Magic Bunny: Classroom Capers (5 page)

‘I’m going to sit in the sun for a few minutes to get warm,’ Julia said to her team-mates, shivering for effect. ‘Back in a minute.’ She walked a little way down the camping field and sat on the grass, so she could share her cheese-salad sandwich and apple with Arrow. The magic bunny nibbled a lettuce leaf as he stretched out beside her, enjoying the warmth on his fur.

‘I wonder what’s going on over there?’ Julia glanced into the next field. Another group of children had just arrived and were unloading bags and camping equipment. ‘Looks like another school’s setting up next door.’

She watched the new kids choosing their pitches. Some boys and girls came towards the dividing fence, just a few metres away from where Julia and Arrow sat.

‘Oh no!’ Julia almost choked on her sandwich as she recognized a familiar squat shape, wearing combat shorts with a big sandy stain on the seat …

It was Kelly! And Hitesh and Dean were with her.

Kelly spotted Julia and sauntered over towards the fence. She had a nasty smile on her broad face.

‘If it isn’t that snotty kid from the beach,’ she sneered, resting her arms on the fence rail. Dean and Hitesh came to stand beside her. ‘No one makes a fool of me and gets away with it. That’s a promise.’

Julia’s tummy fluttered with nerves. Kelly seemed even meaner than she remembered. And with Dean and Hitesh, the trio made a menacing sight. She gulped, not knowing what to say.

‘Who are those kids?’ Lex asked, walking up to Julia. He was flapping his damp beach towel about like a flag.

‘I met them on the beach. They tried to pinch that big shell I found,’ Julia told him quietly.

‘Oh they did, did they?’ Lex said loudly. He glared across the fence.

‘What’s it got to do with you anyway?’ Kelly jabbed a finger at him. ‘I’d stay out of it, if I were you,’ she warned.

‘You heard Kelly,’ said Dean. ‘We’re known as the Rockets at our school. You don’t wanna mess with us!’

‘So what? We’re the Wolverines,’ Lex said, unimpressed.

‘Funny, cos you look like a bunch of wimps to me!’ Kelly said. ‘You should be called the Tadpoles or something!’

Dean and Hitesh sniggered. ‘That told ’em, Kel!’ Hitesh said.

Kelly smirked. She turned her back and walked away. The two boys followed her.

Lex leaned over the fence. ‘Yeah? Well – you lot are just hot air! So you should be called the Balloons!’ he shouted after them.

Julia’s tummy still felt all fluttery. She was grateful to Lex for sticking up for her, but she wasn’t convinced that joining in the name-calling had been a good idea.

‘That Kelly girl seems like the type to hold a grudge,’ she whispered to Arrow, while Lex went to hang up his towel to dry.

The bunny nodded, his whiskers twitching worriedly. ‘I think so too.’

Julia hoped she was wrong, but she had a horrible feeling that Lex had just made things ten times worse.

Chapter
SIX

‘What’s the difference between an elephant and a biscuit?’ Julia asked, the following evening after supper. Everyone was gathered in the common room.

‘Go on then,’ Lex rolled his eyes. ‘What’s the difference between an elephant and a biscuit?’

‘You can’t dunk an elephant in your tea!’ Julia said triumphantly.

‘That’s a terrible joke!’ Ellie groaned, but she laughed.

Lex and the other Wolverines joined in.

Arrow was in Julia’s bag. One of his little silver-blue ears swivelled sideways with puzzlement.

‘What is an elephant?’

‘It’s a really big animal with a long nose, called a trunk,’ Julia answered in a whisper.

‘I do not understand why that is funny.’

‘It’s not. Elephants are amazing. It’s the elephant
joke
that’s funny!’ Julia reassured him. Her team-mates were a bit close to risk a long explanation. She bit back a smile as she wondered whether Arrow and the other magic rabbits told each other silly jokes.

It had been a fun day with all the teams learning more about farm work. They had stood by while the farmer whistled instructions to his three black-and-white border collies as they rounded up the sheep. Even Ellie hadn’t complained when they’d had to walk across the muddy fields to watch. Afterwards they had watched a video about lambing and then had a quiz, which the Bears had won.

‘Those sheep dogs were brilliant earlier, weren’t they?’ Julia said softly to Arrow.

‘Yes,’ he agreed, but then gave a tiny shudder. ‘But I would not want to get too close to them.’

‘No, of course not.’ Julia slipped her hand into her bag to stroke him reassuringly. Her cute friend was so little and the collies must have seemed very large and scary to him. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe.’

‘Thank you. You are a good friend.’ Arrow rubbed his velvety cheek against her fingers.

The Cougars and the Bears started a table-tennis match on the other side of the common room, and the rest of the Wolverines went to watch. As the ball pinged back and forth, Julia found her thoughts turning to Kelly, Dean and Hitesh. Despite her worries nothing else had happened. The previous night had passed without incident and the neighbouring field had been empty all that day, as the older school kids had gone on a day trip.

Then Julia heard voices and laughter in the yard. The other school were back from their trip. She tensed, and hoped she could avoid coming face to face with the tough girl and her mates.

But Kelly, Hitesh and Dean did not appear when some of the older kids came into the common room. Julia felt herself relaxing.

‘Maybe we’re worrying about nothing,’ she whispered to Arrow.

He nodded. ‘I hope so.’

Julia moved away from the table-tennis game and went over to the small old-fashioned TV, which was showing a wildlife programme about meerkats. She found an empty chair and sat with Arrow on her lap. It had been a long day and she soon felt her eyelids drooping as the programme ended.

‘All right everyone. Time to turn in,’ Mr Potter said. ‘Don’t forget, Wolverines, you’re doing the cooking tomorrow. So you have an extra early start.’

‘OK, sir.’ Julia stifled a yawn as she rose to her feet.

Later, as Julia snuggled up with Arrow in her cosy sleeping bag, a feeling of contentment crept over her. It really felt like everyone was part of a team now, especially as Lex and Ellie seemed to be trying to get on a bit better. She couldn’t wait to find out what the teachers had planned for them tomorrow.

Julia was in the middle of a lovely dream about visiting Moonglow Meadow and meeting all of Arrow’s magical rabbit friends, when she woke abruptly. She sat upright, staring into the semi-darkness. Her ears strained to make out the faint rustling sounds that had broken into her dream.

Beside her, Arrow stirred and stretched his back legs.

‘Did you hear that? There’s something outside,’ Julia whispered, her heart pounding.

Her magic bunny stiffened. ‘My enemies have found me!’

Before Julia could stop him, Arrow had scrabbled out of the sleeping bag and leapt for the half-unzipped porch door. But the zip held and Arrow’s fluffy little body got stuck halfway through.

As her tiny friend wriggled and squirmed in panic, Julia heard a familiar nasal voice.

‘Cut the guy ropes, so the tent collapses on those dumb kids!’ Kelly ordered.

There were muffled titters.

‘Yeah! That’ll teach them to call us names!’ said a boy’s voice.

Arrow was still struggling to escape. He seemed terrified. Squirming out of her sleeping bag, Julia leaned forward and gently grasped Arrow round his furry middle.

‘Arrow! Wait!’ she whispered urgently. ‘It’s not dark rabbits out there. Listen. It’s those mean kids!’

Arrow pricked his ears and then gradually stopped struggling. Julia was able to jiggle the zip open so she could free him and pull him gently towards her. She held her friend close, dismayed at how fast his little heart was beating.

‘It’s OK. You’re safe with me,’ she crooned. She felt her temper rising on Arrow’s behalf. How dare those bullies scare her friend? ‘I’m going out there to see what those silly idiots are doing!’ she stormed.

Arrow’s eyes twinkled. ‘No. I have a better idea!’

Julia felt a familiar warm prickling sensation down her back as Arrow’s key flashed and a cloud of sparkling crystal mist appeared and whirled around her and Arrow as if they were inside a snow globe. Something very strange was about to happen.

Chapter
SEVEN

The sparkling crystal mist floated towards the unzipped porch door and disappeared outside the tent.

‘What have you done?’ Julia asked Arrow curiously.

The magic bunny pricked his ears. ‘Come and see!’

He hopped forward and Julia crept after him towards the entrance to the tent. Carefully lifting the flap, she crouched there with Arrow and peeped outside.

Her mouth opened in surprise as she saw the sparkling dust sink into the beach towels her team had left to dry on the airer. All of a sudden, the towels rose silently into the air and began flapping towards Kelly and her gang like giant multicoloured bats.

‘That’s brilliant, Arrow!’ Julia whispered. She held her hands pressed to her mouth to hold in her delighted laughter. Kelly, Dean and Hitesh hadn’t noticed the beach towels yet. But they were going to see them any minute now.

Julia began counting silently. One. Two. Three!

‘Argh!’ Kelly yelled, staggering backwards and waving her arms about. ‘I’m being attacked! Get ’em off!’

One of the towels flopped on to Hitesh’s head. He almost tripped over his own feet as he spun round and threw it off. ‘This field’s haunted!’

‘Leg it!’ cried Dean, ducking as a bright orange towel with a blue dolphin pattern flapped around him.

Kelly dived for the fence. She clambered over and there was a thud as she landed in a heap. Muffled cries rose as the others fell on top of her.

‘Ow! Get off me, you morons!’ Kelly hissed.

The arguing voices faded as the older kids dashed for their tent and disappeared inside it. Julia was still trying not to laugh out loud. She looked down at Arrow who sat beside her.

His rainbow-bright brown eyes twinkled up at her. ‘I do not think they will be back tonight!’

His key started glowing again and there was a bright flash. The towels stopped floating about in mid-air and drifted gently back to the airer.