Lulu Bell and the Pyjama Party

by Belinda Murrell

  Chapter 4

  Mika

  After the soccer game, all the parents crowded around. Kylie listed the best moments in the game, and praised all the kids. Lauren won the Player of the Match trophy. She would keep it for the week. Lauren’s parents and her little brother Justin beamed proudly.

  Then it was time to go home.

  At home, Gus and Sam played superheroes. Gus zoomed around the garden, pretending he could fly. His cloak swirled behind him. Sam followed him, wearing a tablecloth tied over his shoulders. Jessie chased them in circles, her ears flapping like wings.

  Mum helped Rosie to sort through the dress-up box. Rosie oohed and aahed over ball gowns, pirate swords and witches hats. Ebony pounced on a scrap of white lace, tumbling and rolling.

  ‘Molly, would you like to come next door and help Dad for a while?’ asked Lulu.

  Lulu and her family lived in the rambling old house behind the Shelly Beach vet hospital. Saturdays were always busy, with lots of animal patients to see. Lulu loved to help out.

  ‘Yes, please,’ said Molly. ‘There’s always so much going on there.’

  Lulu pushed open the thick green door that separated the Bells’ home from the vet hospital in front. Immediately she could smell the tangy odour of antiseptic and animals.

  In the very front of the vet hospital was the waiting room. It was crowded with people and pets. There were cats and bunnies in carry cages, and dogs on leads.

  Kylie was sitting at the desk talking to a client. She had changed out of her soccer coach outfit. Now she wore her crisp blue vet nurse’s uniform.

  The client had a funny-shaped bundle in her arms. It was wrapped in a white towel. The woman carefully passed the bundle to Kylie. Lulu wondered what animal could be hidden inside.

  Kylie waved to Lulu and Molly.

  ‘Come and take a peek, girls,’ Kylie said. ‘Look what Mrs Russell rescued up on the Parkway.’

  Lulu and Molly came closer. Kylie peeled back the towel to reveal a furry grey creature curled up in a ball. A long thin ear flicked back and forth.

  ‘It’s a wallaby joey,’ said Kylie in a low voice. ‘She’s an orphan. Her mother was hit by a car. Mrs Russell found the joey safe in her mother’s pouch.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Lulu, feeling sad. ‘The poor baby.’

  ‘Is she all right?’ asked Molly.

  The joey wriggled. Kylie covered her up again in the towel.

  ‘Dr Bell will check her over, but she seems fine,’ said Kylie.

  Kylie turned to Mrs Russell. ‘We’ll look after her. Thanks for bringing her in.’

  Mrs Russell said goodbye and left. A client came out of the consulting room with her huge Great Dane. She came to the counter to pay. The Great Dane was limping and his back leg was shaved. Dad had operated on his leg last week and the dog was finally going home.

  Lulu patted him. ‘Glad you’re walking better, Sultan,’ she said.

  Kylie smiled at Sultan’s owner. ‘I’ll be right back. I just need to pop this wallaby joey away safely.’

  Kylie beckoned to Lulu and Molly to follow.

  ‘Lulu, can you please ask your dad if he could quickly check the joey in the hospital ward? Then I’ll send the next patient in,’ said Kylie.

  Dr Bell came at once to see the wallaby. Slowly and carefully, he lifted the joey out of the towel and put her on the table. Lulu and Molly stood beside him. The joey kicked and struggled. Dad gently put his hand over her eyes and she settled. He checked her all over.

  ‘She’s had a nasty shock,’ Dad said. ‘She’s dehydrated. But she’s quite big and not injured. If we can get her feeding well in the first twenty-four hours, I think she’ll be all right.’

  Lulu and Molly smiled at each other.

  Dad gave the joey an injection to rehydrate her. Then he wrapped her up in the towel so only her head was peeking out. She looked at Lulu with big brown eyes.

  ‘Can we look after her, Dad?’ asked Lulu.

  Dad nodded. ‘We’ll care for her for a few months. But only until she’s old enough to go back into the wild.’

  ‘Hurray,’ cried Lulu.

  ‘What would you like to call her?’ asked Dad.

  Lulu thought for a moment. She looked at the beautiful grey wallaby, curled in the white towel like a ball.

  ‘I think I’ll call her Mika,’ said Lulu. ‘Our Aboriginal friends told me it means moon.’

  Molly nodded in approval. ‘That’s very pretty.’

  ‘Well, girls,’ said Dad with a grin, ‘time for you to get to work to make Mika comfortable.’

  Chapter 5

  Maisie

  With some help from Kylie, Lulu and Molly made a pouch for Mika to sleep in. It was made from an old blue flannelette pillowcase. A heat pad tucked under the pillowcase kept the joey warm.

  Kylie helped them to mix up a bottle of special milk formula. Lulu carefully offered the teat to Mika. The joey took a few sips from the bottle but she wasn’t very hungry. She hid her head inside the pillowcase.

  Lulu wrinkled her nose in dismay. ‘She doesn’t want to drink, Dad.’

  ‘Never mind,’ said Dad. ‘She’ll take some more milk a bit later when she gets used to us.’

  Dad hung the pouch on the side of a special pen with high walls. ‘Time Mika had a little sleep,’ he said.

  Lulu and Molly set to work in the hospital ward. They made sure that all the animals had fresh water to drink.

  A while later, Kylie popped her head around the door.

  ‘Your dad is seeing a special patient you know,’ she said. ‘Would you like to come and see?’

  ‘Is it Maisie?’ Lulu asked, excited.

  ‘It sure is,’ said Kylie. ‘Your dad’s checking the unborn puppies.’

  ‘Let’s go,’ squealed Molly.

  Lulu and Molly raced to the consulting room. Lulu knocked on the door.

  ‘Come in,’ called Dad.

  Lulu opened the door. Inside was Lauren with her mum and her brother. Lauren grinned at them.

  ‘Hi, Dad,’ said Lulu. ‘Kylie said we could come and see Maisie.’

  Lying up on the consulting room table was a big, fat black Labrador. She was panting even though it wasn’t hot. Dad was using his stethoscope to listen to Maisie’s heartbeat.

  ‘Maisie made a big nest in the bottom of my wardrobe this morning,’ said Lauren’s mum, Kyra. ‘She dragged in lots of clothes from the washing basket.’

  Lulu smiled at the thought of Maisie making a big puppy nest from dirty clothes. Dad took Maisie’s temperature.

  Lauren looked at Dr Bell, her eyes shining. ‘Do you think she will have the puppies this weekend?’

  ‘I think Maisie is in for a very busy night tonight,’ said Dr Bell. ‘By the look of her, there will be at least eight.’

  Maisie looked at Lulu with big, dark eyes. She looked very uncomfortable with her swollen tummy.

  ‘How wonderful,’ said Lulu. ‘Can Molly and I come to visit after they are born?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Kyra. ‘Maisie and the babies will need lots of peace and quiet for a while. But I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a little visit.’

  Dr Bell asked Kyra some questions to make sure she had everything ready for the new puppies.

  ‘Ring me if you have any worries,’ said Dad. ‘We’ll be home all evening.’

  ‘Thanks so much, Dr Bell,’ said Kyra. ‘We’ll let you know how she goes.’

  Dr Bell carefully lifted Maisie down from the consulting table. He stroked her head. ‘It’s my pleasure. Maisie will make a beautiful mother.’

  Kyra took Maisie’s lead and headed towards the door. Maisie waddled slowly, huffing and panting. Lauren’s brother Justin followed.

  ‘Come on, Lauren,’ her mum said. ‘Time to take Maisie home.’

  Lulu looked wistful. ‘I wish we could be there when they are born,’ she told Lauren. ‘You’re going to have such an amazing night.’

  Lauren’s face glowed with excitement. ‘It’s goin
g to be the best night ever.’

  Chapter 6

  The Pyjama Party

  Lulu and Molly went home for lunch. Mum had made a big platter of sandwiches. Rosie, Sam and Gus had built a huge castle out of blocks in the middle of the kitchen floor.

  Rosie jumped up from her chair as soon as she had finished eating. ‘Is it time for the pyjama party to start?’

  Lulu wrinkled her nose. ‘We’ve only just had lunch!’

  ‘Yes, but I can’t bear to wait any more,’ complained Rosie. ‘You and Molly have been ages.’

  Mum laughed. ‘Why not? Why don’t you set up all the beds now? Then you can get into your pyjamas and play some games.’

  Rosie giggled with delight. Everyone set to work in the lounge room.

  They pulled out mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags. Rosie carried in the dog beds. Molly put Ebony’s basket near the fireplace. Almost the whole floor was covered. It was like camping.

  Gus carried out all his soft toys – bears, puppies, bunnies, lambs and a huge green crocodile. He piled them up on his mattress until there was no room on the bed for Gus. Sam’s bed was the opposite – perfectly neat and tidy.

  The children took it in turns to have baths and change into their nightwear. Mum got into the spirit too. She changed into her nightie and slippers, even though it was the middle of the afternoon.

  Lulu wore her favourite shortie PJs with her floppy-eared bunny slippers. Rosie wore a long white nightdress that nearly reached her ankles. She had a circlet of orange roses on her hair. Molly and Sam had matching stripy flannelettes.

  Gus came bounding out of his room. He had changed out of his bug boy costume into his all-in-one tiger suit. He even had black texta stripes drawn on his cheeks.

  Lulu put her hand on her hip. ‘Gus, what have you done to your face?’

  ‘Grrrr,’ growled Gus. ‘Gussie got tiger whiskers.’

  Lulu and Molly laughed.

  ‘That texta won’t wash off for days, honey bun,’ said Mum, with a sigh. ‘Looks like we’ll have a tiger on our hands for a while.’

  Then all the kids lay on the kitchen floor to play board games.

  Ebony the kitten loved playing too. She dived on the board, scattering cards everywhere. She pounced on the pieces and whacked them across the floor.

  ‘Ebony,’ cried Rosie. ‘She’s mucked up my cards again.’

  ‘Naughty Ebby,’ said Gus. He jumped up and curled his fingers like claws. He roared at her like a tiger.

  Ebony ignored him. She stole Lulu’s playing piece and shot it under the sideboard with a sneaky sideswipe.

  Molly jumped up and caught the cheeky black kitten. She kissed the top of her furry head.

  ‘It’s a shame Ebony’s so small,’ said Molly. ‘She’d make a great soccer player.’

  ‘I think we’d better lock Ebony in our room,’ said Lulu with a sigh. ‘Otherwise we’ll never finish our game.’

  When the vet hospital closed, Dad came home. He carried a pale-blue bundle and a baby’s bottle full of milk.

  ‘I have a very important job for you girls,’ said Dad. ‘We have an orphan joey to feed.’

  ‘Poor Mika,’ said Lulu. ‘I hope she drinks the milk this time.’

  ‘Everyone needs to be very quiet and calm,’ warned Dad. He looked at Gus and Rosie. ‘Understand?’

  The kids all nodded. Rosie put the dogs outside so they wouldn’t frighten the wallaby.

  Molly sat on the couch and Dad placed the joey on her lap. Mika was curled up inside her flannelette pillowcase, so she felt safe and warm.

  Dad showed Lulu how to cover the joey’s eyes so she wouldn’t get frightened. Lulu sat beside Mika and fed her special milk from the bottle. This time the joey was hungry. She butted her head against Lulu’s hand as she sucked on the teat.

  ‘She’s drinking,’ whispered Lulu. ‘She’s going to be all right.’

  Sam, Rosie and Gus sat on the floor and watched. When the bottle was empty, Mika did a somersault and disappeared inside her pillowcase. Only her tail poked out.

  ‘That will keep her going for a few hours,’ said Dad. ‘I’ll get up and feed her during the night.’

  Dad hung Mika’s pouch from a doorknob in Mum’s art studio where she would be safe.

  ‘Mika certainly was hungry,’ said Lulu. She held up the empty bottle.

  ‘Tiger hungry too,’ declared Gus.

  Mum laughed. ‘I have just the right food for hungry tigers,’ she said.

  For afternoon tea, Mum made a special picnic with teensy, tiny cupcakes. There was a little teapot filled with apple juice and toy teacups. They had the picnic out in the garden, on a rug under the frangipani tree.

  Most of the animals joined in too. There was Flopsy the bunny, the four fluffy ducklings, Ebony, Pickles and the two dogs. Rosie tried to make Pepper the cat join in but she stalked off in disgust.

  As night fell, they played hide and seek in the dark with a torch. Asha and Jessie had to stay in the kitchen or they would sniff everyone out in seconds.

  Gus found the best hiding spots but he could never wait to be found. He’d jump out way too soon, shouting, ‘Here I am.’

  Sam was good at hiding because he was quiet and patient. In the last game, Lulu, Molly and Rosie searched high and low for him for ages.

  Molly finally found him wedged in the tiny space under the sofa. Ebony had given her a clue. The kitten kept darting back and forth under the sofa, patting Sam’s glasses.

  ‘There you are,’ cried Molly. ‘I thought we’d never find you.’

  ‘I think Sam was the very best at hiding,’ said Lulu.

  Sam smiled a big grin. ‘I like playing hide and seek here. There are so many secret spots.’

  Chapter 7

  Bed Time

  Dad lit a fire in the fireplace and everyone sat around it. The kids were cross-legged on the mattresses on the floor. Dad had grilled meat patties on the barbecue to make burgers. They ate around the fire, as if they really were camping. Asha loved lying as close to the heat as she could get.

  Dad told corny jokes.

  ‘Why can’t the elephant use a computer?’ asked Dad.

  ‘Ellypant’s got no hands,’ said Gus.

  ‘No, because he’s scared of the mouse,’ said Dad.

  ‘Ooooh,’ groaned Mum and Lulu together.

  Afterwards, they toasted marshmallows on long sticks over the flames. Dad looked after the fire. Sam and Gus toasted two marshmallows at a time until they were soft and gooey.

  ‘Dulishus,’ said Gus. He had pink and white streaks all over his face.

  Molly wriggled back against the sofa. ‘This is so much fun,’ she said.

  Sam yawned. Soon Rosie and Gus were yawning too. Dad put the fireguard over the fireplace. The flames had died away so there was just a pile of gently glowing coals. Asha turned around on her bed three times. She flopped down, her head on her paws.

  Ebony chased her tail around and around until she fell over.

  ‘I think it’s time to clean your teeth. Then we can tuck you all into your sleeping bags,’ said Mum. ‘You’ve had a big day.’

  Lulu felt disappointed. It couldn’t possibly be bedtime yet. There was still so much fun to be had.

  ‘I’m not tired,’ complained Lulu. ‘I can stay up for hours yet.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Rosie. She rubbed her eyes. Her circlet of roses slipped sideways.

  ‘Time for bed, girls,’ said Mum with a smile.

  She took the circlet off Rosie’s head and put it on the sideboard.

  ‘Can you read us a story first, please, Mum?’ begged Rosie. ‘Can you read us the one about Fergus the frog?’

  ‘All right, honey bun,’ said Mum. ‘Teeth first, then meet back here for a story and a kiss.’

  All the kids raced off to the bathroom. Mum read them all a story and then another one and another one.

  ‘Just one more,’ begged Rosie, as Mum finished the last page. ‘Pleeease Mum, best-mum-in-the-world
?’

  Mum laughed. ‘Oh Rosie, you are incorrigible.’

  ‘Incorra-what?’ asked Rosie.

  ‘Incorrigible,’ replied Mum, stroking back Rosie’s hair. ‘Very, very cheeky and naughty.’

  Mum kissed them all. Sam looked around at everyone with big eyes. He took his glasses off. Mum put them safely up on the mantelpiece.

  ‘Are you all right, Sam?’ asked Mum.

  Sam nodded, so Mum turned out the light and crept out.

  There was silence for a moment. Lulu could hear the comforting sound of Mum and Dad talking in the kitchen through the open door.

  ‘Goodnight, everyone,’ whispered Lulu.

  ‘Goodnight, Lulu,’ chorused Molly, Rosie and Gus.

  Lulu thought she heard a sniffling, snuffling sound coming from Sam’s bed. She sat up.

  ‘Sam, would you like me to tell you a story?’ asked Lulu.

  There was a stifled sob and a hiccup. ‘Yes, please, Lulu,’ said Sam.

  So Lulu whispered a story in the darkness. A story of dragons and a brave warrior princess who set off on a quest to save her tiger brother from the clutches of an evil witch.

  Lulu finished the story. She thought everyone was asleep but she heard a funny little sound. She looked around in the soft glowing light from the fireplace, wondering what it was. Finally she saw Ebony curled up next to Sam, purring loudly. Lulu smiled and closed her eyes.

  Chapter 8

  Night Adventure

  Lulu woke up to the sound of the phone ringing in the kitchen. It was pitch-dark. Who could be ringing this late? wondered Lulu. It must be an animal emergency.

  After hours, the vet hospital phone rang through to the kitchen. It was just in case someone urgently needed help.

  Lulu heard Dad’s voice answer the phone.

  ‘Hello, Shelly Beach Vet Hospital. Dr Bell speaking,’ said Dad.

  There was a pause while Dad listened to the caller. ‘I see,’ said Dad. ‘And is Maisie distressed?’