Lulu Bell and the Fairy Penguin

by Belinda Murrell

  The boy had a nasty graze on his left knee. He had more on his left elbow and on his chin. The grazes oozed blood, which made the boy cry louder.

  The dog had jumped down onto the beach. It yapped with delight as it raced towards the little penguin.

  Lulu and Molly sprinted down the stairs to the beach. The penguin waddled faster.

  ‘Good dog,’ coaxed Lulu. ‘Come on, boy. Come here.’

  The dog took no notice. It jumped on the penguin and knocked it over. The dog yapped and woofed. Then it tossed the penguin in the air with its snout.

  ‘No,’ screamed Lulu. She ran faster. ‘Bad dog. Stop that at once.’

  The penguin squeaked with terror. The dog picked the seabird up in its mouth and dropped it again like a toy.

  Lulu reached the dog and grabbed its trailing lead. She dragged the dog away. The little penguin stayed huddled on the sand.

  ‘Bad dog,’ she cried. ‘Molly, can you hold the dog for me, please?’

  Molly took the lead. She strained to hold the bouncy dog back.

  ‘He’s strong!’ complained Molly.

  Lulu dropped to her knees in the sand. She was careful not to touch the little bird. It was breathing heavily. Tears filled her eyes so she could hardly see.

  Mum came racing over. Rosie, Sam and Gus followed.

  ‘Is it okay?’ asked Mum.

  ‘I don’t know,’ hiccuped Lulu.

  The penguin was making low squeaking sounds. Lulu couldn’t see any outward signs of injury. The dog yapped, lurching and trying to escape.

  ‘I think the penguin is in shock.’ Mum rummaged in her handbag and pulled out her phone. She passed it to Lulu. ‘Lulu, can you call Dad, please? Tell him what’s happened and ask him to come at once.’

  Mum helped Molly pull the dog away and made everyone stand back.

  Lulu dialled her dad’s number. Her fingers were shaky.

  ‘Hi, Dad,’ said Lulu. Her voice wobbled. ‘It’s me. We’re down at the cove. A dog attacked a little penguin. It might be injured. Mum says can you come straight away?’

  ‘Of course, sweetie, I’m on my way. Where exactly are you?’ asked Dad.

  The sound of Dad’s familiar, confident voice made Lulu feel better. Dad would know what to do. Dad would make the penguin better.

  ‘On the beach, near the wharf,’ replied Lulu.

  ‘Don’t worry – just make sure no-one touches the penguin. I’ll be there soon,’ said Dad.

  The rest of the group had gathered around Mum and the dog. There was Rosie, Gus, Molly, Sam, Molly’s mum, the boy who’d fallen over and now his mother.

  ‘Dad’s coming,’ said Lulu.

  Mum brushed Lulu’s hair back and kissed her on the forehead. ‘Good work, honey bun,’ said Mum. ‘You’ve done well.’

  ‘Scruffy, you bad, bad dog,’ said the boy’s mother. ‘I can’t think what came over him.’ She looked at her son. ‘Poor Finn, are you feeling better now?’

  Finn still looked shaken, but his grazes had stopped bleeding. Scruffy looked dejected now. His tail was between his legs and his ears were down.

  ‘My husband is a vet and he’s on his way,’ explained Mum. ‘I think we should go up on the footpath and wait for him there. Lulu, perhaps you and Molly could wait here with the penguin. Make sure he stays safe.’

  Molly and Lulu squatted on the damp sand. The penguin lay still, a dark hump on the paler sand. Lulu could see her mum up above the seawall. She was talking to the other mothers.

  ‘It’ll be okay, little fella,’ murmured Lulu. ‘My dad will be here soon.’

  Chapter 6

  Dad to the Rescue

  In a few minutes, Lulu spied the familiar sight of her tall, gangly Dad. He was carrying his black medical bag and a cardboard box. Lulu ran towards him.

  ‘Dad. Dad. It’s over here,’ called Lulu.

  Dad swooped her up over his head and kissed her. ‘That’s my precious girl,’ he said. ‘Show me this little penguin of yours.’

  Dad ran his hands carefully over the penguin. He listened to its heartbeat with his stethoscope. Carefully, he lifted the bird. He wrapped it in an old towel and tucked it into the cardboard box.

  ‘I think this little guy is coming home with us,’ said Dad. He hoisted the box and tucked it under one arm. ‘I’ll give him a proper check at the vet hospital.’

  ‘Do you think he’ll be okay?’ asked Lulu. Her voice wobbled again.

  Dad gave her a squeeze with his free arm. ‘I think he’ll be fine,’ he replied.

  Lulu’s dad had driven from the vet hospital to the beach. Mum had found the car and packed all the gear into the boot. Finn and his mother were waiting with Mum.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ said Finn’s mother. ‘Will the penguin be all right?’

  ‘I think so,’ replied Dad. ‘But he’s a lucky bird. I’m glad that Lulu and Molly stopped the dog. In another few minutes the penguin could have been dead.’

  Finn’s mother looked upset.

  ‘Scruffy’s never done anything like this before,’ she said. ‘He’s just so strong.’

  ‘I’m sure Scruffy’s a lovely dog,’ said Dad. He gave the dog a pat. ‘But as his owner you need to make sure he learns good manners.

  Perhaps you and Finn should take him to training lessons. Then he can learn how to walk to heel.’

  Finn looked up, his eyes shining.

  ‘That would be great,’ he said. ‘Maybe I could teach him some tricks too.’

  ‘Rosie and I taught our dog Asha how to roll over and play dead and how to beg,’ said Lulu.

  ‘And Jessie helps vacuum the floor after dinner,’ added Rosie. ‘She gobbles up all the crumbs.’

  ‘How did you teach her to roll over and play dead?’ Finn asked Lulu.

  Lulu laughed. ‘She’ll do anything for a treat. Come over to the vet hospital one day after school and I’ll show you. It’s easy to train a dog when you know how.’

  Back home, Mum put Gussie in the bath. He was still wearing his Bug Boy suit. Then she prepared a quick meal of baked beans on toast. Fish and chips would have to wait for another day.

  Lulu went with Dad through to the vet hospital. She wanted to help him look at the injured penguin more closely.

  In the consulting room, Dad lifted the bird out of the box. The penguin yelped and flapped his dark flippers in protest. His silver-grey eyes blinked rapidly in the bright light.

  ‘He’s a noisy little fellow,’ said Dad. ‘That’s a good sign.’

  Lulu smiled with relief.

  ‘Look, Lulu,’ said Dad. ‘His back is blue-grey to make him hard to see from the sky. And his tummy is white. That’s so he looks like foam from underneath the water. Isn’t that clever?’

  ‘It is,’ agreed Lulu. ‘He’s really cute.’

  Dad checked the bird closely. He moved its flippers gently and ran his hands over the feathers.

  ‘Can you pass me that tube, please, sweetie? It’s antibiotic ointment,’ said Dad. ‘There’s a slight graze on his side.’

  Lulu handed Dad the tube and he smeared the graze with ointment.

  ‘Nothing’s broken,’ Dad decided, ‘but I think he’s suffering from shock and bruising. I’ll give him a shot of antibiotics. Then we’ll take him back to the cove and release him.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ said Lulu. ‘Can’t we keep him, at least for a few days?’

  ‘Sweetie, this little guy probably has a mate. She will be worried about him. Plus she’ll have a burrow full of little chicks. They will be hungry,’ explained Dad. ‘You know, if Scruffy had killed this penguin, all his chicks could have died as well. The chicks need one parent to stay and look after them. The other parent goes out hunting for food.’

  Lulu nodded. ‘Then of course he needs to go home,’ she agreed.

  ‘Do you want to come with me to let him go?’ asked Dad.

  ‘Yes please, Dad. That would be great.’

  ‘We’ll need to check with Mum,’ warned Dad.

  M
um was reading with Gus and Rosie. They were all snuggled up together in Mum and Dad’s bed, with their heads resting on each of Mum’s shoulders. Gus was wearing fresh Bug Boy pyjamas and Rosie was wearing a long white nightdress. They smelt warm and soapy.

  ‘Mum, can I go with Dad to set the penguin free?’ asked Lulu.

  Mum checked her watch. ‘It’s getting late and you have school tomorrow,’ she objected.

  ‘Please, Mum?’ begged Lulu. ‘It won’t take long and I promise I’ll go straight to bed when we get back.’

  ‘Oh, all right then, honey bun,’ agreed Mum. ‘You make sure the penguin gets home safely.’

  Chapter 7

  Back to the Wild

  Lulu held the box on her lap as Dad drove back to the cove. She could feel the penguin moving around inside. He squeaked and yelped. He smelt fishy.

  Dad parked the car near the wharf and came around to open the door for Lulu. He lifted the box off her lap so she could climb out. The beach was completely dark now. Only the footpath was lit by streetlights.

  ‘Dad, can I carry him, please?’ she asked.

  ‘Sure, sweetie. Just be careful not to drop him.’

  Slowly and carefully, Lulu carried the box down the steps and onto the beach.

  ‘I think we’ll let him go right where you found him,’ said Dad.

  Lulu’s eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. Finally she could just see the scuff marks from the struggle in the damp sand. ‘There!’ she said.

  Lulu knelt down and placed the box on the sand. Dad slowly turned the box on its side and opened the lid. The penguin paused for a moment. Then he scuttled out of the box. He ran up the sand towards his burrow under the jetty.

  ‘Welcome home,’ murmured Lulu. ‘Sleep well, little penguin.’

  ‘Let’s go home and get you to bed, little sweetie,’ said Dad. He lifted Lulu up and carried her on his shoulders, high, high above the ground.

  Chapter 8

  Fishy Time

  In the morning, Lulu slept in. She was tired after her late-night adventures. When she finally woke, Rosie was already up and dressed.

  Lulu yawned and stretched and then she climbed out of bed. Her school uniform was lying on the floor. It was all salty and sandy from the day before. She went to the cupboard, but her clean uniform wasn’t there.

  ‘Mum, where’s my uniform?’ called Lulu. ‘It’s not hanging up.’

  ‘I’m just ironing it,’ replied Mum. Her voice came from the direction of the laundry. ‘Can you please feed Pickles and Pepper? And ask Rosie to feed the rabbit?’

  ‘Sure, Mum,’ Lulu replied.

  She padded out into the kitchen wearing her pyjamas. Sitting in the middle of the floor was Gus. His mask was pushed back off his face. Between his legs was a giant tin of chocolate Milo. He was eating great mouthfuls with a spoon. His face had a beard of sticky chocolate and the floor around him was sprinkled with brown dots.

  ‘Gus!’ cried Lulu. ‘What are you doing? You’re not allowed to eat that straight from the tin.’

  At the sound of Lulu’s voice, Jessie bounded into the kitchen. She was very happy to help clean up the mess. She licked the floor with her long pink tongue.

  Lulu picked up the tin, found the lid, and returned it to the cupboard.

  ‘Not Gussie,’ insisted Gus. ‘Jessie did it.’

  Lulu tried hard not to laugh.

  ‘Yes – Jessie is very naughty,’ said Lulu. ‘Come on, let’s clean you up.’

  Lulu went to the sink to get a cloth. She wiped Gus’s face. Jessie licked the brown sprinkles off Gus’s Bug Boy suit.

  Next, Lulu opened a tin of sardines to feed the two cats. Pepper, the ginger cat, came at once. She meowed and rubbed her back against Lulu’s legs. She gobbled up her food straight away.

  ‘Pickles. Pickles,’ called Lulu. ‘Fishy time.’

  Pickles didn’t come. Lulu searched all the usual spots – on her bed, under the lavender bush, on the window seat, in Dad’s shoe cupboard. Asha padded along beside her, her nose twitching.

  ‘Pickles,’ Lulu called again.

  Rosie helped. Mum helped search as well.

  Lulu went through to the vet hospital, even though Pickles didn’t like visiting there.

  ‘Kylie – have you seen Pickles?’ Lulu asked the vet nurse.

  ‘No,’ replied Kylie. ‘She’s due to have kittens, isn’t she? Perhaps she’s run away to make a little nest for them.’

  Lulu frowned. She looked out the front window of the waiting room. The vet hospital was on a busy road. If Pickles had escaped out there, she could be catnapped or run over by a car.

  Kylie smiled at Lulu’s anxious face.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Kylie said. ‘We’ll find her. I’ll help you look.’

  Lulu, Kylie, Rosie, Mum and Gus looked in all the likely places again. They tried lots of unlikely spots too. Jessie the dog was keen to help. She sniffed under the kitchen table and all around the base of the fridge. But Pickles was nowhere to be found.

  ‘Do you think someone might have opened the gate?’ asked Lulu. She looked at the high gate that separated the back garden from the side street. ‘Could Gus have opened it?’

  ‘Bug Boy didn’t,’ said Gus. ‘Maybe Jessie did?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ wailed Lulu. She rushed to check outside the gate. But there was no sign of Pickles. Where could she be?

  Chapter 9

  The Washing Machine

  Lulu checked under Rosie’s bed again. Pickles wasn’t there.

  ‘Come on, honey bun,’ said Mum. ‘It’s getting late. Why don’t you run and get dressed? I’m sure I can find Pickles while you’re at school.’

  ‘Okay, Mum.’ Lulu dragged her feet. She was very worried about the tortoiseshell cat.

  ‘And could you please put your dirty uniform in the washing machine while I make your breakfast?’ asked Mum. ‘The load’s all ready to go – just close the lid.’

  Lulu quickly put on her fresh school dress and brushed her hair. She scooped the sandy uniform off the floor.

  She carried it to the laundry and threw it into the open washing machine. Down slammed the lid.

  Just for a second, Lulu heard a funny noise. Then came the sound of water filling the machine.

  Lulu walked away, wondering about ideas for her mural design.

  She thought about the funny noise again. It had been a mewling kind of sound. Why would the washing machine mewl?

  Lulu stopped and turned. She raced back to the washing machine. She flung open the lid and the water stopped. She peered down. A loud meow came from inside.

  There, nestled on the pile of dirty clothes, was a sodden Pickles. She was surrounded by six tiny, damp kittens.

  ‘Mum, Mum,’ yelled Lulu. ‘I’ve found Pickles. She’s had the kittens – in the washing machine!’

  Mum came running. Rosie came running. Gus and Jessie came running.

  ‘Oh, my goodness gracious me,’ said Mum.

  Pickles stared at them and meowed. She looked as if she wasn’t quite sure how she felt. Annoyed at being wet? Or proud of how clever she was? Pride won.

  ‘Yes, you clever puss,’ said Mum. ‘What beautiful babies you have.’

  Mum set to work. She pulled a pile of old towels from the bottom of the linen cupboard. Lulu helped her to line a big wooden crate with newspaper and more towels.

  A knock sounded on the front door. Rosie went to answer it and returned with Molly.

  ‘Mum asked if it would be okay if I walked to school with you today,’ said Molly. ‘She has an early appointment at work.’

  ‘Of course you can walk with us, Molly,’ said Mum.

  ‘Look, Molly,’ squealed Lulu. ‘Pickles has had kittens. They are just adorable.’

  ‘Doruble pussas,’ agreed Gus. He stood on tiptoe and tried to see into the top of the washing machine.

  ‘Before we can leave for school, we have to move Pickles to a safer place,’ said Mum.

  Mum carefully picked up P
ickles. She wrapped her in a towel and placed her tenderly in the crate. Mum rubbed her softly to dry her. Pickles meowed. She wanted to be near her kittens.

  ‘It’s okay, Pickles,’ said Lulu soothingly.

  ‘Here’s a towel for you, honey bun, and one for Molly,’ said Mum. ‘We’re going to dry the kittens very, very gently. Then we’ll put them in the box with Pickles. Be super careful not to drop them.’

  The kittens had their eyes closed fast and their coats were sticky. Their little paws scrabbled at the towels. They mewled for their mother.

  One by one, the kittens were stroked dry. Then they were placed in the crate with Pickles.

  Molly held the tiniest kitten up to her face and nuzzled its velvety black fur.

  ‘It is so sweet,’ she sighed. ‘I wish we had a cat who could have kittens in our washing machine. I wish Mum would let me have any pet at all!’

  ‘You could,’ cried Lulu. ‘Oh, Mum, couldn’t Molly have one of the kittens? Couldn’t you ask Molly’s mum if she can have one?’

  Molly gazed between Lulu and Mum. Her face glowed with hope and wonder.

  Mum laughed. ‘I can’t promise that your mum will say yes, Molly. But I promise I will ask her what she thinks.’

  ‘Yes!’ screamed Lulu and Molly together.

  ‘Thanks, Mum,’ cried Lulu.

  ‘Thanks, Chrissie,’ said Molly. ‘Oh, how exciting! What will I call her? Perhaps Sooty or Blackie. No, that’s too boring. How about Petal or Petunia?’

  ‘How about Cassie? Or Miffy?’ suggested Rosie.

  ‘Bug Boy!’ cried Gus, with a cheeky grin.

  ‘No way!’ cried Lulu, Molly and Rosie together.

  Chapter 10

  The Design Contest

  Molly and Lulu were a few minutes late to class. Miss Baxter had already marked the roll.

  ‘Sorry we’re late, Miss Baxter,’ said Lulu. ‘But my cat Pickles went missing. When I found her, she’d had kittens in the washing machine. They nearly drowned when I started the wash. Luckily we saved them. We moved them into a box in my bedroom.’