Magic Kitten: A Circus Wish Read online

‘That’s OK. I’m really glad you’re here,’ Sadie said as they strolled across the room together.

  ‘Really?’ Jenny looked uncertain.

  ‘You’re my best friend, aren’t you?’ Sadie said happily. ‘It wouldn’t be half as much fun without you.’

  ‘Hi, Sadie! Hi, Jenny!’ Lena called as the girls returned from getting changed. Presto was at her heels. ‘Oh, good, you’ve brought Flame with you. I was hoping you would.’

  As Sadie put Flame down, Presto gave an eager little yap. Flame purred loudly and Presto wagged his tail as they sniffed each other.

  Victor Tomani clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. ‘Welcome! Would you all gather round? I want a quick word about the aims of the youth club and then we’ll move on to doing some warm-ups.’

  ‘I think I might faint with excitement,’ Grace boomed, patting her mouth and faking a yawn.

  Jenny chuckled. ‘Grace’s a riot, isn’t she?’

  ‘No!’ Sadie said, annoyed. ‘I don’t know why she bothered to come.’

  ‘She doesn’t mean anything,’ Jenny said.

  ‘If you ask me, she’s a real pain. I came here to learn stuff, not listen to her foghorn voice!’ Sadie grumbled.

  Jenny looked at her. ‘I thought we came to have fun,’ she said quietly.

  Sadie didn’t answer. She was listening to what Victor was saying about learning circus skills helping with kids’ self-confidence.

  ‘OΚ, lecture over!’ he said after a few more minutes. ‘We have plenty of helpers to assist you. Make sure you ask someone if you are unsure about anything. There are lots of skills to try. I suggest you divide into groups and see how you get on.’

  Sadie joined a group being taught by Lena and her mum. ‘See you later. Have fun!’ she waved as Jenny passed by on her way over to an area with baskets holding clubs, hoops and soft foam balls.

  ‘Have any of you used a springboard?’ Olga asked.

  Sadie and three other girls raised their hands.

  ‘OΚ, you four come over here with Lena,’ Olga said. ‘I’ll work with the rest of you on the mats.’

  As Sadie waited for her turn, she glanced over at Jenny and was amazed to see her juggling three balls. Jenny saw her and grinned delightedly. Sadie waved. She was so happy that Jenny was enjoying herself.

  ‘Off you go, Sadie,’ Lena prompted.

  Sadie turned back to the springboard. She took a deep breath and ran forward. Just as she bounced on to the springboard, Grace’s loud complaining voice floated into the air.

  ‘This is a waste of time! It’s boring, boring, boring! Can’t I do something else?’

  Sadie’s concentration wobbled. As she rose into the air she felt herself twisting awkwardly. She was going to fall!

  Chapter

  * FIVE *

  Panic flashed through Sadie’s mind. As she tensed for a painful and embarrassing landing, she saw Flame scampering towards her.

  He raised a paw and Sadie felt a warm tingling feeling in her spine. Suddenly a snowstorm of bright glittery sparks surrounded Sadie and she whooshed higher and higher into the air. She flipped over and over into a backspin and then did a half-twist before landing perfectly with her arms outstretched.

  A burst of riotous applause rang out.

  Sadie stood there, stunned. She couldn’t believe she was unhurt. Flame had saved her!

  ‘Well done, Sadie,’ Lena praised. ‘That was amazing!’

  Sadie looked at Flame, who winked. No one else appeared to have seen the magical sparks around her, and those in Flame’s fur had now faded.

  Sadie blushed like mad. ‘It was a fluke. I could never do it again,’ she said modestly. Not without Flame’s help, she thought to herself.

  Olga put her hand on Sadie’s shoulder. ‘Don’t set limits for yourself. We’re all capable of more than we realize, especially you it seems!’

  Sadie nodded. ‘Thanks for the advice.’

  She still felt a bit shaky as she went and sat down. Flame bounded over and jumped into her lap. ‘Are you all right, Sadie?’ he purred softly.

  ‘Yes. Thanks to you. You’re brilliant, Flame. You saved me from really hurting myself,’ she replied in a whisper.

  Flame blinked at her with bright emerald eyes. ‘You are welcome.’

  At the end of youth club, Sadie pulled on her tracksuit and said goodbye to Lena. Flame trotted along happily at her feet as she followed Jenny outside. ‘I saw you juggling those balls. You’re really good.’

  ‘As if you’re bothered,’ Jenny murmured.

  Sadie swung round, stung. ‘What do you mean?’

  Jenny’s face was tight and set. ‘You just can’t help showing off in front of Lena and everyone, can you?’

  ‘But I didn’t. I almost fell and…’ Sadie stopped. She could hardly tell Jenny that Flame had used his magic to save her.

  Grace and some other girls from their school walked past. ‘Are you coming?’ Grace called to Jenny.

  Jenny nodded and turned her back on Sadie. ‘I’m not walking home with you. I promised to go over Grace’s history homework with her,’ she shouted without looking round.

  Sadie stared after her friend in surprise. Since when had Jenny been helping anyone with their homework?

  Flame whined softly to be picked up. Sadie held him gently.

  He touched her chin with the tip of his cold nose. ‘I have made everything worse between you and Jenny. I am sorry,’ he mewed sadly.

  Sadie kissed the top of his tiny head. ‘It’s not your fault. It’s mine. Somehow, I keep upsetting Jenny and I don’t know how to make things right between us.’

  A couple of days later it was Jenny’s birthday. Sadie decided to post the present and card through Jenny’s letter box before school that morning. She didn’t quite feel brave enough to give them to her at school.

  ‘I couldn’t bear it if she threw them back at me,’ Sadie told Flame.

  Flame wrinkled his furry little brow. ‘I do not think Jenny is that kind of person.’

  Sadie didn’t think so either, but she wasn’t taking any risks. As Sadie went to deliver the present, Jenny’s mum opened the door.

  ‘Hello, Mrs Coleman,’ Sadie said politely. ‘Will you give Jenny this, please?’

  ‘Hello, Sadie. Why don’t you come in and give it to her yourself? It might cheer her up. She’s not feeling very well.’

  ‘What’s the matter with her? Isn’t she coming to school?’ Sadie asked.

  Mrs Coleman shook her head. ‘Not today. She’s got a tummy ache. I’m sure it’s not serious. Are you coming in to say hello?’

  Sadie hesitated. A familiar loud laugh floated out of the door. Grace was already with Jenny. ‘No. Just tell her I called. I hope she feels better soon.’

  The school day dragged for Sadie. Despite their last argument, she really missed her best friend. She hoped Grace Davies hadn’t taken her place.

  Back at home in her room, she was feeding Flame when her mum called up the stairs, ‘Sadie! Jenny’s on the phone!’

  Sadie dashed downstairs two at a time and grabbed the phone. ‘Thanks, Mum. Hi, Jenny! Are you feeling better?’

  ‘Yes. I’m fine now. Thanks for my birthday present. I love the notebook. It was nice of you to remember.’ Jenny’s voice was polite but distant.

  ‘Course I remembered!’ Sadie said. How could Jenny think she would forget her birthday?

  ‘Why didn’t you come in and cheer me up?’ Jenny asked. ‘You knew I was feeling rotten.’

  ‘I would have. But that noise-monster Grace Davies was already in there with you. Anyone a hundred miles away could hear her cheering you up!’ she joked.

  Jenny didn’t laugh. ‘Grace’s OK when you get to know her.’

  Sadie didn’t want to get to know Grace better. She just wanted things back as they were between her and Jenny. ‘Are you coming back to school tomorrow?’

  ‘Yes. Look, I’ve got to go now. Bye.’ Jenny rang off.

  Sadie dragged he
r feet as she went back upstairs. Jenny had probably only phoned out of politeness. She lay on her bed with Flame beside her. As she stroked him his whole body vibrated with his purring.

  ‘I’m glad I’ve got you for my friend,’ Sadie said, feeling comforted. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

  Chapter

  * SIX *

  Over the next week, Sadie saw Jenny at school and at youth club, but she never got the chance to talk to her alone. Jenny was always with Grace and some other girls.

  ‘Have you and Jenny fallen out?’ Lena asked one evening as Sadie helped put away the exercise mats.

  ‘She’s got a new best friend. She doesn’t need me any more,’ Sadie said, trying to sound as if she didn’t care. To her horror she felt her eyes filling with tears.

  Lena looked sympathetic. She put her arm round Sadie’s shoulders. ‘Give her some time. Maybe she’ll come round.’

  ‘Maybe,’ Sadie agreed, wiping her eyes.

  ‘I’ve got something for you.’ Lena gave Sadie a handful of tickets.

  ‘Wow! Ringside seats for the circus!’

  Lena nodded. ‘It’s our first performance of the season this Saturday. Everyone from the youth club is invited. Bring your mum and dad too. Do you think you’ll be able to come?’

  Sadie gave her a watery smile. This was just what she needed to cheer her up. ‘Try and stop me!’

  ‘I’ll take my shoulder bag. If I put it on my lap with the zip open you can watch the performance,’ Sadie said to Flame on Saturday evening.

  Flame nodded. ‘I would like that very much.’

  Sadie ran down to where her parents were waiting in the car on the drive.

  ‘Do you really need to take that huge bag?’ her dad asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Sadie said firmly. ‘It’s got stuff inside that I need.’ She hoped he wouldn’t ask what. ‘Come on, Dad. We’ll be late!’

  ‘All right! Hold your horses.’ Her dad smiled as he started the car and pulled out on to the road.

  Sadie could feel herself getting more and more excited as they went into the circus school building. She settled herself in her ringside seat next to her parents, with her bag on her knees. Jenny came in with her parents and, to Sadie’s surprise, sat in the empty seat next to her.

  Sadie wondered if Lena had something to do with it.

  ‘Hi,’ she said to Jenny, with a nervous smile. ‘This should be good.’

  Jenny nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said shortly.

  Sadie’s heart leapt with hope. At least Jenny wasn’t ignoring her.

  The circus ring was ablaze with colour and flashing lights. A burst of music rang out and the ring-mistress, in a top hat and tails and shiny boots, stepped through a star-covered curtain into the ring. ‘Ladies and gentlemen. Boys and girls! Welcome to Bullard’s Circus!’

  Jugglers on stilts and unicycles, tumblers and acrobats, a human pyramid and a dozen more acts all performed in a riot of sound and colour.

  Flame seemed to be enjoying it too. Sadie saw his wide emerald eyes peeking out from her bag as he took everything in.

  Next came the clowns. ‘We need the help of someone from the audience,’ shouted a clown with a white face, a red nose and fuzzy blue hair. ‘You? Yes, you! Would you come here, please?’ he asked, pointing to Jenny.

  Jenny went bright pink. She tried to shrink back into her seat, but willing hands pushed her forward. The clowns gathered around whispering instructions. Jenny was given a red wig and helped into a pair of baggy checked dungarees.

  Sadie watched in amazement as Jenny juggled six soft balls. She was really good.

  Then Jenny dropped a ball.

  Sadie’s heart missed a beat. But Jenny didn’t seem to care. She put a finger to her mouth and pulled a mournful face. The crowd howled with laughter.

  ‘They think it’s part of the act,’ Sadie whispered to Flame. ‘Jenny’s a natural, isn’t she?’

  Then came the act Sadie had been waiting for.

  The Flying Tomanis made daring leaps, turns and catches on the trapeze high up above a safety net. The women wore exotic make-up and tiaras that twinkled in the lights. Sadie hardly recognized Olga, Victor and Lena. They looked so glamorous and mysterious. Lena hung from a trapeze by the tips of her toes and Sadie gasped with delight and fear.

  When the show ended all the performers took a bow – including Jenny – and Sadie applauded until her palms ached.

  As her parents filed out after the performance, Sadie hung back. ‘That was amazing,’ she whispered to Flame. ‘Wasn’t it clever of Lena to arrange for the clowns to single Jenny out?’ She sighed. ‘I hope I’ll be good enough to work in the circus one day.’

  ‘You will be very good indeed, Sadie,’ Flame mewed confidently. ‘You must follow your dream.’

  Sadie stroked him gently. Flame wasn’t only special because he was magic; he was also the best kind of friend. The sort that made you feel stronger and better about yourself.

  Outside the circus, Sadie saw Jenny and her parents. On impulse, she ran up to her friend. ‘You were fantastic. And you didn’t seem at all nervous in the ring. Everyone loved it.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Jenny smiled hesitantly. ‘Um… I’d better go. Mum and Dad are waiting in the car for me.’

  When Jenny and her parents passed by in their car, Jenny waved. Sadie felt her heart swell and was sure that they would soon make up properly.

  Sadie rejoined her mum and dad just as a little door in the side of the circus opened. Lena popped her head out. She was still wearing her stage make-up. ‘Hi, Sadie! Did you enjoy the show?’ she called.

  ‘It was wonderful! Fantastic!’ Sadie enthused.

  Presto shot out from behind Lena and made a beeline for Sadie’s shoulder bag. Jumping up and down, he whined excitedly for Flame to come out and play.

  ‘Uh-oh,’ Sadie murmured, gently pushing the little dog away from her bag with one foot. ‘Shoo! Go away, Presto!’

  Any minute now her parents were going to wonder what was going on.

  Presto put his front paws on Sadie’s bag and scrabbled, trying to nose his way inside.

  ‘What’s he after?’ her dad wanted to know.

  Sadie’s heart sank, but she put on her most innocent expression. ‘No, er, idea.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Mr Allen bent down. He started to undo the bag’s zipper.

  It’s going to be OK. Flame’s invisible, Sadie comforted herself silently.

  And then everything happened at once.

  A large brown and white dog shot out of a nearby alleyway. It spotted Presto and came bounding towards him. Presto yelped with terror. He dived head first into Sadie’s half-open shoulder bag and landed on Flame.

  ‘Yeo-row-row!’ Flame screeched with surprise.

  ‘What the…’ Mr Allen gasped.

  Sadie made a frantic grab for her bag, but the big dog beat her to it. It grasped it in its enormous teeth and began dragging it towards the alleyway.

  ‘Hey! Come back!’ Sadie yelled.

  She dashed into the dark alleyway, followed closely by her parents. There was no time to think of a plan. She had to get the bag away from the dog somehow. Flame wouldn’t risk using his magic with her mum and dad so close.

  The dog had backed up against a wall. It had dropped the bag, but stood over it, growling menacingly. Sadie daren’t risk trying to grab the bag while it was within reach of those huge sharp teeth.

  She suddenly remembered that she had a half-eaten tube of aniseed sweets in her pocket. Dogs loved the smell of aniseed, didn’t they? Taking out the sweets, she waved them about. The dog sniffed the air and licked its chops.

  Hoping like mad that she could distract the dog for even a few seconds, Sadie rolled two sweets down the alley. The dog crept forward, keeping a wary eye on her, before darting towards the sweets and crunching them up.

  Quick as a flash, her heart beating fast, Sadie lurched forward and seized the bag. She threw the rest of the tube of sweets at the dog and hurtled out
of the alley.

  As soon as she was safely in the street outside, Sadie opened her bag. ‘Are you all right, Flame?’ she panted. ‘I thought that horrible dog was going to eat you!’ As she picked him up, a few sparks in his black fur fizzed against her hand before they went out.

  Flame rubbed his head against her arm. ‘I am fine. Thank you for saving me, Sadie. You were very brave. You could have been badly bitten,’ he purred.

  ‘I just couldn’t bear to let him hurt you,’ Sadie said, trying to catch her breath. Now that she thought about the danger she had been in, her knees felt all weak and wobbly.

  Sadie reached into her bag with her free hand and lifted Presto out. The little dog was trembling from head to foot. He gave a relieved little yap and began licking Flame’s ears.

  ‘Sadie?’

  Mr and Mrs Allen stared at the little dog and the fluffy black kitten in their daughter’s arms and then looked down at the open shoulder bag.

  Sadie looked at her parents. Flame hadn’t had time to make himself invisible. I’m in so much trouble, she thought.

  ‘Is there something you want to tell me, young lady?’ her dad said sternly.

  Chapter

  * SEVEN *

  Sadie realized there was only one possible thing to do. She burst into tears.

  ‘Oh, dear!’ Mrs Allen rushed up and put her arm round Sadie’s shoulders. ‘You’re all shaken up, love! Did that big dog bite you?’

  Sadie shook her head. ‘I’m fine. It’s not that. It’s… it’s… everything,’ she sobbed.

  Her mum gave her a cuddle. ‘I knew it. You and Jenny haven’t been getting on like you used to, have you?’

  Mr Allen stared at his wife and daughter in confusion. ‘What’s that got to do with that kitten?’ he asked, mystified. ‘No wonder I’ve been sneezing! Sadie’s had that little mite in the house. In her bedroom too, I shouldn’t wonder.’

  ‘We’ll get to that in a minute,’ his wife answered calmly, passing Sadie a tissue. ‘Can’t you see that Sadie’s upset?’