The Camper Van with Nine Buttons

Isla and her brother Farid get a camper van. It is white and small. It has a bed, a tiny kitchen, and a table. They are very excited. They plan to drive along the coast for a week.

A man gives them the keys. "This van has nine buttons on the dashboard," he says. "Here is a paper with the names."

"Thank you," says Isla. She puts the paper in her bag.

"Do you want to read it?" asks Farid.

"Later," says Isla. "First we drive."

They leave the town. The sun shines. The road runs next to the sea. Isla drives. Farid looks at the map.

After ten minutes, it starts to rain a little. "Press the wipers," says Farid. He points to a button.

Isla presses it. A loud song starts to play. It is an old song about a happy farmer. The farmer sings very loudly.

"That is not the wipers," says Farid. He laughs.

"Turn it off!" says Isla.

Farid presses the button again. The song stops. Then he presses the next button. Nothing happens for a moment. Then the bed comes out with a bang.

"The bed!" Isla shouts. "Why does the bed come out?"

"I do not know!" says Farid. "I want to stop it!"

He presses the button again. The bed goes back into the wall. Isla's hands shake on the wheel. She starts to laugh.

"We must read that paper," she says.

"Yes," says Farid. "But the paper is in your bag. And you have the wheel."

At the next village, Isla parks next to a bakery. They take the paper out and read it together. Number one is the radio. Number two is the heater. Number three is the bed. Number four is the light inside. Number five is the wipers. Number six is the little fridge. Number seven is the window shade. Number eight is the horn. Number nine says "Awning."

"What is an awning?" asks Farid.

"A kind of roof," says Isla. "It comes out of the van and gives shade."

"Does it come out slowly?"

Isla looks at the paper. She reads the last line aloud. "Do not press Number Nine in the wind."

They look at each other. The wind is strong today. Farid looks at the button for a moment.

"I will not press it," he says.

They have coffee and a warm roll from the bakery. Then they climb back into the van. This time Isla reads the names on the buttons. She presses the wipers, and they work. The road is wet and shiny. They drive for an hour.

At lunch, they find a car park by the beach. Isla opens the little fridge and takes out two sandwiches. Farid sits at the table. He is hungry and tired.

"I want to be in the shade," he says. "The sun is so hot."

He puts his hand on the dashboard. He thinks about lunch, not buttons. His finger touches a button without a name. He presses it.

For a moment, nothing happens. Then something large comes out of the van. It is a big yellow awning. It opens like a flower. The wind catches it. The whole van shakes. A man on the beach points and laughs.

"Stop!" Isla shouts.

Farid jumps out of the van. He pulls the awning with both hands. It is heavy. He holds it for a long time. Isla runs to help him. Together, they close it. They fall back against the van, out of breath.

A child on the beach claps. "Again!" she shouts.

Farid looks at the paper. "It was Number Nine," he says.

"I know," says Isla.

She takes the paper. She writes a line at the top in red pen. Then she hands it to Farid.

It says, "Brother does not touch buttons."