Magic Reindeer: A Christmas Wish Read Online Free Page A

sensation at the back of her neck as his gold snow-globe shone with power, and a sparkling gold and silver starry mist appeared.
    Something very strange was about to happen.

Chapter
FIVE
    Marie watched in total astonishment as the magical starry mist swirled around the room.
    Rumble! All the furniture disappeared and the walls stretched upwards into jagged icy peaks and a white domed ceiling. Crackle! Ice sculptures, tables and sofas carved into the shapes of swans appeared. Rustle! Mountains of gold pillows plopped on to the sofas and a shining golden carpet unrolled across the floor.
    ‘Oh!’ Marie gasped, horrified.
    ‘Do you like it? It is just like a room in Ice Mountain Castle,’ Starshine said proudly.
    ‘It’s… um…’ She searched for the right word. ‘Different?’ She didn’t think this was what Gran had in mind.
    Just then there was the sound of a car outside on the drive. Marie rushed over to the window. ‘It’s Gran and Mum! They must have forgotten something! Quick, Starshine, put everything back as it was!’
    ‘But it is so beautiful. Are you sure?’ he bleated, disappointed.
    ‘Yes! We have to do it now!’ Marie cried in a panic.
    Time seemed to stand still. Once again Marie felt a prickling sensation as Starshine’s snow-globe worked its instant magic. In a flash of bright gold and silver stars, everything in the room shrank in size and the golden carpet folded itself up around them. With a swishing sound it tightened like a drawstring bag. Flash! It disappeared, returning the icy room to normal.
    Marie breathed a sigh of relief. It was only just in time. ‘Hi, Mum!’ she said brightly, as Mrs Zaleski popped her head round the door.
    ‘Hi, love. Silly me! I forgot my handbag –’ Her mum broke off in surprise. ‘Wherever did that great big reindeer come from?’
    ‘What reind–’ Marie’s eyes widened as she realized that Starshine was still his full size and must have forgotten to be invisible. She whirled round to him. ‘Oh, that reindeer. It’s… er, a prop for the school play,’ she improvised, giving Starshine a pleading look. Luckily, he caught on quickly and didn’t blink or move a single muscle.

    ‘It’s much lighter to carry than it looks,’ Marie went on. ‘I said I’d… um, bring it home to… to spruce up the gold paint on its antlers. I’m taking it back with me tomorrow. I forgot to tell you.’
    Her mum nodded. ‘Good for you! It’s great that you’re starting to get more involved in school.’ She grabbed her bag from the table and went back out. ‘See you later!’
    Marie waited until she heard the front door bang and the car drive away. ‘Phew! That was too close!’
    Starshine hung his head and looked up at her with huge sad brown eyes. ‘My magic went wrong again,’ he snorted regretfully. ‘And you could have been in terrible trouble. I am a very bad reindeer.’
    Marie’s heart melted. She put her arms round his neck and pressed her face to his fluffy warmth. ‘You’re a good reindeer. The best there ever was and I love having you for my friend!’ she said firmly. ‘You only want to make people happy.’
    Starshine pricked his ears and nodded. ‘That is true. The purpose of a White Crystal Reindeer is to deliver gifts and bring happiness.’
    ‘And that’s a really lovely thing to do. But you’re not used to how things work here yet. So maybe you could check with me first next time, before you do any magic?’ she suggested tactfully.
    As she stepped back, she saw that Starshine’s face was aglow and every trace of unhappiness had faded from his eyes. ‘You are so clever, Marie. That is exactly what I will do!’ he promised.
    *
    ‘Right, class! We’ll be choosing the lead parts for the school musical this morning! It’s called A Christmas Wish ,’ Mr Carpenter announced the following day in the school hall.
    ‘Yay! I’ve been waiting for this!’ Shannon bounced up and down in her seat so that her shiny brown hair