Magic Toyshop Page 2

  Willow grinned as a thought popped into her head. ‘You’re a genius, Grouchy,’ she told him, giving him a hug which made Grouchy squirm. ‘Seagulls are noisy … and you get lots of them down at the pier. Maybe Croc lives there?’

  ‘Let’s try,’ Lovely said. ‘And quick. Auntie Suzy will be back at the shop soon, I should think.’

  The beach was crowded with holidaymakers in deckchairs, and excited squeals came from the sea as children splashed around, jumping over the waves and riding in brightly coloured dinghies. Willow and the Hoozles made their way along the old wooden boards of the pier, searching for a possible Hoozle home. There was a little tea shop at the far end of the pier, and an amusement arcade, which was certainly very noisy, but there was still no sign of Croc.

  It was only as they were walking back that Willow realised she could see through the wooden boards down to the beach below. ‘Maybe we should look under the pier?’ she suggested in a low voice.

  ‘Good thinking,’ Toby said, wriggling eagerly. ‘It’s darker and probably feels more secret down there – much more like a place Croc would want to live.’

  Willow hurried down to the beach so that she could make her way underneath the pier. ‘Phew!’ snorted Lovely, tossing her mane. ‘It’s very smelly.’

  The little pink pony was right. Matted clumps of seaweed clung to the iron legs of the pier and there was a sharp, salty tang in the air.

  Green weed and barnacles covered the rocks nearby.

  They were well away from the holidaymakers, so Willow put Lovely, Grouchy and Toby down on the ground to explore. The three Hoozles set off over the stones at once, while Willow searched too, hoping that they might have found Croc’s home at last.

  It was cool and quiet under the pier but after a few minutes, the silence was broken by a cry from Toby. ‘Hey!’

  Willow snapped her head around to check he was all right – only to see Toby tumbling backwards off a large rock. ‘He’s in there!’ the brave bear shouted as he fell to the ground. ‘In this little cave – I’ve seen him!’

  Willow stumbled over the stones, just as Croc emerged. He had a cross look on his face, as if he didn’t like being disturbed. Then, when he saw Willow, his expression changed to panic, and he turned tail.

  ‘Don’t let him get away!’ Toby shouted.

  Willow lunged and managed to grab the little crocodile who squirmed furiously in her grasp.

  Lovely cheered at the sight. ‘Well done, Willow! Come on, Grouchy, let’s go and look for the Hoozle-making bag,’ she said, trotting into the cave.

  Croc looked crosser than ever. ‘You’ll never find it,’ he shouted, snapping his teeth together. ‘I’ve hidden it somewhere really good.’

  Willow stared at him. ‘Why are you so mean all the time, Croc?’ she asked as he wriggled in her arms.

  Croc stuck his nose in the air. ‘I like being mean,’ he muttered. ‘And I never want another child to have a Hoozle again. It would be better for everyone if new Hoozles weren’t made at all, rather than have a child abandon them.’

  He spoke so bitterly that Willow couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. ‘Is that what happened to you?’ she asked.

  Croc clamped his mouth shut and didn’t answer.

  ‘I won’t put you down until you tell me,’ Willow said.

  Croc’s body seemed to droop, as if he’d lost some stuffing. ‘My child gave me away,’ he muttered. ‘To his horrible little brother who broke all his toys.’

  ‘Well, I’m sorry to hear that,’ Willow said. ‘But you shouldn’t go around being horrid yourself.’

  Lovely and Grouchy emerged from the cave. ‘We can’t find the bag of Hoozle tools,’ Grouchy grumbled. ‘It’s not in there.’

  Willow’s shoulders slumped in disappointment – and Croc took the opportunity to leap out of her arms and run away, disappearing among the rocks within seconds.

  Willow was just about to chase after him when she heard an excited cry from Toby. ‘There it is! I can see the bag!’

  She looked up to see where he was pointing. Yes! There was the special bag … dangling out over the water from a high wooden beam under the pier. She swallowed. How were they going to get that down?

  Toby seemed to read her mind. ‘You stay there, Willow; it’s too high for you. Us Hoozles can climb up and get it.’

  Grouchy didn’t look very happy about climbing up the beams. ‘Oh, all right,’ he muttered, following the others.

  Willow watched the three Hoozles clamber up the wooden beams. Up … up … and up they went, inching nearer the bag. Grouchy quivered with discomfort. ‘It’s too high up here,’ he moaned, shielding his eyes with a wing. ‘I don’t like it!’ Willow held her breath while Toby pulled himself even further up the beam.

  Toby grabbed the handles. ‘We’ll drop it down to you, Willow, all right?’

  Willow nodded. ‘Sure,’ she called up. She kicked off her sandals and waded into the sea until she was underneath the bag. The water was lovely and cool and came midway up her calves.

  ‘One, two, three … Go!’ cried Lovely.

  The Hoozles pushed the bag off its nail and Willow held up her arms to catch it. Yes!

  ‘Well done, guys,’ she said, sploshing out of the sea and stepping into her sandals. ‘Now we have to get back to Auntie Suzy’s shop. Come on!’

  * * *

  Auntie Suzy’s toy shop was right on the sea front, so it only took Willow a few minutes to get back. Ricky waved from the storeroom at the back of the store, and Willow had just put the Hoozle-making bag on the shop counter when Suzy and Freddie came in.

  ‘How annoying!’ Auntie Suzy said, taking off her enormous sunglasses. ‘We looked for ages for the right piece of material for an elephant Hoozle, but they didn’t have anything quite special enough, only this grey corduroy, which I think is a bit dull.’

  Willow grinned. ‘Is this any good?’ she asked, holding up the purple and lilac blanket she’d got from the animal shelter. ‘And I’ve found some lovely buttons for eyes, too.’

  Auntie Suzy’s face lit up. ‘Perfect!’ she cried, stroking the blanket. ‘Oh, good work, Willow. Where did you get these?’

  Willow hesitated. ‘Well…’ She suddenly became aware of Lovely and Grouchy, who were in her backpack, and noticed that the model of Summertown was still in a muddle.

  Auntie Suzy raised an eyebrow. ‘Well?’ she asked. ‘What’s been going on?’

  ‘I…’ Willow bit her lip. Was her auntie going to be cross with her? ‘I had a bit of a Hoozle adventure,’ she confessed after a moment. ‘I’m sorry about the mess.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Auntie Suzy asked … and then smiled. ‘Well, I’m glad the the Hoozles have someone new to have adventures with.’ She chuckled. ‘I’m far too old now.’

  Willow let her breath out in relief. ‘I’ll tidy this up right away,’ she said, walking quickly over to the town model.

  ‘And I’d better start work on this new Hoozle,’ Auntie Suzy said, settling down in her chair.

  Willow picked up all the model buildings which Croc had knocked down and set them carefully back in place. She squinted at the model pier, wondering where Croc was now – and what he was plotting next. She didn’t trust him one bit.

  * * *

  By the end of the afternoon, Auntie Suzy had finished the new Hoozle. He was a very jolly-looking purple elephant with a lovely grey corduroy trunk and flappy ears, which had soft silky insides. ‘Now, I always like to put new Hoozles up here with the others while we wait for their new owners to pick them up,’ Auntie Suzy said with a little smile. ‘That way, they can get to know each other.’ She reached up and put the elephant on the shelf next to Wizard. Grouchy and Lovely had also been put back there.

  ‘There,’ she said. ‘Now, I’m going to make a cup of tea and see what your brother’s up to, Willow,’ Auntie Suzy said. ‘Back in five.’ She went upstairs, leaving Willow alone in the shop.

  Willow immediately looked up at the Hoozles. She watched in delight as they came alive … including the new elephant Hoozle. He stretched his trunk and shook his ears out, then gave a slow blink and looked around.

  ‘Hello,’ Wizard said in his kindly voice. ‘And welcome. We’re the Hoozles – Wizard, Lovely and Grouchy – and as members of the Hoozle Council, we’re all delighted to welcome you to the world!’

  ‘Oh!’ said the elephant in a cheerful voice. ‘How very splendid to meet you. Hello, hello and hello! I’m …’ He thought. ‘Who am I?’

  Willow let out a giggle. ‘That’s for Jack to decide,’ she said, smiling up at the elephant. ‘He’s going to be your new owner.’

  ‘Oh, he is, is he?’ the elephant said. ‘Jolly good.’ He gazed around the shop. ‘What a wonderful place this is!’

  Willow cuddled Toby, thinking what a nice creature the new Hoozle seemed. Friendly and fun, so positive about everything – he was exactly what shy Jack needed to give him some confidence, she decided.

  Just as she was thinking about Jack, the bell on the shop door jingled and in he came with his mum. ‘Hi,’ Willow said, pleased to see them again.

  Jack smiled. ‘Hi, Willow,’ he said. His eyes darted around looking for Auntie Suzy. ‘How’s your aunt getting on with my Hoozle?’ he asked.

  Auntie Suzy bustled in, just as Willow was pointing up at the Hoozle shelf.

  ‘Hello again! I heard the bell ring. Here, let me,’ Suzy said, and carefully took down the elephant for Jack. ‘What do you think?’

  Jack’s face was split with a broad grin. ‘He’s great!’ he replied happily. ‘I love the material you used – oh, and his eyes are so sparkly.’ He flung his arms around Auntie Suzy. ‘Thank you!’

  Auntie Suzy looked pleased. ‘You’re very welcome,’ she laughed. ‘Now, did Willow explain about the pocket heart?’

  Jack nodded. ‘Yes, and I’ve got just the thing,’ he said, reaching into his trouser pocket. He pulled out a little red ball. ‘This is the bounciest ball I’ve got – it’s my favourite,’ he said, and popped it into the elephant’s front pocket. ‘And I’m going to call you … Bouncer,’ he said to his Hoozle.

  ‘Wonderful!’ Suzy exclaimed, as Jack gave Bouncer a big cuddle.

  Willow couldn’t stop smiling. She felt so happy for Jack, now that he had his own Hoozle. ‘They’re going to have a wonderful time together,’ she murmured to Toby as Jack and his mum went to pay for Bouncer. ‘Just like me and you.’

  Also in the series:

  a. Magic Toyshop: My Magical Teddy

  b. Magic Toyshop: Ragbag Friends

  c. Magic Toyshop: The Rabbit Rescue

  d. Magic Toyshop: Treasure Island Trouble

  Copyright

  First published in 2010 in The Hoozles series

  First published in this edition in 2013

  by Faber and Faber Limited

  Bloomsbury House

  74–7 Great Russell Street

  London WC1B 3DA

  Series created by Working Partners Limited, London W6 0QT

  All rights reserved

  Text © Working Partners Limited, 2010

  Illustrations © Penny Dann, 2010

  Special thanks to Val Wilding

  A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

  ISBN 978–0–571–29458–9

 

 

  Jessie Little, Magic Toyshop

 

 

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