The shower in the empty cubicle was still running, and Neil's clothes were hung over the wooden door. Had the creature done something to Neil? Will quickly looked around for signs of blood but he couldn't see any. "Neil, where are you?" he shouted again as he turned the shower off. He hurried to the entrance of the shower block. "Neil", he shouted once more, with a wobble in his voice. "Neil, Neil, what's happened to you?"
"Will!" That was Simon's voice. "Will, are you okay? We heard you shouting." Will ran over to the entrance to see Simon and Jay running towards him. They both changed into suits for the dance competition, and were looking very anxious. "Did you see a great big wolf-type thing?" asked Jay as he and Simon burst into the shower block. "Er, yes", said Will, looking as if he was about to cry. "It jumped out of the shower block window and ran into the forest." His voice became quieter. "I think it might have eaten Neil." Simon grew pale and closed his eyes. "Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God, this isn't happening", he muttered.
Jay's eyes grew round. "That WAS Neil, you dozy prick, he's a werewolf!"
Will blinked several times. "Neil's a werewolf?" As if to answer him, a blood-curdling howl came from somewhere in the wood. "Does his dad know?"
"No, he doesn't", said Simon. "Jay and you and me are the only ones who know, and you'd better not tell anyone else."
"But I've – I've never known him change into a wolf", Will spluttered. "He doesn't do it every full moon", explained Jay. "It's just the odd occasion when the moon looks bigger than normal." Will started thinking back to his earlier conversation with Neil. "About every 14 to 15 months?" he asked. "Yes, I suppose so", replied Simon. "Well, in that case, I think he must be reacting to the supermoon", said Will. "The what?" asked Jay uncomprehendingly. "Well, never mind that, what are we going to do now?" Will demanded.
"We've got to carry on as if nothing's happened", replied Simon. "And you've got to get changed for that dance with your mum."
"Hadn't we better try and find Neil first?" asked Will. "We'll track him down later", Jay replied. "He'll change back in the morning anyway - and if people ask where he is, we'll just tell them that the heat made him feel sick and he decided to get an early night."
"But Neil's out there, and he's a dangerous animal!" Will protested. "If he's run off into the forest, then it's possible he'll stay there all night", said Simon. "He's done that once or twice before when he's turned into a wolf. Come on now", he said, putting an arm over Will's shoulder and walking him back to the caravan the way they had come. Jay quickly collected Neil's things and then ran to catch up with the others. "Oh there you are, petal", called Polly to Will from the McKenzie caravan. "Come and change into your suit – you've just got time before the dance starts." Will decided that this wasn't the time to argue with anybody. Suit it was.
After Simon and Jay had left Neil's stuff in the tent, they figured they'd better head on over to the dance. It was being hosted in a hall, thankfully not quite as grim as the one where the party at Camber Sands had taken place. In fact, as the two boys went inside, they could see the hall had been made to look quite good, with paper garlands and balloons hung around the place. Some people, including Jay's dad Terry, were still putting up decorations, while Alistair was sat in his wheelchair wearing a dazzlingly white suit with a black waistcoat and bow tie, surrounded by a group of caravan club types who were hanging on his every word. In fact, there were already quite a number of people there – mostly adults but also a smattering of kids. Terry, who was stood on a ladder, yelled to his son from the other side of the hall. "Here, Jay." Jay and Simon crossed over to him.
"Listen, son, you've not seen Neil, have you?"
"The heat made him feel sick", Jay replied. "He decided to get an early night."
"Shame, that", said Terry. "I could do with someone tall to help with the last of these decorations. By the way, isn't that your fat bird from the Camber Sands meet?" The two boys looked over to where Terry was indicating. Yes, it was the fat girl from the Camber Sands meet. Simon started to look panicked. "It's alright, Simon, no need to shit yourself", Terry laughed. "Ten Ton Tessie might be here but Becky isn't." Just then, Simon's attention was caught by the sight of Carli, who was wearing a strapless prom-style dress; and was stood with her back to him, chatting to a middle aged couple. "Hello, Carli?" he called, waving as she turned around. "Simon, Jay!" she exclaimed, coming over to them. "You look terrific!"
"Wow, so do you!" said Simon enthusiastically. "Will and his mum'll be along in a bit, they're just getting changed."
"Is Neil coming? I thought maybe he could his robot dance – not as part of the competition, just to make people laugh."
"The heat made him feel sick", replied Simon. "He decided to get an early night."
"Oh, poor thing", sighed Carli. "Oh look", she added, pointing. "There are your mum and dad."
Simon turned around in horror. He had known his parents were going to be dancing the jive but nothing had prepared him for their outfits. Across the hall, he could see his dad, Alan, was wearing a pinstriped 40's style suit with a fedora; while his mum, Pamela, had on an orange 40's style dress and a large fake flower in her hair. Carli went over to them to say hello. "Honestly, I'll never speak to them again", said Simon under his breath as Jay started sniggering. "Well never mind your parents, look at Briefcase over there in his penguin suit!" he laughed.
Will was dressed up to the nines in a white tie and tails. Simon waved to him and then, once he'd got his attention, mouthed the words "White tie wanker" at him. Just as Will was about to react, Polly walked in through the double doors. Almost every man in the room had his eyes out on stalks as she entered. Even young Chris D'Amato's jaw dropped. She was wearing a beautiful blue ball gown which stopped at knee length, with a lot of tulle petticoats and a low-cut bodice which showed off a huge expanse of cleavage. "And it's a ten from Len", whispered Jay. "Oh look, there goes Alistair the Ego", Simon whispered back. Alistair was wheeling himself over to Polly. "Oh hello, you must be Mrs. McKenzie", Alistair said as he reached her and Will. "My name's Alistair."
"Oh, you're the young man we've been hearing so much about", replied Polly, bending slightly to look at him. "It's lovely to meet you, Alistair", and they shook hands. "I didn't realize Will had such a sexy lady for a mother", Alistair told Polly. Polly was delighted. Meanwhile, in the forest, a hungry wolf was sniffing the air, trying desperately to pick up the scent of food.