Lulu Bell and the Pyjama Party Read Free Page A

can get her feeding well in the first twenty-four hours, I think she’ll be all right.’
    Lulu and Molly smiled at each other.
    Dad gave the joey an injection torehydrate her. Then he wrapped her up in the towel so only her head was peeking out. She looked at Lulu with big brown eyes.
    â€˜Can we look after her, Dad?’ asked Lulu.
    Dad nodded. ‘We’ll care for her for a few months. But only until she’s old enough to go back into the wild.’
    â€˜Hurray,’ cried Lulu.
    â€˜What would you like to call her?’ asked Dad.
    Lulu thought for a moment. She looked at the beautiful grey wallaby, curled in the white towel like a ball.
    â€˜I think I’ll call her Mika,’ said Lulu. ‘Our Aboriginal friends told me it means moon.’
    Molly nodded in approval. ‘That’s very pretty.’
    â€˜Well, girls,’ said Dad with a grin, ‘time for you to get to work to make Mika comfortable.’

Chapter 5
Maisie
    With some help from Kylie, Lulu and Molly made a pouch for Mika to sleep in. It was made from an old blue flannelette pillowcase. A heat pad tucked under the pillowcase kept the joey warm.
    Kylie helped them to mix up a bottle of special milk formula. Lulu carefully offered the teat to Mika. The joey took a few sips from the bottle but she wasn’t very hungry. She hid her head inside the pillowcase.
    Lulu wrinkled her nose in dismay. ‘She doesn’t want to drink, Dad.’
    â€˜Never mind,’ said Dad. ‘She’ll take some more milk a bit later when she gets used to us.’
    Dad hung the pouch on the side of a special pen with high walls. ‘Time Mika had a little sleep,’ he said.
    Lulu and Molly set to work in the hospital ward. They made sure that all the animals had fresh water to drink.
    A while later, Kylie popped her head around the door.
    â€˜Your dad is seeing a special patient you know,’ she said. ‘Would you like to come and see?’
    â€˜Is it Maisie?’ Lulu asked, excited.
    â€˜It sure is,’ said Kylie. ‘Your dad’s checking the unborn puppies.’
    â€˜Let’s go,’ squealed Molly.

    Lulu and Molly raced to the consulting room. Lulu knocked on the door.
    â€˜Come in,’ called Dad.
    Lulu opened the door. Inside was Lauren with her mum and her brother. Lauren grinned at them.
    â€˜Hi, Dad,’ said Lulu. ‘Kylie said we could come and see Maisie.’
    Lying up on the consulting room table was a big, fat black Labrador. She was panting even though it wasn’t hot. Dad was using his stethoscope to listen to Maisie’s heartbeat.
    â€˜Maisie made a big nest in the bottom of my wardrobe this morning,’ said Lauren’s mum, Kyra. ‘She dragged in lots of clothes from the washing basket.’
    Lulu smiled at the thought of Maisie making a big puppy nest from dirtyclothes. Dad took Maisie’s temperature.
    Lauren looked at Dr Bell, her eyes shining. ‘Do you think she will have the puppies this weekend?’
    â€˜I think Maisie is in for a very busy night tonight,’ said Dr Bell. ‘By the look of her, there will be at least eight.’

    Maisie looked at Lulu with big, dark eyes. She looked very uncomfortable with her swollen tummy.
    â€˜How wonderful,’ said Lulu. ‘Can Molly and I come to visit after they are born?’
    â€˜Of course,’ said Kyra. ‘Maisie and the babies will need lots of peace and quiet for a while. But I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a little visit.’
    Dr Bell asked Kyra some questions to make sure she had everything ready for the new puppies.
    â€˜Ring me if you have any worries,’ said Dad. ‘We’ll be home all evening.’
    â€˜Thanks so much, Dr Bell,’ said Kyra. ‘We’ll let you know how she goes.’
    Dr Bell carefully lifted Maisie down from the consulting table. He stroked her head. ‘It’s my pleasure.Maisie will make a