Ivy and the Squeaky Swing

"Whee! Higher!" Ivy heard someone shout, and she ran down the hill to the harbour swing as fast as her trainers would go.

Theo was already on it. His feet kicked at the sky. The swing went squeak, squeak, squeak, like a mouse blowing a very small trumpet.

Ivy wanted a turn more than anything. The swing had long red ropes, and from the top of its swoop you could see all the little boats bobbing in the water.

"Can I have a turn, please?" she called.

"Soon!" said Theo. Squeak, squeak, squeak.

Ivy waited. She counted ten daisies. "Is it soon yet?"

"Not yet!" said Theo. Squeak, squeak, squeak.

So Ivy tried something different. She stood right in front of the swing with her arms folded and her very best frown. Theo swooped over her head, and whoosh, her hat flew off and landed in the grass.

"Oh!" said Ivy. She sat down beside her hat, a little cross.

Then she noticed something. Every time Theo flew up high, he stopped looking at her. He looked past the harbour wall, at the water.

"What are you looking for?" she asked.

"My dad's boat," said Theo. "It's blue with a yellow flag. It comes round the wall at lunchtime. I can see it best from up high."

Ivy thought about that. "I've got good eyes," she said. "Let's both look. Whoever sees it first shouts, and then it's my turn, and you can watch from the grass."

Theo slowed down. "Deal," he said.

Squeak... squeak... squeak.

Ivy stood on her toes and stared at the wall. A bit of yellow poked round the edge. It wiggled.

"Yellow flag!" she shouted.

"Dad!" yelled Theo. He dragged his feet, jumped off and landed with a thump.

Ivy climbed on. She pushed off, up and up, until the wind rushed in her ears. Far below, the blue boat slid past the wall and went hoooonk.

Squeak, squeak, squeak went the swing, and Theo waved from the grass.