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MATT AND MAY GO TO VISIT GRANDMA AND GRANDDAD

Matt and May were in the car with their mummy and daddy because they were on their way to see their Grandma and Granddad in the Dales.

Matt liked going there because Granddad always took him fishing. He did hope he managed to catch a fish this time.

May liked going to see them because Grandma always spoilt them by giving them lots of sweets and if they went out Grandma or Granddad always bought them a toy.

Daddy was driving. After they had seemed to be driving along for ever Mummy turned around and asked, "Do you two need to go to the toilet?"

Not because May really wanted to go but she wanted a chance to get out of the car she quickly said to Mummy. "Yes please."

Mummy turned to Daddy and said, "We'll stop then as soon as you find somewhere with toilets."

Daddy laughed, "I thought you'd never ask, I'm ready for a drink of tea."

Now he'd been asked to stop Daddy soon found a place.

Turning around to look at them Mummy asked, "Can you wait a few more minutes to go to the toilet?"

"Yes," both of them answered together.

"Good, you two just wait here then, whilst Daddy and I go and get us something to drink. Do you want something to eat as well?"

"Yes please Mummy," May replied. "I'm starving."

"What do you want, a sandwich?"

"Please and a bag of crisps."

"Same for you Matt?"

"I want a Kit Kat."

"That won't fill you, have a sandwich as well."

"I don't want a sandwich," he replied sulkily.

"All right Kit Kat it is but don't blame me if you're still hungry and your tummy starts to rumble."

Now Daddy said, "You two behave yourselves if we leave you in the car. I'll lock the door so no touching any thing you shouldn't. You can both read your books for a few minutes. We won't be long."

"We'll be good," they both shouted.

For once they did as they were told, Matt picked up his book and started to read whilst May sat watching out of the window to see what was going on. She soon saw Mummy and Daddy go into the shop.

A man and a lady caught her attention as the man got out of a big car and the lady out of a small car parked next to the big car. They went over to each other and started talking.

Funny, thought May coming in two cars.

The man walked to the back of the small car and opened the boot, wondering what was in his boot May pushed her nose to the window to watch more closely.

She saw him lift out a rolled up carpet which looked very heavy.

Quickly she nudged Matt, "Look at that man moving that carpet. It looks big and heavy."

Matt grunted at being disturbed from reading his book, but May nudged him again. "What if there's a body in it?"

Matt looked now at what his sister was talking about. "May, I think you could be right. That looks more than a rolled up carpet."

Now May was a little bit afraid, "What should we do?"

"There's nothing we can do. Daddy said we'd to stay in the car."

He grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her down in the seat, "We'd better keep out of view in case they see us looking. We don't want them coming after us and we end up a body in a carpet."

"Oh Matt don't say that," said May near to tears.

They both jumped as they heard the car door being rattled and a voice asked, "What are you two up to hidden down there?"

Matt let out a sigh of relief as he realised it was Daddy speaking.

"Oh nothing."

"Come on out with it, you were up to something."

"We were hiding," said May.

"What! Hiding from us, you silly goose we knew you were there because we'd left you locked in the car."

"No hiding from that man and lady."

"Which man and lady?" asked Daddy puzzled by what May was talking about.

"The man and lady who moved the carpet with the body in to the man's car boot."

"Come on you two, enough of that joke," said Mummy, "Time to get eaten up then I'll take you to the toilet."

"But Mummy," Matt protested "we're telling the truth."

Now Daddy looked at them again, "I think you'd best start at the beginning."

"We saw a man and woman drive up here in two cars," started May but Matt quickly jumped in. "Yes then they moved a carpet from the boot of her car to his."

"Yes, so what is wrong with that?" asked Daddy.

"There was a body rolled up in it."

"How do you know?"

"I saw a foot stuck out," replied Matt.

May looked at Matt in amazement but he just smiled back.

"Well if you're telling the truth I think we'd better do something about it. What do you think we should do Mummy?"

"I suppose we'd better ring the police and let them know."

"One last time you two, you are telling me the truth? I don't want to be made to look a fool by ringing the police and you've been making the story up."

"Yes Daddy, it really is true," they said together.

"You all stay here and keep the door locked and I'll go and phone the police. You'd better write the registration number down of the car Mummy in case they leave the car park then we can tell that to the police."

"You be careful," Mummy said to Daddy now worried about what was going on. "The couple must be in the cafe."

"I will. In any case they won't know me and why I'm phoning."

Mummy did as she was told and wrote the registration number down. May whispered to Matt, "You didn't really see a foot?"

"I know but Daddy wouldn't have believed us that there was a body in the carpet if I hadn't said that and you did want him to do something about it."

"Yes."

"Well then?"

Before it could develop into an argument Daddy came back to the car.

"Right, I've rung the police and somebody will be along shortly. They said we'd just to stay in the car and wait and if the car leaves not try to follow them or anything silly like that."

"Oh, what a shame I'd have liked a car chase, just like on television," said Matt now beginning to really enjoy himself.

"Yes, well this isn't television but real life."

This had the desired effect of shutting Matt up.

Soon they saw a police car drive into the car park. Daddy opened his car door and the policeman said, "I'll get in the back with the children and talk to you all in here if that's alright?"

May felt excited at a policeman sitting with them.

"Right you two tell me what's happened then."

Matt and May started to talk together, "It's that car over there," but before they got any further the policeman held up his hand and said, "stop the pair of you, I think it would be best if we to let Daddy tell the story."

Neither of them dare not do what the policeman had told them so they sat in silence as Daddy recounted the tale they'd told to him.

When Daddy had finished the story the policeman said "I think it would be best if you went on your way now before we talked to the owner of the car then they'll not know who has told us about the carpet and body. Just give me the address where you're going then we'll let you know how we get on."

Both Matt and May felt very disappointed that they weren't going to see the action but if the policeman said they'd to go then they would have to do as he said.

Now they were impatient to get to see Grandma and Granddad so they could tell them what had been happening on their way there. For the rest of the journey they couldn't stop chattering, to each other, about what had happened. Mummy kept asking them to be a little bit quieter but they were too excited to take any notice.

As soon as they arrived at Grandma and Granddad's they were straight out of the car to rush over to their grandparents to tell of their adventure.

"Very good story," said Grandma, " but don't you think we should all get inside and unpack as it's cold out here."

"But Grandma it's not a story it's true," said May.

"Yes dear," said Grandma in her voice which meant she wanted no more said on the subject.

But Mummy quickly said, "It's true Mum, that's what they did see. We'll no doubt be getting a visit from the police soon to let us know how they got on."

"Oh dear me," said Grandma turning quite pale. "Whatever next?"

"Now look what you've done," said Granddad, "You've upset Grandma with your silly tales."

"No it wasn't a tale," said Mummy quick to defend Matt and May. "That's why Mum's so upset."

"Oh I see," said Granddad in his usual quiet manner then said no more.

Matt and May were disappointed that the police hadn't been when Mummy said it was time for bed.

At Grandma's and Granddad's they had to sleep in the same bedroom and they had too much to say to each other, about what had happened that day, to get to sleep. Daddy kept coming up to them telling them to be quiet and get to sleep otherwise they'd be too tired the next day, but they were too excited with all that had happened to take any notice.

At some time sleep must have overtaken them because the next thing Matt knew it was light and he could hear the milk wagon going to the farm next door. He was soon stood on the stool looking out of the window and May seeing the light being let in was quickly awake and joined him. "Do you think the police will come today and tell us what happened?"

"I hope so, they might even give us some money for being good and telling them."

May jumped up and down on the stool with excitement, nearly knocking them both off, "Oh do you think so?"

Before Matt could answer they heard Daddy shout "Be quiet you two, it's not time to get up yet."

Matt and May looked at each other and laughed. They were used to Daddy saying this, but they were fully awake now so they carried on chattering.

No sooner had they finished their breakfast than a knock came to the door and they both quickly rushed to answer it with Grandma. Sure enough it was a policeman stood there, but not the same friendly one as yesterday. This one looked a bit frightening.

They heard Grandma ask him to come in. When they had all sat down Matt and May were still fidgeting with impatience to know what had happened when he finally said, "Well I'm sorry to disappoint you two. There was no body in the carpet. I think you've just got a vivid imagination.

Matt protested, "But there really was a body there."

"Did you actually see it?"

"No," he stuttered feeling a bit frightened.

"I thought you said you saw a foot?"

Going red now he answered, "Well I thought it was a foot," then becoming a bit braver again he asked, "So what was in the carpet?"

"Just another carpet, that's all."

"Just another carpet," May stammered."

"That's it."

Now Matt and May felt frightened and near to tears in fear they were going to get into trouble. Maybe the policeman would take them away from Mummy and Daddy for doing this. May ran into Mummy arms hoping she'd keep her safe.

Much to their surprise the policeman suddenly smiled at them both, "Don't look so frightened, you're not in trouble. We want people to keep a look out for the real villains. It's always best to tell us if you do suspect anything because you never really know, there might have been a body in the carpet. Better luck next time and thanks for your time and trouble telling us. I only wish more people were like you."

Matt and May turned to each other and smiled as Granddad said to Matt "Time to go fishing I think," and Grandma turned to May, "Now come and pick which sweets you want."

Now their visit had well and truly begun and they were happy once more.

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