 BUDDY
HELLby David Hanson Year 6 are coming to Grange Hill and in a military-style briefing, Ms Rawlinson reminds her volunteers to take their job as ambassadors for Grange Hill seriously. But Bryn isn't so pleased that it means his sister, Megan, will be coming to Grange Hill and it's not helped that Chloe and Andrea have him in their sights too. Theo and Laxo decide to "Top Trump" the school's characters. Sammy dolls herself up and substitutes her glasses for contact lenses to impress Alex, but it's Tigger who notices her new look. In the hall, Megan introduces herself to Serena but unfortunately right behind them are Chloe and Andrea, who introduce themselves with false names. Once they find out Megan is home-schooled, they realise they have a potential pair of suckers on their hands. She's proved right when Chloe tells them Alex will steal their valuables and offers to look after their watches - the younger girls hand them over without question. Alex is taking his buddy role seriously and has prepared questionnaires for the Year 6s - his tenacity impresses the smitten Sammy. But his words are misinterpreted by the nervous Serena and Megan who really believe that he's the bad person that Chloe suggests. Alex is mystified when Chloe and Andrea beg him "not to hurt us". He tries to reassure his charges that nothing bad will happen to them, but Ed and Tigger have mischief in mind and Alex is not impressed when Ed pulls a soaked Tigger from the toilets, as if he's flushed his head in the loo! Bryn runs off when he spots Megan, but he can't avoid her in the canteen when she introduces Serena to him. Megan is completely open about the fact that she's home-schooled (and Bryn was too) and that she and Bryn have different fathers - Ducket is surprised to hear all this and wonders why Bryn never said anything. Chloe and Andrea join the fray, delighting in telling Megan false tales about how Alex used to kick Bryn around. This is too much for Bryn who storms off - only to be tripped up on his way out. Sammy finds out why her group has been giggling - the contacts have caused her mascara to run, Alex chivalrously lends her a hanky to clean herself up. The lenses continue to make Sammy's eyes water. Serena is increasingly nervous of Alex - when he helps Sammy remove her troublesome lenses it proves to be quite painful but, thinking Alex is attacking her, Serena runs off. Megan raises the alarm and as Alex begins the search. Megan confronts Alex with details of his past "misdemeanours". Ed and Tigger tell him she'll just be hiding somewhere and he leaves the Year 6s with them as he goes to look for her. Sure enough, Serena is hiding under the steps where Alex used to hide from Mooey. She's terrified of Alex and confronts him about the accusations that Chloe and Andrea have made against him. Alex admits he's been stupid and is keen to prove to his dad he's not, hence enrolling on the buddy course This prompts Serena to tell Alex she has dyslexia and is terrified that if anyone finds out, they'll think she's stupid too. Alex convinces Serena her secret will be better off out in the open, sure that her friends will almost certainly understand. Ducket is annoyed Bryn hasn't told him much about his circumstances and can't understand why it bothers Bryn so much. Megan apologises to her brother for dropping him in it - but is annoyed that Bryn spends too much time worrying about what others think and urges him to do things his own way - like she does. Serena bites the bullet and tells Megan about her dyslexia. As he predicted, Megan is completely understanding and helps Serena complete her questionnaire on the computer. The two Year 6s also help convince Sammy she looks better with her glasses and that "different is good". Chloe and Andrea bag up their swag from a hard day's extortion but Megan has alerted Alex who organises an ambush with Ed and Tigger. Bryn and Ducket trip the girls up, causing their booty to fall out at the feet of Togger who arrives on the scene and forces them to return their swag. Ms Rawlinson is pleased with how smoothly the day went, Serena leaves with new friends in Alex and Megan and feels more confident about coming to Grange Hill. |