Free Friendship Dance by Titania Woods

‘Isn’t that right, Stripe?’ The wasp buzzed loudly, bobbing in the air.
    The boys came over then, and Twink saw that Chauncey-Oberon’s wing had been bandaged by one of the Queen’s doctors. ‘Here,’ he muttered, shoving a glass of sweet dew towards Twink. ‘Um . . . can I talk to you?’
    â€˜All right,’ said Twink in surprise, accepting the dew.
    â€˜I just wanted to say sorry,’ blurted out Chauncey-Oberon when they were in a quiet corner of the courtyard together. ‘I – I’ve been a real moss brain towards you, Twink. I’ve said some awful things over the last two weeks.’
    â€˜Well, what I said was pretty awful, too,’ pointed out Twink, remembering the terrible words she had flung at him in the wasp Queen’s chamber.
    â€˜Yes, but at least you had a reason,’ retorted Chauncey-Oberon. ‘I didn’t have one at all – I was just jealous. The Queen knew you instead of me, and – and you seem to make friends so easily, when I don’t have any . . . ’ He trailed off, his pointed ears reddening. ‘Anyway, I really am sorry,’ he muttered.
    â€˜But you do have a friend,’ burst out Twink. ‘I mean – I’ll be your friend, Chauncey-Oberon, if you let me.’
    His eyes widened, and then suddenly he smiled – a real smile, not a sarcastic one. It changed his whole face, and Twink found herself smiling back.

    â€˜Really?’ he asked.
    â€˜Yes, of course!’ said Twink. ‘Besides,’ she added, ‘I don’t see how we couldn’t be friends, after all that’s happened today.’
    â€˜No, I suppose not,’ said Chauncey-Oberon. His smile grew even wider. ‘You can’t really go into a wasps’ nest together and not become friends, can you?’
    â€˜Absolutely not!’ laughed Twink.
    â€˜Will you write to me at White Cloud?’ asked Chauncey-Oberon as they headed back to the party.
    Twink nodded vehemently, her pink hair tumbling about her face. ‘And you have to write to me at Glitterwings.’
    â€˜I will!’ he grinned. ‘I’ve never had anyone to write to before – it’ll be glimmery.’ Suddenly Chauncey-Oberon ducked his crimson head. ‘Um – can I just ask you one favour, though, Twink?’
    â€˜What is it?’ she asked in surprise.
    He smiled shyly as the party whirled around them. ‘Would you call me Chaunce?’

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    Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Berlin, New York and Sydney
    First published in Great Britain in 2009 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
    36 Soho Square, London, W1D 3QY
    Text copyright © Lee Weatherly 2009
    Illustrations copyright © Smiljana Coh 2009
    The moral right of the author has been asserted
    This electronic edition published in September 2010 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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    ISBN 978 1 4088 1353 9
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