Authors: John Newman
Tao (14 page)
“Bob Marley. Why?”
“I knew it!” I said. “Willy stole it.”
“He always does,” smiled Kate. She knew exactly what I was talking about.
Over the door, as you enter The Happy Pear café there is a brand new Willyism, written especially for Tao and Mimi … and it’s all Willy’s own work, apparently. It says:
Don’t worry about a thing because every little thing is going to be all right
.
But on the radio, Bob Marley is singing Willy’s words to me,
“Don’t worry … ’bout a thing
’Cos every little thing’s … gonna be all right.”
And, even though (as usual) Willy had stolen the words, at that moment, they felt exactly right.
My phone shouted, ANSWERMEANSWERMEANSWERME, which sent Rodent scurrying off Kate’s lap and into his cage, which was on the floor. It was a text from Mimi with a photo attached of a newborn baby’s wrinkled little face and bald head.
Hi bro. Ur new cuz Noname. Isnt he cute? Mimi XXX
I showed it to Kate. She looked at the baby closely.
“It’s been a good day, hasn’t it, Tao?” she said, and gave me a squeeze.
And I could not remember ever having felt so happy.
I want to thank Kathryn Ross (my agent) for always being so generous with her time and for being so encouraging and dynamic and funny! I am also blessed with three wise and wonderful editors in Caroline Royds, Genevieve Herr and Maya Gartner. Thanks to my mother, Nathalie, for always encouraging me to write … and for passing on her own flair for words. Thank you, Paul, for allowing me to use some of your “colourful” expressions and Anna for your extensive knowledge of all things animal! Last, but most certainly not least, thanks to my lovely wife, Astrid, for listening and indulging and helping sift the dross from the genuine.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously. All statements, activities, stunts, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated as they may result in injury.
First published 2011 by Walker Books Ltd
87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ
Text © 2011 John Newman
Cover illustration © 2011 Del Thorpe
The right of John Newman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:
a catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-4063-4262-8 (ePub)