yes, school. Are you deaf?"

"Er, yes. It's a school experiment. The teacher wants us to let the lawns grow ... to see what happens."

Mum looked at me very doubtfully.

"All the lawns?" she asked.

"Er, no, just the ones round the back." (They were the biggest ones.)

"And how long do you intend to leave the lawns?"

"About a week. Don't worry, Mum. I'll get on to them. It's a very important science experiment. I want to get really high marks for it. Please?"