Chapter 4

Chapter FOUR Mirabelle was in the kitchen when we got back. I saw she had been making moon- and star-shaped cookies with Mum. They must have had a lovely day together. 'Oh, yum,' I said, reaching out to take one. 'Not for you,' said Mum, swiping my hand away gently. 'Not if you have a

tummy ache!' She filled a glass with fizzy water for me instead. 'Where's the dragon?' whispered Mirabelle as soon as Mum's back was turned. 'It flew away,' I whispered. 'Shh!' I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in the kitchen with Mum and Mirabelle, watching them ice the cookies

and sipping my fizzy water. I popped back up to my bedroom a couple of times to check on Pink Rabbit but he was still tiny. By breakfast time, Pink Rabbit had still not returned back to his normal size. I thought you said Zoe was dropping him off, said Mum as she put sandwiches and cakes on the table. 'She did,' said Mirabelle quickly. 'Earlier. You were upstairs with Honeyblossom. Pink Rabbit is having a nap—he's tired after his busy day.' 'Pink Rabbit seems to be having a lot of naps lately,' said Dad suspiciously. 'Yes,' agreed Mum, staring at me quizzically. 'He does...'

'DELICIOUS sandwiches, Auntie Cordelia!' said Mirabelle in a louder voice than usual. 'Really yummy.' 'Oh, thank you, Mirabelle.' said Mum, delighted. 'They're special fairy ones. They change flavour every time you take a bite.' 'I thought so,' said Mirabelle. 'Mmm! Chocolate spread and raspberry jam!' I put a sandwich on my plate and nibbled at it. I was feeling worse and worse about all the lies we had been telling to Mum and Dad. If only Pink Rabbit would return to his normal size! But then I heard something that made my blood run cold. A clanging,

crunching, gushing sound coming from upstairs. The sort of sound a dragon might make if it had been let loose in the house... What on earth is that?' said Mum. 'I have absolutely no idea!' said Dad standing up and swishing his cape around him. 'Let's go and look. Maybe it's a burglar. He picked up his glass of red juice. I shall throw this on the burglar,' he announced. 'It will surprise him. Mum picked up her wand. 'I think this

might be more useful in this situation,' she said. Mirabelle picked up her fork and held it in front of her. 'How exciting,' she said. 'I will poke the burglar with my fork!' We all ran up the stairs to the bathroom.