Primrose stamped her foot, breaking the rainbow discus into two pieces. “This CANNOT be happening to ME!”
“Primrose!” Angel Gabriella was shocked. “Please leave the ring. No one wants to see such behavior from an angel. I have to say I am very disappointed in you. I always thought you were such a good, well-behaved angel.”
Primrose’s parents were waiting for her. “What is going on?” Primrose’s mother looked just the same as her, only older, whereas Primrose’s dad was somewhat plumper and had a superior look on his face. “Whatever are you doing, darling?” they cried.
“I should have WON this event!” Primrose shouted.
“Of course you should have, Primmy darling,” her mother soothed. “Come on, now, let’s take you off for a cherry icicle to cool you down.”
“I do NOT need a cherry icicle!” Primrose screamed.
Ella and Poppy caught each other’s eye and snorted with laughter. “Oh dear, poor Primrose,” said Ella.
“I don’t think the teachers are going to believe she’s perfect from now on,” said Poppy.
Ella watched Primrose go and shook her head.
“What is it, Ella?” said Poppy, seeing the change in her expression.
“Oh nothing,” said Ella. “I’m just being silly, that’s all.”
“If it’s bothering you, it’s not silly,” said Poppy.
“It’s just even Primrose, who’s the most horrible angel in our grade, has her sapphire halo and . . . well, I haven’t got mine. I’m the only angel in third grade who hasn’t made it to sapphire level yet.” She swallowed.
“Oh, Ella,” said Poppy, giving her friend a hug. “You’ll get there. I know you will.”
“But when?” said Ella. “It’s not as if I’m going to be awarded anything for my sporting ability. And school is nearly at an end.”
“Well—” said Poppy, but she didn’t have a chance to finish her sentence as an announcement was being made.
“Will everyone gather around please?” Archangel Grace called out over a sparkly loudspeaker.
Poppy and Ella looked over and saw three blocks being laid out for prize-giving.
“We’ve just finished our final event of the day—rainbow discus,” said Archangel Grace. “So come on over. It’s time to collect your prizes!”
Poppy and Ella ran over and joined Tilly and Jess, who were standing in a group with their parents.
But now they were all called to hush as the first of the angels were being summoned to collect their prizes. “For halo hoopla,” called Archangel Grace. “In third place, Olivia Starfall.” There was a loud cheer as a gentle-looking angel with shoulder-length hair flew up to collect her medal. Everyone clapped. “In second place, Holly Willow.” Again, another round of applause and another medal. “And in first place, Tilly Charming.”
“That’s me.” Tilly beamed as she went up to collect the trophy—a golden angel perched on the top of a wooden plinth in midflight.
“And for golden archery . . .” The roll call went on. Through all the events—through rainbow discus and the three-legged flying race, through the silver sack race and the cloud hopping. There was even a prize for the angel with the perfect smile!
“And now,” Archangel Grace finished finally. “We have a special prize to award.”
“A special prize?”
“What is it?”
Excited whispers filled the air as everyone looked from one to the other.
“This is for the angel who, in our opinion, has been the best sport throughout the day,” finished Archangel Grace.
Who could it be? Excited whispers filled the air.
“Ella Brown, could you come up please?”
“Me?” Ella looked around her in surprise. “Did she call me?”
“Well, I don’t think there’s another Ella Brown in the Angel Academy,” Poppy teased, gently pushing her friend up. “Go on!”
Ella turned as red as a strawberry as she fluttered up to the podium to the sound of loud cheers, and Archangel Grace handed her a trophy. Ella felt the best she had felt in ages, and the beam that stretched across her face, from cheek to cheek, showed it.
She was just about to fly off the podium when Archangel Grace turned to her again. “Not just yet, Ella.” She smiled. “I’ve got something else for you. Have you got your halo card with you?”
“Well yes, but . . .” Ella was puzzled.
She pulled out the card and with five taps of her wand, Archangel Grace had filled it. Ella gasped. There, on the card, were the final halo stamps that she had needed to go up to sapphire level. And now the card was glittering.
“Well done, my dear,” said Archangel Grace. “Sports day wouldn’t have been able to happen without you.”
Ella stood perfectly still as Archangel Grace tapped her wand to Ella’s head and Ella’s pearly white uniform turned to sparkling blue.
“Wow!” she cried as she looked down at herself. “I love it! It’s amazing!”
“Now, go ahead,” said Archangel Grace. “And, Ella?” she said softly.
Ella stopped on her way down from the podium. “Yes?”
“You might not always be the perfect angel, but no one deserves their sapphire halo more.” Her eyes met Ella’s. “I have high hopes for you, Ella Brown. Remember that.”
Ella felt a huge ball of happiness swell in her chest. She beamed and jumped off the podium. There was one group of people she wanted to see now—Jess, Tilly, and Poppy—her very best friends. As she flew over to them, they surrounded her and gave her the biggest group hug.
“Didn’t I tell you you’d do it?” said Jess.
“You look amazing,” said Poppy.
“I can’t believe it!” cried Ella. “I can’t believe I’ve gotten to sapphire level. Perhaps I am a proper angel after all!”
“You’re the most proper angel there is, Ella.” Poppy laughed. “You’re always saving the day.”
“Which is just what Guardian Angels have to do,” said Jess.
For a moment Ella let herself imagine one day becoming a Guardian Angel with a diamond halo and beautiful big feathery wings. “One day we’ll all be Guardian Angels!” she declared.
“But for now it’s great just being us,” said Poppy.
Ella grinned. Poppy was right. They had so much fun together—and next year there would be even more adventures to come. “We’re so lucky!”
Jess lifted her wand and conjured a perfect rainbow that arched over the four of them.
Looking up at the sparkling colors, Ella spun around in delight. Being with her friends was the best place in the world to be. Her wings fluttered and she flew up. “Bet you can’t catch me!”
She set off into the sky with her friends chasing after her. Archangel Grace smiled as she watched them. Behind her, the school’s glass turrets sparkled in the rays of the summer sun.
Michelle Misra has written many stories for kids, including the Magic Ballerina, Battle Champions, and Wild Friends series. She lives in London, England, with her family.
ALADDIN
SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
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First Aladdin hardcover edition January 2017
Originally published in Great Britain in 2013 by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd.
Published by arrangement with Simon & Schuster UK Ltd.
Te
xt copyright © 2013 by Michelle Misra and Linda Chapman
Interior illustrations copyright © 2013 by Samantha Chaffey
Jacket illustration copyright © 2017 by Christina Forshay
Also available in an Aladdin paperback edition.
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Designed by Karina Granda
Library of Congress Control Number 2016948689
ISBN 978-1-4814-5807-8 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-5806-1 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-5808-5 (eBook)
Rainbows and Halos Page 4