The Rainbow Opal by Paula Harrison Read Free Book Online Page A

best of luck as she starts Princess School. And now on to more news …”
    The king switched off the television. There was a moment of silence. The king and queen looked at Summer. Lottie, Maya and Rosalind stared at the king and queen. Summer gazed at the blank TV screen and Custard was quiet too. Only Kanga carried on as normal, hopping up and down and pecking at the sofa.
    “Erm … we have something we need to talk to you about,” the king told Summer. “We didn’t know they were going to announce it like that on television. But never mind! We’ve decided to send you to the Royal Academy for Princesses next term. It’s an excellent royal school!”
    “But I don’t want to go to this academy place!” Summer’s face turned pink.
    “Please do!” said Lottie excitedly. “I’m going there too! My older sister, Emily, goes there already and she says it’s really good fun.”
    “Really?” said Summer.
    “She loves it there!” said Lottie. “It’s in Middingland, which is where we come from, but there are princesses from all around the world at the school. And they let you keep a pet!”
    Summer glanced at Kanga, who wasbusily preening his feathers. “Are you really happy about going there?”
    Lottie nodded. “I’m starting next term. I can’t wait! They have bunk beds and the academy’s by the sea so you get to go swimming and sailing.”
    “Let’s talk about it properly after dinner when you’ve had time to get used to the idea,” said the queen.
    “All right,” said Summer. Custard wriggled in her arms and she kissed the top of his furry head. “I think Custard’s strong enough to go back to the forest.”
    “We should go and see if his mother’s come back for him,” said Rosalind. “She could be looking for him right now.”
    The princesses went out into the garden and Kanga flew over their heads.
    “What are we going to do about being Rescue Princesses if two of us are at school?” said Maya suddenly. “We won’tbe able to carry on helping animals.”
    “I’ve been thinking about that,” said Lottie. “I think we
can
carry on being Rescue Princesses but we might need more girls to join us. Imagine a whole school full of princesses who all know how to rescue animals!”
    “I’m going to ask my mum and dad if I can come to the Royal Academy too,” said Rosalind. “It sounds really good fun.”
    Lottie opened the garden gate and they walked into the wood together. The birds chattered in the treetops and the bushes nearby rustled.
    “I know that Custard’s home is here in the woods but I wish we could keep him forever,” sighed Maya.
    “Me too!” said Lottie. “I know he belongs with his mother but he’s been so adorable.” She rubbed her cheek against Custard’s furry ear.
    A loud rustling sound at the top of a tree made them look up, and a large koala climbed down the trunk.
    “Is that Custard’s mother?” said Rosalind.
    “I think so.” Summer set Custard carefully down on the grass. “If it is, then they’ll know each other right away.”
    The girls backed away a little so that they didn’t alarm the animals. Then they watched as the large koala reached the ground and bounded straight over to the baby. The koalas sniffed each other for a moment. Then Custard climbed on to his mother’s back and she clambered up the tree again.
    Custard clung on to his mother and gazed at Summer with big, dark eyes. Summer called up to him. “Take care, Custard! I won’t forget you.”
    With a flash of bright feathers, Kanga flew down to Summer’s shoulder and chattered into her ear.

    Summer laughed. “Don’t worry, Kanga! I won’t forget you either.”
    “We could never forget
you
, Kanga,” said Lottie. “You’re the only parrot I’ve ever met who hops like a kangaroo!”



 
     
    Can’t wait for
The Rescue Princesses’s next
daring animal adventure?

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a sneaky peek!

     

Chapter One
First Day at School
    Princess Ella gazed at the trees