Ragbag Friends Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Map of Summertown

  Meet the Hoozles!

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Also in the series

  Copyright

  Willow huddled close to Toby, her Hoozle bear, and glanced at her little brother. ‘You’re not frightened, are you, Freddie?’ she asked. They were watching Funky Frankenstein in the cosy sitting room above Auntie Suzy’s toy shop.

  Freddie didn’t take his eyes off the TV. ‘’Course not,’ he said. ‘Cartoons aren’t real.’ He was lying on the floor, cuddling his lion Hoozle, Wobbly. ‘Dr Frankenstein made a monster man out of bits and pieces joined together.’

  ‘Oh, look,’ said Willow, ‘the monster man is sad because he hasn’t got a friend.’ She kissed the top of Toby’s soft blue head. ‘I’m never lonely,’ she whispered, ‘because I’ve got you.’

  Toby checked that Freddie wasn’t looking, then slipped his paw into Willow’s hand. Almost nobody else knew the astonishing Hoozle secret – that they were alive! And there were lots of them, too. Many children in Summertown owned a Hoozle. They were all made in the toy shop by Auntie Suzy, on her pink sewing machine.

  Feet thumped up the stairs and Willow’s friend, Jack, appeared in the doorway with his purple tartan elephant Hoozle tucked under his arm. He waved its trunk at Willow. She waved Toby’s paw and said, ‘Hi, Bouncer. Hi, Jack.’

  Willow made room for Bouncer on the sofa next to Toby, so they could whisper to each other while she and Jack chatted. She loved having a friend who knew the Hoozle secret.

  Jack sat beside her, and said, ‘Are you looking forward to the recycling fair tomorrow? The stalls are set up in our field already.’

  ‘I’ve thought about it all day,’ said Willow. ‘We’re even watching a cartoon about a recycled monster! I can’t wait to come to your house for dinner, so I can see what’s happening.’

  ‘I’ve brought a poster for the toy shop, to tell people about the fair,’ said Jack.

  They ran downstairs. Auntie Suzy was busy, but when Jack waved his poster, she nodded and passed him some sticky-tack. As the poster went up, curious customers asked about the fair.

  ‘It’ll be brilliant,’ said Jack. ‘People can bring rubbish for recycling and take things they want to use, and you can swap clothes and shoes and books or anything.’

  ‘People will be selling things made out of recycled materials,’ said Willow. ‘You should all come.’

  As she spoke, Willow spotted a movement on the shelf above the counter. An owl-shaped Hoozle, called Wizard, was flapping a wingtip to attract her attention. He never normally moved when people were around, so this must be important. She mouthed, ‘What?’ at Wizard.

  He pointed to some people crowding round a low shelf, so Willow went over.

  ‘It’s weird!’ said a woman. ‘What’s it supposed to be?’

  Willow wiggled to the front. Jack squeezed in behind her. On the shelf sat a strange-looking toy. It was a sort of bear, with different-coloured button eyes. Its coat was made of different scraps of fabric. Nothing matched. When Willow picked it up, it rustled.

  ‘It sounds like it’s stuffed with paper,’ said Jack. ‘I think it’s supposed to be a Hoozle, because there’s a pocket on the front.’

  Willow drew a sharp breath. ‘That pocket couldn’t have a pocket heart in it – the top has been stitched closed.’

  A Hoozle owner always put something special in the Hoozle’s pocket. It was a symbol of the love between them. A Hoozle without a pocket heart soon became dull and sad.

  Willow felt sorry for the little bear, especially when the boy said, ‘I wouldn’t want a weird, ugly Hoozle that looks like it’s made of rubbish.’ He turned away.

  ‘Wait! Hoozles are adorable,’ Willow told the people.

  ‘They’re soft and lovable and … and … look! This is Toby. He’s not weird or made of rubbish.’

  Jack showed them Bouncer. ‘This is my Hoozle. He’s my best toy.’

  One or two customers stroked Toby and Bouncer before moving off. Jack looked closely at the weird Hoozle-like toy. ‘There’s something suspicious about this,’ he said.

  Willow nodded. ‘And when suspicious things happen, we know exactly who to watch out for.’

  They looked at each other, nodded, and said together, ‘Croc!’

  ‘What’s that mean orange Hoozle up to now?’ Willow said to Jack. She tucked the strange Hoozle-type bear under one arm and snuggled Toby under the other. ‘Let’s take the Hoozle Council upstairs and try to work out what’s going on.’

  ‘I’ll fetch them,’ said Jack. He went to the shelf above the counter and picked up Wizard and the two Hoozles who lived there with him.

  As Willow led them upstairs, she heard Bouncer telling the Hoozle Council about the strange new bear.

  Toby and Bouncer settled on the round red rug on Willow’s bedroom floor. Wizard and Grouchy, a cute penguin Hoozle, joined them. The third Council member, Lovely the pony, needed to stretch her legs first. Her purple mane flew as she galloped wildly round the room.

  Willow put the Hoozle-thing down, and examined it with a magnifying glass.

  Toby climbed on her lap, so he could look, too. ‘It’s all bits and pieces,’ he rumbled.

  Willow nodded. ‘Just like Frankenstein’s monster.’

  ‘Ooh!’ said Toby. ‘It’s a Frankenhoozle.’

  Lovely stroked the Frankenhoozle with a purple hoof. ‘Poor thing,’ she said. ‘A Frankenhoozle with no pocket heart. It’s sad that he has no one special to love him.’

  Willow noticed that Grouchy looked upset. ‘Never mind,’ she said, stroking his velvety wing. ‘I’ll unpick the stitches that keep his pocket shut. Then at least he’ll look more like a proper Hoozle.’ She found some scissors and began snipping.

  ‘Don’t prick it,’ Grouchy said anxiously.

  ‘I won’t,’ said Willow. ‘Just three more stitches.’ Snip. Snip. Snip. She held up the odd little bear. ‘There!’

  The Frankenhoozle blinked one eye.

  Everybody said, ‘Oh!’

  Willow was thrilled. She stood the bear on the rug and said, ‘Hello, I’m Willow. This is Toby, and …’

  The Frankenhoozle spun round and round, looking at all the other Hoozles. When he stopped, he wobbled a little.

  ‘Are you dizzy?’ Willow asked gently.

  ‘No,’ said the Frankenhoozle. ‘I’m not Dizzy. That’s not my name. I haven’t got a name.’

  ‘Aaah, you need a name,’ said Bouncer. ‘What about Scrunchy?’

  ‘Or Jolly?’ said Wizard.

  Grouchy suggested ‘Bruno’. Toby thought of ‘Growly’, but none of the names really suited him.

  Then Jack said, ‘I know! Frank the Frankenhoozle! Hands up who likes that name.’

  Hands, paws, wings, a hoof and a trunk shot up. ‘I like Frank,’ everybody said.

  Frank put his paw up. ‘I like me, too.’

  Willow giggled. He was so lovable. She started to ask where he came from, but all the Hoozles wanted to talk to Frank.

  ‘How long have you been made?’ asked Bouncer.

  Lovely nuzzled his ears. ‘You’re so colourful,’ she said.

  ‘Why are your eyes different colours?’ Grouchy asked.

  ‘Hoooooot!’ Wizard cried. ‘Let Willow speak.’

  Everyone was quiet.

  ‘Thanks, Wizard,’ said Willow. ‘Frank, who made you?’

  ‘I don’t know his name,’ said Frank. ‘But I know what he looks like.’ He moved stiffly across the room to where Willow had dropped her bright ora
nge pyjamas. ‘He’s this colour,’ he said, ‘and he’s going to make more.’

  ‘More?’ said Willow.

  ‘Lots more,’ said Frank, adding proudly. ‘Just like me!’

  *

  Willow put the Hoozle Council back on their shelf and whispered, ‘Bye. We’re off to Jack’s now.’

  ‘Don’t worry, we’ll put a stop to Croc’s mischief,’ Jack added quietly.

  ‘First, we need to find out how he’s doing it,’ said Willow, ‘before we can stop him.’

  They said goodbye to Auntie Suzy, and walked along the sea front towards Jack’s house. Frank was snuggled beside Toby in Willow’s backpack. She could hear him asking funny questions, like, ‘Is this our bed?’

  Toby kept giggling, but Willow was busy thinking. ‘Croc can’t have used Auntie Suzy’s sewing machine,’ she said. ‘She’s the only person who can work it.’

  Jack shrugged. ‘He could have used any machine, anywhere.’ He pointed to a nearby shop. ‘Look.

  “Tracy Naylor, the Summertown Tailor”. She’ll have a sewing machine, for sure.’

  Willow grinned. ‘Tracy’s a friend of Auntie Suzy.’ They went inside.

  ‘Willow, what luck!’ said Tracy, when she saw Willow walk through the door. ‘I need someone to try out my latest dress design. You’ll be perfect.’ She dashed to the back of the shop.

  ‘Look,’ Toby growled in Willow’s ear. ‘There’s her sewing machine.’

  Tracy pulled a bundle of polka-dotted material from the work table and hurried back to Willow. ‘There. What do you think?’

  Willow stroked the silky pink and orange dress. ‘It’s gorgeous.’

  ‘Oh, hello Toby,’ said Tracy, reaching over Willow’s shoulder and giving his paw a little shake.

  Willow introduced Jack, Bouncer and Frank.

  Tracy put her head on one side. ‘Frank’s a bit … different, isn’t he?’ She looked closer. ‘He’s very sweet, though.’

  ‘We think so, too,’ said Willow. ‘I’ll try the dress on now, if you like.’

  Before she went into the changing room, Willow gave Jack her backpack. ‘Look round the sewing machine for clues,’ she said. ‘Toby’s got sharp eyes. He’ll help you.’

  She put the dress on, then walked up and down, like a model.

  Tracy looked at it carefully. ‘I need to make some changes,’ she said, kneeling down. ‘Hold still, while I pin the side seams.’

  Willow looked over Tracy’s head. Toby was examining the sewing machine, while Bouncer and Jack looked beneath the work table. Frank climbed up to look in the rubbish bin and almost fell in head first. Luckily, Bouncer grabbed his legs and pulled him back.

  Willow smothered a giggle.

  Tracy stood up. ‘All done. You can take it off now.’

  Willow slipped into the changing room to put her own dress back on. When she came out, she was greeted by Jack, with four Hoozles in his arms and a big grin on his face.

  Toby held a large piece of fluff between his paws. Orange fluff! So Croc had been here, making Frankenhoozles.

  All we have to do, Willow thought, is come back here and catch him. We must stop him using that machine.

  ‘You’re a great model, Willow,’ said Tracy. ‘I think this design is going to be a big success. And, as a thank you, this dress is for you once I’ve fixed the seams.’

  ‘Wow, thanks!’ said Willow.

  Tracy sat down at her work table. After a moment, she shook her head. ‘That’s odd. My machine’s not working,’ she said. ‘I’ll have to pop the dress into Suzy’s shop once it’s repaired.’

  They said goodbye and, just before Willow closed the door, she saw Tracy shake her head again and say, ‘Most mysterious. It was working just fine yesterday.’

  ‘Not mysterious at all,’ Willow said crossly to Jack. ‘Croc broke that machine. He can’t use it again, so he’ll go somewhere else. We’ll have to find out where before we can stop him.’

  Toby patted Willow’s neck. ‘Maybe other shops have sewing machines?’

  Frank pointed to a window. ‘Is that a sewing thing?’

  Willow giggled. ‘No, it’s a vacuum cleaner.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Frank. ‘Well, what about that?’

  ‘No, you funny little thing,’ said Willow. ‘That’s a TV. But look there!’

  Outside Adam’s Furniture Store, a signboard said, ‘Curtains made to measure.’

  ‘They’ll have a machine,’ she cried. ‘Come on.’ She led them in.

  Mr Adam smiled. ‘Hello, Willow!’ he said. ‘How’s Aunt Suzy?’

  ‘Fine, thanks,’ said Willow. She could hardly concentrate, because she’d just spotted an orange tail poking out from beneath a leather armchair. Croc must have seen the sign as well! She nudged Jack.

  He nodded. He’d seen it too. ‘Er, we’re having a recycling fair in the field next to our house, Mr Adam,’ he said. ‘We wondered if you have anything to recycle? Something in your store room, maybe?’

  ‘There’s some lampshades that could do with re-covering,’ said Mr Adam. ‘Let’s go upstairs and find them.’

  Jack gave his backpack to Willow and followed Mr Adam.

  Willow shot across to the leather armchair but Croc was gone.

  She let Toby and Bouncer out of the backpacks to help her search. Willow spotted movement at the back of the shop and they all rushed across. Frank ran after them, but one leg was longer than the other, so he ended up going round in circles.

  At the very back of the shop, a long row of brightly coloured curtain samples hung from ceiling to floor. Willow was just thinking what a perfect hiding place that was, when one curtain moved. Something was behind it! Willow signalled to Toby and Bouncer and pointed to the bulge. They stood ready to catch the crocodile.

  She pulled the curtain aside.

  ‘Ah ha!’ she cried. But it wasn’t a wriggly orange crocodile. It was their cute, rustly Frankenhoozle.

  ‘I’m not Croc,’ said Frank. ‘He’s in the big brown thing. Come and see.’ He tottered off between rows of sofas, with Toby, Bouncer and Willow following. ‘There,’ he said, pointing to a grandfather clock.

  ‘How can Croc be inside the clock, Frank?’ Willow asked.

  Frank blinked. ‘He’s in its tummy.’

  Willow put her hand on the little door to the clock. ‘Ready? One … two … three …’

  ‘GO!’ cried Croc’s voice. The door flew open and he leapt out, over Willow’s shoulder, and boomp! Right on top of Frank.

  Frank wrestled with him just long enough for Willow to recover and pull him off the Frankenhoozle.

  ‘Got you!’ she declared, holding the wriggling crocodile up in the air.

  ‘Let me go!’ cried Croc. ‘Put me down!’

  ‘What are you up to?’ Willow demanded.

  Croc laughed. ‘I’m making ugly Hoozles out of old rubbish,’ he said. ‘Soon there’ll be more of my Hoozles than your Auntie Suzy’s ones.’

  ‘But I’ll make sure you can’t use Mr Adam’s machine,’ said Willow, ‘so you can’t make any more.’

  ‘Ha! That won’t stop me,’ crowed Croc. ‘I know another machine. I’ll make lots more and all their pockets will be sewn up tight, so no one can put a pocket heart in there.

  Children won’t want Hoozles any more. They’ll NEVER be loved!’

  Willow heard Toby gasp. He and Bouncer looked angry. ‘That Croc!’ said Toby. ‘He’ll upset Frank, saying things like that.’

  But Frank wasn’t upset. He stuck his chin out. ‘I’m not ugly; I’m a funny little thing,’ he said. ‘That’s what Willow called me. And I want a pocket heart, so I can be like other Hoozles.’

  As Willow reached down to pick Frank up, Croc saw his chance.

  He lashed his tail and broke free of her grip.

  ‘Naah na-na naah na!’ he shouted as he tore outside.

  Suddenly, the other Hoozles froze. Willow turned to see Mr Adam and Jack coming downstairs, carrying big boxes. She stowed the Hoozles
in the backpacks. As she zipped them up she saw Toby put his arm round Frank.

  ‘We found twelve lampshades, Willow,’ said Mr Adam. ‘I’ll drop them round to the fair tomorrow, to save you carrying them.’

  As he stacked the boxes, Willow quickly told Jack what had happened.

  ‘So Croc’s outside,’ said Jack. ‘Well, he won’t get in here tonight. Mr Adam’s got brand-new electronic steel shutters for his door and windows.’

  Just then, Mr Adam called, ‘Closing time, you two.’

  ‘We’d better go,’ said Jack. ‘Mum will be wondering where we are. See you tomorrow, Mr Adam.’ As they walked out the door, Mr Adam locked up after them. ‘At least Croc won’t be able to make Frankenhoozles in there,’ Jack said.

  ‘But he said he knows another machine,’ said Willow. ‘Oh, Jack, where can it be?’

  * * *

  While Jack’s mum cooked dinner, Willow helped sort out piles of recycling materials.

  ‘This is the last lot,’ said Jack. ‘There’s stacks more upstairs, already sorted.’

  There were different boxes for fabrics, zips, plastics, paper, shoes, and there was even a box for boxes! Willow looked through a big basket of things people had made to sell. She surprised Jack’s tabby cat, Fizz, who’d curled up on some jumpers for a snooze.

  When dinner was ready, they left Toby, Bouncer and Frank to chat on Jack’s bed, and ran downstairs, along a blue-painted corridor, down more stairs, and across the hall to the kitchen.

  As she ate, Willow thought hard about where there could possibly be a sewing machine that Croc could use in secret. Jack was quiet, so she guessed he was thinking, too. She hadn’t realised how hungry she was. ‘That was lovely,’ she said. ‘Recycling gives you an appetite.’