The Parent Agency
Language: English
Pages: 384
ISBN: 0062405446
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
A boy travels to an alternate world where kids get to choose their own parents in this zany, internationally bestselling adventure, which combines the be-careful-what-you-wish-for humor of The Chocolate Touch with the classic appeal of Roald Dahl.
Barry Bennett is sick of his parents. They’re boring, they’re too strict, and it’s their fault his name is Barry. So he makes a wish for better ones—and is whisked away to the Parent Agency, where kids get to pick out their perfect parents.
For Barry, this seems like a dream come true. But as he’s about to discover, choosing a new mom and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…
The Parent Agency is the first children’s book by British author and comedian David Baddiel, and it includes illustrations by Roald Dahl Funny Prize–winning artist Jim Field.
actually. Can I have another A-Bomb?” CHAPTER SIX On the bus back, Barry decided to sit in the front with Elliott and Mama Cool. Elliott was driving and Mama Cool was sitting next to him. Barry noticed that they were both looking a little white and tense. “So anyway, Barry, your party…” said Mama Cool. “Oh yes! What kind of party should I have?” “Yes, well, obviously you should do… um…” Elliott put a hand on his wife’s knee. “Um. You sure you, like, want to say this?” he said quietly. “No,
like, sorry?” he said. Judging from her expression, that didn’t help, either. He opened the door and came down from the driver’s cab. Elliott followed him, looking more than slightly dazed. Mama Cool started pulling a corner of tent tarpaulin that was sticking out from under the front wheel. She pulled it hard. It broke. She fell over. Barry was starting to feel really sorry for the Cools by now. He was about to do a truly big apology when he heard a loud voice behind him. “Mr and Mrs Cool!”
Barry, looking at the cover. “Right, OK. I’ll bear that in mind,” said Malcolm. “So! TV on…” “Dad! We want to watch Masterbrain!” “Yes! And University Big Clevers! And Come Read With Me!” Malcolm glanced at Barry and also, like Marjorie had before, seemed to sigh. “Yes. Well. You can watch them another day.” He went over to the TV and switched the game console on. “For now, Barry – fill your boots!” Barry looked at his shoes. Then he remembered what that expression meant. “Thanks!” he said,
Barry shook his head. “Oh, I see. Sometimes that happens with strays. Memory loss, etc.” “No, I haven’t lost my memory. I come from another place – a place that you’re in.” “I am?” “Yes. Where you’re just my friend at school. You don’t work in an office or anything. And grown-ups have children, and they live with them. They don’t… do whatever it is they were doing when…” Barry struggled to remember their numbers. “…PCs 890 and 891 found me.” “Well, never mind,” said the Head, in a way that
reason Barry felt this was because it was actually quite hard for them to look at him. They had come in sideways, carrying a large silver tray, but were still turning their heads as far as they could towards him, and smiling politely. On the tray were five very large egg timers. They were made of glass and each one was a different colour: yellow, orange, green, blue and red. The Sisterly Entity set the tray down on the Head’s desk, between him and Barry, and went to sit on two chairs at the side