Miss Grimm and Professor Winterbottom declared the play a resounding success. Miss Reedy and Mr. Lipp were already arguing over what they would put on next year.
Alice-Miranda thought long and hard about what had happened with the test papers and the Fayle School Charter. She decided that Sloane shouldn’t be held accountable for the actions of her mother. So after much consideration and a long chat with Sep, Alice-Miranda decided to write to Sloane and see if she might like to be pen pals. After all, everyone deserves a second chance—don’t they?
THE HIGHTON-SMITH-KENNINGTON-JONES HOUSEHOLD
Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones
Only child, seven and a half years of age
Cecelia Highton-Smith
Alice-Miranda’s doting mother
Hugh Kennington-Jones
Alice-Miranda’s doting father
Aunt Charlotte Highton-Smith
Cecelia’s younger sister
Lawrence Ridley
Famous movie actor and Aunt Charlotte’s fiancé
Dolly Oliver
Family cook, part-time food technology scientist
Mrs. Shillingsworth
Head housekeeper
Mr. Greening
Gardener
Mrs. Maggie Greening
Mr. Greening’s wife
Granny Bert (Albertine Rumble)
Former housekeeper at Highton Hall
Daisy Rumble
Granddaughter of Granny Bert, a maid at Highton Hall
Bonaparte
Alice-Miranda’s pony
Max
Stablehand
Cyril
Helicopter pilot
FRIENDS OF THE HIGHTON-SMITH-KENNINGTON-JONES FAMILY
Aunty Gee
Granny Highton-Smith’s best friend, Cecelia’s godmother and the Queen
Prince Shivaji
Indian prince and friend of the family
WINCHESTERFIELD-DOWNSFORDVALE ACADEMY FOR PROPER YOUNG LADIES STAFF
Miss Ophelia Grimm
Headmistress
Aldous Grump
Miss Grimm’s husband
Mrs. Louella Derby
Personal secretary to the headmistress
Miss Livinia Reedy
English teacher
Mr. Josiah Plumpton
Science teacher
Howie (Mrs. Howard)
House mistress
Mr. Cornelius Trout
Music teacher
Miss Benitha Wall
PE teacher
Cook (Mrs. Doreen Smith)
Cook
Charlie Weatherly (Mr. Charles)
Gardener
Wally Whitstable
Stablehand
STUDENTS
Millicent Jane McLoughlin-McTavish-McNoughton-McGill
Alice-Miranda’s best friend and roommate
Jacinta Headlington-Bear
Talented gymnast, school’s former second-best tantrum thrower and a friend
Danika Rigby
Head prefect
Madeline Bloom, Ivory Hicks, Ashima Divall, Lizzy Briggs, Shelby Shore Susannah Dare
Friends
Sloane Sykes
New student
FAYLE SCHOOL FOR BOYS STAFF
Professor Wallace Winterbottom
Headmaster
Mrs. Deidre Winterbottom
Professor Winterbottom’s wife
Miss Quigley
Personal assistant to the headmaster
Professor Herman Pluss
Mathematics teacher
Mr. Harold Lipp
English and drama teacher
Mr. Horatio Huntley
House master
Hedges
Gardener
Parsley
Professor Winterbottom’s West Highland Terrier
STUDENTS
Lucas Nixon
Lawrence Ridley’s son
Septimus Sykes
Brother of Sloane Sykes
OTHERS
September Sykes
Mother of Sloane and Septimus
Smedley Sykes
Father of Sloane and Septimus
Percy Sykes
Deceased grandfather of Sloane and Septimus
Henrietta Sykes
Stepgranny of Sloane and Septimus
Matron Payne
Matron at the Golden Gates Retirement Home
Jacqueline Harvey has spent her working life teaching in girls’ boarding schools. She’s never met a witch in the woods, but she has come across quite a few girls who remind her a little of Alice-Miranda.
Jacqueline has published six novels for young readers in her native Australia. Her first picture book, The Sound of the Sea, was named a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honor Book. She is currently working on Alice-Miranda’s next adventure.
For more about Jacqueline and Alice-Miranda, go to:
www.alice-miranda.com
and
www.jacquelineharvey.com.au
Alice-Miranda Takes the Stage Page 17