Читать книгу Billionaire Boy - David Walliams, Quentin Blake, David Walliams - Страница 10

Chapter 5 Out of Date Easter Eggs

DING!

No, reader, that’s not your doorbell. No need to get up. It’s the sound of the bell tinkling in Raj’s shop as Bob and Joe opened the door.

“Ah, Bob! My favourite customer!” said Raj. “Welcome, welcome!”

Raj ran the local newsagent’s shop. All the local kids adored him. He was like the funny uncle you always wished you had. And even better than that, he sold sweets.

“Hi, Raj!” said Bob. “This is Joe.”

“Hello Joe,” exclaimed Raj. “Two fat boys in my shop at one time! The Lord must be smiling on me today! Why have you both got so little on?”

“We came straight from cross-country running, Raj,” explained Bob.

“Fantastic! How did you do?”

“First and second…” replied Bob.

“That’s wonderful!” exclaimed Raj.

“…to last,” finished Bob.

“That’s not so good. But I imagine you boys must be hungry after all that exercise. How can I help you today?”

“We’d like to buy some chocolate,” said Joe.

“Well, you have come to the right place. I have the finest selection of chocolate bars in this parade!” Raj announced triumphantly. Considering the only other shops in the parade were a launderette and a long since closed florist that wasn’t saying much, but the boys let it pass.

Now, one thing Joe knew for certain was that chocolate didn’t have to be expensive to taste nice. In fact, after a few years of gorging themselves on the finest chocolates from Belgium or Switzerland, he and his dad had realised that they weren’t half as delicious as a Yorkie. Or a bag of Minstrels.

Or, for the true connoisseur, a Double Decker.

“Well, let me know if I can help you gentlemen,” said the newsagent. The stock in Raj’s shop was haphazardly laid out. Why was Nuts magazine next to the Tipp-ex? If you couldn’t find the Jelly Tots, it was entirely possible that they might be hiding under a copy of the Sun from 1982. And did the post-it notes really have to be in the freezer?

However, local people kept coming to the shop because they loved Raj, and he loved his customers too, particularly Bob. Bob was one of his absolute best customers.

“We are happy just to browse thanks,” replied Bob. He was studying the rows and rows of confectionery, looking for something special. And today money wasn’t a problem. Joe had a fifty-pound note in his pocket. They could even afford one of Raj’s out of date Easter eggs.

“The Wispas are very good today, young Sirs. Fresh in this morning,” ventured Raj.

“We are just looking thank you,” replied Bob politely.

“The Cadbury’s Creme Eggs are in season,” suggested the newsagent.