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    Justine's Secret Challenge
    Justine's Secret Challenge
    Justine's Secret Challenge
    Ebook120 pages1 hour

    Justine's Secret Challenge

    By Jack Scoltock

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    About this ebook

    Nobody believes in fairies- but what do you do when they appear? Justine got the shock of her life when she spent the night with her friends in a tent at the bottom of their garden... A marvellous fantasy, full of quirky characters led by the courageous and mischievous heroine, Justine.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJack Scoltock
    Release dateMar 10, 2016
    ISBN9781311081575
    Justine's Secret Challenge
    Author

    Jack Scoltock

    Jack Scoltock is one of Irelands best fantasy writers for children of all ages.He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1942. He is married with two grown-up children.Jack has many books on the Amazon, Smashwords and Draft2digital.A scuba diver for over forty years, Jack was one of the divers who found a Spanish Armada wreck in Donegal in 1971. Inspired by a small leather boot found on the wreck, Jack wrote one of his best historical stories about a boy who stows away on an Armada galleon. The Sand Clocker (Spanish Armada Stowaway), is one of Scoltock’s most popular history books.Now retired, Jack Scoltock spends his free time writing.Challenge of the Red Unicorn, Davey's siege (a siege of Derry story), Perry's Adventure, Justine's Secret Challenge, Seek the Enchanted Antlers, Back To Neverland, are among some of the best of Jacks stories.

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      Book preview

      Justine's Secret Challenge - Jack Scoltock

      Justine’s Secret Challenge

      Copyright 2016 Jack Scoltock

      Published by Jack Scoltock at Smashwords

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, photography, filming, recording, photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, or shall not by way of trade or otherwise be lent, resold, or otherwise circulated in any All rights reserved. No part of this book may be utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without prior permission in writing from the publisher, Jack Scoltock. The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

      For my lovely girl, Justine

      1

      The night Justine camped out with her two friends at the bottom of her garden would be the beginning of a strange adventure that would change her life forever.

      ****

      Ach sure they’ll be all right, Love, John Cassidy reassured his wife Joy, as he looked out of the kitchen window at the four-man army tent away at the bottom of the garden. The big green tent was just visible at the edge of the thick rhododendron bushes behind the summer seat. Stop worrying.

      It’s not our Justine I’m worried about, John, Joy answered, turning away from the window and going to the sink. It’s Joan and Mary. They’ll be feeling nervous. I don’t think they’ve ever camped before. She began to fill the kettle for their usual late evening coffee.

      Justine’s mother was a slender, fair-haired woman with a tanned face and vivid blue eyes. She wore a blue T-shirt, black track-suit trousers and white Nike runners.

      Ah, sure they’re only at the bottom of the garden. Don’t forget, Justine has the back door key if any of them wants to come up to the house. Justine’s father smiled as Joy switched on the kettle. He was a burly red-haired man, dressed in a plain white T-shirt, track suit bottoms and runners. Remember the first time you and I went camping?

      Joy smiled and came towards him. It was a while ago.

      Yes, it was, John replied, putting his arms around her and giving her a warm kiss.

      ****

      Half an hour later, pulling on his tracksuit top, John said, "I’ll just check on the girls before we go up to bed. He reached into a top cupboard for his rubber flashlight.

      I’ll see to father, called Joy as John walked to the back door.

      ****

      It was a bright summer’s night as John headed down the flagged path towards the bottom of the garden. On one side of the forty-metre square patch was a vegetable section with its rows of lettuce, cabbage, green beans and herbs- thyme and Rosemary.The smell of the vegetables reminded him of the old man, his father-in-law, Tom who slept in the upstairs bedroom that looked out onto the garden. The garden was Tom’s only interest.

      On the other side of the garden grew roses and carnations. The scent from the flowers filled the night air. The scent always reminded him of his mother-in-law, Kathleen, who had died eight years ago. She had passed away peacefully in her favourite place- on the old summer seat that sat in front of the pink rhododendron bushes.

      He stopped. The entrance to the tent was just under the rhododendrons. The faint light from the battery torch hanging from the roof told him that the three girls were still awake. It was nearly eleven o’clock. He bent to the door of the tent.

      Knock, knock, he said softly.

      A moment later the zip opened.

      Daddy! His ten-and-a-half year-old daughter smiled up at him. What are you doing here?

      Her father smiled as he studied Justine’s beautiful face. She looked so like Joy. Her fair hair had become even fairer with the sun, proof of the beautiful summer this year. Justine’s bright blue eyes seemed to glow in the dimly-lit tent. On her pink Hannah Montana pyjama top was a picture of the beautiful singer and actress, Miley Cyrus.

      I just thought I’d check to see if you need anything before your mum and I go up to bed. He glanced in at Joan and Mary. You two OK?

      Joan, the smallest of the girls, gave him a braced smile. Through her wired teeth she managed to say, Yeth, Mither Cathidy.

      We’re OK, Mister Cassidy, thank you, Mary the oldest of the girls, said. Her long hair was almost the same colour as Justine’s. A few large freckles dotted her upturned nose.

      Good… good. I’ll be going then. Justine has the back door key if any of you want to come into the house.

      He smiled at his daughter.

      Daddy!

      Yes?

      Would you shine your flashlight all around the tent to make sure there are no creepy crawlies in it?

      John looked at Joan and Mary. Their wide eyes told him that it was they who had been afraid. Justine had her back to the two girls. She made a face at him.

      Sure, love, John agreed, pushing into the tent and switching on his flashlight.

      Here, over here, Mither Cathidy, Joan said, pointing to the furthest corner. The three girls crowded around him as he shone the light onto the corners of the tent.

      I don’t see any scary monsters there. He smiled. Justine’s two friend’s eyes were wide. I mean no creepy crawlies there. They’re probably all asleep by now anyway, he added.

      Would you check inside my sleeping bag, Mr. Cassidy? asked Mary, holding it out to him.

      With a smile John shone his flashlight down into the sleeping bag. Three pairs of eyes looked with him.

      Nope, there’s nothing there, Mary. I think it’s OK to get in now.

      Happy at last, Mary threw her sleeping bag to the back of the tent and then scrambled in, zipping it right up.

      Would you check mine too, Mither Cathidy?

      Two minutes later, Joan and Mary were snug in their sleeping bags.

      What about you, Justine? John asked, half backing out of the tent. Do you want me to check inside your sleeping bag?

      No, I’ll be fine, Daddy, Justine whispered.

      Right then. Do you want me to switch off your light?

      No! Joan and Mary cried together. Justine made another funny face at him.

      OK, then, John smiled. Now remember, Justine has the key to the back door. There’s a spare camp bed in the room beside the kitchen, just in case any of you want to come inside. He glanced at Joan and Mary. Two pairs of scared eyes looked out at him.

      OK, love, he whispered to Justine, planting a kiss on her brow. I’m away now."

      I’ll see you in the morning, Daddy.

      Goodnight, chorused Joan and Mary.

      ****

      At the same time inside the house, Joy was just leaving her father’s room.

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