Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR The following morning, I woke early. There was a strange, scratchy feeling at the back of my throat. I opened my eyes but the morning sunshine streaming through the window looked brighter than usual and it hurt my eyes. 'Morning Isadora!' sang Mum, skipping into my bedroom in her fairy-like

way. 'Rise and shine!' I sat up in bed but everything ached and my nose felt completely stuffy. 'Atishoo!' I said. Mum glanced at me and frowned.

'Are you alright Isadora?' she said. 'You seem a little... ill.' 'I'm fine!' I said, jumping out of bed. 'Absolutely fine!' I hurried to my wardrobe and pulled out my school uniform. 'Atishoo!' I said again as I pulled it on. 'Are you sure you're OK?' asked Mum. 'You look pale. Even for you!' 'I'm fine!' I insisted. 'I don't want to miss the maths test. I've practised so hard for it!' But as I ate my

breakfast I began to feel really dreadful. My toast tasted like cardboard and I couldn't even finish eating it. 'I think you're ill!' said Mum. 'Actually ill this time! I think you've got a regular human cold. You must have picked it up at school last week.'

Now I thought about it, I could remember Zoe sniffing and sneezing a lot on Friday. 'Is there a reversing spell?' I asked hopefully. 'I'm afraid not,' said Mum. 'The only remedy for a bad cold is to have lots of rest and lots of fluid. No school for you today.' 'Oh,' I said sadly, looking down at my plate. 'I'm sorry,' said Mum. 'But there's nothing else for it. Back to the sofa you go!' I spent the morning wrapped up in my

duvet. Mum brought me drinks of hot lemon and honey and Dad brought me another glass of red juice before he went for his daily sleep. This time I tried to sip it—maybe red juice really would make me feel better! But no, I still couldn't stand the taste.