Lizzie Zipmouth Read Online Free

Great-Gran.
    I wasn’t the slightest bit bored. I had the most wonderful time ever. Great-Gran let me go on another tour round her flat. I looked at the dolls on shelves, the dolls on chairs, the dolls on the window sills, the dolls in their night-clothes ready for bed. Then I looked hopefully at Great-Gran. She looked back at me.

    â€œWhat?” she said. Her eyes were gleaming as brightly as the dolls.
    I swallowed. My voice sounded rusty when I used it.
    â€œCould I see the dolls in the trunk?” I whispered.
    â€œSpeak up!” said Great-Gran. “And remember to say please!”
    â€œPlease could I see the dolls in the trunk. Please ,” I said, so loudly that I nearly set the dolls on the shelves blinking.
    â€œCertainly,” said Great-Gran. “That’s a very good girl! Come along then. You can help me get them out.”
    She kept the trunks in the back of her built-in wardrobe. There were two, one on top of the other. I had to stand on tiptoe to reach the top one.
    â€œEasy does it,” said Great-Gran.
    I went so e-a-s-y I felt I was in slow motion. The trunk was heavy. There seemed to be several dolls inside. When Great-Gran lifted the lid I saw them lying in a row, eyes shut. They looked as if they were fast asleep.
    â€œYou can wake them up,” said Great-Gran.

    I gently lifted a beautiful big doll with long blonde hair out of the trunk.

    She had a white nightie but no slippers on her pale china feet. Her tiny toenails were painted pink. One of her hands was missing but I didn’t mind a bit.
    â€œShe’s beautiful!” I whispered, cradling her carefully.
    â€œThat’s Alice. I expect she’s a little chilly in that thin nightgown. Perhaps you’d like to find some clothes for her?” said Great-Gran.
    The second trunk was crammed with neatly folded outfits – party frocks, winter coats trimmed with fur, sailor suits, checked pinafores, lace-edged underwear, black knitted stockings and little boots with tiny pearl buttons.
    My hand hovered hopefully above the clothes.
    â€œGo on, have a little sort through. But don’t get them rumpled,” said Great-Gran.
    I sifted through the clothes with trembling fingers and found a pale blue smocked dress with a white lace collar and a darker blue satin sash.
    â€œCan she wear this one?”
    â€œI think that’s actually Alice’s favourite outfit,” said Great-Gran.
    I dressed Alice, moving her arms and legs very gently indeed. The blue sleeves were a little long for her, so her missing hand didn’t show. She looked perfect.
    Then I woke Sophie and Charlotte and little Edward and weeny Clementine and got them all dressed up.
    â€œThere! Don’t they look smart? All ready for a party,” said Great-Gran, and she opened another box. There was a little blue-and-white doll’s tea set inside.
    I thought we’d pretend the party fare but Great-Gran made real pink rosehip tea and opened a packet of tiny round iced biscuits that just fitted the plate.

    We were still enjoying our party when Sam came to fetch me home.
    â€œHave you enjoyed yourself, Lizzie?” he asked.
    I didn’t say anything. Not to Sam. But I nodded so hard my head hurt. When I kissed Great-Gran goodbye on her powdery cheek I whispered, “Please can I come again?”

Chapter Six

    I went to see Great-Gran almost every day. I always played with Alice and Sophie and Charlotte and Edward and Clementine. Sometimes we had dolls’ tea parties. Sometimes Great-Gran and I had proper ladies’ tea parties with big flowery cups and saucers and sandwiches and fairy cakes with pink icing and cherries. Great-Gran let me cut up my sandwich and cake to share with Alice and Sophie and Charlotte and Edward and Clementine.
    Once Rory and Jake came too. Rory was polite to Great-Gran but he kept yawning and when he got home he ran all round the garden like crazy, leaping and