by Sue Bentley
‘But it is so beautiful. Are you sure?’ he bleated, disappointed.
‘Yes! We have to do it now!’ Marie cried in a panic.
Time seemed to stand still. Once again Marie felt a prickling sensation as Starshine’s snow-globe worked its instant magic. In a flash of bright gold and silver stars, everything in the room shrank in size and the golden carpet folded itself up around them. With a swishing sound it tightened like a drawstring bag. Flash! It disappeared, returning the icy room to normal.
Marie breathed a sigh of relief. It was only just in time. ‘Hi, Mum!’ she said brightly, as Mrs Zaleski popped her head round the door.
‘Hi, love. Silly me! I forgot my handbag –’ Her mum broke off in surprise. ‘Wherever did that great big reindeer come from?’
‘What reind–’ Marie’s eyes widened as she realized that Starshine was still his full size and must have forgotten to be invisible. She whirled round to him. ‘Oh, that reindeer. It’s… er, a prop for the school play,’ she improvised, giving Starshine a pleading look. Luckily, he caught on quickly and didn’t blink or move a single muscle.
‘It’s much lighter to carry than it looks,’ Marie went on. ‘I said I’d… um, bring it home to… to spruce up the gold paint on its antlers. I’m taking it back with me tomorrow. I forgot to tell you.’
Her mum nodded. ‘Good for you! It’s great that you’re starting to get more involved in school.’ She grabbed her bag from the table and went back out. ‘See you later!’
Marie waited until she heard the front door bang and the car drive away. ‘Phew! That was too close!’
Starshine hung his head and looked up at her with huge sad brown eyes. ‘My magic went wrong again,’ he snorted regretfully. ‘And you could have been in terrible trouble. I am a very bad reindeer.’
Marie’s heart melted. She put her arms round his neck and pressed her face to his fluffy warmth. ‘You’re a good reindeer. The best there ever was and I love having you for my friend!’ she said firmly. ‘You only want to make people happy.’
Starshine pricked his ears and nodded. ‘That is true. The purpose of a White Crystal Reindeer is to deliver gifts and bring happiness.’
‘And that’s a really lovely thing to do. But you’re not used to how things work here yet. So maybe you could check with me first next time, before you do any magic?’ she suggested tactfully.
As she stepped back, she saw that Starshine’s face was aglow and every trace of unhappiness had faded from his eyes. ‘You are so clever, Marie. That is exactly what I will do!’ he promised.
*
‘Right, class! We’ll be choosing the lead parts for the school musical this morning! It’s called A Christmas Wish,’ Mr Carpenter announced the following day in the school hall.
‘Yay! I’ve been waiting for this!’ Shannon bounced up and down in her seat so that her shiny brown hair jiggled about.
The teacher smiled as he took his seat at the piano. ‘Come along then, Shannon. Let’s see what you can do.’
Shannon sang a song from a well-known musical. She had a pleasant voice, but it wasn’t very strong and she wobbled on some of the higher notes. When she finished everyone clapped. As Shannon went back to her seat, she smirked at Marie. ‘The part of Mary’s got my name on it,’ she said confidently.
Marie sat quietly as various boys and girls came forward and sang the same song. Some were quite good, but others were awful. It didn’t matter. They all got a round of applause.
‘Are you going to sing?’ Starshine asked from where he lay in Marie’s lap as a tiny fluffy reindeer toy.
‘I… I’m not sure if I dare,’ Marie whispered to him. ‘Everyone here would only tease me.’
At her school in Poland, Marie had been in the choir at the local church. She loved acting and singing and would have quite liked to be involved in the school play. But she didn’t think it was worth making the effort. Anyway, the best parts were bound to be snapped up quickly.
‘I think you should. I could help you get a part,’ the magic reindeer said eagerly, his tiny tail twirling.
Marie saw that the gold snow-globe round his neck was beginning to glow. ‘Remember what we said about doing magic?’ she reminded him hastily, before he could do anything rash. ‘It’s not always the answer.’
Starshine nodded and the snow-globe returned to normal.
Everyone had now returned to their seats. The teacher stood up and moved away from the piano. ‘Right, if there’s no one else –’ he began.
But Starshine’s comment had made Marie think. She found herself putting him aside and getting to her feet. ‘I’d like to try for a part, please.’
‘Marie? Of course you can!’ Mr Carpenter smiled encouragingly as she walked towards him. He sat down at the piano and placed his hands on the keys. ‘Do you know this song?’ He waited for her to nod. ‘All right then. Ready when you are.’
Marie took a deep breath. Her hands trembled with nerves as she opened her mouth to begin. But only a dry croak came out.
Chapter
SIX
Marie felt herself blushing as the whole class erupted with laughter.
‘There’s not a part for a frog in the musical!’ Shannon jeered.
The teacher held up his hands for silence. ‘Marie’s just nervous. Let’s give her a chance.’ He turned back to Marie. ‘Take a deep breath. There’s no hurry. You tell me when,’ he said, smiling encouragingly.
Marie fought the urge to sink back into her seat. Mr Carpenter was being really nice. She swallowed hard as she forced herself to relax. ‘Ready.’
As Marie began to sing, she felt her earlier nerves pouring away. Her pure, sweet voice rang out into the hall. She reached the final high note, holding it easily until the song ended and the teacher lifted his hands from the keys.
There was a moment of stunned silence. Marie’s heart sank. She knew she shouldn’t have stood up to sing in front of everyone. They must have hated it!
But then someone started clapping slowly. Someone else joined in and then another person and then another… Soon wild applause rang out. Everyone was clapping like mad, except for Shannon. She just sat there with her mouth open. For once, she didn’t seem to know what to say.
‘Way to go, Marie!’ Chris yelled. ‘That was fantastic!’
Marie looked across at him. He seemed to really mean it. She gave him a shy smile of thanks and he grinned back cheekily.
‘Oh, shut up, Chris! She wasn’t that good!’ Shannon snapped.
But no one else agreed with her. Children that Marie had hardly spoken a word to came over to congratulate her. They wanted to know if she’d had singing lessons or been to stage school.
Marie shook her head. ‘I just love singing,’ she explained, overwhelmed by the sudden attention.
‘Well, I think we’ve found our Mary!’ Mr Carpenter said delightedly. ‘Marie Zaleski will be playing the lead part.’
Marie waited until she’d changed out of her uniform after school before telling her mum the good news. She’d left Starshine munching hay in her bedroom.
‘That’s wonderful! My clever girl’s going to be a big star!’ Mum gave her a huge hug.
‘Mu-um!’ Marie said, grinning. ‘It’s only a teeny part in the school play!’
‘Well, I’m very proud of you,’ her mum said. ‘Come on. We’re going out.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘To the new Polish deli in Main Road. I wanted some groceries anyway. We’ll celebrate with something nice to eat.’
‘I’ll just get my bag,’ Marie said happily. She scooted upstairs to ask Starshine if he wanted to come too. He’d finished his hay and jumped readily into her bag when she opened it for him.
It was only a short drive to the new delicatessen. Marie stood looking in the window while her mum went to buy a ticket.
‘Wow! Isn’t this place amazing?’ she said to Starshine.
The tiny magic reindeer nodded. He had reared up and looped his
front legs over the edge of her bag so he could see the jewel-coloured jars of jams, fruits and pickles. A rich smell of coffee and fresh bread floated out of the open door.
‘Hi, Marie!’ called a cheerful voice.
It was Chris, walking towards her with a broad smile on his face.
‘Oh… er, hi,’ Marie answered.
‘Well done again for getting the part in the play,’ he said, pausing.
‘Thanks,’ Marie said, surprised and pleased. She remembered how he had seemed friendlier towards her in class lately, despite Shannon’s influence.
‘This is a well nice shop,’ Chris said, looking in the window admiringly. ‘But I can’t tell what some of the stuff is, unless there’s a picture on the label. I s’pose you know, though, right?’ he said, flashing her one of his cheeky grins.
Marie nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious. But after a moment’s hesitation, she read some of the labels aloud.
Chris listened closely. ‘That’s a really cool language,’ he enthused when she’d finished. ‘Could you teach me some Polish?’
‘Maybe,’ Marie said warily, waiting for the usual silly comment. But it never came. She wondered if Chris was actually being serious.
Mrs Zaleski was finished at the car. She came over to them.
‘This is Chris. We’re in the same class,’ Marie told her mum.
‘Hi, Mrs Zaleski,’ Chris said politely.
‘Hi, Chris. It’s nice to meet one of Marie’s new friends. Would you like to join us for some cake?’
Marie looked at the floor, horrified. She couldn’t believe her mum had just done that! Of course Chris would say no.
‘Yeah – sounds great! Thanks, Mrs Zaleski. That’s OK with you, isn’t it Marie?’ Chris asked.
‘Yes, of course.’ Marie felt a shy smile starting to spread across her face. ‘I hope they’ve got some honey cake. You’ll love it. And there’s this amazing milkshake…’
Later that day, as she lay on her bed reading a book of animal stories, Marie was still thinking about what a good time they’d all had. Starshine was beside her.
‘Can you believe it? Mum really liked Chris. She even asked him to drop into our house over the Christmas holiday. And he said he would!’
Starshine yawned and stretched out his little legs. ‘I like Chris too.’
Marie nodded slowly. Chris was much nicer outside school. For the first time, she wondered if she might have found another friend.
Chapter
SEVEN
Rehearsals for A Christmas Wish took place over the next week. Marie and the other kids playing lead roles worked hard at learning their lines and practising their songs.
‘I’m going to be on stage almost all the time. I hope I can remember everything,’ Marie whispered to Starshine. She reached out and stroked his soft white fur as he stood on her desk in his toy disguise.
His big chocolate-brown eyes sparkled at her. ‘You will be very good. I am looking forward to the play.’
Marie smiled fondly at her magical friend. ‘I’m a bit nervous, but I’m looking forward to it too!’
Shannon appeared beside her desk. ‘I can’t believe I lost the best part in the play to a kid who brings fluffy toys to school!’ she said with disgust. ‘And now she’s talking to it! How pathetic is that!’
‘There’s nothing wrong with liking soft toys.’ Marie put her arms round Starshine protectively.
‘Yeah – if you’re about four years old!’ Shannon’s lip curled as she stood there with her hands on her hips.
Before Marie could think of a reply, Chris called out. ‘I’ve got a teddy bear my mum bought me when I was a baby. So I guess that makes me pathetic too, doesn’t it?’ he said, flashing Marie one of his cheeky grins.
‘That’s, er, different. Everyone knows teddy bears are cool,’ Shannon said, flustered. ‘Anyway, why are you taking her side? I thought family was supposed to stick together. You’re my cousin – in case you’ve forgotten.’
‘I know that, but Marie’s new in class. There’s no need to pick on her,’ Chris said.
‘I’m not!’ Shannon snapped back sulkily. ‘What about her? She thinks she’s dead clever for pinching my part!’
‘Just leave it, Shannon,’ Chris said, rolling his eyes. He got up and sauntered across the room to a piece of cardboard shaped like a manger, which he was helping to paint.
‘Yeah! You’re right. She’s not worth it!’ Sticking her nose in the air, Shannon flounced after him.
Marie sat in stunned silence. Shannon and Chris were cousins? She hadn’t realized they were related because they had different surnames.
‘How stupid am I for even thinking that Chris wanted to be my friend?’ she whispered to Starshine. ‘He was just pretending to be interested in learning Polish, so he and Shannon could tease me even more!’
Starshine’s little ears drooped. ‘I did not think Chris was a mean person.’
Marie didn’t either, but she wasn’t sure any more. Feeling tears prick her eyes, she blinked them away angrily. Who needs friends in class anyway? she fumed silently. She already had the best friend anyone could ever have in her magic little reindeer.
Marie slipped out into the garden with Starshine that evening. White frost sparkled on a bush near the patio and their breath steamed in the cold air.
With an eager little snuffle Starshine turned back to his normal size, although he remained invisible. He reached out to nibble a couple of leaves from the bush.
‘It is very strange to live in a world without snow,’ he commented, chewing.
‘It was snowing when Mum and I left Poland,’ Marie said. ‘I hope we get some here. A white Christmas would be wonderful.’
‘I should be delivering presents all over the world with the other White Crystal Reindeer,’ Starshine said wistfully. He looked up into the night sky, which was dotted with millions of stars. Suddenly he stiffened.
Marie followed his gaze. There, spreading towards the horizon, was a trail of faintly glowing silver and gold hoof-prints.
‘My herd! They have been here!’ Starshine bleated excitedly.
She gasped. Did that mean that he would be leaving to go after them?
‘Are… are you going to try to catch up with Moonfleet, Dazzler and the others?’ she asked anxiously.
The young reindeer shook his head. ‘No. The trail is cold and already fading. But it proves they came this way. I will watch out for a fresh trail when they return. And then I may have to leave suddenly to follow them…’
‘Oh.’ Marie felt a sharp pang as she thought of how lonely she would be without him. He was still her only friend. She realized that she would never be ready to lose him. ‘You… you could stay here with me if you wanted to,’ she said hopefully.
Starshine shook his head, his beautiful chocolate-brown eyes softening with affection. ‘That is not possible. I must return to my family in Ice Mountain Castle. I hope you understand, Marie.’
Marie nodded sadly. She swallowed hard as she decided not to think about Starshine leaving. Instead, she promised herself that she was going to enjoy every single moment she had left with him.
Starshine bent his head and nuzzled her sleeve with his sensitive nose; a cloud of his warm sweet breath spread around her.
Marie put her arm round his neck and pressed her cheek to his fluffy warmth. ‘Let’s go inside to my cosy bedroom and snuggle up together. It’s freezing out here!’
Starshine nodded, his golden antlers gleaming in the moonlight.
The next few days at school passed in a flurry of activity. Marie made sure she kept out of Shannon and Chris’s way. But she caught Chris looking at her questioningly a few times. Once he started to come over to her, but she quickly walked away.
‘I wish I could trust him,’ she confided to Starshine as they sat at her desk later. ‘But he’s probably laughing about me behind my back with Shannon. They’re always whispering together.’
‘I do not think Chris would do
that,’ Starshine said. ‘Please do not be sad, Marie.’
‘Oh, I’m OK. I’m just a bit fed up, that’s all,’ she admitted. ‘I’d started to quite like Chris.’
‘You need something to cheer you up!’ Starshine decided, his eyes shining. ‘I have an idea! You were happy when you ate cake with your mum and Chris in that shop.’ His mouth curved as he showed his strong young teeth in an eager smile.
Marie felt a familiar prickling at the back of her neck. ‘Remember what we agreed about you being careful with your magic,’ she whispered warningly.
But it was too late. The snow-globe round his neck began to glow and there was a bright flash, and a fountain of bright gold and silver sparks covered the empty chair beside her.
‘Oh!’ Marie blinked, rubbing her eyes as she noticed there was a big box full of delicious-looking fairy cakes on the seat.
Starshine looked pleased with himself. ‘Now you can share these with everyone and have a good time!’
‘Wow! These are gorgeous!’ Marie felt relieved that, this time, Starshine didn’t appear to have done anything too dramatic. She eyed the yummy cakes. They had frilly paper cases and pink, yellow or white icing with glittering rainbow-coloured sprinkles.
She picked up the box and took it over to the teacher. ‘I brought these for everyone to share. Would you like a cake, Mr Roberts?’
The teacher’s face lit up. ‘That’s extremely kind of you, Marie. They look delicious.’ He took a bite. ‘Mmm, interesting flavour. Lemon and… is that sausage-flavour icing? Did you make them yourself?’
‘Er… yes,’ Marie fibbed hastily, hiding her surprise at the oddly flavoured cake. She hurried across the classroom and offered the cakes to a group of kids who were painting scenery.