Pop Star Princess Read Free

beds with sunshine-yellow covers, a pretty wooden dressing table, a large painted wardrobe and a cheerful patterned rug.
    â€œIsn’t this the
best
? A beach holiday
and
a talent contest. It’s
perfect
!” said Poppy. “Let’s unpack quickly. Mum said that lunch wouldbe ready soon. Then we can go to the beach and then, after that, Daisy wants us to head over for a proper rehearsal.”

    Mum and Granny Bumble produced a lovely simple picnic lunch on the table on the balcony. As they ate their lunch, they all enjoyed the breathtaking view of rocky outcrops, pale sandy beaches, aqua sea and sailing boats bobbing to and from the harbour.
    By mid-afternoon, everyone was having a heavenly time down on the main beach, which was reached along a path near The Pebbles. Angel and Archie were bothbucket-and-spade mad, even though they mostly wore the buckets on their heads as hats rather than making sandcastles. Dad was more relaxed than he had been in months and he and Mum were laughing the whole time. Poppy and Honey were splashing about in the sea, and Grandpa and Granny Bumble were chatting away happily as they relaxed in two stripy deckchairs.

    â€œRemember the Punch and Judy shows we used to watch on the beach, Joseph?”recalled Granny Bumble. “Weren’t they grand? And the colourful beach huts and ice-cream stalls. It was super. Those were the days!”
    â€œThey certainly were,” agreed Grandpa. “It’s great to be back.”
    â€œYou used to hang out on the beach with Philip Forster every summer, didn’t you?” asked Granny Bumble.
    â€œYes,” mumbled Grandpa. “In fact, I believe he’s spending the summer over here too.”
    â€œOh, how nice – I didn’t get a chance to chat to him the other day at the teashop. I was much too busy making lunch for the girls. We should have him over to supper one night,” suggested Granny Bumble.
    Granny Bumble, Grandpa and Philip Forster had all been in the same class at Smuggler’s Cove High School many years before and had been great friends.
    â€œMaybe we should,” replied Grandpa.
    â€œMaybe you should what?” asked the familiar voice of Colonel Forster as he walked up behind the two deckchairs and greeted his old friends.

Chapter Four
    â€œ AH, JOSEPH. TAKING up the lion’s share of the beach, I see!” teased the Colonel. “What brings you over to the Cove?”
    Grandpa cleared his throat. “We’ve taken a little house for the week,” he said. “That’s it behind us.”
    The Colonel almost choked on seeing the smart modern beach house. “Very good. Looks flashy,” he commented. “Can’t beat the little fisherman’s cottages, though. They’re so full of character.”
    â€œAny luck with finding the pirate ship?” Grandpa asked casually.
    â€œStill looking for the cave, old boy!” said the Colonel. “Still looking!”
    â€œYou must come over for supper this week, Philip,” said Granny Bumble. “It would be lovely to catch up.”
    â€œWell, thank you very much. That sounds splendid. I’ll check my orders with Martha and let you know if I’ve got any free evenings. I’d best be off now,” said the Colonel. “I’ve got a pirate ship to find!”
    â€œHonestly,” chuckled Granny Bumble. “I can’t believe you two are still so competitive after all these years. You’re behaving like a pair of overgrown schoolboys!”
    Later that afternoon, Poppy and Honey strolled down to Daisy’s house with Dad and the twins. Just as they passed the village shop, Poppy noticed a news-stand selling the local paper, the
Camomile Chronicle
.

    â€œHey, look, Honey. Isn’t it that girl Daisy knows? Lilac Farmer, or something?” said Poppy.
    â€œYou mean Lilac Farrington,” replied Honey. “She’s so pretty, isn’t