Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn

by Belinda Murrell

  About the Book

  Meet Lulu Bell. Where there’s Lulu, there’s family, friends, animals and adventures galore!

  It’s almost time for Lulu’s little sister’s birthday party. But there’s a problem! A pony is running loose and Lulu and her dad, the local vet, have to rescue it.

  Can they find the pony? And what will happen if the naughty pony gets into more mischief at the party? It’s lucky that Lulu has a plan!

  Contents

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1: The Cake

  Chapter 2: Shelly Beach Vet Hospital

  Chapter 3: The Runaway

  Chapter 4: Home Again

  Chapter 5: Disaster

  Chapter 6: Another Plan

  Chapter 7: Lulu to the Rescue

  Chapter 8: A Mob of Mermaids

  Chapter 9: The Underwater Kingdom

  Chapter 10: Serena and Snowy

  Chapter 11: The Mermaid Feast

  Lulu Bell and the Fairy Penguin

  Read all the Lulu Bell books

  Copyright Notice

  Loved the book?

  For my mum and dad, who gave me the best possible childhood growing up in a vet hospital. My memories are filled with loving family and friends, exciting adventures and animals, and of course books.

  Chapter 1

  The Cake

  Lulu and her best friend, Molly, were in the kitchen, helping Lulu’s mum. Lulu was adding the final decoration to a mermaid birthday cake, and Molly was spooning chocolate crackle mixture into patty cases.

  ‘Do you think the mermaid needs another pearl in her hair?’ asked Lulu.

  On a large wooden board was the most beautiful cake Lulu had ever seen. It was a mermaid with long curly hair made of spun sugar. Her tail was a silvery-green that shimmered and sparkled. She swam upon a sea of crunchy blue lollies. All around her were golden fish and shells.

  Lulu’s mum was an artist. She had spent hours sculpting the mermaid body and mixing the icing. Lulu had helped to choose the colours. It was just the right cake for her little sister Rosie’s sixth birthday party.

  ‘Three pearls looks perfect,’ said Lulu’s mum. ‘Rosie will love it.’

  At their feet was Jessie, the smiliest dog in the world. Her long pink tongue lolled out and she thumped her tail on the floor.

  ‘It looks way too good to eat,’ agreed Molly. ‘You should take a photo of it.’

  The girls admired the cake while Mum snapped some photographs. Jessie snuffled around and licked up specks of green icing from the floor. Pickles, one of the family cats, stalked into the kitchen. She hissed at the big brown dog and chased her away.

  Over in the corner, curled in her basket, was another dog: Jessie’s mother, Asha. She was grey around her muzzle and much quieter than her daughter. She lifted one ear and watched everyone with alert brown eyes.

  ‘Great, that’s done,’ said Mum. ‘We’ll leave it on the bench for the icing to set. Now, we still have to finish the chocolate crackles, make the blue jelly and bake a big batch of brownies. And make sure Gus doesn’t stick his fingers into anything.’

  A loud shout came from the back garden. The door banged open. A tiny superhero ran through the doorway and skidded to a halt right by the table. A pair of brown eyes gleamed through a black mask. They stared straight at the chocolate crackles.

  ‘Hello, honey bun,’ said Mum. ‘Are you having fun?’

  ‘I not honey bun,’ insisted Gus. ‘I Bug Boy.’

  Gus was wearing a red-and-green superhero outfit that Mum had made. It had a long green cloak and green leggings. Gus loved it so much that he refused to take it off – even when he was having a bath.

  ‘Isn’t he adorable?’ cooed Mum.

  Lulu glanced at her friend and raised her eyebrows. Molly giggled. Lulu loved her younger brother and sister. But sometimes their antics could be a little annoying. She prided herself on being the practical one in the family.

  ‘I not ’dorable – I Bug Boy,’ Gus shouted. He grabbed a chocolate crackle from the plate and ran off. Jessie chased at his heels.

  ‘Gus,’ Lulu yelled after him, her hands on her hips. ‘That’s for Rosie’s party.’

  Gus, of course, didn’t reply. Mum smiled lovingly and kept mixing the brownie batter.

  The door to the lounge room swung open. It revealed Rosie. A cloud of fine dark hair framed her face. She wore a white dress, sparkly silver thongs and a pair of feathery angel wings. She was using both hands to carry a big basket of pencils, pastels and paints.

  ‘I’m going to start decorating the lolly bags,’ announced Rosie.

  ‘Look, Rosie,’ called Lulu. ‘We’ve finished the mermaid cake. It looks amazing.’

  ‘Oooooh,’ squealed Rosie. She leaned over the platter. ‘She’s beautiful, Mum, thank you. That is the best cake I have ever seen.’

  Mum kissed the top of Rosie’s head. ‘A pleasure, honey bun. The lolly bags are on the table.’

  Asha came to lie under the kitchen table to keep Rosie company.

  Next, Lulu and Molly made turquoise-blue jelly. Mum poured boiling water onto the jelly crystals in the jug and stirred. The girls added the cold water and took their turns to stir. They carefully poured the liquid into sixteen small plastic cups.

  ‘We have to wait until the jelly is half-set. Then we can decorate each cup with green snakes to look like seaweed,’ explained Lulu. ‘Mum thinks it will look really pretty.’

  ‘It will taste yummy, too,’ agreed Molly. She licked a drop of mixture from her finger.

  The girls had just slid the tray of jelly cups into the fridge when the phone rang. Mum switched off the mixer and answered it.

  ‘Hello, Shelly Beach Vet, Chrissie speaking.’

  She paused, listening to the caller. Lulu’s dad was a veterinary surgeon, and their house was right behind the vet hospital. When Kylie, the vet nurse, was busy with patients, the phone rang through to the house.

  ‘Mmmm, I see … I’ll tell Dr Bell … Yes, he’ll be there as soon as possible …’

  Mum hung up, frowning.

  ‘Honey bun, could you please give your dad a message? A pony is running loose on the Parkway,’ said Mum. ‘It’s a busy road and the pony could be hit by a car. We need to send someone up to catch it right away.’

  ‘A pony?’ asked Lulu. Her face creased with concern. She had always loved horses and the thought of one in danger worried her. ‘Dad might need some help with it.’

  Mum nodded.

  ‘Just remind Dad that it’s Rosie’s mermaid party this afternoon. We’ll have ten excited six-year-olds arriving in less than three hours,’ continued Mum. ‘You can go with Dad, but remember I still need your help to make the lolly bags and set up all the games.’

  Lulu tucked one of her honey-coloured plaits behind her ear.

  ‘Don’t worry, Mum,’ said Lulu. ‘Molly and I can do that when we get back.’

  Chapter 2

  Shelly Beach Vet Hospital

  A thick green door separated the vet hospital from the house. When Lulu and Molly closed the door behind them, the familiar smell of the hospital surrounded them – a mixture of disinfectant and animal fur. Lulu loved being here. There were always lots of beautiful animals to talk to.

  At the front of the vet hospital, closest to the street, was a big waiting room. It had a counter, a huge fish tank filled with tropical fish, and shelves of pet products. Behind that were two consulting rooms where Lulu’s dad saw his patients. Then there was the hospital ward full of cages for the overnight patients. At the very back were an operating theatre, a store room and a tiny X-r
ay room.

  Kylie, the vet nurse, appeared in the hallway. She was carrying a large fluffy cat in a carry cage. She smiled at Lulu.

  ‘Your dad’s seeing a patient in there.’ Kylie pointed to one of the consulting rooms. ‘He won’t be long.’

  ‘It’s an emergency,’ explained Lulu. ‘We need to save a pony.’

  ‘Go on in then,’ said Kylie.

  Dr Bell’s patient was a pug with a squashed-in face and a curly tail. It yapped furiously as Lulu tapped on the door. Its owner was an elderly lady. She cooed and stroked the dog. With her big fluffy coat and her own button nose, the lady looked a lot like her pet.

  ‘There, there, Iggy,’ said the lady. ‘The noisy little girls won’t hurt you.’

  Dr Bell smiled at Lulu and Molly. ‘Hi, girls,’ he said. ‘What’s up?’

  Lulu quickly told him about the escaped pony. Dr Bell frowned and nodded.

  ‘Okay, sweetie,’ he said. ‘I’ll just be a couple more minutes with Iggy. Why don’t you fill a bucket with feed and fetch a halter and lead, then we’ll go.’

  Lulu led the way to the crowded store room.

  The walls were lined with shelves right to the ceiling. On the floor were big bins of food for every kind of pet you could imagine. On a side table, under a heat lamp, was a closed cardboard box. Lulu carefully opened the lid. Inside was an orphaned baby brush-tailed possum. She was curled up asleep in a nest of soft flannel.

  ‘Hello, Jemima,’ whispered Lulu. ‘How are you feeling?’

  The possum looked up at Lulu with round brown eyes. Her black whiskers twitched. She scampered over to Lulu and climbed onto the palm of the girl’s hand. The long fluffy tail curled around Lulu’s arm and tickled her bare skin.

  ‘No, it’s not milk time yet, you greedy guts,’ said Lulu. She stroked the possum’s back. ‘I only fed you an hour ago!’

  ‘I think she’s grown again overnight!’ said Molly. ‘She is so cute!’

  Lulu gently returned the baby to her nest. She tucked the sheet around the body to make a little pouch.

  ‘Dad thinks she’s going to be all right,’ said Lulu. ‘Mum gets up during the night to feed her. And Kylie or I give her a syringe of special milk every two hours during the day.’

  Lulu closed the box and checked to make sure the lid was secure.

  ‘Dad says possums are amazing escape artists,’ explained Lulu. ‘Once we had a possum that found his way into the kitchen. He took one bite out of every piece of fruit in the fruit bowl. Mum said it was obviously time for him to return to the wild.’

  Molly laughed. ‘You’re so lucky, Lulu. I wish we had had lots of pets. Mum will only let me have a goldfish.’

  Her friend grinned. ‘You can share ours.’

  Lulu filled a bucket with grain pellets. Then she grabbed a halter and lead rope from the hook behind the door.

  ‘All right, Molly,’ said Lulu. She hefted the feed bucket. ‘Do you want to come with us?’

  ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world!’

  Chapter 3

  The Runaway

  Outside, it was a warm, sunny day and the sky was a deep blue. A soft breeze from the east brought the tang of salt. Lulu could hear the low rumble of the nearby ocean. The vet hospital was just up the hill from busy Shelly Beach. The beach would be crowded with swimmers and surfers on such a glorious day.

  Dr Bell hitched up a high-sided trailer behind his station wagon and they set off. Of course, Jessie and Asha could never miss out on a car ride. The two dogs sat in the very back, smiling happily.

  It was only a ten-minute drive to the Parkway, where the runaway pony had been seen. Lulu and Molly caught glimpses of the city and the blue of the harbour in the distance. Soon the view was swallowed up by thick green bushland.

  On the long straight Parkway, Dr Bell drove slowly and carefully. He glanced through the gum trees on either side.

  ‘Keep a really good look out,’ he told the girls. ‘The pony may have run into the bush. At least it will be safer there.’

  But the runaway had not sought the shelter of the bush.

  ‘Look, Dad,’ yelled Lulu. She pointed her finger straight ahead.

  A pure white pony was galloping down the centre of the road, its tail and mane flying.

  The car in front braked suddenly and its tyres screeched. It swerved to the side of the road. The driver honked the horn and frightened the runaway pony even more.

  Dr Bell turned on the station wagon’s hazard lights. He stopped the car and trailer so they blocked most of the road.

  ‘That should stop any other cars coming near me or the pony!’ he said. ‘Now, I want you girls to stay in the car until I tell you it’s safe to come out.’

  Dr Bell took the bucket, halter and lead and stepped calmly and carefully into the middle of the road. He held out his hand towards the pony. Lulu and Molly watched through the open window.

  The pony reared and tossed its head. It began to gallop again, heading straight towards Dr Bell. Its hooves thundered on the bitumen.

  ‘Oh,’ gasped Molly. She clutched Lulu’s arm. ‘Your dad’s going to be run over.’

  ‘Shhhh,’ whispered Lulu. ‘Dad knows what he’s doing.’

  ‘Come on, boy,’ called Dr Bell gently. ‘There’s a good boy. Come on.’

  Dr Bell stepped slowly towards the rushing pony. Its ears flicked back and forth.

  ‘That’s a good boy,’ repeated Dr Bell. ‘Come and have some feed.’

  The pony reared and bucked, then skittered to a stop. Its sides heaved. Its neck was slick with sweat and its mane was matted with twigs and leaves. The pony paused and sniffed. Then with a huge hurrumph, it stepped forward and slid its head under Dr Bell’s arm.

  ‘Gooooood boy.’

  Dr Bell stroked the pony’s nose. He slid the lead around the pony’s neck. Then he softly fastened the halter around the pony’s head.

  ‘Come over slowly, girls,’ suggested Dr Bell. ‘He’s still very skittery.’

  Lulu and Molly climbed out of the car, leaving the dogs safely shut in the back.

  ‘Isn’t he gorgeous?’ murmured Lulu.

  She ran her fingers through the pony’s tangled forelock. The pony was completely white, except for his dainty black hooves. His liquid brown eyes were framed with long lashes. Lulu breathed in his warm scent of hay and horse and sweat.

  ‘I wonder who he belongs to? They must be really worried about him,’ Lulu said.

  She held the bucket while the pony dipped his head in. He sniffed, blew and lipped some grain.

  ‘What are we going to do with him?’ asked Molly.

  Dr Bell checked the pony for injury. He ran his hands expertly down the pony’s flanks and fetlocks.

  ‘We’ll take him back with us,’ he replied. ‘He can stay in the back garden for now. I’ll phone the police and they should find his family quite quickly.’

  ‘But Dad,’ objected Lulu, ‘what about Rosie’s birthday party?’

  Dr Bell stood up and grinned at the girls.

  ‘Oh, he’ll be no trouble,’ he said. ‘Rosie will love having a pony in the backyard for her party.’

  By this time the Parkway was filled with stopped cars. The people closest waved and cheered as Dr Bell loaded the pony onto the trailer. The girls clambered back into the car. Jessie and Asha were overjoyed to see them again. They took turns to lick the two girls on the fingers.

  ‘What do you think, Jess?’ Lulu asked the large brown dog. ‘A pony for the party?’

  ‘Woof,’ replied Jess with a smile. Asha barked in agreement.

  ‘What if your dad can’t find the owner?’ asked Molly.

  A grin of pure joy spread across Lulu’s face. ‘Then we’ll have to keep him. Won’t we, Dad?’ she begged. ‘I could ride him to school!’

  ‘Now, don’t get too excited, Lulu,’ warned Dad. ‘That pony looks very well cared for to me. Someone will be searching for him.’

  Lulu pulled the corners of her mouth down and pouted
her lips to make an extra-sad face.

  ‘Fingers crossed,’ she whispered to Molly.

  Dr Bell turned the car and headed for home.

  Chapter 4

  Home Again

  Back at the vet hospital, Dr Bell unloaded the pony from the trailer. He led him through the side gate and into the back garden. Lulu, Molly and the two dogs followed close behind.

  Mum was tying bunches of green and purple balloons to the frangipani tree. Gus was chasing a flyaway balloon around the lawn. He was making a shrieking noise, like an overheated helicopter. Jessie bounded over and joined in the game, barking madly.

  ‘Good, you found the pony,’ said Mum. ‘Is he all right?’

  Dr Bell locked the gate, then undid the pony’s lead.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Just frightened. Gussie, you might want to quieten down a little. We don’t want to alarm the pony all over again.’

  ‘I not Gussie, I Bug Boy,’ replied Gus as he zoomed past.

  Lulu crossed her arms and frowned.

  ‘Gus,’ she said, ‘you’ll scare the pony.’

  Mum smiled at Gus. ‘Come inside, honey bun,’ she coaxed. ‘You can help the girls make the lolly bags. I’m going to decorate the front hall. And Lulu – you and Molly should get dressed. All the guests will be here in an hour.’

  Dad reached up into the branches. He secured a coloured streamer that had come loose.

  ‘I have to get back to work,’ he said. ‘Lots of patients will be waiting for me. Plus, I need to phone the police so they can track down the owner of this pony.’

  He started walking towards the house, then turned and smiled.