Extract - Masie Myres: Two Worlds

An extract from Tony M.Adams’ middle grade fantasy quest, where a 13-year-old girl holds the key to the secrets that could save the fate of the world...

It was wet, warm, and slow-moving. Masie knew precisely what it was. As usual, Masie’s dog, Archie, had got in her bedroom and woke her up with a big, wet lick to her face.

“Ewwww, Archie…” Masie mumbled, covering her head with her quilt.

Archie sat down, his nose inches from Masie’s head under the quilt, anticipating her next move, his tail wagging furiously from side to side, brushing the carpet. It was wagging so hard it made his head nod from side to side. Both his ears were standing to attention, and his front paws were slightly patting the ground, poised, ready to pounce, looking directly at the head-shaped quilt. He could hear her breathing, and she could hear his quiet whines of excitement. Archie’s ears twitched as he heard a faint giggle from under the quilt, making his back legs twitch, rising slightly. He then relaxed again as he sat back down. His front paws were patting harder now. The quilt started to rise slowly. Archie’s tail picked up speed, now a blur of wagging. The quilt rose more until Masie’s face could be seen underneath, and a smile slowly appeared. Archie couldn’t hold on any more, so he stood up and jumped onto the bed, slightly overshooting Masie, which allowed Masie to swing her arm around, still underneath the quilt, wrapping Archie in it. He squirmed, and they fought a bit, which ended up with Archie on his back. Masie gave him a good belly rub, making his tail wag, and his tongue hung out of his mouth to the side while panting.

“Who’s a good boy, who’s a good boy?” Masie said.

They played around for a while, ending, as always, with Archie laying his head on Masie’s tummy. They looked directly at each other, and Masie gave him a soft ear rub, which Archie loved. Archie was a light brown medium-sized dog. Masie was told he was a cross between a Labrador and a Collie, but she reckons he is a cross between a German Shepard and a Kangaroo, as he was so playful and forever bouncing about the place. Masie is thirteen years old and got Archie when she was only six months old. Every morning, he tries to sneak into Masie’s room, which always ends up in a good play on the bed. Masie wants Archie to sleep in her room at night, but her Mum and Dad say she will never get any sleep, so Archie sleeps in her parents’ room for now.

“I’m sorry, Pal, I need to get up,” Masie said quietly to Archie.

He got to his feet, shook, then jumped off the bed and left her room. Masie lifted the quilt, swung her feet around, and sat on the edge of her bed. She rubbed her eyes, put her glasses on, stretched, and stood up. She shuffled to the bathroom next door to her bedroom, grabbing her school uniform from the back of her door and the towel from her chair. She noticed Archie lying at the top of the stairs, waiting for her.

“Give me ten minutes, pal. I need a shower,” Masie said to him. Masie loved a shower and would have two or three a day if she could. She says it cleanses the soul as well as the body, and it also helps that she has speakers in the shower and listens to music there. Archie was still there when she came out of the bathroom. Masie was dressed in her school uniform and was towel-drying her long brown hair.

“Come on then,” She said as she put the towel around her neck.

Archie stood up, ran down the stairs, through the living room and disappeared into the kitchen. When Masie arrived, Archie was sitting by the back door, looking directly at it. She took the towel from around her neck and threw it into the laundry basket by the back door. She then opened the door for Archie, who immediately ran out. She left the door open, walked to the fridge, opened it, and stared inside it for a while. She was holding a bottle of fresh orange juice when she turned around, got a glass out of the cupboard, and filled it.

“Morning, love,” Masie’s mum said as she entered the Kitchen, yawning. “Can you turn the kettle on while you are there?”

“Morning, Mum, sure,” Masie replied as she checked the kettle was full of water, and then turned it on.

“Sorry, Archie got out of our bedroom again. He’s learned to jump at the door handle and open the door,” her mum said.

“It’s fine. We had a play. I like it when he wakes me up,” Masie said. Masie’s mum held her hand out, and Masie gave her the orange juice carton. She opened the fridge and swapped it for the Milk. Masie then started to make some toast while her mum made a cup of tea.

“What lessons have you got today?” Her mum asked. “It’s not a bad day today, English, Science, History and R.E.,” Masie said.

“Fridays are always pretty good.” “Have you done all your homework?” Masie’s mum asked.

“Of course, I always do it,” Masie said, “My English homework was good, all about poetry. It was fun.”

“Hummmm,” said Masie’s mum, not looking too convinced poetry was fun. There was a bit of commotion coming from the garden. Archie was making funny noises, and he wasn’t the only one. Masie’s mum looked out of the window.