Magic Bunny: Dancing Days (6 page)

Sara frowned, puzzled. ‘Tamara really hates anyone seeing her dancing. I wonder if it’s because she’s shy,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘Going to dance classes every week helped me feel more confident. Maybe they’d help her too.’

‘You could tell her about them,’ Arrow suggested.

Sara hadn’t thought that far ahead. But maybe Arrow was right.

Arrow’s brown eyes suddenly lit up with urgency. ‘We must leave! It is time for you to be back in your bedroom.’

Everything seemed to go into fast forward. As the sparkling magical cloud whooshed downwards, Sara and Arrow bounced on its billowy surface. They reached her window in the blink of an eye. Sara giggled as she felt a ticklish stretching sensation and they whooshed in through her open window.

She landed in a heap on her bed and the sparkling cloud dissolved into sugary dust around her and disappeared. Sara dashed a hand through her tousled hair and quickly sat up just as her mum walked into the room holding a tray.

‘Here you are, love. I’ve brought you a snack as well.’

‘Thanks, Mum.’

Sara glanced at Arrow, who was nestled against her pillow.
That was close
, she thought, biting back a grin. Floating on a cloud with her magic bunny friend was the best fun ever!

Chapter
EIGHT

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. Sara woke from a wonderful dream. She had been dancing in a forest, where every tree glittered with crystal droplets.

‘I love how it feels when I dance. It’s the best!’ she said, stretching. ‘I’ve decided to go and watch Beth and Olya dance in the audition. It’s no good being all moody, just because I can’t audition. And I know how much this means to Beth.’

Arrow was curled up on the pillow near her shoulder. He opened one sleepy brown eye.

‘You are a good friend to Beth. And a kind person, Sara.’

‘When I haven’t got the grumps, you mean?’ She laughed wryly. ‘I’ve been thinking about Tamara too. I’m going to try to find out why she dances in secret.’

‘How are you going to do that?’ Arrow stretched out his front paws and then his back legs, before giving himself a shake.

Sara drew him gently into her arms and stroked his warm fur. ‘I reckon I need some way of getting her to talk to me. I’ve got an idea! How about if we …’

Arrow listened intently as Sara finished explaining. He twitched his ears in agreement. ‘That is a good plan.’

‘Let’s do it!’ Sara threw back the duvet and reached for her clothes.

Straight after breakfast, she told her mum she was going to the corner shop to buy some sweets with her pocket money. It wasn’t exactly a fib, as Tamara’s house was on the way.

‘This is it,’ Sara whispered when they reached the front gate. ‘You know what to do.’

Arrow’s big brown eyes glinted with tiny rainbows. His magic key glowed brightly. ‘I am no longer invisible.’

‘Good. Ready?’

Arrow nodded. Hopping under the front gate, he hopped up the short path.

Sara waited until her magic bunny was hidden behind a large plant pot near the front door. She took a deep breath, hobbled up to the front door and rang the doorbell. There was a pause and then Tamara herself opened the door.

‘Yes?’ she said, smiling. She was even prettier close up, with lovely hazel eyes.

‘Hi! I’m … um … Sara Penfold. I live just down the street. I’m looking for my pet rabbit. He’s escaped. I think he might be in your front garden.’

‘Oh, the poor little thing. He must be really scared. I’ll help you look for him.’ Tamara stepped outside. ‘What does he look like?’

‘Thanks.’ Sara smiled gratefully. ‘He’s tiny with fluffy black-and-white fur, a cute pink nose and huge chocolate-brown eyes.’

Arrow saw his chance. He hopped forward and paused for a second on the path to make sure they saw him. He then slipped past Tamara and dashed into a clump of flowers.

‘There he is!’ Tamara cried, running after him. ‘I’ll get him!’

Sara grinned to herself. The plan was working!

Arrow flattened his ears and darted about in circles, pretending to be a scared little tame bunny.

Tamara made a grab for him. ‘Got you!’ she cried triumphantly.

‘Phew!’ Sara let out a big sigh of relief. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever catch him.’

‘Hello, bunnykins,’ Tamara crooned. She held Arrow gently, but firmly. ‘Isn’t he gorgeous? His eyes are like melted chocolate with rainbow glitter mixed in. How long have you had him?’

‘Not very long,’ Sara said vaguely. ‘But I love him to bits. Thanks very much for helping me to catch him. He’s called Arrow.’

‘Cool name.’ Tamara smiled, as she handed Arrow over. ‘Did you say you live just up the road? Do you go to Denton School?’

‘Yes. I do. I think I saw you the other day,’ Sara said casually. ‘I walked past an empty classroom. And you were dancing –’

‘That was you?’ Tamara interrupted, blushing.

‘Yes. I dance too. Well – I did, before I hurt my ankle. I go to dance classes at the community college with my best friend, Beth,’ Sara rushed on quickly, hoping that Tamara would stay and listen to her this time. ‘Jane Lewis, the teacher, is really nice. She’s starting a new dance troupe. Beth and I were planning to audition together to win a place.’

‘That’s bad luck,’ Tamara said. ‘You must be really disappointed.’

‘I was for a while,’ Sara admitted. ‘Beth’s still going to dance our routine. She’s asked Olya, another girl from our class, to be her partner. The auditions are tomorrow. I’m going to go and cheer them on. Would you like to come with me?’

‘Me?’ Tamara said, surprised. ‘I … I don’t know.’

‘It’ll be fun,’ Sara encouraged. ‘And everyone is really friendly.’

‘I really used to love dancing and performing, but I was bullied for showing off at my old school,’ Tamara said quietly.

Suddenly everything made sense. Sara felt annoyed on Tamara’s behalf.

‘I hate kids like that! I bet they were jealous because you’re so good. We’re not like that here.
I’m
not like that. You’ll see. If you come to the auditions, you can meet everyone and then maybe you’d like to come to dance classes with me sometime?’

Tamara seemed to be considering it. ‘I’ve really missed dancing with other people. Maybe it’s time I gave it another try. And I’d like to make some new friends round here.’ A slow smile spread over her face. ‘OK then.’

‘Fantastic! My mum’s taking me. We’ll pick you up at five thirty tomorrow.’

‘I’ll be ready.’

At the front gate, Sara turned and waved to Tamara. ‘Bye!’ She looked at Arrow as they headed home. ‘Well done, Arrow. You were great. Our plan worked perfectly.’

‘I am glad. I like Tamara.’ He nuzzled her hand.

Sara rubbed the soft place between his ears. ‘Me too. I hope she’ll like Beth and Olya. It would be great to have another dance friend.’

Chapter
NINE

‘I hope Tamara hasn’t changed her mind about coming with us,’ Sara said to Arrow the following day.

But she needn’t have worried. Tamara was waiting outside her house when they drew up in her mum’s car. Sara grinned.

‘Hi!’ Tamara greeted Sara warmly. ‘Thanks for picking me up, Mrs Penfold.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Sara’s mum said, smiling.

‘Hi, Tamara,’ Sara said as Tamara got into the back and sat next to her and Arrow. ‘I phoned Beth to tell her we’re coming. She’s looking forward to meeting you.’

‘Me too,’ Tamara said.

The roads were unusually busy and they crawled along, waiting in endless traffic queues. It seemed as if every set of traffic lights was on red. Sara began fidgeting with impatience.

‘I wish we could go faster. We’re going to be late,’ she whispered to Arrow.

‘This traffic is bad,’ Mrs Penfold said. ‘I’m going to try another way.’

They made for the outskirts where the roads were a bit clearer. Sara breathed a sigh of relief. They might still make it if they were lucky. But her mum had just crossed a roundabout when there was a loud clunk! The engine cut out.

‘Hold on, girls!’ Mrs Penfold cried, pressing a button to switch on the hazard lights. ‘I’m going to coast towards that lay-by.’ Moments later, they drew to a halt.

‘Oh no! Now we’ll definitely miss Beth and Olya’s dance!’ Sara said unhappily.

‘At least we’re all OK. Your mum was great. She didn’t panic or anything,’ Tamara said. ‘Mine would have had kittens!’

‘Yeah, Mum’s good at staying calm.’ Sara grinned, liking Tamara more and more as she spent more time with her.

Mrs Penfold had spotted a picnic area, set back from the road. ‘We’ll all go and sit over there and I’ll phone for help.’

They got out of the car. Sara began limping over to the wooden tables and benches on her crutches, with Arrow hopping beside her. Tamara was just ahead of them.

Sara felt a familiar warm tingling down her spine and noticed that Arrow’s key was flashing and a small cloud of sparkly mist was drifting back towards the car. She turned to watch as it swirled round the bonnet before sinking into it and disappearing.

‘You’ve fixed it for us! Thanks, Arrow. You’re a star!’ Sara whispered.

‘You are welcome,’ Arrow said warmly.

‘Come on!’ Sara called to Tamara, already hobbling back towards her mum, who stood beside the car.

‘Where are we going?’ Tamara asked.