With a wave of the queen’s wand, Jack Frost’s spell on the room was lifted. The Great Hall was transformed into a sparkling party scene! Fairies fluttered in carrying frosted party food and glittery snowflake decorations. The gray tablecloths turned silvery blue, and the ceiling shimmered with icicles. The goblins scrambled to their feet and rushed to add their decorations to the room. Jack Frost stood up, scowling and smoothing out his beard.
“What do you want?” he snapped at the king and queen.
King Oberon stepped forward.
“Everyone deserves a very special birthday, including you,” he said. “The goblins care about you, and they wanted you to have a wonderful party. We were happy to help.”
Jack Frost’s eyes opened very wide. His mouth fell open.
“Getting older is something to be celebrated!” Queen Titania added.
Jack Frost looked too surprised to speak.
Then the three goblins who had organized the party stepped proudly forward, carrying the misshapen cake. Its sharp, ugly spikes were frosted with blue-silver icing, and there were candles stuck out of it at all different angles. Silver balls spelled out HAPPY BIRTHDAY! across the bottom, and the goblins had added a gray ribbon at the base as a finishing touch. As Jack Frost stared at it, everyone started to sing.
“Happy birthday to you …”
Once the song ended, there was a moment of silence. Then Jack Frost leaned forward, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. After a second, he opened his eyes and blew out all the candles.
“There’s something missing from this party,” he said.
“Uh-oh. I hope he’s not going to do anything mean,” Rachel whispered.
He turned to a few of the goblins and tapped his wand on their heads. They were instantly transformed into the Gobolicious Band!
“Hooray!” shouted the goblins.
King Oberon gave a wave of his wand and a stage appeared.
“And now, a special performance from Frosty and his Gobolicious Band!” King Oberon announced with a smile.
Jack Frost pulled some sunglasses from his pocket and stepped up to the microphone.
“Maybe birthdays aren’t so bad after all,” he said. “Let’s rock!”
It was the best party ever held in the Ice Castle. Rachel and Kirsty danced with all their fairy friends. They even tried to dance with the goblins, but the goblins kept stepping on their toes and giggling.
As night fell, the queen waved Rachel, Kirsty, and Belle over.
“I am so grateful to you for finding the birthday charms,” she said. “Thanks to you, we were able to show Jack Frost that birthdays can be fun.”
“We were glad to help,” said Rachel, hugging Belle.
“It’s time for you to be getting home,” said the queen with a twinkle in her eyes. “I believe you have another party to attend!”
“My mom’s birthday party!” Rachel exclaimed.
Belle hugged Rachel and Kirsty goodbye. “Thank you so much for all your help!” she said.
She tapped them both on the hand with her wand, and there was a sparkling flash. When the girls looked down, each of them had a heart-shaped ring on her little finger.
“Thank you!” they cried.
As they spoke, a whirl of glittering fairy dust surrounded them. They felt themselves rising into the air and spinning as if they were dancing.
When the sparkles faded, they were standing outside the Tippington village hall.
“Let’s go and find Mom!” Rachel said eagerly.
They ran back into the hall, just in time to see Mrs. Walker opening her beautiful jewelry box.
“I must have gotten the boxes mixed up!” Mr. Walker was saying. “Silly me!”
“Thank goodness,” said Kirsty. “It’s the perfect present!”
Rachel smiled at Kirsty and squeezed her hand.
“No gift could be better than the adventure we just had!” she said.
“I feel like it’s my birthday and Christmas all at once!” said Rachel Walker, bouncing up and down in her seat. “I can’t believe we’re actually going to a sleepover in the National Museum!”
“It makes it twice as exciting that you’re here,” her best friend Kirsty Tate agreed, settling down beside her. “It was so nice of the principal to let you come.”
Kirsty’s school had won a place in a giant sleepover, which was being held at the National Museum. Thirty kids from the school were going to the city to take part. Rachel was staying with Kirsty that weekend, so she had been allowed to join in, too.
The bus driver took his place and the engine rumbled into life. As the bus pulled out of the school parking lot, the girls waved good-bye to Kirsty’s mom, who had come to see them off.
“I hope it’s not spooky there at night,” said a girl named Hannah, who was sitting in the seat behind Rachel. “I’m a little scared of the dark.”
“Don’t worry,” said Kirsty with a comforting smile. “I’ve been there before and it’s really cool. There are tons of amazing things to do.”
“I want to see the dinosaur gallery!” said Rachel, opening a bag of candy and offering some to everyone around.
“Ooh yes, and the diamond exhibition with all the sparkling gems and jewels,” Kirsty added, taking a piece of chocolate and popping it into her mouth.
“The marine fossils!” said Arthur.
“The wildlife garden!” said Ali.
“The world lab!” said Dan.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang underneath their feet.
“What was that?” Hannah squealed. “Did a wheel come off?”
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e-ISBN 978-0-545-50904-6
Copyright © 2010 by Rainbow Magic Limited.
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First Scholastic printing, January 2012
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Belle the Birthday Fairy Page 4