Lulu Bell and the Pyjama Party Read Free Page B

beautiful mother.’
    Kyra took Maisie’s lead and headed towards the door. Maisie waddled slowly, huffing and panting. Lauren’s brother Justin followed.
    â€˜Come on, Lauren,’ her mum said. ‘Time to take Maisie home.’
    Lulu looked wistful. ‘I wish we could be there when they are born,’ she toldLauren. ‘You’re going to have such an amazing night.’

    Lauren’s face glowed with excitement. ‘It’s going to be the best night ever.’

Chapter 6
The Pyjama Party
    Lulu and Molly went home for lunch. Mum had made a big platter of sandwiches. Rosie, Sam and Gus had built a huge castle out of blocks in the middle of the kitchen floor.
    Rosie jumped up from her chair as soon as she had finished eating. ‘Is it time for the pyjama party to start?’
    Lulu wrinkled her nose. ‘We’ve only just had lunch!’
    â€˜Yes, but I can’t bear to wait any more,’ complained Rosie. ‘You and Molly have been ages.’
    Mum laughed. ‘Why not? Why don’t you set up all the beds now? Then you can get into your pyjamas and play some games.’
    Rosie giggled with delight. Everyone set to work in the lounge room.
    They pulled out mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags. Rosie carried in the dog beds. Molly put Ebony’s basket near the fireplace. Almost the whole floor was covered. It was like camping.
    Gus carried out all his soft toys – bears, puppies, bunnies, lambs and a huge green crocodile. He piled them up on his mattress until there was no room on the bed for Gus. Sam’s bed was the opposite – perfectly neat and tidy.
    The children took it in turns to have baths and change into their nightwear. Mum got into the spirit too. She changed into her nightie and slippers, even though it was the middle of the afternoon.
    Lulu wore her favourite shortie PJs with her floppy-eared bunny slippers. Rosie wore a long white nightdress that nearly reached her ankles.She had a circlet of orange roses on her hair. Molly and Sam had matching stripy flannelettes.

    Gus came bounding out of his room. He had changed out of his bug boy costume into his all-in-one tiger suit. He even had black texta stripes drawn on his cheeks.
    Lulu put her hand on her hip. ‘Gus, what have you done to your face?’
    â€˜Grrrr,’ growled Gus. ‘Gussie got tiger whiskers.’
    Lulu and Molly laughed.

    â€˜That texta won’t wash off for days, honey bun,’ said Mum,with a sigh. ‘Looks like we’ll have a tiger on our hands for a while.’
    Then all the kids lay on the kitchen floor to play board games.
    Ebony the kitten loved playing too. She dived on the board, scattering cards everywhere. She pounced on the pieces and whacked them across the floor.
    â€˜Ebony,’ cried Rosie. ‘She’s mucked up my cards again .’
    â€˜Naughty Ebby,’ said Gus. He jumped up and curled his fingers like claws. He roared at her like a tiger.
    Ebony ignored him. She stole Lulu’s playing piece and shot it under the sideboard with a sneaky sideswipe.
    Molly jumped up and caught the cheeky black kitten. She kissed the top of her furry head.
    â€˜It’s a shame Ebony’s so small,’ saidMolly. ‘She’d make a great soccer player.’
    â€˜I think we’d better lock Ebony in our room,’ said Lulu with a sigh. ‘Otherwise we’ll never finish our game.’
    When the vet hospital closed, Dad came home. He carried a pale-blue bundle and a baby’s bottle full of milk.
    â€˜I have a very important job for you girls,’ said Dad. ‘We have an orphan joey to feed.’
    â€˜Poor Mika,’ said Lulu. ‘I hope she drinks the milk this time.’
    â€˜Everyone needs to be very quiet and calm,’ warned Dad. He looked at Gus and Rosie. ‘Understand?’
    The kids all nodded. Rosie put the dogs outside so they wouldn’t frighten the wallaby.
    Molly sat