Lulu Bell and the Birthday Unicorn (2 page)

Outside, it was a warm, sunny day and the sky was a deep blue. A soft breeze from the east brought the tang of salt. Lulu could hear the low rumble of the nearby ocean. The vet hospital was just up the hill from busy Shelly Beach. The beach would be crowded with swimmers and surfers on such a glorious day.

Dr Bell hitched up a high-sided trailer behind his station wagon and they
set off. Of course, Jessie and Asha could never miss out on a car ride. The two dogs sat in the very back, smiling happily.

It was only a ten-minute drive to the Parkway, where the runaway pony had been seen. Lulu and Molly caught glimpses of the city and the blue of the harbour in the distance. Soon the
view was swallowed up by thick green bushland.

On the long straight Parkway, Dr Bell drove slowly and carefully. He glanced through the gum trees on either side.

‘Keep a really good look out,' he told the girls. ‘The pony may have run into the bush. At least it will be safer there.'

But the runaway had not sought the shelter of the bush.

‘Look, Dad,' yelled Lulu. She pointed her finger straight ahead.

A pure white pony was galloping down the centre of the road, its tail and mane flying.

The car in front braked suddenly and its tyres screeched. It swerved to the side of the road. The driver honked the horn and frightened the runaway pony even more.

Dr Bell turned on the station wagon's hazard lights. He stopped the car and trailer so they blocked most of the road.

‘That should stop any other cars coming near me or the pony!' he said. ‘Now, I want you girls to stay in the car until I tell you it's safe to come out.'

Dr Bell took the bucket, halter and lead and stepped calmly and carefully into the middle of the road. He held out his hand towards the pony. Lulu and Molly watched through the open window.

The pony reared and tossed its head. It began to gallop again, heading straight towards Dr Bell. Its hooves thundered on the bitumen.

‘Oh,' gasped Molly. She clutched Lulu's arm. ‘Your dad's going to be run over.'

‘Shhhh,' whispered Lulu. ‘Dad knows what he's doing.'

‘Come on, boy,' called Dr Bell gently. ‘There's a good boy. Come on.'

Dr Bell stepped slowly towards the rushing pony. Its ears flicked back and forth.

‘That's a good boy,' repeated Dr Bell. ‘Come and have some feed.'

The pony reared and bucked, then skittered to a stop. Its sides heaved. Its neck was slick with sweat and its mane was matted with twigs and leaves. The pony paused and sniffed. Then with a huge
hurrumph
, it stepped forward and slid its head under Dr Bell's arm.

‘Gooooood boy.'

Dr Bell stroked the pony's nose. He slid the lead around the pony's neck. Then he softly fastened the halter around
the pony's head.

‘Come over slowly, girls,' suggested Dr Bell. ‘He's still very skittery.'

Lulu and Molly climbed out of the car, leaving the dogs safely shut in the back.

‘Isn't he gorgeous?' murmured Lulu.

She ran her fingers through the pony's tangled forelock. The pony was completely white, except for his dainty black hooves. His liquid brown eyes were
framed with long lashes. Lulu breathed in his warm scent of hay and horse and sweat.

‘I wonder who he belongs to? They must be really worried about him,' Lulu said.

She held the bucket while the pony dipped his head in. He sniffed, blew and lipped some grain.

‘What are we going to do with him?' asked Molly.

Dr Bell checked the pony for injury. He ran his hands expertly down the pony's flanks and fetlocks.

‘We'll take him back with us,' he replied. ‘He can stay in the back garden for now. I'll phone the police and they should find his family quite quickly.'

‘But Dad,' objected Lulu, ‘what about Rosie's birthday party?'

Dr Bell stood up and grinned at the girls.

‘Oh, he'll be no trouble,' he said. ‘Rosie will love having a pony in the backyard for her party.'

By this time the Parkway was filled with stopped cars. The people closest waved and cheered as Dr Bell loaded the pony onto the trailer. The girls clambered back into the car. Jessie and Asha were overjoyed to see them again. They took turns to lick the two girls on the fingers.

‘What do you think, Jess?' Lulu asked the large brown dog. ‘A pony for the party?'

‘Woof,'
replied Jess with a smile. Asha barked in agreement.

‘What if your dad can't find the owner?' asked Molly.

A grin of pure joy spread across Lulu's face. ‘Then we'll have to keep him. Won't we, Dad?' she begged. ‘I could ride him to school!'

‘Now, don't get too excited, Lulu,' warned Dad. ‘That pony looks very well cared for to me. Someone will be searching for him.'

Lulu pulled the corners of her mouth down and pouted her lips to make an extra-sad face.

‘Fingers crossed,' she whispered to Molly.

Dr Bell turned the car and headed for home.

Back at the vet hospital, Dr Bell unloaded the pony from the trailer. He led him through the side gate and into the back garden. Lulu, Molly and the two dogs followed close behind.

Mum was tying bunches of green and purple balloons to the frangipani tree. Gus was chasing a flyaway balloon around the lawn. He was making a shrieking noise, like an overheated helicopter.
Jessie bounded over and joined in the game, barking madly.

‘Good, you found the pony,' said Mum. ‘Is he all right?'

Dr Bell locked the gate, then undid the pony's lead.

‘Yes,' he replied. ‘Just frightened. Gussie, you might want to quieten down a little. We don't want to alarm the pony all over again.'

‘I not Gussie, I Bug Boy,' replied Gus as he zoomed past.

Lulu crossed her arms and frowned.

‘Gus,' she said, ‘you'll scare the pony.'

Mum smiled at Gus. ‘Come inside, honey bun,' she coaxed. ‘You can help the girls make the lolly bags. I'm going to decorate the front hall. And Lulu – you and Molly should get dressed. All the guests will be here in an hour.'

Dad reached up into the branches. He secured a coloured streamer that had come loose.

‘I have to get back to work,' he said. ‘Lots of patients will be waiting for me. Plus, I need to phone the police so they can track down the owner of this pony.'

He started walking towards the house, then turned and smiled.

‘I'll come back and join the party later on,' he promised. ‘You don't expect me to dress up as a merman, do you?'

Lulu grinned at the thought of her tall, gangly dad dressed as a merman.

‘Of course I do,' joked Mum.

‘Rosie and I have made you a perfect outfit. You will be King Neptune, Lord of the Sea.'

‘Hmph,'
grumbled Dr Bell. He pulled a silly face. ‘Did I mention that I have lots of animals to see? I may not be back before dinner time.'

Everyone laughed.

Lulu, Molly and Mum headed into
the house. Rosie was sitting at the kitchen table. She was drawing pictures of mermaids on brown paper bags. Her tongue poked out of her mouth as she concentrated. Mints, chocolate frogs, jelly babies and snakes were on the table, waiting to be packed.

Pickles the cat was watching from the armchair, her tail curled around her like a comma.

‘Look at you, Rosie,' said Molly. She gave her a hug. You look fantastic.'

Rosie was now dressed as a mermaid princess. Her mum had made the costume – a shiny purple bikini top and a sparkly green tail. Her brown hair was topped with a silver diamante tiara and her arms were laden with silver bangles.

‘Thanks, Molly,' replied Rosie, with a big smile. ‘I'm still doing the lolly bags.'

Lulu sighed and crossed her arms impatiently.

‘Rosie, you should have finished the drawings by now. It's time to pack the lolly bags.'

Rosie looked at the small pile of finished drawings. She had decorated each one with mermaids, fish, shells, underwater creatures and coral. There were still six to do.

Rosie's brow wrinkled and her
mouth turned down. ‘They're taking a long time,' she agreed.

Lulu picked up one of the drawings.

‘Well, they
are
really pretty,' she said. ‘Don't worry. Molly and I will get dressed and then we'll help you. Three of us will get it done much faster.'

Lulu checked on the morning's cooking. The beautiful mermaid cake was on the bench. The square brownie tin was cooling on a high shelf, out of Gus's reach. Lulu opened the fridge and shook one of the jellies.

‘We still have to decorate the jelly cups with green snakes,' she said.

‘And set up the games,' added Molly. ‘But there's plenty of time.'

Lulu thought hard.
What party games would make Rosie's party
really
special?