The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop Read Online Free PDF Page A

him a look of withering scorn. “Whoever heard of a talking cat?”
    “What are we starting tomorrow?” Lily asked eagerly. “Do you want us to meet you somewhere?”
    “I’ll come and fetch you, dear.” The cat rubbed her soft body against Lily’s knee. “And could you leave your tub of disco body glitter open tonight?”
    “OK.” Lily stroked her. “I’m so glad you’re here—thanks for dealing with the wallpaper.”
    Demerara was nearest the door and wriggled out first. Oz followed, and was very glad to get back into a proper-sized room again—he could hardly breathe in Demerara’s smelly “flat.” He glanced behind him and blurted out, “Hey—the door’s gone!”
    They both stared at the blank white wall.
    “Wow,” said Lily. “No wonder Isadore couldn’t find the safe.”
    “Let’s go to bed,” Oz said, yawning again. “We’re working for the government tomorrow.”

4
A Local Witch
    “An early start,” said the voice of Demerara, “is always best.”
    To the astonishment of Oz and Lily, the immortal cat strolled into the kitchen the next morning while they were having breakfast with their mother. To their even greater astonishment, her golden-brown fur sparkled with glitter, and the room was filled with a strong smell of chemical perfume.
    “Good grief,” Mum said, glancing up from her newspaper. “What on earth is that smell? Lily, have you been slathering on that body cream again?”
    “She can’t hear or see me,” said Demerara. “Your parents will be happier if they don’t know anything about me.” She walked into a shaft of sunlight, glittering all over like a Christmas card, and Oz and Lily both had to struggle not to laugh. “Hurry up—we’ve a very important meeting, and the local witch is waiting for us outside.”
    They were both very curious to see this witch.
    “Mum, do you need anything from the supermarket?” asked Oz.
    “No, thanks.”
    “Mind if we go out?”
    “No—but try not to spend all your money on fizzy drinks.”
    The twins followed the glittery behind of Demerara outside into Skittle Street. There was no sign of any witch. The only other person in the street was the kid from across the road, still practicing on his skateboard.
    “Well?” The cat’s mouth was stretched into a smirk. “How do I look?”
    “Wonderful!” Lily declared quickly. “Doesn’t she, Oz?”
    “Er—what?”
    She raised her eyebrows meaningfully. “Doesn’t Demerara look beautiful this morning?”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “Thank you so much for the body glitter,” Demerara said. “The only problem is that it tastes horrid, and I have to keep remembering not to lick myself.”
    Oz snorted with laughter, but Lily nudged him crossly.
    “It so suits you,” she told the cat.
    “I wanted to make an effort; I’m not allowed to be invisible in the office and I like to look smart. Lily, dear—couldyou paint my claws later with some of your lovely nail polish? I promise not to scratch you.”
    “I’d be happy to,” said Lily.
    “I can’t decide between the gold and the bright pink.”
    “Excuse me—” Oz didn’t want to spend the whole morning talking about makeup, and he didn’t want the boy across the road to think they were crazy for talking to a cat. He lowered his voice. “What office? And where’s this witch?”
    “Over there.” Demerara nodded calmly toward the skateboarding boy.
    “Him?” Oz had been waiting for an excuse to talk to this boy, but he didn’t look the slightest bit witchlike—weren’t witches always old ladies? “He can’t be a witch!”
    Demerara strolled calmly across the road. She jumped gracefully onto the low wall beside the path and stared at the boy as he whisked past on his skateboard.
    “Good morning, Caydon,” she said.
    The boy—Caydon—looked thunderstruck and immediately fell off.
    Oz and Lily ran over to the boy now lying in the path, gaping at Demerara.
    “Are you OK?” Oz asked.
    “I don’t know,” Caydon