Chapter 1

KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK KNOCK! Simon Gebster’s eyes opened slowly. Who on earth would be knocking at—he checked the time—5 o’clock in the morning? KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK! And so loudly too. Simon lay for a little longer. His parents might wake up. They could deal with this. KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK! Maybe his brother or sister would wake up and get the door. KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK! Fido would scare whoever it was. He could be a very ferocious ball of fur sometimes. KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK! Simon sighed. There was nothing for it. He’d have to go.

Simon slipped out of bed, and onto the cold wood floor of his room. He switched on the lantern on his desk, and made his way to the door. As soon as he opened it, a giant mop-like bundle of fur tackled him down onto the ground. He fell with a giant crash, and then the mop was off.

‘Fido,’ Simon grumbled. ‘You had to go ahead and do that, didn’t you?’ The St. Bernard made a quiet whimpering noise in reply. KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK! Simon rubbed Fido’s head, and crept out of his room, down the hallway, through the living room, and to the door. He fleetingly wished he had changed from his Minecraft pyjamas, but then the thought was obliterated by another loud, KNOCK-KNOCK! KNOCK-KNOCK! Simon muttered something about idiot neighbours, and unlocked the door. He threw it open, and then stopped. On the doorstep was someone Simon had never seen before.

Simon lived in a small town called Planesville. It wasn’t on any maps, and in one of the most rural areas of Victoria. There were only about 100 people there, and Simon knew all of them, if not by name, then by sight. But this woman was new.

‘Hi,’ she said brightly. ‘Are you Simon Gebster? 14 years old? Son of William and Anastasia Gebster?’ Simon rubbed his eyes. The woman wasn’t very tall, and only around 25. Her wavy hair hung down to her shoulders, and she wore a jacket too big for her, and a pair of very forlorn-looking sneakers peeked out from baggy pants. She smiled brightly.

‘Who on earth are you?’ Simon said. He already regretted opening the door.
‘I’m Rowena,’ she said. ‘Well? Are you Simon? Or are you Timothy? You definitely can’t be Rose.’ Simon blinked. How did she know his name? How did he know his parent’s and sibling’s names? Simon realised that the woman—Rowena—was waiting expectantly. She didn’t look like she was moving off anytime soon.

‘Yeh,’ he said. He tried to imitate that casual and confident manner that his older brother Timothy always put on when he was meeting knew people. ‘What of it?’
‘Excellent!’ Rowena said. ‘You free on Monday? 4:30?’
‘Think so,’ Simon said. ‘Why?’
‘Excellent!’ Rowena said again. ‘Come to the town square at around that time.’
‘Alri—’ Simon started. But Rowena had started walking off. She weaved around the miniature hedge maze they had in the front yard.
‘Remember,’ she called over her shoulder. ‘4:30, town square!’ And then she was gone. Simon sighed. Now she’d peaked his interest. The devious little—Simon sighed again. He’d have to go.

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‘WHO ON EARTH ARE YOU?’ bellowed Keith Yass. He was an accountant for the small business that was run in the town, which went by the name of RONALD’S CLOTHES EMPORIUM. The woman standing on his doorstep wasn’t fazed by his loud volume.

‘You’re Keith Yass, right?’ she said. ‘Excellent. I’m Rowena. Can you come to the town square on Monday, 4:30?’ Keith grunted. He wasn’t in the mood for conversation at the moment. Some idiot child friend of his daughter’s had let their pet rat loose in his house, and it was eating through all his pantry like a…well, like a rat.
‘Ok!’ Rowena said. She skipped off. Keith yawned. That woman was too cheerful for this kind of dreary morning. Keith sighed. Then he went off back to bed.

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Lucy Magpie opened her door. Really, what a noisy racket at 5:30 in the morning. Her chickens might get heart attack. A woman stood on the doorstep.

‘Hello,’ she said. ‘I’m Rowena. Are you Lucy Magpie?’
‘Why, yes, I am!’ Lucy said. Not so secretly, she was delighted at being known by name by someone she had never met before. This Rowena must be quite nice. ‘Are you from Good Farms, by any chance?’
‘Sorry, I’m not,’ Rowena said apologetically. This woman was much nicer than the other two, she thought. ‘Are you free for Monday, 4:30, at the town square?’
‘Why, of course I am!’ Lucy said. ‘Should I bring my chickens? Will I meet the Good Farms council?’
‘I don’t think you need to,’ Rowena said. ‘Anyway, see you there!’ She bounced off. Lucy sighed. What a nice young lady she was.

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Rowena had trouble talking to the second last person.
‘Who are you? What are you doing here? You know I have full right to be here. I have documents to prove it!’
‘Are you Violet Spa—’
‘How do you know my name? Are you secret services? I haven’t done anything wrong!’ This entire conversation had been playing out for at least 10 minutes on telephone. Her mother had handed the phone to her daughter after a long explanation about why Violet wouldn’t come out.
‘There is a catalogue at the town hall you know,’ Rowena said impatiently. She was really getting tired.
‘AHA! So you admit to having searched the catalogue for me! Well, I’m not having it! If you want to kill me, you’re going to have to come in and do it yours—’
‘I am NOT trying to kill you, for the last time!’ Rowena nearly bawled into the telephone. A bleary eye’d neighbour peered out of a next door window. ‘Listen, are you Violet Spaniel, or are you NOT Violet Spaniel?’ There was a sullen pause. The neighbour, seeing that the noise was all gone, closed the window again.
‘You could have gone along with it,’ came a sullen voice. ‘It was just getting fun.’
‘This is a waste of time,’ Rowena grumbled. After a long hour of dealing with different people, she was finally getting tired of them. ‘Can you come to the town square at—’
‘Yes yes, I know,’ Violet said grumpily. ‘You’ve said it enough times. Town square, 4:30, Monday, blah blah bl—’ Rowena cut the call short.

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‘Yes?’ asked Harry Jacobs. He owned the local bakery, and every morning he woke up at 5:00 to prepare his bakery for the steady stream of school children who would come through at lunchtime. His bakery was near the Planesville primary school.
‘I am R—’ Rowena started.
‘Yeeeesss, Rowena Eliot. I remember you,’ Harry frowned. ‘I thought your family moved away.’
‘They did,’ Rowena said. ‘But that doesn’t matter. I have to do something here. Can you come to the town square on Monday? 4:—’
‘Are you…’ light dawned in Harry’s already bright eyes. ‘Don’t tell me you’re starting that old thing up again? Why on earth would you keep it up? Your mother rejected that custom 30 years ago.’ He shook his head.
‘Well that doesn’t matter much does it. You’re doing it, and that’s the important thing. Who’s invited to your little…committee?’ Rowena told him. Harry looked thoughtful.
‘The Gebster boy?’ he mused. ‘That makes sense. He’s a good old chap. And obviously Violet Spaniel. She’ll make a good spect.’ Rowena nodded.
‘Keith Yass?’ Harry kept on going. ‘Maybe. He has a decent head on his shoulders. But a little dull. He’ll be a good one, though I think you’re stretching the rules a little bit on picking such an easy one. But why on earth do you want Magpie?’
‘I know some things about Lucy Magpie that might surprise you,’ Rowena said mysteriously. ‘But that’s besides the point. Can you come at 4:30?’
‘Alright, I will,’ Harry said. ‘But still, why do you still want to do this? Don’t tell me your family is still into—’
‘No, of course not,’ Rowena gasped. ‘You know my mother renounced it. But there are still those who remember our old days. And we have a little bit of trouble with some of them. This is the only way. Don’t ruin my coming.’
‘Sure,’ Harry grinned. ‘Our family’s been a friend of yours for centuries. This better be fun, Rowena.’ Rowena grinned back, and then she walked off into the growing light.

Chapter 2

Simon whizzed through the not very crowded streets on his bicycle. It was after school, and already he was late for this appointment thing. He was held up briefly at home by Fido, who demanded to be fed, and his older siblings wouldn’t do it. Now he was at least 5 minutes late. Finally, he reached the designated meeting spot at the town square.

Simon looked around, glancing first in one direction, then the other. Finally, he spotted the huddle of people. Everyone was there—everyone except him. Simon wheeled over.
‘About time!’ Keith bellowed. He held up a hand, and Simon high-fived him. ‘You took ages!’
‘Fido was insistent,’ Simon said. He joined the huddle.

So, now that everyone is now here,’ Violet said, glaring meaningfully at Simon, ‘We can find out what this Rowena chap is planning for us.’ Simon jumped. He hadn’t seen Violet there. Violet smirked at him. He looked around, and saw Harry, and Lucy were also in the group.

Rowena grinned at the audience around her.
We,’ said Rowena, smiling widely, ‘are all here for one reason.’
‘You called us here,’ Keith said. ‘Get on with it!’ Violet shushed him. Keith rolled his eyes.
‘Go on,’ Harry said.
‘Anyway,’ Rowena continued, her smile faltering slightly. ‘As you know, Planesville’s been around for ages and ages. People have come and gone, and the town’s endured bandits, drought, famine and many other things besides.’ She paused for a second, and around her, 5 heads bobbed up and down in almost synchrony.
‘We all live here, in this wonderful town,’ Rowena continued. ‘And I, personally, think that Planesville’s residents deserve something. And we’re going to set up…’ she paused dramatically, ‘a surprise party for Planesville’s 100th anniversary!’ There was a brief silence.

‘What’ll it be about?’ Harry asked. ‘What’s the theme?’
‘Can I go now?’ Violet grumbled. ‘I only came because my mom told me to.’
‘An…event?’ Simon squeaked. ‘If my sister gets wind of this, I’ll never hear the end of it. I’ll have to sponsor her orangutans in Borneo propaganda.’
‘Excellent!’ Lucy squealed. ‘I can bring eggs! We can have an egg toss!’
‘And you’re running this?’ Keith scoffed. ‘You don’t even live here!’
‘I used to,’ Rowena retorted. ‘And besides, Planesville’s a brilliant town! It deserves a party.’ Heads bobbed and people muttered in reply.
‘So,’ Rowena asked, clapping her hands together, ‘who’s got any ideas?’

‘I have an—’ Lucy started. Violet interrupted her.
‘I could find out what the kids would like.’ she beamed. ‘I love spying.’ Rowena beamed at her, and said, ‘Good idea!’ Simon groaned in his head. Now, on top of everything else, he would have Violet popping out of doorways and screaming, ‘BOO!’ every 5 minutes.
‘I could make the food,’ Harry said. Rowena beamed some more.
‘I guess I could make decorations, and, I dunno, hand out flyers?’ Simon asked. ‘My sister will be quite happy to help.’ Rowena’s beaming smile grew even wider. How was that even possible? Simon didn’t know anyone who could smile that long, that wide, for such a prolonged period of time.
Keith raised his hand slowly.
‘I could organise a rugby event.’ Rowena pointed at him with less enthusiasm.
‘Yeah! Sure!’

‘Rugby at an anniversary party?’ Violet rolled her eyes. ‘What are we, barbarians?’ Keith’s eyes bulged.
‘RUGBY, IS A HEALTHY AND BENEFICIAL SPORT!’ He yelled. Violet rolled her eyes again.
‘We need some music,’ Rowena mused. ‘Where could we get that?’
‘I’m part of a band,’ Simon said, his hopes rising. Maybe he’d get out of having to do decoration! ‘We could play at this thing.’
‘Yes,’ Rowena said. ‘You see if you can get them on board, along with your decoration work. Maybe they can help you with it too!’ Simon groaned again, but quietly. He wished the ground would grow a mouth and swallow him up. He looked down. The ground remained obstinately in-mouthed.
‘What kind of food would we need?’ Harry thought out loud. ‘We’ll need all of the old things, cakes, cookies, pie, noodles—’
‘Noodles?’ Keith asked incredulously. ‘Noodles are party food?’ He felt like sneering at someone else. His passion had just been mocked, after all. Keith actually rather liked noodles.
‘Well not exactly,’ Harry said. ‘But they’re good anyway. We’ll need some food. Will this be a dinner or lunch party?’
‘I think it should be a dinner one,’ Rowena answered. ‘We need to build up the anticipation, you know?’
‘No,’ Violet said flatly, ‘I don’t.’
‘I could set up an egg toss!’ Lucy finally managed to put in. No one said anything in reply.

This kind of bantering and back-and-forthing went on for a while longer. Finally, Rowena held up her hands. Harry was still thinking about foods, this time with Lucy, who seemed to have a remarkable aptitude for cooking beef stew, and baking pumpkin pie. Violet had left, nobody knew when, and in her place was a big cardboard sign with, ‘GONNA GET SOME INFO,’ on the front. Simon and Keith, after attempting to follow the conversation’s back and forth movement, had given up and started talking about the upcoming rugby match. Rowena was sitting back, her head in her hands. Finally, she stood up, and said, ‘I think that’s enough ideas for today. You’ve all been assigned something. Please don’t ruin this party.’ Then, she walked off.

‘Well, that’s that,’ Keith said. ‘Imma go find myself a nice smoothie. See ya round, Simon.’ He walked away too. Harry smiled at Simon.
‘Good first day, aye?’ he asked. ‘Good luck with your decoration.’ He strode towards his bakery, Lucy trotting along behind him. Simon turned away. His gaze happened to pass over the cardboard sign Violet had left behind. There was something behind it…
‘BOOOOO!!!’ Violet screeched, as she jumped out from behind the sign.