Page 28 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
‘Perhaps he’ll believe Grandad is safe in Winnie and is going to have a brilliant holiday.’
‘It’s hard to say – Mungo can be difficult,’ Arthur said. ‘He’s probably upset because he knew nothing about it.’
‘Well, that’s his problem, not mine,’ Jake huffed. A scowl etched deeply across his face, and his lips pursed in a tight line.
‘Have you seen the Instagram account?’ Arthur asked.
‘Yes, I’m looking at it now.’ Jake stared at the screen where the account for @thetravellinggrandad displayed a dozen new images. ‘He’s got a photograph of one of the bulls!’ Jake was suddenly brighter. ‘Have you seen it?’
‘Yes, and Ness is sitting by the bull’s hoof. She looks tiny,’ Arthur laughed.
‘He messaged tonight to say that motorhomes keep tooting him and flashing their lights.’
‘Ah, the international sign of approval,’ Arthur said, sounding pleased. ‘In recognition of a fine vintage vehicle.’
‘Grandad said that a French man told him Winnie was like a big, fat canary.’
‘Bloody cheek, she’s a beauty…’
‘He went sightseeing in Burgos. I’m surprised; I didn’t think Grandad was into ancient buildings,’ Jake said, staring at images of Burgos Cathedral that Atticus haduploaded to his Instagram feed, which he’d labelled: #Unesco #WorldHeritageSite #Burgos. He’d even included a smiling selfie on the bridge by the River Arlanzón and added the hashtag #thetravellinggrandad.
‘There are lots of hashtags. How does he know about them?’ Arthur asked.
‘He thinks they mean that just you and I will see the photos as soon as he uploads them.’
‘Doesn’t he know about followers?’
‘No, we never got that far. It was becoming confusing for Grandad, like an information overload.’
‘Ah, I see.’ In truth, Arthur didn’t see at all and only knew about Instagram from Jake’s instructions. Social media was as puzzling to Arthur as the Rubik’s Cube.
‘Does Aunty Shirley know you’re online?’
‘No, I’m hiding in the shed. Shirley’s not a fan of t’internet and thinks it will lead me into bad ways.’
‘Like following Grandad to Spain?’ Jake chuckled.
‘Maybe.’ Arthur chuckled. ‘Shirley heard about his disappearance at her WI meeting tonight.’
‘So soon?’
‘Aye, some nosy parker with insomnia was curtain twitching when we drove through the village and recognised Atticus at Winnie’s wheel.’
‘Winnieisvery noticeable.’
‘The gossip has spread around the village like a disease.’
‘Dad won’t like that…’
There was a knock and Jake swivelled to stare at his bedroom door.
‘Jake? Have you done your homework?’ Mungo called out. ‘Let me in.’
‘I have to go, Uncle Arthur. Dad’s making a racket,’ Jake whispered.
‘Catch you tomorrow, be good!’ Arthur disconnected the call.
‘Jake, let me in!’ Mungo repeated.
