Chapter 2

The Evans family looked at the gate to their new home. It was bright blue, with chipped paint, and had a frankly disturbing picture of a laughing hippo on it. This was not what they had expected from a holiday lodge.

'Maybe it's nicer inside?' said Digby, but his family just looked at him with dead eyes. They each had one suitcase with them - the rest of their belongings had been repossessed. Sharpay's was making her arm tired. She had never had to carry her own luggage before.

'Oh, let's just get on with it,' said Peaches, and marched off towards reception. Her husband followed after her and, after a pause, Sharpay and Ryan realised no one was going to come help with their baggage and moped along behind.

The reception desk was in a decrepit old building just beyond the gate. There were several holes in the ceiling and water was dripping onto the dirty carpet, even though it wasn't raining.

'Hi guys, welcome to Bontins,' said a young man behind the desk. He had brown hair that flopped in front of his eyes and was wearing a blue polo shirt that almost matched the colour of the walls, but not quite. His name badge said TROY.

'This place is called Bontins?' Sharpay said. 'What kind of stupid name is that?'

'Sharpay!' Digby whispered. 'Be nice.'

'It is a stupid name,' said Peaches loudly. Ryan smirked.

'Do you have a room booked?' Troy asked.

'No, we own this place,' Digby said. He glanced around, expecting to see a plaque with their names on it somewhere, or maybe a photo of him behind the desk.

'You own the reception area?' Troy looked very nervous. 'You can't sleep here, sir, I have to be here in case the phone rings and there's only room for one bed really, so that would be OK for you and me, but like, where would your family go? And-'

'We own this entire holiday...facility,' Digby explained.

'Oh,' said Troy. 'Wow lucky you!'

'Troy, dear,' Peaches interjected. 'Do you have, say, an owner's suite? Something nice, three to four bedrooms, terrace, private pool, that sort of thing?'

'Uh...I don't know, I'll have to look on the computer,' Troy said. He turned to the computer next to him and wiggled the mouse. He stared intently at the screen for a few minutes, occasionally pressing a button on the keyboard. Ryan leaned over the desk and took a quick glance at the computer. The screen was not on.

'Is your manager here, Troy?' asked Digby.

'Yes,' said Troy and continued clicking the mouse.

There was a pause. The family exchanged glances.

'May we… speak to them?' asked Peaches.

'Oh right, sure!' said Troy and darted into the back room. Ryan helpfully turned the computer on.

'Are all English people that stupid?' said Sharpay.

'He had an American accent, Sharpay,' said Ryan. She shrugged.

Suddenly, a… thing bounded through the back room door.

'Wassapppp!' it yelled. The Evans family all screamed. The thing appeared to be some sort of giant cat wearing a basketball shirt and… was that a name tag?

'How's it going Troy?' said the giant cat as Troy followed him back into the room. It was definitely a man in a costume, but his voice sounded weirdly deep, like there was a voice changer in it.

'Hi Coach Wildcat!' Troy said, smiling delightedly.

Ryan was taken aback. Had they not spoken in the other room?

'Did someone out here ask for the manager?' the cat asked and laughed maniacally.

Peaches and Sharpay pushed Digby forward. There was no way that they were dealing with this lunatic.

'Uh, yes I did. Can you find him for me please?'

'Hey buddy, read my name tag.' His voice was no longer friendly and he aggressively pointed to his chest. There in bold letters was written, COACH WILDCAT, MANAGER.

Digby loosened his shirt collar.

'OK then, uh, Coach Wildcat. I am the owner of this establishment and my family and I need to stay here a while. I'll need your best suite.'

Coach held his paws to his giant mouth in shock.

'You hear that Troy? It's Mr Evans! In the flesh! Take them to Blue Block straight away!'

Troy saluted and started to herd the family outside.

'Room 6 should do it!' Coach yelled after them.

Room 6 was Bontins' best family room. As they made their way to Blue Block, Troy told them all about it, like how it had a full set of cutlery and that you could even get mobile phone connection there! This didn't sound encouraging to Ryan but Troy seemed excited. He flung open the door triumphantly, and what Ryan saw inside reminded him of the set they'd used in one of his last high school plays, when he was a peasant in Les Miserables. In front of him was a large square room that he was used to seeing as three separate rooms: a living room, kitchen and dining room. The living room was a small, plastic covered sofa and an old portable TV on a stand. The dining room was behind it, and consisted of a three-legged table and some flowers in a vase that he was fairly certain were dandelions. The kitchen had a fridge and a cooker, which was a good sign, but no other appliances.

'Are you kidding me?' said Sharpay.

'I know right! Isn't it great?' said Troy.

Sharpay was about to tell him exactly what she thought of it, when her father gave her a warning look. She scowled, but didn't say it.

'Will you just show me my room, Tony?' she said instead.

'It's Troy actually,' Troy said helpfully, glancing at his name badge to check. Sharpay barged past him and opened one of the two doors. Inside was a tiny bedroom with two single beds and a wardrobe. This must be her parents' room. They would have to push the single beds together to make a double. Sharpay opened the other door. It was a bathroom. No shower, just a bath.

'Where's my room?' she whined.

'Why are there only two beds in this apartment?' said Peaches.

'Do we get one apartment each?' asked Ryan. Maybe this would be bearable if he didn't have to spend too much time with his family.

'Er...we can only give you this one,' Troy said. 'It's the policy. But look!' He led them back over to the couch, and pushed the back down until it was a square shape. 'This is a double bed! So there's loads of room!'

The family was horrified.

'We can't sleep in the kitchen, Troy!' gasped Peaches.

'Wait, so I have to share a room with Sharpay?' Ryan said.

Sharpay screamed.

'OK, let's all just calm down a little,' said Digby. He sat down on the edge of the couch/bed, which almost tipped over. He steadied himself and got up again. 'Wouldn't recommend sitting on that.'

'But we have to sleep on it?!' Peaches yelled.

'We'll get it fixed,' said Digby. 'Troy, send maintenance here immediately. We'll go to bed once it's sorted and everything will look better in the morning.'

Troy nodded and ran off.

Digby looked around at his family. Sharpay was crying. Ryan was holding his phone up to the window, trying desperately to get a signal. Peaches had given up completely and was sitting on the floor, which Digby had never seen her do before.

'Now snap out of it! We'll make more money and get out of this place soon enough. I worked my way up from nothing before and I can do it again. All I had when I started my first business was a dream and look where it got us!'

'In a crappy holiday camp that doesn't even get 4G?' asked Ryan, furiously prodding at his phone.

Digby rubbed his hand over his face. 'All I'm asking for is for you all to keep it together for a few weeks, or months until we find our feet again. This won't be a long term thing. Kids, this is a good life experience for you, it could help you in your acting careers when you have to play a poor person!'

Sharpay's sobs quietened as she thought about this. 'I don't want to play a poor person,' she said.

'I promise you, by next year you will both be back in college and our new business will be booming!'

Ryan brightened up. Maybe this was just a temporary blip. He didn't know that his dad could be so inspiring! Ryan didn't know much about building a business but his dad made it sound easy. And he'd done it before after all.

'Didn't you get a million dollars from your father to start that first business, dear?' said Peaches.