Sita, Snake Read online

  So I suppose you could say that it was Sita herself who took us to Thrill City; and, believe me, Thrill City was absolutely, mind-blowingly, fantastic.

  As soon as we got into the park, we could see Sita. She was huge, and, just like Kylie had said, she moved, and the snakes in her head writhed about, and when they opened their jaws you could actually see drips of deadly venom and blood.

  And when she said, in her wonderful, hissy voice, I am S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-sita, S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-snake-Queen of S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-speed. Do you dare to ride with me?” I thought I’d go up in smoke, because that electric current zinged up my back like never before.

  In fact, though I know Sita isn’t really real, I reckon when she said, Do you dare to ride with me? she looked straight into my eyes.

  And when I said, “You bet your life I dare!”, I’d swear she gave a little smile right in my direction!

  Then we got strapped into a Snake Pod, and we each held a bloodstained fang (which wasn’t wet and sticky with blood, and maybe that was just as well) and we rode with Sita seventeen times. At least, Kylie and me rode with her seventeen times. Nani decided after the first time that it had been great, but that she’d be quite happy eating candy floss and drinking cappuccinos for the rest of the day. That way, she explained, she wouldn’t have to take off her glasses, and take out her teeth, and put them in a plastic bag…

  Which brings me to the Truly Massive G-Force.

  Now, to understand a Truly Massive G-Force, you really have to experience it for yourself. But, in case you never do, this is what it’s like. When a Truly Massive G-Force hits you, it feels as if the earth’s gravity suddenly got a hundred times stronger, and instead of just keeping your feet stuck down on to the ground, it sticks everything down. Your cheeks are sucked in, and your ears are sucked in, and your tummy’s sucked in. Even your eyes are sucked in, so they feel they might pop right into your brain and get the closest look ever at your Hidden Potential.

  It is thoroughly, totally awesome.

  Of course, we didn’t take Bilal with us. We left him to eat Auntie Rosina’s table-legs. But we put his £20 in a safe place, and Dad promised that every year he’d double it, so when Bilal is bigger he’ll take us all to Thrill City and we’ll ride with Sita again.

  Because, you know, everyone should ride with Sita, Snake-Queen of Speed. Everyone should get strapped into a Snake Pod, and hold on to a bloodstained fang, and get propelled by a Truly Massive G-force into Sita’s Snake-Kingdom for the Thrill Ride to end all Thrill Rides, once in their lives.

  Everyone.

  Franzeska G. Ewart began her career teaching Biology, and later taught English as an Additional Language. In 1993 she got the exciting opportunity to teach in Karachi, Pakistan, and while she was there, used shadow puppets in language development. She often uses shadow puppetry to help people express themselves, and has written several books on the subject. She still teaches, part-time, in Glendale Primary School in Glasgow. The teachers and pupils there are a constant source of inspiration! This is her first book for Frances Lincoln.

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