Chapter 1
Gymnastics
It was Tuesday afternoon after school. Lulu Bell and her sister Rosie were at gymnastics class. There were seven girls and six boys, and they were all practising their cartwheels.
Lulu swung sideways from her feet to her hands and over again. She did twenty cartwheels in a row. Her best record yet. On the last one she wobbled but landed safely on her feet.
âBeautiful cartwheels, Lulu,â said Miss Carolina. âI like the way you are keeping your legs nice and straight.â
Lulu felt a glow of pride. âThanks, Miss Carolina. Iâve been practising every day in the garden at home.â
Mum sat watching with the other mothers. Luluâs little brother Gus was doing forward rolls with his friends. He was too young to do classes yet, but he liked to copy his older sisters. The only problem was that he refused to take off his cowboy hat and boots. This made it hard to roll in a straight line.
The last part of the class was walking on the balance beam. Lulu concentrated hard, and held her arms out to the side. She felt like a tightrope walker. Lulu loved doing gymnastics.
âOkay, gang,â said Miss Carolina. âGreat work. Iâll see you all next Tuesday. Keep practising!â
âGoodbye, Miss Carolina,â chorused the children. âSee you next week.â
The kids milled around, chatting and laughing. Luluâs friend Jessica skipped over. Her twin brothers Jack and Toby were great friends with Gus.
âHave you heard the news, Lulu?â asked Jessica. âThe circus is coming to Shelly Beach. Mum said we can go on Friday night.â
âThe circus?â said Lulu. Her eyes shone with excitement. âWe went to thecircus when it came two years ago. It was fantastic.â
âWill they have lions and elephants and monkeys?â asked Rosie.
âThereâs a poster on the noticeboard,â said Jessica. âLetâs take a look.â
The children crowded around the noticeboard. The poster showed a clown with a white-painted face, a smiling red mouth, a huge red nose and a curly blue wig.
âStarlight Circus,â read Lulu. âA dazzling show with acrobats, jugglers and crazy clowns.â
âStarring camels, horses and performing dogs,â added Rosie.
Mum came over to join them. âTime to head home, honey buns.â
âLook, Mum,â said Lulu. âThe circus is coming. Can we go? Pleeease?â
âPretty please with cherries on top?â said Rosie.
Mum read the poster and smiled. âWeâll see. Come on.â
The three Bell children called goodbye to their friends. The girls slipped their school uniforms over their blue leotards. Rosie also pulled on her angel wings. Gus climbed into the pram.
Outside, the family dogs Asha and Jessie were tied up in the shade of a tree. They jumped up and wriggled with excitement to see the children.
âGood girls. Did you miss us?â Lulu asked. She untied the dogsâ leads.
âWoof,â said Asha. Jessie smiled her big doggy smile.
âYou know, I think we might walk home the long way today,â said Mum. âIt would be a nice change to walk back through Lagoon Park.â
Lulu turned around. âThe long way?â she asked. âWhy?â
Mum had a cheeky smile on her face. âOh, who knows what fabulous sights we might see if we go the long way?â
Mmmm , thought Lulu. Mumâs up to something. I wonder what it could be?
Chapter 2
Lagoon Park
Lagoon Park was a long, narrow stretch of grass beside a wide lagoon. The late afternoon sun glinted on the water. Wispy rushes fringed the banks. Fat brown ducks waddled on the shore.
Gus climbed out of the pram.
âDonât go too close to the water, Gus,â warned Mum.
Gus grinned and ran towards the ducks. The ducks scattered, squawking in disgust. Gus jumped in a puddle.
Lulu thought the park seemed very quiet today. Normally there were lots