Kirabo Read Free Page A

perfect,” he said.
    The villagers all gave a loud cheer. A bucket full of milk was handed to Cedric, which he drank in one big gulp.
    Suddenly the air was filled with a thunderous noise as the Rhinosophants ran past the village on their way to the lake. Some bumped into the stone wall as they ran past but it stayed strong. There was more cheering and more drinks were passed around. Bridget jumped into the circle that the villagers had made around Cedric and began to dance and sing a song. Soon everyone was dancing and singing. Even Wilbur, who was sitting on Cedric’s shoulder, joined in.
    “I’m glad you made some nice friends,” Kirabo said as she climbed up onto Cedric’s knee. “But I’m afraid it’s time for us to go.”
    Cedric gave Kirabo a sad smile. “Will you find some friends so you don’t have to be on your own?” the giant asked.
    “I hope that she’ll be my friend,” Brady said, climbing onto Cedric’s other knee.
    Kirabo smiled. “I’d like that,” she said.

    Kirabo and Brady climbed all the way up the mountain and back inside the cave where they had first found Cedric. It seemed to have shrunk, for they both had to get onto their hands and knees and crawl through the entrance. At once Brady found himself back in the attic. Kirabo followed him out of the cardboard box. She was holding her toy dog Togo close to her chest with one arm.
    No sooner had they climbed out of the box than the door to the attic opened.
    “There you two are,” Sally, Brady’s mum said. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you two. Breakfast is ready.”

    She looked at the two of them suspiciously. “What have you being doing?”
    “We’ve been playing,” Kirabo said smiling.
    Sally let out a sigh of relief. It was the first time Kirabo had smiled since she had come to live with them.
    “We like playing together, don’t we?” Kirabo asked, giving Brady a wink.

The Dragon Dance
    Kirabo sat on her bed cuddling her toy dog Togo. She felt very sad. That morning had been her first day at her new school. She had been so excited as she and Brady had walked to school, but then, just outside the school gates they had met Neville and Nora, the school bullies.
    “Look it’s Brady Baby,” Neville had shouted.
    His sister Nora joined in too, “Brady Baby, Brady Baby. Who’s this, Brady Baby?” she’d asked, giving Kirabo a nasty look.
    “She’s my friend, leave her alone,” Brady said. He tried to walk past Nora and Neville but they pushed him to the ground.

    Kirabo felt as if she wanted to cry, but she didn’t.
    Nora saw the new pencil case Brady’s mum had bought for Kirabo.
    “I’ll have that,” Nora said, grabbing the pencil case from Kirabo’s hand.
    “That’s mine,” Kirabo said quietly.
    “Not any more, new girl,” Nora said, laughing. With that, she pushed Kirabo over as well.
    The school bell rang and Neville and Nora ran off laughing.
    There was a knock on Kirabo’s door.
    “Come in.”
    Brady opened the door. “Hello,” he said, smiling.
    Kirabo gave a little smile but she felt too sad to talk.
    “Let’s go up to the attic and play,” Brady suggested.
    “I don’t feel like playing today,” Kirabo said.
    “I’m sure it will cheer you up and then we can think about what we should do about Neville and Nora.”
    Even their names made Kirabo feel frightened and sad.
    “Come on,” Brady encouraged.
    Kirabo got up and followed Brady up the stairs to the attic. Kirabo smiled, she liked playing in the attic, it felt special and safe.
    Brady began putting lots of cardboard boxes together.
    “That looks like a castle,” Kirabo said excitedly. “Shall I wear my princess dress?”
    Brady didn’t like the sound of playing princesses, but then he saw a toy sword and shield in the toy box. “Okay,” he said, “and I’ll be a brave knight.”
    Together they climbed inside the cardboard castle.
    “Come quickly, Princess Kirabo,” a tall man said, taking hold of Kirabo’s arm.