Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll by Rosanne Hawke Read Free Book Online

swim even one lap of a swimming pool. Now it was Thursday and Mum was in the kitchen sewing.
    She smiled at Kelsey. ‘Are you feeling a bit better today?’
    Kelsey nodded.
    â€˜I’ve got something to cheer you up. A parcel has come from Australia.’ She put it in front of Kelsey.
    â€˜Wow.’ Kelsey read the sender information. ‘It’s from Mrs Penner.’ She ripped it open. ‘It’s the pencils and exercise books!’
    Kelsey looked at her mum. ‘Mum?’
    She lifted her eyebrows at Kelsey. ‘Would you like me to take you to the tent school?’
    â€˜Yes, please.’
    â€˜Then get ready. I hope you’re well enough.’
    Kelsey ran to get dressed and was ready to leave the house in under twenty minutes.
    At the water’s edge Mum found a young man to taxi them across the river in his boat. He used a long pole to push the boat along. It went faster than Kelsey thought it would.
    It was fun taking her mum to the school. She introduced her to Miss Parveen and then Kelsey told Shakila and the girls about her class in Australia and how they had raised money for pencils and exercise books. She put them on Miss Parveen’s desk. ‘And also medicine,’ Kelsey said, hoping enough money for medicine would come soon. ‘But you need to get that from my mum at the clinic.’
    The girls were quiet at first and then Miss Parveen said, ‘Thank you very much, Kelsey.’ Suddenly the girls clapped and Shakila and Fozia gave Kelsey a hug.
    Later in the afternoon, there was a loud call from outside. Kelsey could hear her dad at the door. ‘ Salaam ji , Waheed, Shakila. Come in.’
    â€˜ Salaam ji, ’ Mr Waheed said.
    Kelsey smiled at Shakila as she walked into the lounge.
    Mr Waheed didn’t say why they had come so Kelsey’s mum put the kettle on to make chai . Kelsey arranged biscuits on a plate. She knew Shakila liked savoury snacks with chai too, so she put some salted peanuts in a bowl. She carried the food to the coffee table while Mum brought the teapot on a tray with cups and saucers.
    Mr Waheed and her dad were talking about building the houses.
    â€˜It’s good to have strong foundations and cement rooms,’ her dad said.
    â€˜ Ji , and later they can build on when they are able.’
    Kelsey’s dad nodded.
    Mr Waheed stopped talking business and asked Kelsey if she enjoyed living in Pakistan. Kelsey was glad he didn’t ask her this when she first came.
    â€˜I do,’ Kelsey said. ‘I especially like being friends with Shakila and your family.’ Then she couldn’t stop herself from asking, ‘Is Raza better?’
    Mr Waheed glanced at Shakila. ‘Actually this is why we have come.’
    Kelsey felt a prickling sensation curling up her spine. He sounded very serious.
    â€˜Raza is much better,’ Mr Waheed said, ‘and we want to thank you for giving him back to us.’
    â€˜Oh.’ Kelsey was so relieved Raza was okay that she didn’t know what to say at first. ‘I only did what anyone would do.’
    â€˜We do not agree this is what anyone would do,’ Mr Waheed said. ‘We think you are a very courageous person and we need to thank you in a proper way.’
    â€˜ Shukriya ,’ Kelsey said, thinking that was the end of it.
    Shakila stood up, gave Kelsey a hug and kissed both sides of her face. Then she gave Kelsey a gift. It was wrapped in brown paper with string. ‘I know you will like this,’ she said.
    Kelsey hugged her back and said thank you. She put the gift on the coffee table and tried not to look at it. It was a hard thing to do.
    In Australia if Chantelle gave her a present Chantelle would say, ‘Open it, open it now, Kels!’ But Kelsey knew Shakila wasn’t waiting for her to open the gift. Her dad had told her if she received presents in Pakistan not to unwrap them until the people had left.
    There was more talk