'September the ninth,' said John. 'That's right!' said Tony. 'Listen - the door's open. The key's in the door. I'm not going to steal anything. I'm just going to keep the piano in the classroom for a week or two . . . Can you help me? We'll put the piano on the lorry, and we'll take it to the school.' 'When?' asked Pip. 'Tonight,' said Tony. The three boys worked very hard. They cleaned out the building. They cleaned the windows too. Then they put the piano on Mr Wood's lorry. 'What time are we going?' asked Pip. 'Eight o'clock,' answered Tony. Linda gave the boys their supper that night. Mrs Wood was at a meeting in the village. 'Boys,' said Linda, 'Father says you are borrowing the lorry tonight.' 'Yes, that's right,' said Pip. 'I'm driving.' 'Please, can you take me to the village? Catherine is ill.' Catherine was Linda's best friend. 'I want to visit her.' 'But . . .' began Tony. He looked into her kind brown eyes and he told her his story. He told her about his old school. He told her about Mrs Lark. He talked about the village school, and the open door, and the quiet, empty classroom. Linda listened. John and Pip listened too. Then Linda smiled.
'September the ninth,' said John. 'That's right!' said Tony. 'Listen - the door's open. The key's in the door. I'm not going to steal anything. I'm just going to keep the piano in the classroom for a week or two . . . Can you help me? We'll put the piano on the lorry, and we'll take it to the school.' 'When?' asked Pip. 'Tonight,' said Tony. The three boys worked very hard. They cleaned out the building. They cleaned the windows too. Then they put the piano on Mr Wood's lorry. 'What time are we going?' asked Pip. 'Eight o'clock,' answered Tony. Linda gave the boys their supper that night. Mrs Wood was at a meeting in the village. 'Boys,' said Linda, 'Father says you are borrowing the lorry tonight.' 'Yes, that's right,' said Pip. 'I'm driving.' 'Please, can you take me to the village? Catherine is ill.' Catherine was Linda's best friend. 'I want to visit her.' 'But . . .' began Tony. He looked into her kind brown eyes and he told her his story. He told her about his old school. He told her about Mrs Lark. He talked about the village school, and the open door, and the quiet, empty classroom. Linda listened. John and Pip listened too. Then Linda smiled.