Monica promised that she would ring Dad after a few days to let him know how they were. Dad drove Lulu and Zac back to Tarni Beach. As they pulled into the driveway of their beach house, Lulu could hear a familiar sound. The bulldozer was back at work. Even more of the trees had been knocked down...
The hot water was sprinkled with rose petals and chamomile flowers and floating with bubbles. A maid servant washed her hair and massaged her neck. The muscles were as tight as steel rods. Cookie personally delivered a ewer of fresh milk to soften and whiten the queen’s complexion. Queen Ashana w...
Mimi helped herself to an orange, which she ate delicately with her tiny, wizened paws.They felt so much better after some food. Their petitdéjeuner was interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of the Chevalier, Amelie’s intended husband. He bowed a formal greeting to the girls, fluttering his handke...
The children had been reading in groups with parent helpers. The parents were just packing up the readers while the students returned to their desks. ‘Now KS,’ began Miss Stevens, ‘we have two very special guests in our classroom today. Molly is Sam’s big sister and Lulu is their friend. I have a...
‘Oh, I’d nearly forgotten,’ she said. Gus looked worried. Mum gave Gus a cheeky grin. ‘I’m only joking, honey bun! But we can’t possibly have a pirate party with you dressed like that,’ said Mum. ‘Luckily I have something that might help.’ Mum fetched a huge parcel wrapped in red-and-white stripe...
They include the Abbey, Oybin, Rozelle (now demolished), Greba, Hockingdon, Highroyd, Kenilworth and Claremont (now demolished). Rosethorne is a fictional house based on Highroyd and Hockingdon. During the 1890s, one of the deepest depressions ever gripped Australia. During this time, many of the...
Dad carefully packed up his fishing gear and stowed it under the seat. He hadn’t caught any fish. Anthony stowed his fish in a bucket. Dad fired up the engine. To get back to Ardyaloon, they had to navigate in a loop around the rocks and sandbanks. The boats chugged slowly. They were having troub...
Millie shivered. The shadows of the trees had grown long as the sun had moved to the west. ‘Don’t stop, please, Aunt Jessamine,’ Millie begged. ‘What happened next? Were they safe at Budgong? Did Mr Barton follow them? Did they ever go back to Oldbury?’ Aunt Jessamine laug...
The Bell family was putting up the Christmas tree in the lounge room. Lulu Bell felt her tummy fizz with excitement. Today was going to be a very big day. There was so much to do! Mum huffed as she and Dad hauled the tall pine tree upright. Mum stood back to check if it was straight. The top bran...
The girls were sleepy after their late night and were reluctant to get up. Flossie seemed subdued and worried, sensing her world was about to be destroyed. ‘Och, lassies,’ scolded Nanny gently. ‘Ye canna be lazy this morning or ye will miss the train.’ Charlotte felt a flutter of fear in her stom...
Lulu helped Dad pack the car. They pushed and heaved the bags around to make room for the dogs. Finally they were ready. Molly came over to say goodbye and wish them all a happy holiday. Everyone climbed into the car and snapped on their seatbelts. ‘Righto,’ said Dad. ‘Off we go.’ Dad steered the...
He carried an officious-looking list several pages long that was crisscrossed with pencil marks. Honey barked loudly in warning, her hackles raised. ‘Is your mother home, Poppy?’ asked the warden. ‘I’ll just fetch her,’ she replied, feeling a sudden...
The velvety black kitten purred and rubbed her face against Molly’s chin. ‘Sam, would you like to carry Ebony?’ asked Molly. Sam nodded and took the kitten in his arms. He hugged her close. Lulu led the way. The five children hunted for Pickles in all the usual spots. Jessie tagged along, sniffin...
‘I’m driving over to the tiger enclosure to check one of the cubs. I can take one passenger. Lulu can come with me if she’d like to.’ ‘I’m sure she’d love to,’ Mum said. She turned to Lulu. ‘Wouldn’t you, honey bun?’ Lulu nodded. ‘Yes, please.’ ‘How about you walk over with the other children and...
Some of the year six boys were having a water fight. They squirted each other with their water bottles. One of them squirted Lulu. She squealed with shock. The icy water felt lovely and cool down her back. Lulu’s mum and Molly’s mum were waiting under the shade of a tree in the playground. Mum lo...
Asha and Jessie trotted along beside them, sniffing all the smells. They came to the end of the park. ‘Spangles!’ cried a voice. ‘Spangles!’ Everyone turned around. A girl was running towards them. She had tangled black hair, a big, sloppy jumper and bare feet. Her face was streaked with tears. ‘...
Jaspar zigzagged back and forth, sniffing all the delicious smells in the gutters. Kit walked beside Rosina, chatting to her. ‘Goodness me,’ said Kit, wiping his brow, ‘whatever will you do next? I’ve only known you for half an hour and already you’ve saved a boy from cert...
Lulu was adding the final decoration to a mermaid birthday cake, and Molly was spooning chocolate crackle mixture into patty cases. ‘Do you think the mermaid needs another pearl in her hair?’ asked Lulu. On a large wooden board was the most beautiful cake Lulu had ever seen. It was a mermaid with...
Rosie and her friend Mia were already there. They stood at the barricade with Max, Daniel, Lauren and lots of the other children. The two men were piling the last of the rubbish into a wheelbarrow. One of them guided it over to their truck, which was parked just outside the school gate. They load...
Saxon led the charge up the tunnel, the candle bobbing and spluttering as he ran, hot wax flying. Their feet slipped and slid on the treacherous floor of slimy crushed insect carcasses. A few minutes later, they burst out of the tunnel into an enormous cave. A terrible stench hit them like a hot ...
‘Do you think we will have another storm?’ asked Roana nervously. ‘No, not tonight. These clouds are too high. In fact, these clouds are good,’ Fox observed optimistically. ‘They’ll hide what little moon there is and make it harder for the Sedahs to see us.’ From midafternoon, the Owl no longer s...
The members of the committee had met at the Hawthorn Town Hall to inspect the venue and meet the caterers. Audrey, Imogen and Edie had gone on to see the printer to get the invitations and posters organised. Everything was coming together well. Violet sat back, watching the shadows of the trees f...
Her new year four teacher Mr Newbold was sitting at his desk marking the roll. There was a knock at the door. Mrs Poole from the office came in. Beside her was a girl with very long, straight, dark hair. Lulu thought she looked scared. ‘Good morning, 4N,’ said Mrs Poole. ‘We have a student new to...