Lulu Bell and the Pyjama Party Read Online Free Page A

of roses slipped sideways.
    â€˜Time for bed, girls,’ said Mum with a smile.
    She took the circlet off Rosie’s head and put it on the sideboard.
    â€˜Can you read us a story first, please, Mum?’ begged Rosie. ‘Can you read us the one about Fergus the frog?’
    â€˜All right, honey bun,’ said Mum. ‘Teeth first, then meet back here for a story and a kiss.’
    All the kids raced off to the bathroom. Mum read them all a story and then another one and another one.

    â€˜Just one more,’ begged Rosie, as Mum finished the last page. ‘Pleeease Mum, best-mum-in-the-world?’
    Mum laughed. ‘Oh Rosie, you are incorrigible.’
    â€˜Incorra-what?’ asked Rosie.
    â€˜Incorrigible,’ replied Mum, stroking back Rosie’s hair. ‘Very, very cheeky and naughty.’
    Mum kissed them all. Sam looked around at everyone with big eyes. He took his glasses off. Mum put them safely up on the mantelpiece.
    â€˜Are you all right, Sam?’ asked Mum.
    Sam nodded, so Mum turned out the light and crept out.
    There was silence for a moment. Lulu could hear the comforting sound of Mum and Dad talking in the kitchen through the open door.
    â€˜Goodnight, everyone,’ whispered Lulu.
    â€˜Goodnight, Lulu,’ chorused Molly, Rosie and Gus.
    Lulu thought she heard a sniffling, snuffling sound coming from Sam’s bed. She sat up.
    â€˜Sam, would you like me to tell you a story?’ asked Lulu.
    There was a stifled sob and a hiccup. ‘Yes, please, Lulu,’ said Sam.
    So Lulu whispered a story in the darkness. A story of dragons and a brave warrior princess who set off on a quest to save her tiger brother from the clutches of an evil witch.
    Lulu finished the story. She thought everyone was asleep but she heard a funny little sound. She looked around in the soft glowing light from the fireplace,wondering what it was. Finally she saw Ebony curled up next to Sam, purring loudly. Lulu smiled and closed her eyes.

Chapter 8
Night Adventure
    Lulu woke up to the sound of the phone ringing in the kitchen. It was pitch-dark. Who could be ringing this late? wondered Lulu. It must be an animal emergency.
    After hours, the vet hospital phone rang through to the kitchen. It was just in case someone urgently needed help.
    Lulu heard Dad’s voice answer the phone.
    â€˜Hello, Shelly Beach Vet Hospital. Dr Bell speaking,’ said Dad.
    There was a pause while Dad listened to the caller. ‘I see,’ said Dad. ‘And is Maisie distressed?’
    There was another pause. ‘I think you had better bring her straight in. She may need a caesarean. I’ll meet you at the vet hospital. See you soon.’
    Dad tiptoed through the lounge room.
    â€˜Dad?’ whispered Lulu sleepily. ‘Is Maisie all right?’
    Dad stopped. ‘She’s having trouble delivering her puppies. I need to take a look at her. You go back to sleep.’
    Lulu tried to sleep. But now she was worried about Maisie and her puppies. At last, Lulu climbed out of her sleeping bag. She pulled on her bunny slippers and padded towards the vet hospital.
    She pushed open the green door.In the vet hospital, all the lights were burning brightly. Lulu blinked in the sudden light. The vet hospital seemed strangely quiet at night-time.

    Lulu checked each room. Dad was not in the waiting room or the consulting rooms. She heard a low murmur of voices coming from the operating theatre. Lulu peeked her head around the door.
    Dad was there, in the sterile green gown and cap that he wore during operations. He had thin plastic gloves on his hands and a surgical mask over his mouth. There were strong, warm lights shining down.
    Maisie was lying on the operating table. She was unconscious and had a breathing tube in her mouth. Her stomach had been shaved and painted with antiseptic.
    Lauren and her mum were standing by, looking anxious. Like Lulu, Lauren was wearing her