by Sue Bentley
‘There he is!’ shrieked Louise, kneeling down and making a big fuss of Storm.
‘Where were you hiding, you naughty boy?’ Anna scolded. She rolled Storm on
to his back and tickled his pale tummy.
Storm gave a small yelp of surprise. ‘Be careful with him. He's only tiny,’ Kelsey said sharply.
The twins looked at her in surprise. ‘Sorry, Storm,’ Anna said in a subdued voice, being more gentle.
‘You did not need to worry, Kelsey. Anna and Louise were not hurting me,’ Storm woofed, when the twins moved away.
Kelsey nodded. ‘I know that really. I didn't mean to snap. It's just that I can't get used to having the twins round here all the time. I liked it when it was just Dad and me,’ she whispered.
Her dad came into the room. He'd just been to order a takeaway pizza. ‘It'll be at least half an hour. They're quite busy,’ he said.
‘There's just time for Louise and me to take Storm for a walk, then. Can we, Kelsey?’ Anna asked.
Kelsey sighed inwardly. Once the twins got an idea in their heads they never let up. She still didn't like the idea of letting Storm out of her sight. What excuse could she give now for refusing to let anyone else take him for a walk?
Jo came in and put some more logs into the wood-burning stove. ‘Congratulations, by the way!’ she said to Kelsey, with a broad grin. ‘It's quite an honour to be the Apple Princess and lead the procession.’
‘Um… yes, I know,’ Kelsey said, her tummy tightening with nerves, but she smiled back. She was warming to Jo more and more as time passed, especially after Jo had taken her side about keeping Storm.
‘How much does it cost to speak to you now, Your Majesty?’ Louise chimed up, doing a silly curtsy.
Anna made sweeping up and down movements with her arms towards Kelsey. ‘We are not worthy!’ she mocked.
Despite herself, Kelsey grinned. ‘Silence, peasants!’ she ordered in a posh voice, going out of the room, with Storm at her heels.
‘That's told you two!’ Jo said, laughing at the twins' stunned faces. ‘Good for you, Kelsey!’
Chapter
SIX
Kelsey was just coming out of the bathroom when the phone rang early the following morning. ‘I'll get it, Dad!’ she called, running downstairs. Storm ran down after her. ‘Hello?’ she spoke into the phone.
‘Er… Hi. It's me,’ said a nervous voice.
‘Ross?’ Kelsey said, looking at Storm.
There was an awkward silence on the other end of the phone. ‘I… um… wanted
to ask you about this… er…Wassail thing in the orchard. You must know all about it. You've lived in Long Morton for ages, haven't you?’ Ross asked hesitantly.
‘Yeah, I was born here,’ Kelsey said. ‘Wassail nights in the old apple orchard are brilliant fun. It's noisy and exciting and there's yummy food. We always have a great time. But I've never been Apple Princess before. I'm going to be dead nervous,’ she admitted.
‘You are?’ Ross said, sounding surprised. ‘I thought it was only me.’
‘No way!’ Kelsey said. ‘Who wouldn't be worried about having half the town watching them parading about in a cloak and crown?’
‘Yeah, I guess so,’ Ross agreed. ‘My dad's not very happy about the Wassail ceremony, either. He thinks I'll be making a real fool of myself in front of everybody.’
Kelsey suddenly began to realize why Ross might be so quiet all the time.
‘Well, for a start, there'll be morris dancers on Wassail night too and my uncle Billy is one of them. I'd like to hear anyone tell him he looks a fool! He has to duck his head when he walks into our house and he's about as wide as a wardrobe.’
‘I'll tell Dad that! He'll be quite relieved.’ Ross started laughing.
He had a nice laugh and Kelsey joined in. ‘I have to go now,’ she said apologetically. ‘I need to take Storm for a quick walk before school.’
‘You've got a dog?’ Ross asked with new interest. ‘I love dogs.’
‘Yes. Storm's my new puppy,’ Kelsey told him. ‘He's absolutely gorgeous. I usually take him to the park. Hey, you live near there, don't you? I could call for you, if you like.’
‘Yeah? That would be brilliant!’ Ross exclaimed.
‘I'll be right there!’ Kelsey said goodbye and then hung up. She bent down to bury her face in Storm's soft fur. ‘I think your magic is working already!’
Kelsey and Storm passed a neighbour's house on their way to Ross's. Kelsey noticed that there was a new poster in the window. It read, Puppy walkers needed urgently. Please ring for details. And there was a phone number.
She pointed the poster out to Storm. ‘I wonder what that's about.’
Storm gave a doggy shrug as they walked on.
A few minutes later, Kelsey and Storm stood on Ross's doorstep as the front door opened and Ross appeared.
‘Hi!’ she said brightly. ‘This is Storm.’
Storm woofed a greeting and wagged his tail eagerly.
‘Hello, boy! Aren't you cute?’ Ross said as he bent down to stroke the tiny puppy. He glanced up at Kelsey. ‘He's a little King Charles spaniel, isn't he?’
Kelsey was surprised that Ross could tell which breed Storm was. ‘You seem to know a lot about dogs,’ she said.
Ross smiled. ‘I'm always reading dog books and watching programmes about them on TV.’
‘Me too. Dogs are the best,’ Kelsey said.
As they wandered down the front garden, a stern voice called out, ‘Ross? Wait there a moment, please.’
Kelsey looked round to see a man with shiny swept-back hair. Ross's dad wore a
coat over a smart suit and he was holding a laptop bag. ‘Hello there, young lady. You must be Kelsey Fisher from Ross's class.’
Kelsey nodded. ‘Hello, Mr Kirk,’ she said politely. ‘We're taking my puppy, Storm, for a walk before school.’
‘So I see.’ Mr Kirk eyed Storm, but he didn't speak to him or bend down to stroke him as most people did. He looked at Ross. ‘Just don't try to talk me into having a dog. I won't have one of the unruly messy creatures in the house. You know the rules.’
Ross thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘Worst luck,’ he mumbled, so that only Kelsey heard him. ‘See you after work, Dad,’ he said more loudly.
His dad nodded curtly. ‘Mind you're not long. I don't want you being late for school.’ He walked past them and began striding down the street.
Kelsey rolled her eyes at Storm. Ross's dad seemed very strict.
‘What is unruly?’ Storm woofed quizzically.
Kelsey bent down to pat him. ‘It means badly behaved,’ she whispered.
Storm drew himself up and his bright blue eyes flashed. ‘I am not unruly!’ he woofed indignantly.
‘Of course you're not,’ Kelsey soothed. ‘I think you're just perfect!’
‘What are you saying to Storm?’ Ross asked.
‘Oh, just stuff about going walkies!’ Kelsey said hastily. ‘Dogs love that.’
Storm barked and danced about, wagging his tail.
Ross smiled as they crossed the road and went into the small park. He produced an empty crisp packet from his pocket and scrunched it into a ball for Storm. Kelsey watched as Ross threw it and Storm raced about, floppy ears and swishy tail flying out behind him.
‘That's it, boy. Fetch!’ Ross cried happily, throwing the crisp packet again.
Kelsey smiled at Ross's face, which was glowing with pleasure; he looked as if he had completely forgotten about being shy.
Chapter
SEVEN
The following day, Kelsey was in class, gluing shiny beads on her crown. Some of the other kids were making drums or putting dried beans into painted tins for musical instruments. She could see Ross concentrating hard as he painted gold squiggles on his crown.
Storm was curled up under Kelsey's desk, watching as she wiped her hands clean. Kelsey heard him give a little bark of welcome. She turned to see Jo walking into the clas
sroom carrying a box and a big roll of bendy willow.
Jo came over to say hello to Kelsey. She had come to show Kelsey's class how to make willow lanterns. ‘I make woven willow baskets and garden ornaments for a hobby,’ she explained.
‘Oh, very smart!’ Jo nodded towards Kelsey's crown as she arranged her stuff on a nearby empty desk. ‘You'll be a splendid Apple Princess, wearing that.’
‘Thanks,’ Kelsey said. She had worked really hard and was proud of how well it had turned out.
‘I like Jo,’ Storm woofed.
‘Me too,’ Kelsey whispered back, surprised at herself. She really meant it.
Making willow lanterns turned out to be great fun. Jo showed everyone how to bend and tie the soaked twigs into shape. Even Ross seemed to be enjoying himself making an oval-shaped lantern that looked like a spaceship.
‘Don't forget to make a little door so you can reach in and light the lantern,’ Jo instructed.
Kelsey made triangle shapes, which she was going to join up into a star shape. When one of her willow triangles plopped on to the floor, Storm sprang to his feet in surprise and ran out from under the desk. Growling softly, he bounced down on to his front paws and then grabbed the willow triangle in his mouth and tossed it about.
Luckily, everyone else was too busy to notice. Kelsey had to try really hard not to burst into laughter as Storm went skidding across the room with the triangle, almost falling over his soft front paws.
At the end of the session, Jo gathered up all her equipment. She came to say goodbye to Kelsey. ‘I could come round early on Saturday. Would you like me to help you get ready? I'm pretty good with sparkly hairspray and silver make-up.’
Kelsey nodded. ‘Yes, please.’
‘OK, then. See you later.’
Kelsey waved to Jo as she left. She was starting to think that being the Apple Princess might not be so bad after all.
‘Oh, yuck!’ Kelsey said, as Storm rolled in something particularly smelly in the grass. It was Friday night and she had decided
to take Storm for a quick run in the park on their way home from school.
Storm stood up and shook himself. His whole body rippled and then the movement reached his tail, which twirled about happily.
He looked so pleased with himself that Kelsey burst out laughing. She was carrying a cardboard box with her finished crown inside. Placing it on the grass, she bent down to scratch the tiny puppy under his chin where the fur was still clean.
‘You mucky pup!’ she said fondly. ‘Phew! You'll have to go straight into the bath when we get back!’
Kelsey picked up her box again and tucked it under her arm. As she and Storm started walking towards the park gates, Kelsey spotted a familiar figure sitting on a nearby bench. It was Ross.
Kelsey and Storm went over to him. ‘Hi,’ she said. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Oh, hi.’ Ross looked up in surprise. ‘Just… um… thinking about tomorrow night. You know, having to lead the Wassail ceremony,’ he said nervously. ‘I come here when I want to have a think about things. It'd be great if I had any brothers or sisters to chat to, but it's just me and Dad.’
‘Humph! What's so great about brothers and sisters? My dad's girlfriend's got twins. Anna and Louise are always trying to get me to do stuff with them and messing about and teasing me.’
‘I wouldn't mind that. That sounds like fun to me,’ Ross said. ‘And you'll never be lonely with those two around.’
Kelsey blinked at him in surprise. She'd never looked at it like that before.
Ross's face changed. ‘Are you bringing Storm with you tomorrow night?’
Kelsey nodded. She was planning to make him a neck-ruff later from sparkly wrapping paper. Storm would look very smart as she walked along in her royal robes, holding him in her arms.
‘Could… could I…’ Ross began.
‘What?’ Kelsey said.
‘I was going to ask you if I could hold Storm for a little while tomorrow night. I wouldn't feel so scared if he was with me. But I'll understand if you say no…’ Ross said hesitantly.
‘Er… yeah!’ Kelsey said after a second's hesitation. ‘Of course you can.’ She swallowed her disappointment. ‘As long as Storm doesn't mind.’
As Kelsey bent down to stroke him, Storm looked up at her with wide blue eyes and nodded. ‘It is kind of you to put Ross's feelings before your own,’ he yapped.
‘That's settled, then,’ Kelsey whispered. She stood up again. ‘You can hold Storm while we're leading the procession.’
‘Thanks.’ A wistful smile touched Ross's lips. ‘You're so lucky.You've got a really close bond with Storm, haven't you? I'm hoping for a puppy for my birthday next week, but Dad's dead set against it.’
After Ross had left for home, Kelsey and Storm wandered back through the park. Kelsey's soft heart went out to the lonely boy. ‘Ross would be great with a puppy, but he hasn't got much chance of ever getting one of his own, has he? Unless… Storm! I've just had a brilliant idea!’ she exclaimed.
Storm listened intently. When she had finished he nodded eagerly. ‘It is a very good plan!’
Kelsey felt a familiar tingling down her spine as Storm's brown-and-white fur
glowed with sparks. A shimmery golden mist appeared in the air. In the centre of it, a poster formed with writing on it. Puppy walkers needed urgently. Please ring for details.
Storm huffed out a stream of golden sparkles. The poster swirled into the air on the cloud of his breath and zoomed away invisibly towards Ross's house.
‘I just hope Mr Kirk gets the message when that plops through the letterbox!’ Kelsey said.
Storm nodded. ‘Me too!’
Chapter
EIGHT
Back home, Kelsey put the cardboard box, with her crown safely inside it, down beside the sofa and then went into her dad's office with Storm trotting along beside her.
‘Hello, love. How was school?’ her dad said, looking up from his computer.
‘Not bad,’ Kelsey replied. ‘I was going to make some hot chocolate. Do you want some?’
‘No thanks,’ he said, switching his computer off. ‘Goodness me, look at the time! I'd better start cooking supper. Jo and the twins will be here soon.’
Kelsey found that she didn't mind this unexpected announcement quite as much as she usually would have. Talking to Ross about the twins had made her think a bit differently about them. She followed her dad into the kitchen. ‘What are we having?’
‘Spag bol,’ her dad said, looking in cupboards. ‘At least, we were,’ he groaned. ‘I seem to have run out of tinned tomatoes and spaghetti!’
‘Da-ad!’ Kelsey said, grinning and shaking her head. ‘Never mind. Me and Storm will pop back out to the corner shop and get some.’
‘Would you? Thanks, love,’ he said, fishing money out of his trousers' pocket. ‘Then I can at least make a start.’
Kelsey and Storm went to the shop. She paid for the items and they were just returning past a back entry, lined with a row of garages. One of them was open and she heard a fierce snarling and growling from inside it.
Storm whimpered and crouched down with his tail between his legs.
Kelsey swept him into her arms. He was trembling all over and she could feel his heart pattering against her hands. ‘What's wrong?’ she gasped.
‘Shadow must be close. He has used his magic to set those dogs on to me,’ he whined.
The growling got louder and Kelsey saw two dogs with pale eyes and extra-long teeth peering out of the garage. They'd see Storm at any second!
She started running down the street. There was a bus shelter across the road. It was the old-fashioned kind, with closed sides and an entrance front and back. Panting, Kelsey hurtled towards it, dashed inside and stood there clutching Storm to her.
Seconds later, she heard the fierce dogs running past. She peeped round the shelter, but they had disappeared round the corner.
Kelsey gave a huge sigh of relief. ‘It
's OK.You're safe now,’ she soothed. ‘Those horrible dogs have gone.’ Now that the danger was over, she felt weak at the knees.
Storm gradually stopped trembling, but his eyes were still troubled. ‘Thank you for saving me, Kelsey. But Shadow will use his magic to make other dogs attack me. If he finds me, I may have to leave quickly without saying goodbye.’
Kelsey felt a sharp pang. She wasn't ready to lose her little friend. ‘Maybe Shadow will go on past and never find you. Then you can stay here with me for good.’
Storm twisted round to look up at her, his little heart-shaped face serious. ‘That cannot happen. One day I must return to lead the Moon-claw pack. Do you understand that, Kelsey?’
Kelsey nodded, but she didn't want to think about it. Maybe if she didn't mention it again, Storm would just stay forever. ‘Dad's waiting for this shopping. Let's hurry back,’ she said, changing the subject.
She put Storm down and he scampered along beside her. He seemed to be back to his normal self, despite his nasty scare.
Back in the house, the smell of frying onions greeted Kelsey, making her mouth water. Storm turned his head towards the sound of music and voices from the sitting room. ‘Someone is here.’
‘It must be Anna and Louise,’ Kelsey guessed. She quickly gave her dad the shopping and then went into the sitting room. The twins were practising a dance routine to their favourite boy-band track.
They looked up and saw her. ‘Hi, Kelsey. Come and join in! Anna invited.
‘In a minute. I've just got to give these to Dad,’ Kelsey said.
Louise was doing a complicated twirl. Anna pranced towards her and gave her a playful shove. Louise giggled as she lost her balance and staggered about.
‘Watch out for the b–’ Kelsey cried, as Louise went to sit down and missed the sofa.
But it was too late. Louise plonked down right on top of the cardboard box. There was an ominous crunching sound as it collapsed.
