Zapotek the computer fixer is working away at the Coms’ computer – complete with his own Hobnobs to keep him going. Everything should be all right now, then – shouldn’t it..?
Suzie made it to the school to collect Dot just in time – which meant too late, as what looked like a hundred other mums and dads were doing the same thing – lots of them in cars. Usually she walked down to meet Dot at the school gates.
“BEEP BEEP!” went one mum, driving a huge shiny black thing with a front grille that looked like a dinosaur trying to smile and THREE aerials on the back.
“All right, all right” muttered Suzie to herself. “I’m doing my best! What are you doing bringing that blooming great tractor down to school anyway!” She inched Wilhelmina back… back a bit more… squeeeeeeeeze… parked! Phew!
“Hi mum” said Dot, chucking her bag on the back seat and climbing in. “How’s the big computer?”
“Hang on a bit” said Suzie. After all that, now she had to get Wilhelmina their Skoda car out of their very tight parking spot. Again, squeeeeeze – double squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze – done it!
“Oh, it’ll be all right now” she said as they drove up Fletchley Avenue, away from St Mary’s Primary. “But dad spent all morning trying to fix it – till I got him to call Zapotek.”
“Mr Hobnobs!” said Dot, grinning.
“Yes. And would you believe it, Dad even got to the point of swopping the big computer mouse with yours from the laptop. Didn’t make a bit of difference of course!”
“Oh, right” said Dot uneasily. She always preferred to have her mouse – Mr Mouse – with her laptop. Because it was only with his help that she could go net-voyaging – actually travelling into the internet and having adventures, when he became Mr Mouse, the sassy Canadian cheesehunter, and Wiz her dog could talk to her.
Of course, she couldn’t tell Mum any of that… but she’d better make sure she got Mr Mouse back straight away…
“Should be fixed now, anyway” said Suzie, as they drew up outside their house in Barking Avenue.
As they came through the door, they could tell it was. The lovely voice of Mary Black was filling the house - Bill was obviously at the computer watching one of his favourite Youtube videos. Just to check everything was OK now, of course!
“All right Dad?” said Dot, giving Bill a hello kiss.
“Yes good old Zapotek, all sorted” said Bill. He took his hand away from the mouse to point at the screen. “Mary Black’s SO good” he said. “Such a brilliant voice!”
But Dot wasn’t listening. She was looking at the mouse. It was very smart – red and silver with a flashing blue light on the top.
“Oh” said Bill, smiling up at her “Nice, isn’t it? I was trying your one from the laptop – Zapotek said it wasn’t any good. “I gib you bedder mousey too, Misder Gom. You will brefer, I bromeese you!!” * He’s right - this is MUCH better!”
He gave the smart new mouse a little twirl and the lights flashed on and off.
“He’s taken your old one, by the way” Bill went on.
!!
He turned back to the computer screen where his fave singer was starting another song.
“Said he’d get it recycled.”
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* “I’ll give you a better mouse too, Mr Com. You will prefer it, I promise you!”
