Guinea Pigs Online (7 page)
So that was it. That was how Coco had come to be in Henrietta’s handbag.
She felt Eduardo squeeze her paw. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, señorita,” he whispered. “I should have known all along you were a real princess.”
“And besides,” Coco added, “Eduardo is a freedom fighter. He lives in the thicket behind the house. He doesn’t want to live in captivity.”
“Well, then I quite understand,” the Queen said briskly, “but do keep in touch, won’t you, Coco?”
“I’ll write,” said Coco eagerly.
“If you like, dear,” the Queen said, as the footman pulled back her
chair, “but personally I find email far more efficient. Goodbye. I’ll send the chauffeur back to give you a lift home.”
“Señorita,” Eduardo whispered in Coco’s ear, as the Queen disappeared down the red carpet, “are you quite sure you don’t want to go back to the Palace?”
“I’m quite sure,” she said, squeezing his paw back. “I think we should go home.”
“Haven’t you forgotten something, Coco?” said Fuzzy. And he pointed to the harp, grinning.
“Oh, Fuzzy, you believe me too!” she said happily.
Coco grabbed a menu, folded the corners and flew off the table using it as an airplane.
She scampered over to where the elegant lady still sat plinking away. “May one?” she said politely.
“Of course.” The elegant lady got up and moved away.
And Coco flung herself around the strings and played a perfect sonata on the harp.
It was one of the waiters who called the Strawberry Park Animal Rescue Centre 24-hour helpline. Ben was sent out to investigate. Within an hour he had collected all the escaped guinea pigs and had taken them to safety, but even so he went home feeling very gloomy. Neither Coco nor Fuzzy had been among the dozens of animals he had rescued. They were still missing.
You can imagine Ben’s surprise and delight when he saw Fuzzy and Coco being carried from a Rolls-Royce up the front path of number 7, Middleton
Crescent on a velvet cushion by a smart chauffeur.
And we’re sure you can imagine how much more surprised he would have been had he looked down to see
a handsome black guinea pig speckled with silver shoot past him on a toy scooter!
the end
Be Safe Online!
Surfing the internet is lots of fun, but there are some things Coco and Fuzzy want you to remember so that you stay safe online . . .
G
UINEA
P
IGS
O
N
L
INE
G
is for
Go Away!
Never chat online with people you don’t know. Never reply to messages from people you don’t know. Finally, never, ever agree to meet up with someone you have only met online—it could be dangerous!
P
is for
Private!
Never tell anyone your personal information, like where you live, your phone number, or your passwords. It’s your private information and that’s how it should stay—private.
O
is for
Oh Really?
You really can’t trust everything you read on the internet. Check any information you learn online with an adult to make sure it’s true—you might be surprised how much false information is out there!
L
is for
Let an Adult Know
Finally, you should always let an adult know about what you’re doing on the internet. And if you’re worried about something that you’ve seen or read online, tell a grown-up right away—adults can be really good at explaining things that might seem mysterious to you.
You’re much better at using the Internet than Coco is . . .
. . . so why not visit
for lots more fun, giggles and squeaks with your favorite furry pals!
The adventures continue in
Furry Towers
Coco, Fuzzy and Eduardo encounter soggy lettuce, a poo-powered tank and sinister goings-on at a luxury guinea pig hotel!
About the Authors and Illustrator
Jennifer Gray
is a lawyer. She lives in central London and Scotland with her husband, four children, and an overfed cat, Henry. Jennifer’s other books for children include a comedy series about Atticus Claw, the world’s greatest cat burglar.
Amanda Swift
has written for several well-established children’s TV series, including
My Parents Are Aliens
, and has dramatized several books for the radio. She has also written three novels for middle-grade readers:
The Boys’ Club
,
Big Bones
, and
Anna/Bella
. She lives in southeast London, near the Olympic Park. Unlike Coco, she hasn’t met the Queen.
Sarah Horne
was born in Stockport, Cheshire, on a snowy November day, and grew up scampering in the fields surrounding Buxton, Derbyshire. She is propelled by a generous dose of slapstick, a love for color and line, a clever story, and a good cup of coffee.