The Wolf Cupboard (5 page)

Suddenly Danny said, his eyes shining, “I could be friends with that wolf in the cupboard!”

Leon slammed the book shut. “Oh no!” he thought. “My plan is going all wrong!”

“That wolf could be my best friend!” said Danny.

“I've played along with this stupid wolf in the cupboard story for far too long,” Leon thought. “Now it's time to get tough!”

“Look, Danny,” said Leon. “I told you before. There
isn't
any wolf in that cupboard. Only silly little kids would believe that. There
isn't
a wolf who eats bad kids.”

“I know there isn't,” said Danny.

“At last!” thought Leon. “He's got it!”

But then Danny went on, “I
know
he doesn't eat kids. Because wolves are really nice. That book says so. Poor wolf, I bet he's lonely in that cupboard. I bet he's just waiting for me to be friends with him.”

“Danny!” yelled Leon. “Will you listen to me?”

But Danny's eyes were shut. He had a happy smile on his face.

And Leon knew just what he was thinking. Danny was thinking about walking down the street, with a big, wild wolf by his side. While the other kids stared and pointed and said, “Wow! How cool is that?”

Next morning, it was a mad rush to get to school.

Danny didn't talk about wolves while he was getting dressed. He didn't talk about wolves at breakfast.

“Maybe he's finally got bored with wolves,” thought Leon.

Today Mum was dropping them off. As she stood by the car, yelling “Hurry up!”, Leon rushed back upstairs to get
All About Wolves
.

“I don't need this book any more,” he thought. “I'll take it back to the library on the way home.”

At school, Leon was trying to do some tricky sums when the classroom door burst open. A kid from the baby class came running in.

“Miss says Leon's got to come
right away
!” he yelled, as if they were all deaf. “It's about Danny!”

“What's wrong now?” thought Leon.

When Leon got to the baby class, Danny's teacher looked puzzled.

“I don't get it,” she told Leon. “For two days Danny has been as good as gold. But today he's been really naughty. He's been running around the classroom, yelling and throwing books on the floor.”

Leon looked around the room. He saw Danny sitting at the back with his lip stuck out like a big pink slug and a frown on his face.

“It's almost like he
wants
to be punished,” said the teacher. “Do you know what's going on?”

“I think I do,” said Leon. “Can I talk to Danny outside?”

“Of course,” said Danny's teacher.

Leon marched to the back of the class.

“Come with me!” he hissed at Danny. “I know what you're up to.”

He took Danny outside the classroom.

“I know your game!” said Leon. “You're trying to get put in that wolf cupboard, aren't you?”

“This silly school!” Danny frowned. “What do I have to do to get put in the wolf cupboard? I've been really bad!”

“This is stupid!” said Leon. “This wolf thing has gone far enough!”

“But I want to meet the wolf!” wailed Danny. “It's cruel, locking him up in there. I want to take him home! I want him and me to be friends!”

“Look, Danny…!” snapped Leon.

But Danny wasn't listening. He was gazing up the corridor, towards the wolf cupboard. “Hey!” he said, smiling. “The wolf cupboard is open!”

Danny ran to the cupboard. Leon raced after him. But Danny was already tugging the door wider.

Leon felt a tiny trembling deep in his stomach, as if a wolf with yellow eyes and teeth dripping blood might really leap out.

He skidded to a stop beside Danny. The cupboard door was wide open. It was full of PE stuff, like hoops and footballs and cricket bats. There was hardly room for a mouse in there. Let alone a wolf.

Danny stood, staring into the cupboard. He didn't speak.

Leon said, “There's no wolf, Danny. Just like I told you. That stick you saw your teacher with? I bet it was a cricket bat and she was just putting it away.”