Lulu Bell and the Pyjama Party Read Free

herself.
    â€˜Oh, Jessie,’ scolded Lulu. ‘You’re not supposed to run onto the field.’
    Jessie licked Lulu’s hand to say sorry.Lulu hugged her back. She couldn’t be cross with Jessie for long.
    â€˜Never mind, Lulu,’ said Mum. ‘It was still a great game.’

Chapter 4
Mika
    After the soccer game, all the parents crowded around. Kylie listed the best moments in the game, and praised all the kids. Lauren won the Player of the Match trophy. She would keep it for the week. Lauren’s parents and her little brother Justin beamed proudly.
    Then it was time to go home.
    At home, Gus and Sam played superheroes. Gus zoomed around thegarden, pretending he could fly. His cloak swirled behind him. Sam followed him, wearing a tablecloth tied over his shoulders. Jessie chased them in circles, her ears flapping like wings.

    Mum helped Rosie to sort through the dress-up box. Rosie oohed and aahed over ball gowns, pirate swords and witches hats. Ebony pounced on a scrap of white lace, tumbling and rolling.
    â€˜Molly, would you like to come next door and help Dad for a while?’ asked Lulu.
    Lulu and her family lived in the rambling old house behind the Shelly Beach vet hospital. Saturdays were always busy, with lots of animal patients to see. Lulu loved to help out.
    â€˜Yes, please,’ said Molly. ‘There’s always so much going on there.’
    Lulu pushed open the thick green door that separated the Bells’ home from the vet hospital in front. Immediately she could smell the tangy odour of antiseptic and animals.
    In the very front of the vet hospital was the waiting room. It was crowded with people and pets. There were cats and bunnies in carry cages, and dogs on leads.
    Kylie was sitting at the desk talkingto a client. She had changed out of her soccer coach outfit. Now she wore her crisp blue vet nurse’s uniform.
    The client had a funny-shaped bundle in her arms. It was wrapped in a white towel. The woman carefully passed the bundle to Kylie. Lulu wondered what animal could be hidden inside.
    Kylie waved to Lulu and Molly.
    â€˜Come and take a peek, girls,’ Kylie said. ‘Look what Mrs Russell rescued up on the Parkway.’
    Lulu and Molly came closer. Kylie peeled back the towel to reveal a furry grey creature curled up in a ball. A long thin ear flicked back and forth.

    â€˜It’s a wallaby joey,’ said Kylie in a low voice. ‘She’s an orphan. Her mother was hit by a car. Mrs Russell found the joey safe in her mother’s pouch.’
    â€˜Oh,’ said Lulu, feeling sad. ‘The poor baby.’
    â€˜Is she all right?’ asked Molly.
    The joey wriggled. Kylie covered her up again in the towel.
    â€˜Dr Bell will check her over, but she seems fine,’ said Kylie.
    Kylie turned to Mrs Russell. ‘We’ll look after her. Thanks for bringing her in.’
    Mrs Russell said goodbye and left. A client came out of the consulting room with her huge Great Dane. She came to the counter to pay. The Great Dane was limping and his back leg was shaved. Dad had operated on his leg last week and the dog was finally going home.
    Lulu patted him. ‘Glad you’re walking better, Sultan,’ she said.
    Kylie smiled at Sultan’s owner. ‘I’ll be right back. I just need to pop this wallaby joey away safely.’

    Kylie beckoned to Lulu and Molly to follow.
    â€˜Lulu, can you please ask your dad if he could quickly check the joey in the hospital ward? Then I’ll send the next patient in,’ said Kylie.
    Dr Bell came at once to see the wallaby. Slowly and carefully, he lifted the joey out of the towel and put her on the table. Lulu and Molly stood beside him. The joey kicked and struggled. Dad gently put his hand over her eyes and she settled. He checked her all over.
    â€˜She’s had a nasty shock,’ Dad said. ‘She’s dehydrated. But she’s quite big and not injured. If we