How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant Read Online Free PDF Page B

Talismans.’
    â€˜No, bribes. Come on.’
    Ben moved around the kitchen arranging a tray of tea and biscuits. Kirsty just watched. She was too frightened to touch any of the beautiful shiny surfaces in case she made them dirty or broke something, although her fingers were itching to try the chrome juicer or the ice machine set into the fridge door. There must be a brilliant TV somewhere – one of those skinny ones that went on the wall, like having your own cinema. She’d love to have a go with it. Could she ask? No – she was here on a mission.
    When he was done, Ben handed her the tray.
    â€˜You go up,’ he said. ‘She won’t be expecting you. Element of surprise.’
    â€˜Which door?’
    â€˜It’s the one with the sign that says, “Keep Out or I’ll Feed You to My Piranhas”.’
    â€˜Oh great.’
    Kirsty took the stairs slowly, but the tea shook in its cup and sloshed on to the tray. When she got to the door, she whispered, ‘Knock, knock.’ There was no answer. Dawn was probably hunched inside, glaring at the door of her den as she stirred up some evil spell. Kirsty swallowed hard, then spoke louder. ‘Dawn, Dawn, are you in?’
    Kirsty could hear a weird snuffling from inside the room. She stepped closer to the door. Was the witch murmuring incantations? Was she mashing up toads or plucking the eyes from newts? Kirsty stood silent and still, just listening. What was that noise? Suddenly, she recognised it. It was crying. She put the tray down on the floor and tapped gently on the door.
    â€˜Dawn, can I come in?’
    â€˜No. What are you doing here? Go away.’
    Kirsty tried the handle. The door opened. ‘Dawn, what’s the matter?’ The room was gloomy; the lights hadn’t been switched on yet. Kirsty could see a hump lying on the bed: Dawn.
    The hump sniffled loudly. ‘I said go away. What are you doing here anyway?’
    â€˜I came to ask you something. Are you all right?’
    â€˜You came to see if I was all right? Well, there’s a first time for everything.’
    â€˜Why are you crying?’ Kirsty stepped closer to the bed.
    â€˜Leave me alone.’
    Kirsty was close enough now to see that Dawn was buried under her duvet. A stuffed teddy stuck his head out from under the covers – a stuffed teddy! Dawn had always laughed at Kirsty’s battered old toy dog and here she was hiding in bed with her own teddy. Kirsty reached out to touch it, but as soon as her fingers came close the bear was whipped under the duvet with an angry growl.
    â€˜Go away!’
    â€˜Why are you crying? Did you get into trouble?’ Kirsty peered cautiously at Dawn.
    There was no answer.
    â€˜Did someone tell you off?’ Kirsty asked.
    Suddenly the duvet was thrown back and the glowering, evil witch raised herself up in her bed, eyes blazing and teeth bared. ‘Will you just go away! I don’t want to talk to you, or anyone. If you don’t know why I’m upset, then I’m not going to tell you! Everything’s all right for you, isn’t it? Everything’s easy! Well, that’s not how it is for the rest of us. Go on, get out and leave me be!’ The duvet was pulled back up and Dawn was hidden again.
    Kirsty stepped back. She walked towards the door. She stopped and turned to the bed. ‘Actually, everything is not all right for me. That’s what I came here for. I was going to ask you to help. Ben said I should. I thought it was a stupid idea and I was right. You’re too mean to help anyone.’
    Kirsty pushed the tea and biscuits inside the door and then left.
    Ben was sitting on the bottom step, waiting for Kirsty to come down. He stood when he saw her.
    â€˜We’re on our own,’ Kirsty said. ‘Dawn’s a mean, spiteful witch. She shouted at me for no reason. I couldn’t even ask her about the allotment. She’s upset, but she won’t