CHAPTER 1
Billy Boswell was an ordinary, excitable, 14 year old.At the Matthew Arnold secondary school he attendedin Oxford, he wasn't regarded as terribly bright. Infact his school reports always said the same thing: a bit of adreamer, could do better if concentrated more. He was quiteshy and did not make friends very easily. His only true friendwas Frank Jenkins who he had known through all theirinfant school days. Frank was a few months older, but theirinterests were the same. They shared an early morning paperround at the weekends and split the money 50.50, although itwas Billy who had the best bike and the little towing trailerthat his dad had made him for carrying the papers.
They had been saving a long time for a school trip toBrazil which was booked for the following year. It wasterribly expensive and Mr Boswell could not really affordit. Billy's friend Frank was going and he didn't want todisappoint Billy, so he had made a promise. If Billy couldsave up one hundred pounds towards the cost of the holiday,then he would pay the rest.
Billy lived in a rather modest semi-detached house onthe outskirts of Oxford with his parents Brian and Helen,his young sister Beth and their black and white cat, Sooty.The house was near North Hinksey down a quiet laneoverlooking lush green fields. Surrounded by a stream,the fields often flooded during the winter, but it was stillpopular with dog walkers and other ramblers. Frank, on theother hand, was rather more privileged and lived in a smartfour bedroom detached house half way up Cumnor Hill,about a mile away. He too lived with his parents. He alsohad an older brother, James, who he didn't like very muchdue to the fact he was always calling him wimp or crater facejust because he had a bad case of acne. Frank also sufferedfrom bad headaches which caused him to miss schooloccasionally. Frank's parents had taken him to the doctor'sa few times, but he was always diagnosed with a bad case ofmigraine.
"He will grow out of it, just give him a few aspirinsand let him sleep it off." That was Doctor Jackson's generalresponse, and it usually cured the problem.
Billy and Frank were up early that particular Saturdaymorning.
After delivering the papers their weekend usually endedup at Billy's house in his bedroom watching Star Warsfilms, or in the evening looking up at the stars through thebrand new telescope he had received for his birthday. Frankwas a bit jealous and had asked his Dad if he could have atelescope for Christmas, only better than Billy's and morepowerful. His father had agreed, but for now he would haveto make do with Billy's. That evening they had been lookingfor different stars and jotting them down on Billy's giant wallmap of the night sky. In fact all of Billy's walls were filledwith maps and pictures of outer space; he even had a signedphoto of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon,which took pride of place over his headboard.
"What's that bright star?" asked Frank as he peeredthrough the telescope. He let Billy take a look while hechecked the wall maps.
"It's not on any of our maps; do you think it's a new star?"
"I shouldn't think so," said Billy after studying theobject for several minutes. "It's more likely a shooting staror something, which will probably burn itself out." A raisedvoice from downstairs broke their concentration.
"Come along Billy, your supper's ready! Frank willhave to go home, it's school tomorrow." They quickly wentdownstairs and Frank said goodbye to Mr and Mrs Boswell.He got on his bike and rode off into the darkness.
"See you in school tomorrow!" he shouted at Billy as hedisappeared around the corner. Billy peered up at the sky,but could see no sign of the mysterious star.
CHAPTER 2
The next day, after school dinner, the bright star wasstill on Billy's mind. "Let's go and see Mr Roberts,"said Billy. "I bet he'll be able to tell us what it was."Mr Roberts was their science master and both boys likedhim very much; in fact he was the only teacher they trustedand could talk to, because he was on their wavelength. MrRoberts was busy marking exam papers, but he paused toanswer their questions.
"It was probably a shooting star," said Mr Roberts "or anasteroid breaking up. Now I really must get on with thesepapers."
"Thanks, sir!" said the boys as they left the classroom.Nothing more was said about the bright star that day.
That evening Billy was bored. He had agreed to lookafter his little sister, Beth, while his mother and father wentshopping. Beth was 8 years old, just the age when she couldbe very annoying, especially to a space research explorerlike Billy. He was watching the Sky at Night, his favouritetelevision programme when Beth interrupted
"Can I watch Hannah Montana?"
"No," said Billy. "I am watching this and I am older thanyou so I have first choice." Beth started to make silly sobbingnoises, which she knew would annoy him. Billy got up andthrew the TV remote controller at her.
"There, watch what you damn well like!" he said as hestormed off up the stairs to his bedroom. He lay on his bedfor a few minutes until he remembered the bright star. Helooked through his telescope, but thick dark clouds coveredthe night sky and he could see nothing, so he switched on hiscomputer and played Space Invaders. Half an hour later hismother and father returned, with their arms full of shopping.
"Billy swore at me!" said Beth as her mother came intothe lounge. "He said damn."
"Well, that's not a very nice word but it's not reallyswearing. I expect you were annoying him again" Hermother went back into the kitchen to unpack the groceries.
The next morning Billy and Frank met at the schoolgates. It was raining and very overcast as they made theirway to the school entrance. Two new girls had moved intothe area and had just started school. They were 14 year oldtwins, Susan and Sarah. They were in Billy's class and satright in front of him. He had never taken much interest ingirls before; as far as he was concerned they were just likehis sister, annoying and spoilt. But Susan and Sarah weredifferent. He desperately wanted to speak to them, butwords failed to come from his mouth. So the whole lessonfinished with him trying to think up a witty sentence, but tono avail as the girls got up and left, without him uttering asingle word. The next day he waited by the classroom door,pretending to tie his shoe laces. As the two girls approachedhe stood up and opened the door for them.
"Hello, my name's Billy," he heard himself say. Both girlsgiggled and carried on into the classroom. Billy felt awkwardand could feel his face turning bright red. He decided tokeep his feelings to himself. He didn't even tell his bestfriend Frank, who he was sure would laugh.
CHAPTER 3
On Friday evening Billy was at the dining room tablewith his family eating his dinner. It was Billy'sfavourite: sausages, eggs and chips. He glancedout of the dining room window. It was still raining, it hadbeen raining all week and the stream at the front of the housenext to the road had flooded, covering part of the fields. Thetelevision was on, showing the 6 o'clock news.
Billy was not taking much interest until the newsreadersaid "Now here's something for all you buddingastronomers. We have just been informed that a smallasteroid heading toward earth will enter our atmospheretomorrow evening. Scientists from Harwell expect it tobreak up on entry and burn up, but there is...
