Clementine Rose and the Birthday Emergency

by Jacqueline Harvey

  Dr Wanner unlatched the cage and reached in, then carefully deposited the tiny pig in Clementine’s arms. A smile spread across Clementine’s face. She had missed Lavender so much it made her heart hurt and her tummy ache too.

  ‘What’s that?’ she asked, referring to the tube on Lavender’s leg.

  ‘It’s a drip for the antibiotics,’ Dr Wanner replied.

  ‘Does it hurt?’ Teddy asked.

  The veterinarian shook his head. ‘No. There’s a cannula just under the skin, but she can’t feel it.’

  Tilda frowned. ‘What’s a cannula?’

  Dr Wanner walked to a cupboard and returned with what looked like a thin needle that had a plastic tube on the end. He held it up to show the children.

  ‘She’s brave having that in her leg,’ Teddy said.

  Clementine nodded in agreement, then kissed Lavender on the snout. The little pig repaid her with a lick on the cheek. ‘Can she come home tomorrow?’ Clementine asked.

  Dr Wanner shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not, Clemmie. I’d like to keep her for another couple of days, just to be sure that she’s absolutely fine.’

  Clementine sighed.

  ‘You can come and see her again tomorrow if you like,’ Dr Wanner suggested.

  Clementine’s eyes lit up. ‘Yes, please! I’ll see if Uncle Digby can bring me.’

  Tilda and Teddy gave Lavender a pat too, then something caught Teddy’s eye. Two cages along from Lavender was a tiny bundle of curly black fur. Teddy peered in at the pup, who stared back at him with big brown eyes.

  ‘Who’s that?’ he asked.

  ‘Someone brought him in yesterday. The poor thing had been abandoned near the factories on the edge of the village – he’s lucky to be alive,’ Dr Wanner explained. ‘He doesn’t even have a name yet.’

  ‘Who owns him?’ Mintie asked.

  Dr Wanner shrugged. ‘I suppose I do until I can find someone to adopt him.’

  Mintie’s eyes grew round and she turned to look at her father. ‘Can we adopt him, Daddy? You said we could get a dog once we moved to the country.’

  Basil pulled a face. ‘I’m not sure we can look after a dog at the moment, Mintie. Your mother’s so busy with the ballet school, and I’ll be travelling soon.’

  ‘We’d look after him, we promise,’ Mintie implored, clasping her hands in front of her.

  ‘Puh-l-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-a-s-e?’ Tilda and Teddy begged.

  ‘Would you like to hold him?’ Dr Wanner asked.

  The children nodded like jack-in-the-boxes. Clementine grinned at them. She remembered how excited she was when her mother won Lavender at the village fair and she got to take the teacup pig home.

  Dr Wanner opened the cage and picked up the puppy. ‘I’m pretty sure he’s a cavoodle – a cross between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle.’

  ‘He’s so cute,’ Tilda said as she cradled him in her arms.

  ‘Daddy, we can’t leave him here,’ Mintie said, stroking the puppy’s head.

  ‘I’m afraid you’d have to for a little while yet,’ Dr Wanner said. ‘He needs to have some shots and I want him to put on a bit more weight.’

  Basil reached out and took the pup from his youngest daughter. ‘You are cute,’ he said, looking into the canine’s eyes. The puppy gave a tiny high-pitched bark, and everyone laughed. ‘Will he shed much?’ Basil asked. ‘Kids, you know how your mother feels about fur.’

  ‘We’re getting him!’ Teddy exclaimed.

  The Hobbs children cheered and jumped around all over the place. Bruce the rottweiler began barking and Tiberius yowled.

  ‘Hang on, I need to talk to your mother first,’ Basil said. ‘No promises.’ He looked back at the puppy. ‘Oh, but you’re so cute,’ he cooed. The little dog’s tongue shot out and licked Basil’s nose.

  Dr Wanner chuckled. ‘I think he’s taken a shine to you.’

  Basil grinned and handed the puppy back to him. ‘All right, kids, we’d better get moving.’

  Clementine gave Lavender one last nuzzle and kissed the top of the pig’s head before she put her back into the cage. ‘See you tomorrow,’ she said, stroking Lavender’s neck. ‘Will she be able to come to my party on Sunday?’ Clementine asked Dr Wanner. ‘The theme is pirates and princesses, and Mrs Mogg is making a special outfit just for her.’

  Dr Wanner nodded. ‘Lavender should be fine by then, although she’ll have to take it easy on the fairy bread.’

  ‘She likes chocolate cake much better, anyway,’ Clementine said seriously.

  The children walked ahead, saying goodbye to the animals as they left.

  ‘I hope Mum says yes,’ Teddy said, crossing his fingers on both hands.

  Mintie grinned. ‘I think she will.’

  ‘What shall we call him?’ Tilda wondered aloud.

  Teddy turned to Clementine. ‘How did you know what to call Lavender?’

  The girl thought for a moment. ‘It was Uncle Digby’s idea. He said that she was a bit like the colour of lavender and she liked nibbling the lavender in the garden too.’

  ‘It’s the perfect name for her. We’ll have to think of something perfect too,’ Teddy said importantly.

  ‘Let’s make a list,’ Tilda suggested.

  ‘I’m so glad that Uncle Digby’s car wouldn’t start,’ Mintie said happily. ‘Otherwise, he would have picked Clemmie up from school and we wouldn’t have got to meet our new puppy.’

  ‘Bye, Lavender,’ Clementine called. The little pig grunted in reply.

  ‘Bye, Cosmo,’ Basil called after her.

  The kids all turned and looked at him. ‘Who’s that?’ Teddy asked.

  ‘I thought your mother might be more inclined to say yes if we gave the puppy a name,’ his father replied with a cheeky grin. ‘She’s always been keen on the name Cosmo.’

  ‘Good thinking, Dad,’ Teddy said with a smile.

  Mintie did a little twirl. ‘We’re definitely getting him!’

  Clementine Rose dipped her paintbrush into the pot of black paint and carefully filled in the pirate’s hat with long, even brushstrokes.

  ‘That’s looking terrific, Clemmie,’ Uncle Digby said, glancing up from his newspaper. He’d circled several car advertisements and was about to make some telephone calls.

  ‘I didn’t know you could do such amazing pirate drawings,’ Clementine said. She had returned home that afternoon to find a giant picture of a pirate that Uncle Digby had drawn, ready for her to paint. It was going to be used for the Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate game for her birthday party on Sunday. ‘Can you help me with the pirate’s face? It looks tricky and he needs a curly beard.’

  ‘Why don’t you try first and I’ll help if you need me? I think I’d better get on with the search for a new car,’ the man replied.

  ‘But I thought you didn’t want to sell yours,’ Clementine said.

  ‘I did the sums and realised it’s too expensive to get the thing fixed. I’m better off buying something more reliable. Basil and Ana can’t be expected to pick you up all the time and your great-aunt seems to be rather preoccupied at the moment.’

  Clementine was about to say something, then stopped.

  Lady Clarissa walked into the kitchen, after having set the dining-room table for breakfast. She’d been pleased to hear that her conference party had decided on a casual dinner at The Rose and Donkey.

  ‘Is Aunt Violet home yet?’ she asked, glancing at the kitchen clock. ‘I wonder what she’s up to.’

  ‘I know where she is,’ Clementine said. She plunged her paintbrush into a jar of clean water and gave it a swirl. Uncle Digby and Clarissa looked at her expectantly. Clementine wiped her brush and loaded it with some white paint for the pirate’s ruffled shirt.

  ‘Go on then, where is she?’ Uncle Digby asked.

  ‘It’s a secret,’ Clementine replied, concentrating on her painting.

  ‘Really?’ Clarissa said. She walked over to check on the leg of lamb that was sizzling away in the
oven. ‘Did she tell you not to tell us?’

  Clementine nodded.

  ‘The cheeky thing!’ Clarissa grinned. ‘We’ll just have to pry it out of her when she gets home.’

  ‘Pry what out of me?’ Aunt Violet’s voice floated in through the back door.

  ‘Clementine said she knew where you were but that you’d sworn her to secrecy.’ Clarissa glanced over at her aunt, then did a double-take.

  ‘I didn’t tell them you had a job, Aunt Violet, I promise,’ Clementine said. The child looked up and gasped. ‘You look beautiful.’

  ‘I was just going to say the same thing.’ Lady Clarissa walked over to the woman. ‘You have a job?’

  Digby Pertwhistle almost choked on his tea. ‘Good heavens, what happened to your face?’ he blurted.

  ‘Why? What’s wrong with my face?’ Aunt Violet demanded.

  ‘Nothing,’ Uncle Digby said, ‘except that you look about twenty years younger.’

  ‘Your hair is lovely too,’ Clementine said. ‘Those model people are like magic.’ Suddenly realising what she’d done, she clamped her hands over her mouth.

  ‘Modelling!’ Uncle Digby and Lady Clarissa exclaimed in unison.

  Aunt Violet glared at Clementine. ‘Well, seeing as though some people can’t keep a secret – yes, I’ve been doing some modelling.’

  Uncle Digby and Lady Clarissa both stared at the woman. ‘Who have you been modelling for?’ Clarissa asked.

  Aunt Violet sat at the table and told them the whole story while her niece brought her a cup of tea.

  ‘I’m so proud of you,’ Lady Clarissa said once all had been revealed.

  Clementine decided to add a giant gold hoop to the pirate’s ear. ‘See, Uncle Digby, Aunt Violet isn’t the laziest person in the world after all,’ she said, without glancing up.

  Aunt Violet looked daggers at the butler, before turning back to Clementine. ‘Did you see Lavender?’ she asked.

  The child nodded. ‘She’s feeling much better and Dr Wanner said she can come home on Thursday.’ Clementine felt a funny twinge in her side again and winced.

  ‘That’s very good news,’ Aunt Violet agreed, ‘but what’s wrong with you? I hope you’re not coming down with something.’

  Clementine shook her head and did her best to ignore the pain. ‘I’m okay,’ she replied. There was no way she was going to let herself get sick this week.

  Aunt Violet glanced over at the basket, where Lavender and Pharaoh spent a lot of their time curled up together. ‘Where’s my boy?’

  Uncle Digby pointed to Pharaoh asleep on his lap. ‘I think he’s a bit lost without his girlfriend.’

  ‘Yes, the house just doesn’t feel the same without her,’ Aunt Violet said, voicing what was on everyone’s mind.

  Clementine smiled at her mother, who gave her a wink.

  Clementine squealed almost as loudly as Lavender did when Dr Wanner walked through the door on Thursday afternoon.

  ‘Thank you for bringing her, Dr Wanner,’ Clementine said, rushing to give the little pig a hug.

  ‘It was no trouble, Clemmie. I have to duck over and check on Adrian anyway,’ the man replied as he placed Lavender into the girl’s arms.

  ‘Do I get a cuddle too?’ Aunt Violet asked.

  Clementine passed Lavender over and the old woman snuggled the little creature to her chest. She kissed the pig’s forehead before depositing her into the basket with Pharaoh, who proceeded to lick her all over. The unlikely duo took no time settling back into their regular routine.

  ‘Lavender will need to have this.’ Dr Wanner passed Lady Clarissa two bottles of pills and instructed the woman on the required dosage. ‘She should also be kept inside for the next few days, just to make sure she doesn’t catch any chills.’

  Clementine raced away to the dresser and picked something up, then ran back to Dr Wanner.

  ‘What’s this?’ the man asked as she handed him an envelope.

  ‘I made you something to say thank you for making Lavender better,’ Clementine replied.

  Dr Wanner grinned. ‘Thank you, Clementine. I have to say, Lavender was a model patient. I hope her good manners rubbed off on some of the noisy creatures I’ve got at the moment.’

  ‘Do you think she and Cosmo have already become friends?’ Clementine asked. The Hobbs children had been buzzing with excitement ever since their mother had agreed to take the pup.

  The man grinned. ‘I suspect they might have.’

  Clementine leaned forward and gave Dr Wanner a hug. ‘Thank you,’ she said.

  ‘It was my pleasure.’ The man patted her on the head, then said his goodbyes and trotted out the back door.

  With Lavender home safe and sound, Clementine spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for her party. Once she’d finished off the pirate for the Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate game, she began painting a poster of princesses in swirling dresses. It was going to be part of the decorations for the dining room.

  ‘Come along, sweetheart,’ Lady Clarissa said. ‘You’ve got the carnival tomorrow and you need to get to bed early.’

  ‘Just one more bit,’ Clementine protested.

  ‘You don’t want to be too tired for your races, do you?’ her mother warned.

  Clementine yawned. She’d been feeling sleepy all day. ‘Okay,’ she relented, putting her paintbrush into the jar of murky water. She slid down from her chair.

  ‘Leave that and I can rinse the brushes,’ Uncle Digby said from where he was finishing the washing up.

  ‘Thanks, Uncle Digby.’ Clementine walked over and gave him a hug before trudging up the back stairs with her mother behind her.

  Uncle Digby set the picnic basket down on the edge of the tartan blanket. His eyes sparkled as he stood on the hill, looking out on the oval at the children in their brightly coloured house shirts. The field was decorated in bunting, and colour-coded cones marked out each of the areas. There was a high-jump station with giant mats in the middle of the field, the long-jump pit and track on the other side, and the running track right in front of them.

  Lady Clarissa glanced around the field. ‘Where’s Aunt Violet?’

  ‘I think she’s helping Mrs Bottomley with the marshalling,’ Digby replied, pointing to a large group of children leaping up and down like puppies in a playpen.

  Mrs Bottomley, in a chocolate-brown tracksuit and large Panama hat, spun around and glared at the children. After the Kindergarten teacher dealt out a series of rapid hand movements resembling a police officer directing traffic, the children lined up and awaited their next instructions.

  ‘That woman is a marvel,’ Uncle Digby said with a shake of his head.

  Lady Clarissa smiled. ‘I think they’re terrified of her.’

  ‘There’s Clemmie!’ Uncle Digby spotted the girl and gave a wave.

  Clementine waved back, just as the loudspeaker crackled and the sound of Miss Critchley’s voice filled the oval. All eyes turned to the podium. The head teacher had foregone her usual attire for black tracksuit pants, trainers and a white collared shirt. Her long curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail that was wrapped in ribbons representing each of the house colours.

  ‘Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our annual sports carnival,’ Miss Critchley began. ‘You should all have a copy of the program outlining today’s events. I hope there are lots of parents planning to sign up for the final event of the day, the parents-versus-teachers-versus-students relay. I do wonder who’s going to win that one …’

  A huge cheer rose up from the students, peppered with shouts of ‘Us!’ and ‘We will!’.

  ‘It sounds as though the children are pretty confident they’ll win, but we’ll just have to see about that, won’t we, mums and dads?’ The head teacher grinned as the parents and teachers all rallied in response.

  ‘I can’t wait for that,’ Clementine said to Angus, who was standing beside her.

  The boy nodded excitedly. ‘Me too. We’re definitely going to win.’
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  A few minutes later, the first of the races was underway. Joshua Tribble came first in the boys’ Year One race, and proceeded to jump all over the place with his arms in the air. He carried on like this until one of the teachers reminded him that it was just a heat and that he would still have to race in the final before any ribbons were handed out.

  Clementine lined up beside a group of girls from her class.

  ‘Look,’ Uncle Digby said to Clarissa, ‘Clemmie’s up next.’

  ‘Go, Sophie!’ Pierre Rousseau called as his wife clapped.

  Basil let out a whistle. ‘Come on, Tilda!’ he yelled.

  Mr Smee raised his starting can into the air. It had a little trumpet on top that made a loud squeaking sound. ‘On your marks, get set …’ Mr Smee pressed the hooter.

  The girls shot off down the track. Clemmie raced ahead, urged on by Uncle Digby and Lady Clarissa’s cheers, and crossed the line well ahead of Sophie, who finished in second place. Down in the marshalling area, Aunt Violet had been bellowing too and only stopped when she saw Mrs Bottomley clamp her hands over her ears.

  It wasn’t long before the children were running in the finals. Several of the parents had been seconded onto the track to act as judges and to hand out ribbons. Aunt Violet stood at the end of the running track, charged with the task of awarding the green ribbons for third place.

  Clementine was up against all the best runners from the heats this time. She jigged up and down before Mr Smee called the girls over to the starting line, where they stood perfectly still, their little chests rising up and down in anticipation. Clementine rubbed her tummy. It was hurting a lot but she desperately wanted to win a ribbon.

  The hooter blared and the girls were off. Clementine’s arms and legs pumped up and down as she tried to take the lead. She could see Astrid out of the corner of her eye and Sophie was right beside her too. Clementine could hear Aunt Violet’s voice above everyone else, screaming at her to go faster. She surged for the tape at the finish line and tumbled over.

  ‘Clemmie!’ Aunt Violet shouted, racing over to the child. ‘Are you all right?’

  Clementine puffed and stood up. She nodded and grinned from ear to ear as Mrs Tribble handed her the blue ribbon. ‘Look, Aunt Violet! I won!’ she said, leaping into the woman’s arms.