Twirling Tails #7 (7 page)

“I bet Tracy and Helena are already at Smoothers. Let's go and meet them.”

Storm sat up and rested his front paws outside the shoulder bag as Kirsten turned onto the busy main road. A bit farther on, she saw Tracy and Helena on the opposite side of the road. They were just passing a video store.

They spotted her, too, and waved.

Kirsten walked toward a pedestrian crosswalk in front of a building with scaffolding covering it. A clanging noise came from high up where builders were at work.

As Kirsten went to press the button to cross, there was a shout.

“Look out below!” someone warned.

Kirsten glanced behind her and looked up. A heavy bucket clanged onto one of the scaffolding boards and then came tumbling downward. It was heading straight for her and Storm.

Kirsten froze. Her legs turned to water as she gathered herself for a painful collision.

But familiar bright sparks glittered in Storm's shaggy fur and a huge spray of gold sparks shot upward. The bucket faltered as if Kirsten had pressed slow motion on a TV remote. A fine dusting of sparks drifted down to settle on Kirsten and weird rippling feelings ran up the ends of her fingers and toes and zipped through her body.

There was a sudden jolt as the bucket crashed down on top of her and Storm.

Kirsten gasped as it passed
right through
her. She felt a slurpy sensation, like jelly wobbling, and a sucking
plop!
as the heavy bucket clanged onto the pavement and bounced away harmlessly.

She heard running steps. Two builders emerged from inside the building, looking white-faced.

“Thank goodness. It just missed her!” one of them said shakily.

The other one picked up the bucket. He scratched his head. “How the blazes . . . You sure you're all right?”

Kirsten quickly gathered her wits. “I'm fine. No problem. Got to go!” As the green man flashed up on the crosswalk sign, Kirsten hurried across the road. “Phew! That was close! Thanks, Storm,” she whispered.

“You are welcome,” Storm barked.

Helena and Tracy were hurrying along the pavement to meet them. “What just happened? We heard shouting and a massive crash,” Tracy said.

“Was there an accident?” Helena asked worriedly.

“Nah! It was no big deal. Just two builders making lots of noise,” Kirsten said. Her face lit up with mischief. She stepped quickly around Tracy and began sprinting toward the shops. “Last one inside Smoothers pays for the milkshakes!”

“You're on!” her friends yelled.

Storm marched back and forth, proudly high-stepping around the gym. His tiny red top hat leaned at an angle, covering one ear. A sparkling red jacket with shiny gold epaulettes and matching buttons reached halfway down his body.

Tracy wore her dress uniform of a pleated skirt and a cute red jacket, trimmed with gold braid. A red plumed top hat and knee-length gold boots completed her outfit.

The Limelight Majorettes were having a full dress rehearsal. There was one day left before the town parade. Tracy and Helena, and the other members of the B team, stood watching everyone marching and twirling batons.

“Way to go, Kirsten! Storm's doing great!” Tracy called out encouragingly, clapping in time to the music. Although she was trying to smile and look happy, there was a wistful expression on her face.

Kirsten knew her friend must be longing to take part. She noticed that Molly looked thoughtful. When everyone stopped for a break, Kirsten saw the trainer take Tracy aside and have a word with her.

“I think Molly might be going to give Tracy a second chance!” she whispered to Storm.

Storm wagged his tail. “I think so, too.”

“Yay!” Tracy suddenly cheered and punched the air before hurtling toward the changing rooms. “I'm on the A team,” she sang out.

Everyone clapped, including Helena. Kirsten had a big grin on her face. She picked Storm up and whirled around with him in a little dance of happiness.

Storm's tail twirled madly and he yapped with delight.

A few minutes later, Tracy reappeared, resplendent in full dress uniform, and proudly took her place in the ranks next to Kirsten.

“Wow!” Helena shrieked, jumping up and down. “Watch out, Kirsten. Watch out, Tracy. I'll be marching beside you next year.”

Kirsten looked toward her and smiled, her eyes glowing. “I really hope so!” she called out.

 

The day of the parade dawned bright and clear.

Kirsten woke early. Two uniforms were hanging from a hook on her bedroom door. She leaped out of bed, too excited to go back to sleep.

“Come on, Storm. We might as well start getting ready.”

Kirsten washed quickly and dragged a brush through her hair and then decided to give Storm a brush. He gave her a pained doggy grin and managed to put up with it for about half a minute before he started play-growling and trying to bite the brush.

Kirsten giggled. “I get the message!”

Ten minutes later, she and Storm stood side by side, looking in her wardrobe mirror. “Don't we look great?” Kirsten said admiringly.

She was too excited to eat breakfast and only managed a mouthful of toast. Her mom drove the short distance into town. As Kirsten, Storm, and her parents emerged from the garage, Kirsten saw Molly and the others at the meeting point on the market square.

“See you later,” she said to her mom and dad, hurrying toward the LMs.

Tracy was already there and Helena was just arriving with her parents. She waved to Kirsten and Storm. “Good luck. Knock 'em dead!” she cried.

Kirsten took a deep breath. “This is it. Ready?” she whispered to Storm.

Storm nodded, holding his head high.

The Limelight Majorettes took their positions. The brass band began to play.

Sunlight glinted off the polished buttons and musical instruments.

Kirsten, Storm, Tracy, and the rest of the majorettes moved forward.

The crowds cheered as the parade progressed through the streets. Colored banners fluttered from the stalls and smells of cotton candy and burgers filled the air. Entertainers juggled clubs, and acrobats tumbled through the air.

Kirsten twirled her baton, high-stepping in perfect time to the cheerful beat. Beside her, Storm's red hat nodded as he marched at heel.

The colorful parade moved through the streets. It seemed like no time at all to Kirsten before the majorettes and the band came to a halt. The mayor, wearing her gold chain over a pretty blue suit, cut the ribbon and declared the new store open.

“Great job, everyone,” Molly said, beaming at her troupe. “And well done, Storm. You're a perfect mascot. I suggest you all relax now and enjoy the entertainment.”

The delicious smells of food had made Kirsten hungry. She decided to buy a burger and share it with Storm. But as she went to speak to him, he suddenly whimpered and tore away through the crowd.

Kirsten didn't hesitate. She ran after him and just glimpsed him running into a loading dock at the rear of a store. She whipped around at the familiar sound of growling and saw two large dogs some distance away. They were sniffing around under some parked vans.

A cold shiver ran down Kirsten's back as she saw their pale eyes and long sharp teeth.

Storm was in terrible danger.

Kirsten rushed into the loading dock and slipped down between two parked trucks. Suddenly, there was a dazzling flash of bright gold light and sparks sprayed in all directions.

Kirsten saw Storm, a tiny helpless puppy no longer, but a magnificent, young, silver-gray wolf. His thick neck-ruff looked as if it had been sprinkled with a thousand tiny gold diamonds. An older wolf with a gentle face stood beside Storm.

And then Kirsten knew that her friend was leaving. Her throat tightened with tears, but she knew she would have to be strong for Storm's sake.

“Quick, Storm. Your enemies are near. Save yourself,” she urged.

Storm's big, midnight blue eyes softened with affection. “You have been a true friend, Kirsten. Be of good heart.”

She rushed forward and threw her arms around Storm's muscular neck. “I'm really going to miss you,” she sobbed, her voice breaking.

Storm allowed her to hug him. He held up one huge, silvery paw as a final burst of bright gold light filled the loading dock and sparks crackled down around Kirsten and went out as they hit the floor.

The two wolves faded and were gone.

On the floor by Kirsten's feet lay something red and gold. Storm's tiny mascot uniform. A deep sadness swept through her, only made better by the relief at knowing that Storm was safe. She would never forget her wonderful friend and would always treasure the memories of their time together.

Kirsten heard a final fierce growl from behind her and then there was silence. She whirled around just in time to see two normal-looking dogs slinking away.

“Kirsten?” called a voice. Helena stood at the entrance to the loading dock. She was holding a tiny puppy with shaggy, light brown fur. “I just found Storm running around outside. I don't know how he got out of his uniform,” she said.

Kirsten did a double take. “But that's not St—” Kirsten stopped as the strangest feeling came over her.

An image of Storm's mischievous face popped into her mind and then a knowing smile crept over Kirsten's face.

She gazed at the tiny puppy that looked just like Storm in almost every way. Only she would ever know that this wasn't Storm.

As the tiny, lost puppy looked at her with frightened, brownish blue eyes, Kirsten knew exactly what she had to do. “
Storm
. Look at you running off like that,” she pretended to scold as she took the tiny puppy from Helena. “I'll have to take really good care of you from now on!”

Sue Bentley's books for children often include animals or fairies. She lives in Northampton and enjoys reading, going to the movies, and sitting watching the frogs and newts in her garden pond. If she hadn't been a writer, she would probably have been a skydiver or a brain surgeon. The main reason she writes is that she can drink pots and pots of tea while she's typing. She has met and owned many cats and dogs and each one has brought a special kind of magic to her life.

Read all of the other books in the Magic Puppy series!

 

#1 A New Beginning
#2 Muddy Paws
#3 Cloud Capers
#4 Star of the Show
#5 Party Dreams
#6 A Forest Charm
#7 Twirling Tails
#8 School of Mischief