The Rabbit Rescue Read online

  For Eliza

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Map of Summertown

  ‘Meet the Hoozles!’

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Also in the Series

  Copyright

  ‘Tidy-up time!’ said Willow. She loved it when the Best Toy Shop in the World closed its doors, and she and Auntie Suzy made everything perfect, ready for the next day.

  Willow sat her blue Hoozle bear, Toby, on the shop counter and found her brother, Freddie, a picture book to read. Then she sorted a basket of glove puppets and tidied the doll’s house display. Toby stayed still and silent, as he always did when other people were around.

  Freddie picked up Wobbly, his lion Hoozle, and asked if he could take the book to his bedroom.

  ‘Of course,’ said Auntie Suzy. ‘I’ll come, too. It’s time I put the kettle on. Willow, turn the shop door sign to “Closed”, would you?’ She and Freddie went upstairs.

  Willow shut the front of the dolls’ house and picked Toby up. But before she could reach the shop door, it was thrown wide open.

  A tall woman walked in. She had long, glossy, conker-coloured hair with a glittering diamond slide at the back, and following her was a girl of about Willow’s age. They were both beautifully dressed in white and carried matching pink handbags, sewn with silver sequins. The girl’s bag had something pink and fluffy poking out through the top.

  Willow felt Toby wriggle with excitement. ‘The girl’s got a Hoozle in her bag!’ he whispered.

  Willow still got a special thrill when her Hoozle spoke to her. Just a few weeks before, she’d discovered the Hoozle secret – they could move and talk. Willow wondered if the girl knew that all Hoozles were just as alive as she was.

  Auntie Suzy poked her head into the shop and when she saw the glamorous woman she rushed over and flung her arms round her. ‘Ellie!’ she cried. ‘I haven’t seen you for ages.’

  Willow whispered to Toby, ‘Let’s go and find out who her Hoozle is.’ She went up to the girl, who was looking at a basket of cute furry animals as if they were the dullest thing she’d seen all day and said, ‘Hi, I’m Willow.’

  ‘Oh, hello,’ said the girl. ‘My name’s Clementine.’ She smoothed the skirt of her spotless white dress. ‘You can call me Clemmie.’

  Willow pointed to the handbag. ‘Who’s your Hoozle?’

  Clemmie opened the bag wide and Willow looked inside. The white bunny-rabbit Hoozle had soft, pale pink ears, dark gold eyelashes and wore a pink collar, studded with glittering glass jewels of all different colours. ‘This,’ said Clemmie, ‘is Smooches.’

  ‘Hi Smooches,’ said Willow, stroking the soft velvety coat. ‘She’s beautiful, Clemmie.’ She held Toby out. ‘This is my Hoozle.’

  ‘He’s nice,’ said Clemmie, but Willow didn’t think she was all that interested. She didn’t even ask his name.

  Willow held out Toby’s paw. ‘Shake hands with Smooches, Toby,’ she said.

  Clemmie quickly pulled her bunny rabbit back. ‘No, don’t,’ she said. ‘Your Hoozle looks grubby. He might dirty Smooches’s lovely clean fur.’

  Willow couldn’t believe anyone could say that about Toby. He wasn’t grubby! He just looked as if he was loved a lot, which was true. She gave him an extra-loving cuddle.

  Auntie Suzy put an arm round Willow’s shoulders. ‘Ellie,’ she said, ‘this is my niece, Willow, and I’m very lucky, because she and her brother, Freddie, are staying with me while their parents are working abroad.’ She turned to Willow. ‘Ellie and I were at school together,’ she said. ‘She’s a famous actor now.’

  Willow looked at Ellie a little more carefully. ‘Are you a film star?’

  ‘Watch!’ Ellie swept up her hair, then laughed loudly.

  Willow gasped. ‘You were the beautiful witch in Magic Millie, weren’t you? I love that film.’

  Ellie nodded and smiled. ‘I’m taking a break from movies so Clemmie and I can spend a few months at our beach house in Summertown. I hope you two will be friends.’

  Auntie Suzy invited Ellie upstairs for a cup of tea and off they went, still talking.

  ‘Come and see where the Hoozles are made,’ Willow said to Clemmie. ‘Auntie Suzy’s planning to start a new one after tea.’

  She showed Clemmie the shiny pink sewing machine and the red Hoozle workbag, full of colourful fabrics, threads and buttons. ‘Every Hoozle in the world is made by Auntie Suzy,’ she said proudly, and pointed to three Hoozles sitting on a shelf right above the counter.

  ‘They’re known as the Hoozle Council, and one of them is the first ever Hoozle. I’ll show you.’

  She carefully lifted down a grey-and-white owl Hoozle. He had a kindly expression. ‘This is Wizard, and he belongs to Auntie Suzy.’

  ‘He’s quite nice, I suppose,’ Clemmie said. ‘And the penguin’s rather sweet.’

  ‘That’s Grouchy,’ said Willow. ‘And this is Lovely.’ She lifted down a pink pony Hoozle with a silky purple mane and eyelashes as long as Smooches’s. ‘She’s my mum’s.’

  Clemmie laughed. ‘That pony’s not half as lovely as my Smooches.’

  Willow was stunned. Clemmie certainly wasn’t nice to other Hoozles. How must poor Lovely feel after hearing that?

  As Clemmie wandered round the shop, examining the toys, Willow made sure the Hoozle Council were safely back on their shelf and mouthed, ‘Sorry.’ Then she whispered in Toby’s ear. ‘One thing’s for sure, Clemmie doesn’t have any idea that Hoozles are alive, or she wouldn’t be mean about them.’ Willow couldn’t understand anyone not adoring Hoozles. They were all so friendly and loving – well, all except a certain orange crocodile Hoozle, called Croc.

  Toby pressed her hand. ‘Only special people know the Hoozle secret – like you.’

  Willow dropped a kiss on his nose and went to talk to Clemmie. But what was that? Something moved behind a display of robot dinosaurs. Yes! There it was again! A flash of orange.

  Oh no! She knew exactly who it was. ‘Toby,’ Willow whispered, ‘it’s Croc! What’s that naughty Hoozle doing in the shop?’

  ‘Something bad, of course,’ Toby replied in his growly whisper. ‘Let’s chase him away.’

  ‘No!’ said Willow. ‘We mustn’t! Not in front of Clemmie!’

  ‘If we don’t,’ growled Toby, ‘one thing’s certain. There’ll be trouble.’

  Willow had to stop Croc causing trouble. But she also had to make sure Clemmie didn’t see. ‘We have to keep her on the other side of the shop,’ she whispered to Toby. ‘You know Croc. If he sees Smooches, he’ll try to steal her pocket heart.’

  Toby looked very serious and put his paw over his own pocket heart. All Hoozles were given a special object by their owners, which was a symbol of the love they had for each other. A Hoozle without a pocket heart was a sad and sorry Hoozle.

  ‘Willow, don’t let Clemmie put her bag down,’ Toby growled softly. ‘If she does, Croc will be in there faster than a sneeze.’

  ‘OK.’ Willow raised her voice. ‘Clemmie,’ she said, ‘why don’t you have a look at the dolls’ house, over by the counter? You can open it up if you like. It’s got such cute things in it.’

  ‘All right,’ said Clemmie. ‘I like dolls’ houses. Come on, then.’

  Willow thought quickly. ‘Um, I – um, I’m going to dust the stegosaurus,’ she said. ‘Won’t be a moment! Oh, don’t put your lovely bag on the floor. It hasn’t been swept yet.’

  She knew that would make Clemmie hold on to her handbag. She turned towards the place where she’d last seen Croc.r />
  ‘Hey!’ said Clemmie. ‘There’s a cat in here. Have you got a ginger cat?’

  Willow knew exactly what Clemmie had seen. It must have been Croc. ‘I expect it’s just wandered in,’ she said. ‘You know what cats are like. They love playing with soft toys.’

  Clemmie stroked Smooches’s ears. ‘I think you should get rid of it,’ she said. ‘I don’t want bits of ginger fur getting into Smooches’s lovely white coat.’ She wandered away to look in the hobbies section.

  Willow searched around. Suddenly Croc’s orange head popped up from behind a train set. He grinned at her and disappeared again.

  She sat Toby on the counter where he’d be safe from Croc, then looked for something to keep Clemmie busy while she hunted for the naughty Hoozle.

  She went to the crafts section.

  ‘We’ve got some sample felt tips,’ Willow said. ‘Big, fat ones, and there’s every colour you could think of. Anyone’s allowed to colour one of the pictures in this tray.’

  ‘Ooh, can I?’ Clemmie asked. ‘Mum says I’m very artistic.’

  As Willow reached up for the pot of pens, she heard a faint scurrying sound and spun round. Crash! The pot tipped over and all the pens bounced from shelf to shelf, on to the floor. All except one.

  ‘Oh, look what you’ve done!’ cried Clemmie.

  Willow stared in horror at a long jagged line of bright yellow felt tip all down the side of Clemmie’s white dress. ‘I’m sorry!’ she said. ‘Let me see if I can get it off.’

  Clemmie was furious. ‘Don’t you dare touch it! I’m going to find my mother.’

  She dumped her handbag on the chair by the counter, propped Smooches up inside it, and held the skirt of her dress out with both hands. ‘It’s ruined,’ she cried, and stormed upstairs.

  ‘Wow!’ said Toby, from the counter. ‘She’s scary when she’s cross.’

  ‘It’s Willow’s fault for making her cross,’ said a small, but firm, voice.

  ‘Smooches!’ said Willow. She knelt down to speak to the bunny Hoozle. ‘I’m sorry, but it was an accident.’

  Toby jumped down on to the chair and said, ‘It really was, Smooches.’

  The bunny Hoozle ignored him. ‘What sort of a place is this, anyway?’ she said. ‘An unswept floor? Pens flying all over the place? An uninvited cat?’

  That reminded Willow that Croc was still loose in the shop. While she searched the shelves, Toby tried to explain to Smooches about the naughty crocodile. All the time, Willow could hear the bunny grumbling.

  ‘Look at those Hoozles up there on that shelf getting dusty. Why do their owners leave them there? Don’t they care about them? You – Toby – help me out of this handbag. Ooof! That’s better.’

  Willow smiled to herself. Smooches sounded a little bit like Clemmie.

  What was that? She saw a streak of orange race across the floor towards the counter. ‘Toby!’ she cried. ‘Look out!’

  Before she could reach the Hoozles, Croc leapt on to the chair. He turned to laugh at Willow, then snatched a sparkling pink glass bead from Smooches’s pocket and jumped down.

  ‘Her pocket heart,’ cried Willow. ‘Come back here, Croc!’

  But the bad Hoozle ran behind the counter, through the store room, and out into the alley behind the shops.

  Smooches twitched her nose. ‘What a ruffian! How dare he touch me?’

  Willow stroked her. ‘Oh, Smooches,’ she said gently. ‘I’m so sorry.’ She tried to explain that Croc didn’t want other Hoozles to be happy, and that’s why he stole their pocket hearts, but the bunny wasn’t listening.

  Instead, Smooches turned on Toby. ‘It’s your fault,’ she said. ‘You should have stopped him. You go and fetch my pocket heart back at once.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Smooches,’ spluttered Toby, ‘but it’s not my fault. He’s so quick! Willow and I will do our best to find him, really we will.’

  ‘Oh, you’re far too slow,’ said Smooches. ‘You should have grabbed him straight away. Excuse me!’ she added, pushing past Toby.

  Willow guessed what she was going to do. ‘Stop!’ she cried, but Smooches leapt down from the chair and ran to the back door.

  ‘If you won’t go after him,’ she said, ‘then I will!’

  Willow ran out into the alley. ‘Smooches, come back!’

  Oh, no, she thought. What’s Clemmie going to say?

  Willow scooped Toby up and rushed after Croc and Smooches. She had to bring back the bunny-rabbit Hoozle – and her pocket heart – before Clemmie realised they were gone. She’d never be able to explain this away. And suppose Croc hid the pink glass bead where no one could find it! Willow imagined poor Smooches without her pocket heart – she could hardly bear the thought.

  As she turned out of the alley on to the seafront, she spotted the two Hoozles. Croc had stopped to tease Smooches by waving the pink glass bead. ‘I’m going to put your pocket heart where no one will ever be able to get it,’ he taunted. ‘At the top of the tallest tree in Summertown!’ And he was off again.

  Willow called and called for Smooches to stop, but the little white bunny rabbit just kept going after Croc. The last Willow saw was a flash of her tail as she disappeared round the corner by the library.

  ‘We’ll have to find them, Toby,’ said Willow. ‘I just hope Clemmie doesn’t go down into the shop before we get back.’

  ‘Where’s the tallest tree in Summertown?’ Toby asked.

  ‘It must be in the park,’ Willow decided. ‘Let’s go!’

  As she ran along, Toby said, ‘It’s strange, Willow. When Freddie’s Hoozle, Wobbly, lost his pocket heart –’

  ‘When Croc stole it, you mean,’ panted Willow.

  ‘Yes, well, Wobbly was sad and weak and cold until he got it back. But Smooches is as lively as ever.’

  Willow could see the park gates now. ‘Maybe the pocket heart Clemmie gave Smooches isn’t right for her,’ she said. ‘Perhaps there’s something wrong with it, and that’s why she was mean to the other Hoozles.’ They turned into the park. ‘Look!’ Willow cried in dismay.

  Croc was already halfway up a big old chestnut tree – the tallest tree in Summertown. And Smooches was climbing up after him. As Willow and Toby drew near, they could hear her shouting up at Croc.

  ‘She does go on, doesn’t she?’ Willow murmured.

  ‘You horrid crocodile,’ Smooches was yelling. ‘I can’t believe you’ve made me come after you. Just look at the state of my fur!’

  Croc laughed. ‘You didn’t have to follow me.’ He jumped on to a higher branch, but wobbled and nearly toppled off.

  Willow caught her breath. Bad as he was, she didn’t want him to be hurt.

  Croc steadied himself. His face turned angry.

  Willow had seen that look before. It meant Croc was feeling especially mean and spiteful.

  ‘I’m doing it for your own good, bunny rabbit,’ he said. ‘That Clemmie girl will soon get tired of you when some flashy new toy comes along.’ Smooches kept on climbing as Croc taunted her. ‘Clemmie only likes new, clean things. She hates grubby things!’

  Smooches paused in her climb.

  ‘She’s gone quiet,’ said Toby.

  ‘I think what Croc said has upset her,’ said Willow. ‘Oh, I must help her.’ She looked around. If only there was a ladder, or something she could stand on so she could reach the first branch. Smooches and Croc’s little paws could grip the ridges and bumps and knobbly bits on the tree trunk, but she’d never be able to get a handhold at all.

  Smooches struggled onwards, yelling as she climbed higher and higher, and getting angrier and angrier with Croc.

  Croc was almost at the top of the tree. He laughed. ‘Why don’t you stop all that shouting and save your energy for the long climb down? You’re just making yourself dirty. Look at the state of your paws.’

  Smooches lifted a paw to look and lost her grip. She cried out as she slithered back a little way.

  Willow’s heart leapt. ‘We have to do som
ething!’

  Willow struggled to climb up to the lowest branch of the chestnut tree, but it was impossible. She couldn’t get a grip on the trunk. ‘I just can’t do it,’ she said miserably, sinking to the ground. ‘I’ve never been good at climbing trees.’

  Toby climbed on to her shoulder and touched her face with his soft paw. ‘I’ll help Smooches,’ he said. ‘Lift me as high as you can, and I’ll jump up on to that branch.’

  Willow hugged him. ‘I know you can do it,’ she said as she lifted him up. He sprang into the air and landed neatly on the first branch.

  Willow was relieved and proud at the same time. You’re such a brave little bear, she thought as she watched him climb steadily up the trunk, pulling himself from branch to branch, never looking down. When he reached Smooches, she gave a little cheer to herself.

  ‘I’ll help you go the rest of the way,’ she heard Toby say.

  Willow watched the two Hoozles working together, climbing higher and higher, helping each other over difficult branches. All the time, she could hear Croc taunting and teasing them.

  ‘Needed a friend to help you, did you, Smoochy-woochy? Watch you don’t fall. I shouldn’t look down, if I were you.’

  But Smooches did look down. Willow saw the little white figure wobble and heard her frightened squeal. She gasped. Smooches was falling! But she needn’t have worried. Brave Toby caught hold of the bunny and helped her to wedge herself safely where a branch joined the trunk.