Malorie Blackman - Jack Sweettooth

Eight o'clock

Hi! I'm Jackson Winstanley Sweettooth the seventy-third or Jack for short at your service!

I live with Mr Bailey, Mrs Bailey, Matthew and Shani, in this house.

Mr Bailey likes me. "As long as he doesn't run over my feet!"

Shani is very fond of me. "Jack is great fun!"

Matthew loves me. "Jack is my best friend."

Mrs Bailey... isn't too keen! "Keep that smelly, horrible creature away from me!"

Never mind! It's Shani's birthday today and I intend to be extra-super-duper helpful. I shall prove to Mrs Bailey that she's all wrong about me!

Eight fifteen

"AARRGH! No one move. No one breathe! The ruby has fallen out of my eternity ring. AARRGH!" shrieked Mrs Bailey.

"I've been telling you for ages to go and get your ring fixed, dear," sighed Mr Bailey.

Mrs Bailey fell to her knees and started sweeping her hands back and forth over the grey carpet.

"Come on, you lot! No breakfast until my ruby is found!"

"But that could take ages," said Matthew, his stomach rumbling.

"Then the sooner you start helping, the sooner we can all eat," said Mrs Bailey.

Matthew walked over to me. "Come on, Jack," he whispered. "If anyone can find Mum's ruby, you can."

He let me out of my cage and put me on the carpet. Here was my chance to shine! This was my chance to show Mrs Bailey that I, Jackson Winstanley Sweettooth the seventy-third, could be useful!

I was soon on the job! Sniffing here and searching there and keeping my eyes peeled. I ran everywhere over the videos and under the sofa and between the books on the floor, until...

"Eeek! Who let that nasty, disgusting creature out of its cage?" screamed Mrs Bailey.

"I thought Jack could help us," said Matthew.

"Help us! HELP US! I bet that... that... mouse has swallowed my ruby by now!" said Mrs Bailey.

"But, Mum " Shani protested.

"Jack wouldn't do that," said Matthew.

"Dear, I really think " began Mr Bailey.

But Mrs Bailey wasn't having any of it.

"Matthew, put that animal back in its cage. We're all going round to the vet's,"

said Mrs Bailey. "I just know that rodent has eaten my ruby!"

So we all left the house and got into the car and off we went to the vet's.

Eight forty-five

"Has Jack had any breakfast this morning?" The vet scratched her head.

"None of us has had any breakfast this morning," muttered Mr Bailey.

Mrs Bailey elbowed her husband in the ribs.

"No," said Matthew, "Jack hasn't eaten anything since yesterday evening."

"Good. That makes it easier. If Jack has swallowed the ruby from your mum's eternity ring it will show up nicely on the X-rays," said the vet.

I was put under a huge machine which clanged and rumbled and whirled. There was a sudden loud buzzing sound, but it didn't hurt at all and then it was all over.

Five minutes later, the vet came out into the waiting-room, where we were all sitting. Guess what?

"Sorry, Mrs Bailey," said the vet. "I don't know where your ruby is, but it's not in Jack's stomach."

Huh! I could've told you that! I thought.

So we all drove home again.

Nine fifteen

"I guess my ruby has gone for good," Mrs Bailey sighed unhappily once we were home.

"Never mind, dear," said Mr Bailey, giving her a hug. "I'm sure it will turn up."

"Mum, what about my birthday party?" said Shani. "All my friends will be here at three."

"Never mind your birthday party! What about breakfast?" said Matthew.

"OK! OK!" said Mr Bailey. "I'll make breakfast. You two go and make your beds and tidy your rooms until I call you."