Delayed

ALICE White perked up as those in the queue around her began to whisper. Apparently someone had spotted a check-in attendant. Although it wasn’t easy, Alice tried to curb her excitement. After all, it wasn’t the first time such a rumour had sprung up.

Thankfully, on this occasion, the whispers proved correct as a member of staff marched purposefully towards the check-in desk. The mood of the queue momentarily lightened.

Alas hopes were quickly dashed as the check-in attendant announced that there was a further delay to the flight. Alice sighed. The delay was the just the latest of a long list of disappointments that she’d recently experienced.

When Alice White was a child, her mother, Rachel, read her stories from a very early age. Consequently, Alice fell in love with books. Once