Angela Nicely Read Free Page B

change. It would serve her right for playing that sneaky chocolate trick.
    “Aren’t you hot, Tiffany?” Angela asked, going over.
    “I don’t mind,” said Tiffany.
    Angela heaved a sigh. “I bet the sea’s lovely and cool.”
    Tiffany shook her head. “We’re not allowed. Melanie said we have to stay on the beach.”
    “We will,” said Angela, setting off towards the sea. “It’s all the beach.”
    Tiffany glanced back at the others. It was very hot and the photos were taking ages. Besides, she was only going to take a look.
    Down at the water, Angela started to take off her sandals.
    “ANGELA! YOU CAN’T!” cried Tiffany.
    “It’s okay. I’m only going for a paddle,” said Angela.
    Tiffany watched enviously as Angela waded into the water.
    “Come on! It’s lovely!” she called.

    “But what about my dress?” wailed Tiffany.
    “Hold it up!” said Angela.
    Tiffany hung back. But the water did look tempting. And if anyone saw them she’d blame it on Angela. She took off her shoes and socks and hitched up her dress.
    Angela waded out a little deeper and looked back. Tiffany was dipping her toes daintily in the shallows. She’d never get wet like that.
    “COME ON!” cried Angela. “It’s not deep. Look!” She kicked her foot. Oops! Her dungarees had got a tiny bit wet. She’d better be careful…
    KERSPLOSH!
    Suddenly a giant wave swept right over her.

    “UGH! OHHHHHH!” cried Angela, gasping for breath.
    “OH, ANGELA!” Tiffany bent over, helpless with laughter.
    But Angela didn’t see the funny side. She splodged out of the sea and stood on the sand, dripping like an ice-cream cone. This wasn’t supposed to happen! It was Tiffany who was meant to get wet!
    Just then their mums came hurrying down the beach with Melanie.
    “Tiffany! Darling! Are you all right?” panted Mrs Charmers.
    “I’m fine,” said Tiffany. “It’s Angela!”
    “ANGELA!” groaned Mrs Nicely.
    “It wasn’t my fault,” cried Angela. “I only went for a paddle, but a big wave splooshed me!”

    Mrs Nicely turned to Melanie. “I am so sorry,” she said.
    Melanie shook her head. “Never mind, it can’t be helped. But she can’t be in the photos like that.”
    Angela’s face fell. It had all turned out wrong. Now only Tiffany’s picture would be in the catalogue.
    “Isn’t there anything else she could wear?” asked Mrs Nicely.
    Melanie frowned. “There’s the mermaid costume,” she said.
    “MERMAID COSTUME?” gasped Angela.

    Ten minutes later Angela had changed into her new outfit. The photographer lined up the other models with Tiffany on the end. Then she got them to hold Angela. She was wearing a silver tail and a huge grin.
    “Right then,” said the photographer. “Everyone shout ‘ICE CREAM!’”
    “ICE CREAM!” they yelled.
    CLICK!
    Angela thought it was the best photo of them all – in fact, it ended up on the cover of Poppets’ catalogue!
    Tiffany was furious. But as Angela said to her, “We can’t all be supermodels!”



Chapter 1
    “ARRGHH! URRRRRGH!”
    Angela hurried upstairs. Strange noises were coming from her parents’ bedroom. It sounded like her mum was having a tooth out.
    “ANGELA! Can you come here a moment!” yelled Mrs Nicely.
    Uh oh. Surely her mum wasn’t stillcross about her painting the cat’s claws? Nervously, she poked her head round the bedroom door. Mrs Nicely was standing in front of the mirror, wrestling with her dress.
    “Did you call me?” asked Angela.
    “Yes, I can’t seem to zip up this dress,” huffed her mum.
    Was that all? Angela breathed a sigh of relief. She took hold of the zip and pulled. It didn’t move.
    “It won’t go,” she said.
    “Don’t be silly. Try harder,” said Mrs Nicely.
    Angela climbed on to the bed to get a better grip. She tugged. She heaved. She panted and pulled. Finally she flopped back on the bed, out of breath. “It’s no good, it won’t budge.”

    Mrs Nicely frowned. “It was fine last time I