Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn Read Online Free Page A

delight.
    â€˜Who’d like a unicorn ride?’ cried Lulu, flicking a plait over her shoulder. ‘Who will ride upon Stardust, the noble unicorn steed?’
    The little mermaids clamoured around Lulu. ‘Me! Me!’ they squealed.
    â€˜Princess Rosie, the birthday girl!You shall have the honour of the very first ride upon Stardust the unicorn,’ pronounced Lulu.
    She led the way into the underwater garden.
    First Rosie, then all the other mermaid friends rode around and aroundthe garden. Lulu led the pony.

    â€˜Stardust the unicorn’ behaved beautifully. He didn’t go near the unicorn cake – but he did take a bite from the pink daisy bush on his way past.
    After the rides, the girls had their faces painted by Lulu and Molly.

    Then they searched for hidden treasure and chocolate eggs in the flowerbeds. They cuddled Flopsy, the pet rabbit, played musical cushions on the tarpaulin sea and danced like mermaids. There was a pass-the-parcel and smash-the-piñata and splashing races through the bubble pool.
    Lulu laughed as she joined in. So far, the party was a success!

Chapter 10
Serena and Snowy
    Dr Bell arrived at the side gate. The girls were throwing handfuls of bubbles at each other and screaming with glee. Behind him came a woman and a girl. The girl was dressed in jodhpurs and riding boots. Her dark hair was tied back in two plaits, just like Lulu’s. The girl looked pale and red-eyed, as though she had been crying.
    â€˜Snowy!’ she shrieked. She ran andthrew her arms around the unicorn’s neck. She buried her face in his mane.

    â€˜This is Mrs Winters, and this is her daughter Serena,’ introduced Dr Bell. ‘As you might have guessed, Snowy the pony belongs to them. Mrs Winters, this is my wife Chrissie, and my daughters Lulu and Rosie. All the other mermaids are her friends.’
    Mum came over to say hello.
    â€˜I can’t thank you enough, Dr Bell,’ said Mrs Winters. ‘We’ve been so worried. Snowy was missing from his paddock this morning when Serena went to feed him. We think somebody let him out deliberately. The gate was closed last night.’
    Mum shook her head in dismay.
    â€˜Who would do such a dreadful thing?’ she said. ‘Snowy could have been killed on the road or broken a leg.’
    â€˜Poor Serena has been so upset,’ Mrs Winters whispered. ‘She’s been crying all morning. We rang the police, the fire department, the radio station – everyone we could think of. We were so relieved when the police rang to say that Dr Bell had found Snowy.’
    Lulu went over to Serena and Snowy.Serena looked up from Snowy’s neck and smiled a watery smile.
    â€˜Hi, Serena – I’m Lulu.’
    â€˜Thanks for rescuing Snowy,’ said Serena. ‘Did you make the unicorn costume?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Lulu. ‘I dressed Snowy as a unicorn to cheer Rosie up. You see, it’s her birthday and Snowy did the wickedest thing. Well, actually, it wasprobably my brother Gus’s fault, but he’s only three.’

    Lulu told Serena the whole story. Serena laughed at the thought of Snowy stealing the cake and having his whiskers covered in green icing.
    â€˜I guess it is funny,’ admitted Lulu. ‘But it wasn’t at the time.’
    â€˜Well, Snowy definitely makes a beautiful unicorn,’ said Serena. She stroked his forelock and straightened his horn. Then she looked back at Lulu. ‘You can come and visit Snowy at our place. Any time you’d like.’
    â€˜Do you mean it?’ asked Lulu. Her eyes were shining with excitement. ‘I’d love to.’
    â€˜We could go riding together,’ added Serena. ‘We have a big paddock at home that backs onto the bush trails. I go ridingnearly every afternoon after school.’
    Lulu grinned at Serena. ‘That would be awesome.’
    Mum called the girls over.
    â€˜Rosie, Lulu. Mrs Winters has