Midnight Feast (8 page)

Twink looked across the branch. Mariella lay in a miserable huddle with her covers up over her ears. Lola was sobbing into her pillow. Despite herself, Twink felt a twinge of sympathy.

‘I know,' she said softly. ‘But they brought it on themselves, Bimi – they have to learn their lesson, or else they'll just keep on being horrid.' She smiled suddenly. ‘Besides, at least now we'll get some peace and quiet for a while!'

The summer term continued in a haze of glorious sunshine and long days. The fairies tried hard to concentrate on their classes, but it was difficult when all they wanted to do was flit about outside, enjoying the sun on their wings. At least, thought Twink, they had the spectacle of Mariella and Lola washing windows to keep them amused!

At dinner a few weeks later, Miss Shimmery called for attention.

‘You may have noticed how lovely and shiny all of our school windows are.' She motioned towards the windows of the Great Branch, which sparkled in the late-afternoon sun. ‘Well, we have some of our first-year students to thank for that!'

Miss Shimmery's rainbow wings glimmered as she smiled down at the Daffodil Branch table. ‘They were having a hard time settling down this term, so we found them some extra work, just as promised. But let's give them a round of applause, shall we? They've really done a wonderful job!'

The Branch burst into applause. The Daffodil Branch fairies grinned at each other – apart from Mariella and Lola, who sat glumly, not looking pleased at all. Miss Shimmery returned to her table and the students began to eat, chatting and laughing.

‘I suppose we can start talking to those two again now,' said Pix, glancing at Mariella and Lola. ‘But you'd both better watch it – we won't put up with any more mean tricks like that.'

Mariella nodded sullenly. ‘Yes, all right. And – and I'm sorry, Bimi,' she added, not looking the blue-haired fairy in the eye. Twink didn't think she really sounded sorry . . . though maybe it was a start!

Bimi looked doubtful too, but she nodded. ‘That's all right, Mariella. I know you won't do anything like that again.'

Sooze nudged Twink with her wing. ‘You know, I think we should do something to celebrate all those windows being cleaned.' Her violet eyes were round and innocent. ‘How about a midnight feast?'

The rest of the table groaned loudly. ‘No, no midnight feasts for a while!' said Twink with an exaggerated shudder. ‘I think we've had enough excitement this term!'

‘I know
I
have,' said Bimi with a grin.

Sooze laughed. ‘You can never have enough excitement!'

Twink helped herself to another seed cake, chewing happily as the table buzzed with conversation around her. The party at the Dingly Dell had
been glimmery – the most magical, wonderful time ever. They'd go back there again one day, she knew.

Twink looked at Bimi, and the two fairies smiled at each other. And next time, thought Twink, she'd make sure that her best friend was right there with her!

.

Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Berlin, New York and Sydney

First published in Great Britain in 2008 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

36 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QY

Text copyright © Lee Weatherly 2008

Illustrations copyright © Smiljana Coh 2008

The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted

This electronic edition published in August 2010 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 1 4088 1344 7

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