Lulu Bell and the Pyjama Party Read Online Free

on the couch and Dad placed the joey on her lap. Mika wascurled up inside her flannelette pillowcase, so she felt safe and warm.

    Dad showed Lulu how to cover the joey’s eyes so she wouldn’t get frightened. Lulu sat beside Mika and fed her special milk from the bottle. This time the joey was hungry. She butted her head against Lulu’s hand as she sucked on the teat.
    â€˜She’s drinking,’ whispered Lulu. ‘She’s going to be all right.’
    Sam, Rosie and Gus sat on the floor and watched. When the bottle was empty, Mika did a somersault and disappeared inside her pillowcase. Only her tail poked out.
    â€˜That will keep her going for a few hours,’ said Dad. ‘I’ll get up and feed her during the night.’
    Dad hung Mika’s pouch from a doorknob in Mum’s art studio where she would be safe.
    â€˜Mika certainly was hungry,’ said Lulu. She held up the empty bottle.
    â€˜Tiger hungry too,’ declared Gus.
    Mum laughed. ‘I have just the right food for hungry tigers,’ she said.
    For afternoon tea, Mum made a special picnic with teensy, tiny cupcakes. There was a little teapot filled with apple juice and toy teacups. They had the picnic out in the garden, on a rug under the frangipani tree.

    Most of the animals joined in too. There was Flopsy the bunny, the four fluffy ducklings, Ebony, Pickles and the two dogs. Rosie tried to make Pepper the cat join in but she stalked off in disgust.
    As night fell, they played hide and seek in the dark with a torch. Asha and Jessie had to stay in the kitchen or they would sniff everyone out in seconds.
    Gus found the best hiding spots but he could never wait to be found. He’d jump out way too soon, shouting, ‘Here I am.’
    Sam was good at hiding because he was quiet and patient. In the last game, Lulu, Molly and Rosie searched high and low for him for ages.
    Molly finally found him wedged in the tiny space under the sofa. Ebony had given her a clue. The kitten kept dartingback and forth under the sofa, patting Sam’s glasses.
    â€˜There you are,’ cried Molly. ‘I thought we’d never find you.’
    â€˜I think Sam was the very best at hiding,’ said Lulu.
    Sam smiled a big grin. ‘I like playing hide and seek here. There are so many secret spots.’

Chapter 7
Bed Time
    Dad lit a fire in the fireplace and everyone sat around it. The kids were cross-legged on the mattresses on the floor. Dad had grilled meat patties on the barbecue to make burgers. They ate around the fire, as if they really were camping. Asha loved lying as close to the heat as she could get.
    Dad told corny jokes.
    â€˜Why can’t the elephant use a computer?’ asked Dad.
    â€˜ Ellypant’s got no hands,’ said Gus.
    â€˜No, because he’s scared of the mouse,’ said Dad.
    â€˜Ooooh,’ groaned Mum and Lulu together.
    Afterwards, they toasted marshmallows on long sticks over the flames. Dad looked after the fire. Sam and Gus toasted two marshmallows at a time until they were soft and gooey.

    â€˜Dulishus,’ said Gus. He had pink and white streaks all over his face.
    Molly wriggled back against the sofa. ‘This is so much fun,’ she said.
    Sam yawned. Soon Rosie and Gus were yawning too. Dad put the fireguard over the fireplace. The flames had died away so there was just a pile of gently glowing coals. Asha turned around on her bed three times. She flopped down, her head on her paws.
    Ebony chased her tail around and around until she fell over.
    â€˜I think it’s time to clean your teeth. Then we can tuck you all into your sleeping bags,’ said Mum. ‘You’ve had a big day.’
    Lulu felt disappointed. It couldn’t possibly be bedtime yet. There was still so much fun to be had.
    â€˜I’m not tired,’ complained Lulu. ‘I can stay up for hours yet.’
    â€˜Me too,’ said Rosie. She rubbed her eyes. Her circlet