Twirling Tails #7 (6 page)

“I'm afraid you should have thought of that earlier,” Miss Strong said firmly, adjusting her glasses—today they were bright red. “I'll let your parents know that you'll be home late.”

At the end of the day's lessons, Kirsten sat with her chin propped in her hands as everyone filed out of class.

“Bad luck,” Helena said as she passed Kirsten's desk. “No hard feelings, eh?” And for once, she sounded as if she meant it.

“Thanks,” Kirsten said, managing a half-smile. Helena was being really fair about this and Kirsten realized that she'd stopped minding so much about Helena becoming best friends with her and Tracy. Maybe it could work—if
she
hadn't now messed things up.

Miss Strong picked up a pile of papers from her desk. “I have a few things to do in the staff room. I won't be long. Continue working on your art project, please.” She went out and closed the classroom door behind her.

Kirsten groaned. “Now what am I going to do? I can't afford to miss practice. There're only a few left before the town parade.”

Storm's furry face lit up. “I have an idea!”

Kirsten felt a familiar prickling sensation down her spine as bright gold sparks danced in Storm's shaggy, light brown fur and his bristly whiskers glowed with electricity.

There was a bright flash and a silent explosion of sparks.
Pop!
Kirsten's CD player appeared out of thin air and floated on to the floor.
Crack!
Her baton clattered down beside the CD player.
Rustle!
Her school uniform was magically transformed into a T-shirt, a short pleated skirt, and sneakers.

Kirsten beamed at her tiny friend. “Thanks, Storm. You're amazing!”

She switched on the CD player at a low volume so no one would overhear, and the intro music softly started. For the next twenty minutes or so, Kirsten and Storm marched up and down and around the empty classroom. The tiny puppy knew the routine now and Kirsten hardly needed to tell him what to do.

“That was great,” Kirsten puffed, flexing her fingers after all the baton twirling. “I can't wait until we're marching in the real parade! Let's do one more run-through before Miss Strong comes back.”

Storm suddenly froze and his ears twitched. “I think she is coming now!”

Waving a paw, he sent another spray of golden sparks through the air.
Crackle!
The CD player and baton disappeared instantly and Kirsten was, once again, wearing her school uniform.

As the classroom door began to open, Kirsten realized that she was nowhere near her desk where she was supposed to be working on her project. “Uh-oh, Miss Strong's going to go bananas. I'll probably get triple detention now!”

There was a sudden mega-
whoosh
of movement and Kirsten felt herself flying through the air.

“Oof!” She landed in her chair with a bump.

She was only just in time. Miss Strong's small, neat figure appeared in the doorway.

“You can clean up your things and go now, Kirsten. I think I've made my point. Let's have no more of this silly behavior. It's just not like you.”

“No, Miss. Thanks,” Kirsten said in a subdued voice.

Storm had a mischievous look on his face. He had obviously really enjoyed their practice session and was disappointed that it had been cut short. Leaping up to balance on his back legs, he began pirouetting toward the door.

A big bubble of laughter threatened to burst from Kirsten's lips. She stuffed her work into her school bag and ran into the hallway.

Luckily Kirsten's mom and dad weren't too annoyed with her for getting detention and accepted her explanation that it was all a mistake.

“You don't have a mean bone in your body, Kirsten Blake,” her dad said. “Even if you do have a one-track mind about being in the majorettes!”

“Me?” Kirsten made her eyes all big. “I don't know what you mean,” she joked.

They all laughed as they settled down to dinner.

Kirsten's mom spotted Storm sitting beside Kirsten's chair. She shook her head. “You know I can never find that puppy when you're at school. He doesn't come out of hiding, however much I call him or waft a dish of food around. But it's amazing how he always appears the second you come home.”

“Amazing,” Kirsten echoed innocently, around a mouthful of macaroni and cheese.

A couple of evenings later, Molly called. She wanted Storm's measurements for his costume. Kirsten said she'd get them and then call her back.

As soon as she'd hung up, Kirsten searched out her mom's tape measure. She lifted Storm up onto a table and then looped the tape around his compact little body.

Storm wagged his tail and tried to twist around to lick her face.

“Hey! Stop wriggling! This is like a juggling act!” Kirsten was struggling to hold the ends of the tape together with one hand while jotting figures on to a piece of paper with the other.

Finally it was done. “I'll give these measurements to Molly. I can't wait to see your costume!”

On the following Saturday afternoon, Kirsten decided to take Storm for a walk before meeting up with Tracy and Helena at a row of stores along the main road. A new fast food place called Smoothers had just opened. They had planned to have a milkshake with their allowance money before going to practice.

“I don't mind about Helena joining the Limelight Majorettes,” Kirsten told Storm. “I thought she'd just come along to mess around, but she seems serious about it. I heard Molly saying that she thinks Helena's going to be really good.”

“I am glad that you are good friends with Helena now,” Storm woofed.

We're almost there
, Kirsten thought, a small smile on her face.

Kirsten said her good-byes to her parents and then she and Storm set off. They headed to a short alleyway that led to a field at the back of some houses. The fences of all the backyards backed on to the field.

Storm sniffed around in the grass, seeking out interesting smells and then raced around enjoying himself. He found a muddy twig and held it in his little front paws to chew one end.

Suddenly, Kirsten heard loud growling and barking coming from behind one of the wooden fences. A noise like scratching claws filled the air as the unseen dogs tried to get into the field.

Storm yelped and dropped the twig. He rushed over to Kirsten and crouched beside her, trembling from head to foot.

“What's wrong? Have you hurt your mouth on that wood?” Kirsten said worriedly. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms.

Storm's midnight blue eyes widened in terror. “Shadow knows where I am. He has used his magic on those dogs. They are trying to get to me.”

Kirsten's heart missed a beat as she realized that her friend was in great danger. Her mind whirled as she tried to think of the best thing to do. “That's a pretty high fence. I don't think they can get over,” she judged. “But you'd better hide in my bag, just in case. We're leaving, right now!”

Kirsten opened her shoulder bag and tucked the terrified puppy inside. Storm immediately curled up into a tight ball and lay there shaking.

Her pulse racing, Kirsten jogged back toward the alleyway. She clutched her bag tightly so that Storm wasn't jostled around too much.

“I hope we don't meet any more of Shadow's dogs. How will I be able to tell if they're dangerous?” Kirsten asked nervously.

“They will have cruel, pale eyes and extra long teeth.” Storm's muffled woof rose from her bag.

Once she was back out on the street, Kirsten gradually slowed down. No fierce dogs had run after them and the growling and snarling grew faint and then stopped altogether.

“I think they've given up,” she puffed, feeling weak with relief.

Storm uncurled and cautiously peered out of the unzipped bag. He tensed as he listened hard and then his whole body relaxed. “You are right, Kirsten. I am safe for the moment. But if Shadow finds me again, I may have to leave suddenly, without saying good-bye.”

Kirsten experienced a sharp pang at the thought of losing her friend. She knew that she would never be ready to let him go. “I hope that evil Shadow never finds you and then you can stay with me forever!”

Storm twisted to look up at her with serious midnight blue eyes. “I cannot do that. One day I must return to my own world to lead the Moon-claw pack.”

“I know,” Kirsten said in a small voice, but she didn't really want to think about it. She was determined to enjoy every single moment with her magical friend. She tried changing the subject.