Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR Mum was surprised to see Nova at breakfast the next morning. 'A Glow Sprite?' she said. 'How interesting! And what do Glow Sprites eat for breakfast?' 'Oh, just anything really,' said Nova politely. Astro loops or Comet Crunchies or Star Nuggets with moon milk...'

'Ah,' said Mum. 'How about some peanut butter on toast like Isadora?' 'OK!' said Nova excitedly. Over breakfast Nova told us all about what it was like to be a Glow Sprite. 'We can whizz across the sky really fast,' she explained. 'We're supposed to stay near

Glistopia if Mum's not with us but Pluto is naughty sometimes and tries to go further. He's always whizzing off and hiding amongst the planets. He's never actually landed on one before though. 'It sounds fun!' I said. 'It is,' said Nova. 'Maybe you can come and visit my house on Glistopia one day Isadora. It's quite cold though, you'll have to wrap up warm. Glow Sprites don't really get affected by the weather. Also, there's not much gravity there. You'll float!' 'I'm not sure about that,' said Mum quickly. 'Is there oxygen?' asked Dad.

'Oh no,' said Nova cheerfully. 'Glow Sprites don't need oxygen!' 'Mmm,' I said, not wanting to hurt Nova's feelings. I was absolutely sure I never wanted to visit Glistopia. Space sounded so... BIG! I liked my cosy house with Mum and Dad on planet Earth. After breakfast, Nova and I went back upstairs to get ready for school. I couldn't wait to get there so we could ask Astrid Luna if she had spotted a star falling from the sky last night. Now that it was daylight, Nova wasn't glowing so much. 'Hopefully no one will notice that I'm

different,' said Nova as she pulled one of my hats down over her head to hide her starry antennae. 'Why?' I asked. 'It's OK to be different you know. I'm a vampire fairy, which is very different from all my human friends. You should be proud to be a Glow Sprite!' 'Oh, I am!' said Nova. 'But humans aren't really supposed to know much about us. We don't want them sending out spaceships to investigate Glistopia! I need to stay in disguise. Humans are bad and dangerous.'

'Are they?' I asked. I had always found humans to be quite friendly. 'Yes,' said Nova. 'All Glow Sprites are taught that from an early age! I'd be far too frightened to let them see me without my disguise.' When we arrived at school there was much excitement and chattering going on in the classroom. 'Astrid Luna will be here this afternoon,' said Miss Cherry. 'Sit down everyone please! Ah, this must be Nova. Isadora, your mum did inform me she'd be joining our class just for today.'