Lily sighed. “That’s so brilliant.”
“Hang on a minute.” Ava was squinting into the distance. “Something’s happening… Oh! It’s Joe and Jenny’s mum!”
“Children! CHILDREN!” Mrs Gibbs was clapping her hands for silence. “Father Christmas hasn’t quite got here yet. He’s looking for somewhere to park his reindeer, but he won’t be long. Just give him another five minutes. Why don’t you have some ice cream or an ice lolly while you’re waiting?”
As a line of helpers carrying ice cream came out of the kitchen, the chidren settled down again. Only Baby stayed standing, but Pipsy whispered something in his ear, and he sat back down in his chair with a flump. A moment later, Pipsy was given an ice lolly. She handed it to Baby, even though he was already holding a huge strawberry ice cream, and it was obvious that she’d bribed him to behave.
I was so surprised. She really did seem to be trying to look after him … so had I got it wrong? Again? I began to feel a little bit sick.
“We HAVE to do something about that kid,” Sophie muttered.
“Hey! Guess what!” It was Jackson, and she was panting as if she’d been running. “Sophie said something that made me think, and I went to look in Baby’s mum’s shopping bags – and she was right! Every single toy was for Baby! All there was for Pipsy was a pink woolly hat and a couple of winter vests.”
“Poor little girl!” Ava made a face. “That’s so mean.”
“But how can we help her?” Emma asked. “We can’t exactly tell her mother off, can we?”
Jackson folded her arms. “WE can’t. But the other mums and dads can!”
“But why would they?” Lily stared at her.
“That’s what we’re going to work out,” Jackson said. “All of us together! Come on. What ideas do you have?”
Chapter Thirteen
I’d never seen so many blank faces all at once. Even Melody was looking at me as if I was mad, but to me it was obvious. If we could only get the other grown-ups to see the way Pipsy was treated, then surely they’d say something, and her mum would realise what she was doing.
The silence went on … and on … and on.
I was beginning to think it was a really stupid idea, but finally Olivia spoke. “Do you think Pipsy has a parcel in the sack?”
“She must have,” Emma said. “Even her mother wouldn’t be as wicked as that. It’d show her up in front of all the others…” She stopped. “Olivia! Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Olivia nodded. “Suppose we hid Pipsy’s parcel!”
“I don’t see how that would help.” Melody was frowning.
Emma gave a little bounce of excitement. “Her mum would be shown up! Father Christmas is SURE to ask if every little boy and girl has had a present – and when Pipsy says, ‘Not me!’ EVERYONE will stare at her mother!”
“It’s a brilliant idea,” Madison said.
“Totally brilliant,” Lily agreed.
Ava nodded. “What do you think, Jackson?”
I’d been secretly wishing I’d thought of the idea, but I gave myself a shake. We were all working together, weren’t we? “Actually,” I said, “I think it’s really clever.”
Sophie gave Olivia a hug. “Clever you.”
“I’ll go and find Pipsy’s present,” Melody said.
“Be careful,” Madison warned her. “It’s a real scrum all the way. You’ll have to creep under the tables, and those kids have dropped food all over the floor.” She held out her hands. “I’m horribly sticky!”
“I’ll be fine,” Melody told her, and she tapped her pendant and slid away.
“Fingers crossed,” Ava said cheerfully, but at that moment the children’s chatter faded into awed silence. The lights had dimmed, there was the sound of sleigh bells … and into the room strode a tall Father Christmas, carrying an enormous sack.
“HO HO HO!” he bellowed. “Happy Christmas, everyone!”
“Oh NO!” Olivia clasped her hands in horror. “He’s here already! How’s Melody going to get the present?”
I didn’t answer. I was watching to see what was going to happen next. The children were very quiet as Father Christmas dropped his sack on the floor and opened his arms wide.
“I said, HAPPY CHRISTMAS!” he shouted.
This time, the children knew what to do. “HAPPY CHRISTMAS!” they roared back.
“Who wants a present?”
“We do!”
Father Christmas nodded. “HO HO HO!”
“HO HO HO!” The children were so loud that I was amazed Father Christmas didn’t go completely deaf. He actually seemed to like the noise; he beamed at everyone, pulled a chair towards him, and sat down, the bulging sack at his feet. “Let’s see what we’ve got here, shall we?”
At once, Baby scrambled down from the table where he was sitting and began to push his way between the other children, elbowing them out of the way.
“Present for Baby!” he yelled. “Present for—” He stopped, and froze. His eyes bulged, and he didn’t say another word. He was right beside Jenny and Joe, and I could see them staring at him in astonishment.
“Well done, Sophie.” Madison was chuckling loudly. “I’d love to know what she’s saying to him!”
“SOPHIE?” I hadn’t noticed that she’d slipped away. I squinted my eyes, and Madison was right. I could just make out a shadowy Sophie behind Baby, and she was whispering in his ear.
Baby opened his mouth as if he was going to scream – but he didn’t. Instead he meekly turned around, and made his way back to his seat. Every so often he looked nervously over his shoulder. I could understand why.
At the side of the room Father Christmas had opened up the sack, and was pulling out a handful of parcels. I held my breath, but it was OK. The presents were for other children; there was nothing for Pipsy yet. I couldn’t see Melody, but as the children came hurrying up to collect their gifts I saw the sack twitch as if someone was rooting about in it.
She needs help, I thought, and at the same moment Lily whispered in my ear, “Watch this! We’re going to give Melody a bit more time!” And then she tapped her pendant and was gone, and so was Olivia … and a moment later the net of balloons that had been hidden on the balcony burst open. Dozens of brightly coloured balloons drifted down, and the children shouted with laughter and jumped on their chairs to try and catch them.
Several balloons had a life of their own and floated right across the room … and I was almost sure Madison, Ava and Emma had something to do with that.
Father Christmas smiled, shrugged, and sat down to wait while Mrs Gibbs and the other helpers tried to sort out the chaos. Nobody would have heard him even if he had tried to keep going; the noise was indescribable …and I’m certain as certain can be that neither he nor any of the grown-ups noticed as I skidded to a halt beside the sack, and tipped the presents on the floor in a heap.
“What are you DOING?” Melody hissed.
“It’s OK,” I whispered. “Nobody’s looking! Quick! Where’s Pipsy’s present?”
Chapter Fourteen
I thought Jackson was mad when she emptied out the sack, but she was right. It took us only a second to find the present. We grabbed it, shoved the other presents back, and ran.
“That was COOL!” Ava said as we arrived back in the doorway, panting. “What’s Pipsy got?”
“I don’t know,” Jackson said, “but there’s no way it’s a fluffy purple dog.”
We looked at the sad little parcel. It was small, and very flat … as if it was a hankie, or a scarf.
“Oh dear,” I said. “Poor Pipsy.”
Olivia and Lily had made their way back from the balcony, and I could feel Olivia looking at me in surprise.
I swallowed hard. “You were right, and I was wrong about her. You don’t need to say anything.”
“I wasn’t going to,” she said, and she smiled at me. “Look! Father Christmas is standing up again!”
“HO HO HO!” said Father
Christmas. “Sorry about that little interruption, kiddies! Now, let’s see who’s next?”
It was really hard waiting until all the presents were given out. Baby had the biggest parcel of all, but after he’d ripped off the paper and had a quick glance at the very expensive aeroplane inside, he dropped it on the floor. He turned to Pipsy, and I’m sure he pinched her because she gave a little squeal and her eyes filled with tears.
Sophie was beside me, and I heard her sigh. “He’s SO horrible.”
“What did you say to him?” Madison wanted to know.
“I told him I was a Christmas fairy, and if he didn’t sit down and be quiet he wouldn’t get any presents at all,” Sophie said with grim satisfaction.
When the final child had trailed back to his seat, Father Christmas turned the sack inside out, and looked around. “There we go, kiddlywinks! I haven’t left anyone out, have I? Everyone’s got something lovely?”
“Come on, Pipsy!” Madison whispered, and we waited, holding our breath … but Pipsy said nothing.
Nothing at all.
Father Christmas began folding up the sack. “Then that’s all right, my dears—”
“NO!”
It was Baby, and he was even redder in the face than usual. “PRESENT! Where’s Pipsy’s present? Pipsy hasn’t got a present!”
I nearly collapsed. Whatever was going on? Our plan – it was SO not working!
There was a murmur from the grown–ups, and I saw Baby’s mother stand up.
“That’s my DARLING boy!” she called out. “SUCH a loving brother! And he’s quite right. My little girl hasn’t had anything yet!”
The woman sitting next to her said loudly, “And you didn’t notice? REALLY! It’s a good thing your little boy did!”
“He’s the sweetest thing,” his mother said proudly, but at that moment the sweetest thing climbed down from the table and began to push his way through the children. His lower lip stuck out, and he was scowling terribly. He stomped in between the tables, and plonked himself in front of Father Christmas.
“Want Pipsy’s present!” he said. “Want it NOW!”
“HO HO HO, young man.” Father Christmas sat down. “Why don’t you go and fetch your sister? I’m sure her present’s somewhere here.” He looked hopefully at the rows of grown-ups. “Has anyone seen it?”
Baby was gradually turning puce. “Don’t WANT to fetch Pipsy! Want Pipsy’s PRESENT! Pipsy promised!”
Father Christmas stroked his beard. He was obviously puzzled. “But—”
“STUPID Santa!” Baby stamped his foot. “Pipsy promised! Pipsy said I could have her fluffy wuffy dog! She PROMISED!”
The grown-ups were now muttering quite loudly. The bossy woman next to Pipsy’s mother asked, very clearly, “DID you bring a present for your little girl?”
“Of course I did!” Pipsy’s mum sounded defensive.
Baby heard her, and glared. “Where fluffy wuffy dog, Mumsy wumsy? Where Pipsy’s fluffy wuffy dog that does singing?”
“Father Christmas isn’t giving Pipsy a fluffy dog, Baby darling. He’s going to give her a sweet little hankie—”
Baby’s scream made Father Christmas jump.
And then Pipsy was screaming too. Every single child and adult in the room stared and stared as she screamed at the top of her voice, “But you PROMISED, Mumsy! You PROMISED you’d buy me the purple fluffy dog and I said Baby could have it because he keeps on and on and on pinching me and he said he’d never ever EVER pinch me again if I gave it to him – even though it’s my very best present!”
“REALLY!” The bossy woman was totally horrified.
But Pipsy’s mum banged her fist on the table. “I didn’t promise! I never said I’d buy a purple—”
And then Jackson’s voice rang out, loud and clear. “Yes, you did.”
Chapter Fifteen
I’d had enough. Someone had to stand up for Pipsy.
I shut my eyes, and I muttered the words of the Growing Spell.
“I wish to grow,
To make things right.
I wish to be
My normal height!”
I waited for the weird whooshing feeling but nothing happened. I grabbed Melody. “QUICK! We’ve got to tell everyone that we heard her! We heard her promise!”
Melody screwed up her eyes and began to mutter the spell, but yet again nothing happened.
“Oh NO!” I wailed.
And then Olivia – Olivia! – gave me a massive push. “Go ON!” she hissed. “WE’LL say the spell! Go ON!”
So I did. I tapped my pendant, and walked back into the room … and Melody came with me … and suddenly the air was filled with tiny twinkly stars. None of the adults seemed to notice; only Baby’s eyes grew wide as they clung to our hair, our clothes, our faces and our arms …and then they were gone, and we were standing in front of Pipsy’s mum looking totally normal.
“We were in the shopping mall,” I said, “and we heard you! Me and my friend – we both did. You promised you’d buy Pipsy a purple fluffy dog that sings and goes round in circles—”
“You DID, Mumsy!” Pipsy was crying now. “You DID!”
“YES! MY fluffy dog!” Baby was not only stamping his feet, he was actually trying to punch Father Christmas. “Want it NOW!”
Pipsy and Baby’s mum stood up, then sank back in her chair, her head in her hands.
“I hope you’re ashamed of yourself.” The bossy woman was glaring at her. “Just look what you’ve done!”
“FLUFFY DOG!” Baby was rolling on the floor. The children were open-mouthed, and the grown-ups were staring…
“Stop it, Georgie.” The voice came from the other side of the room, and every head turned to see who had spoken. A tall man was standing by the door, wearing a coat and scarf, and carrying a suitcase.
Baby was suddenly very still, but Pipsy wriggled down from the table and rushed towards him. “DADDY!” She flung herself at him, and he lifted her up and hugged her.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Nothing, Daddy.” Pipsy buried her head in his coat.
Her father looked at Baby, and raised his eyebrows. “Georgie?”
Baby opened his mouth, shut it again, and looked wildly round at me and Melody. “Go away, Christmas Fairies! Go AWAY!”
“What?” His father frowned. “Georgie, have you been pinching Pipsy?”
Georgie drooped. “Yes, Daddy.”
His father strode across the room, and grabbed him. “We’re going to go home right now this minute. Leila? Are you ready?”
Pipsy and Georgie’s mum came hurrying towards him. “Baby’s only little,” she began.
But her husband held up his hand. “He’s nearly four, Leila. He’s not a baby any more.” He set off for the door, then paused. “I’m so sorry,” he told Father Christmas. “I apologise for my badly behaved son.” He swung Pipsy onto his shoulders, and smiled up at her. “It’s not long until Christmas Eve, sweetie. You’d better start thinking of a name for the fluffy purple dog Father Christmas is going to bring you…”
And off they went.
“H0 H0 HO!” Father Christmas was beaming at us. “Well done, girls. Well done!” And he began to clap, and everyone else joined in, and then they began cheering. We didn’t know where to look – the dining room was positively shaking – but then brightly coloured stars began drifting down from the ceiling, and there was a sudden hush.
“Jackson! Melody!”
I turned round and so did Melody – and we saw Fairy Mary, Miss Scritch and Fairy Fifibelle Lee outlined in the doorway. Fairy Fifibelle Lee was clapping, Miss Scritch was beckoning and Fairy Mary was pointing … pointing at my necklace.
I put my hand up to my neck.
Melody saw what I was doing, and she gasped. “JACKSON!” she said. “You’ve got SIX STARS! Oh, have I? Have I got six stars too?”
I looked … and she had.
“WOWSERS!” we shouted, and to the complete and utter asto
nishment of every single person in The Nag’s Head we danced up and down and up and down and round and round before running out of the room … and if it wasn’t cool, I don’t care.
And neither did Melody.
Chapter Sixteen
So that’s how Jackson and I finally got our six stars, and became – at long last – fully qualified Stargirls.
The other Stargirls were waiting for us. They’d grown back to their usual height, and I thought we were all totally visible, but when Mrs Gibbs hurried after us and looked down the corridor I heard her say, “How strange! There’s nobody here! And I wanted to say how brave they were to stand up for that little girl!”
I looked at Fairy Mary, and she winked at me. “How does it feel to be a Stargirl, Melody?” she said.
“WONDERFUL!” I said, and then I added, “But it would never EVER have happened without the others.”
“Especially Olivia,” Jackson said, and she actually gave Olivia a hug. “Thanks.”
“It was nothing,” Olivia told her, but it was easy to see that she was really pleased.
Jackson gave Fairy Mary a cheeky grin. “So, are we the best at making mistakes, Fairy Mary? The very best?”
Fairy Mary didn’t answer, but she put her arms around our shoulders as we made our way out of the garden door, and over to the Travelling Tower.
We all piled in, and we were back at the Academy in no time at all.
Miss Scritch led us into the sitting room. “Please sit down,” she said.
So we did.
And I suddenly remembered sitting in that very same room when we very first came to the Fairy Mary McBee Academy for Stargirls. Jackson and I hadn’t even been sure if we’d wanted to be there … but we’d stayed.
And now … now we were actual Stargirls!
As Fairy Mary McBee solemnly handed me my certificate, and I heard the sound of music starting up next door, I thought how lucky I was. I was a Stargirl, I had six other friends as well as Jackson, there was an amazing party just about to start – and it was nearly Christmas.
Melody & Jackson's Christmas Spell Page 5