Sleepover Girls on Safari by Angie Bates Read Free Book Online Page B

scalp itch like crazy.
    Mrs Weaver seemed oddly relieved when the monkeys swung off into the trees at last. “That was fascinating,” she said brightly. “But I didn’t expect them to come quite so close.”
    We all exchanged meaningful glances.
    Kenny made daring clucking noises under her breath.
    Kirstin spluttered with giggles. “You guys are crazy.”
    After that we drove for ages without seeing anything interesting.
    “I want to see a tiger,” moaned Frankie.
    “I can’t see any tigers, but I can spy something black and white that looks amazingly like a horse,” Kirstin told her.
    “A zebra!” Lyndz shrieked. “My all-time favourite animal.”
    The zebras looked smaller in real life than they seem on nature programmes. They weremore like cute little stripy ponies than horses. The design on their coats was so gorgeous that I couldn’t help imagining it on a t-shirt.
    “They’re so gentle,” I said to Kirstin.
    “The last time I saw a zebra, it was busy being lunch for a pack of lions,” she commented.
    Rosie looked horrified. “How awful.”
    Kenny’s eyes gleamed. “It’s not awful, it’s natural.”
    “Then I don’t think I like Nature,” Rosie whispered.
    A few minutes later the ranger suddenly killed the engine. “Try to keep your voices down,” he whispered, “or we’ll scare her off.”
    A family of tigers was sunbathing under some oak trees.
    The mother tiger’s orange and black stripes looked incredibly exotic in the spring landscape. She was washing one of her fuzzy little cubs. I saw how her slightest movement rippled the powerful muscles under her coat. The tiger might look peaceful now, but you could feel this electrifying wildness underneath. Everyone was in total awe.
    “Is this a dream?” I whispered.
    Mrs Weaver shook her head. “If it is, we’re having the same one.”
    “Now I can die happy,” breathed Frankie.
    “Me too,” said Kirstin softly.
    Emma looked astonished. “Haven’t you seen a tiger before?”
    Kirstin shook her head. “Never. You don’t get them in Africa. Actually I think tigers are from India.”
    Emma went slightly pink. I sniggered to myself. Obviously I wasn’t the only ten year old who didn’t know where tigers came from!
    “I’ve never seen one either,” she confessed to Kirstin. “And we come here loads.”
    The ranger smiled. “Then this must be your lucky day.”
    You know how cats like to find a patch of sun and chill? Well that’s what this very big cat was doing. Her funny little tiger babies were tumbling around her, staging play fights and licking each other’s ears.
    “They might be killers,” Rosie whispered. “But they’re the most beautiful creatures on earth.”
    “I know,” I whispered back. “I’m in love.”
    Our thrilling safari experience came to an end at last and we all clambered out of the Landrover. My bottom was so numb I could hardly stand. Everyone had major pins and needles.
    “That was SO perfect!” I said to Rosie happily.
    “I can’t believe how sweet Emma’s being,” she said in a low voice. “You can see she’s desperate for Kirstin to have a good time.”
    “Yeah,” said Lyndz. “It’s like we’re seeing a totally new side of her.”
    Frankie gave her a withering look. “You’re such suckers,” she said. “Emma’s acting, stoopid, just like us. Isn’t she, Kenz?”
    Kenny wasn’t listening. She was still clowning around, pretending her numb legs wouldn’t hold her up. Suddenly she tripped and fell over for real. “Ow!!” she yelped. “I landed on a stupid stone.”
    “Lucky it was your bum,” Frankie told her. “It’s the fattest part!”
    Kenny picked herself up. “Come here and say that!” she threatened.
    Suddenly we were all having a mad Keystone Cops moment, as everyone helpedKenny chase Frankie madly around the grounds, even Emma and Kirstin. Kirstin couldn’t run properly because she was laughing so much.
    At the last minute, Emma dived on Frankie and