Patchwork Picnic (9781743583524) by Danny Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

field. Felix looked around at all the toys.
    â€˜Friends!’ he called, in a deep bear voice. ‘As you know, these are troubled times in the Kingdom.’
    Felix sounded very serious. Then he said, ‘But I bring good news!’
    With a flourish, Felix threw open the large picnic box he had been riding on.
    Oh good , thought Lola. Perhaps it’s time to eat.
    â€˜I have just returned from Nevercalm!’ Felix boomed.
    All the toys gasped when they heard this.
    Felix lifted up an odd-shaped, plastic wind-up soldier from the basket. ‘And we have captured this enemy toy!’
    There was another gasp, and then the other toys all started whispering to each other.

    Lola stared at the soldier in Felix’s paw. It was nodding slowly and its arms moved up and down. It looked lost. She had seen this toy before. But where ?
    â€˜The Plastic Prince has been building an army with soldiers just like this one,’ said Felix. ‘And he’s planning to attack !’
    Here? Lola was shocked. In the Kingdom of toys? But everything seemed so soft and cuddly!
    She wondered who the Plastic Prince was, and why he would want to attack.
    Buddy seemed to know what Lola was thinking.
    â€˜There is a battle going on between the Great High Bear and the Plastic Prince,’ he whispered. ‘The Great High Bear rules most of the Kingdom. But there is one place, a scary place, called Nevercalm.’
    Buddy shivered. ‘The Plastic Prince rules Nevercalm, and he wants to rule the Kingdom too!’
    Lola bit her lip. That sounded serious indeed.
    When the crowd became quiet, Felix spoke again.
    â€˜Do not worry, friends,’ he said, his voice growing louder. ‘Today I will show you that the Plastic Prince cannot build a strong army. We can prove it.
    Watch how easily I can stop this soldier from working!’
    In one quick move, Felix pulled the silver key out of the soldier’s back. He held it high above his furry ears.
    The toys all cheered like crazy .
    â€˜And that’s not all!’ Felix yelled.
    Lola was worried. Very worried. Was Felix going to hurt the toy soldier?
    â€˜Without its key,’ Felix went on, ‘this soldier will soon wind down. And then I’m going to throw away the key, and destroy this enemy toy forever!’
    Lola jumped to her feet. ‘No, Felix!’ she shouted at the top of her voice. ‘Stop!’
    Every single toy in the crowd turned to look at her. Lola felt the blood rushing to her cheeks.

    Then a tiny voice beside her said, ‘Oh, Lola, I hope you know what you’re doing. By my zipper , I do!’

Felix walked towards Lola. Buddy shuffled in closer.
    â€˜Well, well, well,’ said Felix darkly. ‘If it isn’t my dear Lola . How very nice to see you.’
    Lola wasn’t sure he actually meant that.
    â€˜What are you doing in the Kingdom?’ Felix asked. ‘It has been a long, long time since we’ve had a real girl here.’
    Then Buddy spoke up.
    â€˜Oh, she’s just here with me, Felix,’ he said, his voice trembling. ‘For fun. For a picnic. And we were just leaving, actually.’
    â€˜Hello, Buddy,’ said Felix quietly. ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve seen you here, too.’
    He rubbed his furry chin. He looked at Lola and then Buddy.
    â€˜Lola,’ he said, ‘this soldier works for the Plastic Prince, our enemy . But you don’t think we should destroy it. Why is that?’
    The soldier was still quietly nodding its head, up and down, up and down.
    The toy was getting slower, and making a quiet humming noise.
    Lola took a good look at Felix. He was a very fine bear. He had neat, orange fur and a stern look on his face.
    Lola felt a bit nervous. But she also felt sure that Felix shouldn’t hurt the poor soldier. She took a deep breath.
    â€˜I don’t think we should be cruel ,’ Lola said. ‘To anything or