Over The Rainbow Read Free Page A

shoes are not suitable for these floors.’
    â€˜Rule number 597,’ chimed in the Ruler. ‘No human shoes.’
    From a pocket in her gown, Madame Fernyfrond produced a pair of blue slippers. ‘Put these on,’ said Madame Fernyfrond, ‘and then flutter your wings just slightly as you glide along.’
    After that, Elly found it much easier to move across the slippery corridors, although it took a while to get the hang of it. If she beat her wings even slightly too hard, she ended up sliding into the walls!
    Elly and Madame Fernyfrond passed some students on the way, who gave Elly curious looks. Elly looked back at them just as curiously. They were all dressed in knee-length deep-blue tunics that buttoned up over the shoulders, paired with rainbow-striped stockings.
    That must be the uniform here, thought Elly, relieved. All of the fairy schools she’d been to before had very traditional fairy outfits, complete with scratchy, itchy tutus. Elly hated them! At least these uniforms looked comfortable. Elly hummed to herself, feeling a little happier.
    But the Ruler interrupted her. ‘Rule number 175 – no humming.’
    Elly sighed, remembering the noise and bustle of South Street School. Even at Mossy Blossom Academy they’d been allowed to make noise at lunchtime. She and Saphie always made the biggest racket of all!
    Elly’s home was very noisy, too. Baby Kara was always making things fall over with a bang. Her mum was always crashing about in her inventing studio. And her dad liked singing duets with their musical bathtub at the top of his voice.
    Suddenly, Elly felt so homesick that it was all she could do not to burst into tears.
    Finally, Madame Fernyfrond came to a stop outside a bright blue door with a number five on it. ‘This is your dormitory,’ she said, rapping sharply on the door.
    â€˜Come in!’ called a friendly voice.
    Inside were four beds hanging from the ceiling like swings. The walls, the curtains and the rug were blue. The beds were covered in blue bedspreads. Even the light bulb was blue. Lying on one of the beds, reading a book, was a small, pretty fairy.
    â€˜Elinora, this is my grand-daughter …’ Madame Fernyfrond started to say.
    But Elly needed no introductions. She had already flown up to the bed and flung her arms around the surprised fairy.
    â€˜Saphie!’ cried Elly. ‘You have no idea how happy I am to see you!’

Chapter Four
    S aphie was equally happy to see Elly. ‘But what are you doing here?’ she asked.
    â€˜It was Grandmother’s idea,’ explained Elly.
    Saphie smiled. ‘Same here!’ she said. ‘My family came for a visit to Rainbowville, and Grandma Fernyfrond convinced them that I should attend the Rainbow Academy.’
    â€˜And you’ve already improved vastly in the short time you’ve been here,’ said Madame Fernyfrond.
    Elly felt like giggling. Saphie was the most perfect fairy she knew. She always got 100% in her spelling tests and she knew how to do all kinds of extra-tricky stunt flying. And she never forgot to recharge her wand, like Elly did. How could Saphie possibly improve?
    â€˜Thank you, Grandma,’ said Saphie politely, without looking even slightly annoyed. Saphie was perfect when it came to manners, too!
    Just then, a bell chimed.

    â€˜Ah, dinner-time!’ said Madame Fernyfrond. ‘Sapphire, please take Elinora down to the dining hall, and then help get her set up.’ Then Madame glided out the door.
    Elly grinned at Saphie. ‘It’s just like we’re back at Mossy Blossom together!’
    Saphie pulled a face. ‘More than you realise, unfortunately. There’s another student here from Mossy Blossom, as it happens.’
    â€˜Who?’ asked Elly curiously.
    â€˜Who would be the last fairy in the whole of the Fairy Realm that you would want to share a dormitory with?’
    Elly looked at Saphie in horror.