Friends Forever by Titania Woods Read Free Book Online Page A

Stripe was sitting on the table! How on earth had he got there?
    When Stripe saw her, he gave a little hop, fluttering his wings. Suddenly he lifted into the air. His wings wobbled a bit . . . but he was flying! Forgetting Bimi, Twink ran to the wasp and scooped him up in a hug.
    â€˜Oh, Stripe!’ she cried. ‘I knew you could do it!’ He hummed happily, nestling into her arms.
    â€˜A – a wasp,’ whispered Bimi. Twink turned. Her friend had followed her inside, and now her face was as pale as snow. Bimi backed away towards the door.
    Twink flitted over to her. ‘Bimi, Stripe was hurt, and he called to me. I couldn’t just ignore him! And – and look how sweet he is.’ She held the wasp out to her friend.
    Bimi stared at the wasp without moving. ‘What do you mean, he called to you? Wasps can’t do magic!’
    Twink shook her head. ‘I don’t know. He hasn’t done it since. But he really did call to me. And then when I found him, his wing was horribly broken. I couldn’t just leave him in the wood!’
    Bimi didn’t say anything.
    Twink rushed on, ‘So – so I brought him here. And I managed to heal his wing, but he’s been too scared to fly – until now, you clever thing!’ she added to Stripe, nuzzling his fur with her nose.
    .

    .
    â€˜And Mariella found out, didn’t she?’ guessed Bimi. Flitting over to one of the spotted mushroom stools, she sank down with a sigh. ‘Oh, Twink! Why did you have to get involved with a wasp ?’
    Stripe grew very still, staring at Bimi. Twink knew his feelings were hurt, and her wings stiffened. ‘I told you, he was injured!’ she snapped. ‘And don’t say wasp in that sneery way – maybe he’s a wasp, but he’s nicer than some fairies I know.’
    For a moment she and Bimi glared at each other. Then Stripe pulled himself out of Twink’s arms and flew shakily across to Bimi, landing with a plop on the mushroom table in front of her.
    Bimi gave a shriek. ‘Oh! Get it away from me!’ She shrank back in her chair, too frightened to move.
    Stripe crept across the table until he was next to her. Slowly, he touched Bimi’s arm with one of his thin black legs. Twink held her breath as the two of them gazed at each other, still as statues.
    Finally Bimi swallowed. ‘He – he has very big eyes, doesn’t he?’ she said weakly.
    Twink came over to them. ‘His fuzz is really soft, too,’ she offered.
    Bimi moved her hand towards Stripe’s back, and then jerked it back again. ‘He won’t sting me, will he?’
    â€˜Of course not!’ Twink assured her. ‘He’s as friendly as you are.’
    Bimi took a deep breath and tried again. When her hand rested on Stripe’s back, she gasped in surprise. ‘Oh – it’s like a caterpillar’s fur!’ She stroked the wasp gently as he hummed.
    Twink sat down on the other mushroom, propping her elbows on the table. ‘Do you see, Bimi? I couldn’t have just left him there.’
    Bimi’s cheeks reddened. ‘No, I suppose you couldn’t have. That was stupid of me. I’m sorry, Stripe,’ she added to the wasp. He pushed against her hand with his head, and Bimi smiled.
    Her expression grew serious again as she looked back at Twink. ‘But what are we going to do about Mariella? If she tells – oh, Twink, it would be awful! You might even get expelled!’
    â€˜I know,’ said Twink softly. The same thought had kept her awake countless times since she had met Stripe. Then she brightened. ‘But Stripe’s started flying again. I’m sure he’ll be able to go home to his family soon. Then Mariella can say what she likes – if there’s no wasp here, she can’t prove it!’
    â€˜Maybe he could fly home now, if we helped him,’ said Bimi eagerly. She leaned towards the wasp.