Free Lulu Bell and the Circus Pup by Belinda Murrell Page B

world-famous Starlight Circus,’ called the acrobat. ‘Be amazed and enthralled. Be thrilled and intrigued. Roll up, folks. Buy your tickets for the grand opening on Friday night.’
    Lulu jiggled with excitement. ‘Please can we go, Mum?’ she begged.
    Mum smiled. ‘We’ll see how we go, honey buns. But now we need to get home.’
    Mum turned to Gus and pointed at the pram seat. ‘In you hop, Gus. I think we’ve had more than enough circus fun for one day.’
    Gus climbed into the pram and jammed his cowboy hat on his head. He popped his thumb in his mouth.
    â€˜I could never have too much circus fun,’ said Lulu. ‘I wish we lived in a circus!’

Chapter 3
The Missing Pup
    Rosie and Lulu walked beside the pram. Asha and Jessie trotted along beside them, sniffing all the smells. They came to the end of the park.
    â€˜Spangles!’ cried a voice. ‘Spangles!’
    Everyone turned around.
    A girl was running towards them. She had tangled black hair, a big, sloppy jumper and bare feet. Her face was streaked with tears.
    â€˜Are you all right?’ asked Mum. ‘Have you hurt yourself?”
    The girl shook her head. She wiped her hand across her cheek. It left a grubby smear.
    â€˜I’ve … lost my dog,’ she said. Her voice cracked. ‘Have you seen her? She’s cream and fluffy with a black face.’
    â€˜You mean the cute one with the pink cloth tied around her neck?’ asked Lulu.
    The girl nodded. She looked hopeful. ‘Did you see her? Where was she?’

    â€˜We saw you walking a big groupof dogs earlier,’ said Lulu. She pointed back towards the circus tent. ‘The little dog was following you.’
    â€˜She was ,’ said the circus girl. ‘But she must have wandered off. I put all the other dogs away in their kennels. When I called Spangles she didn’t come.’ A tear rolled down her cheek.
    â€˜Don’t worry.’ Mum pulled a tissue out of her handbag and handed it to the circus girl. ‘I’m sure Spangles won’t be too far away.’

    The girl wiped her face and blew her nose.
    Lulu tossed her honey-gold ponytail over her shoulder. ‘We can help you find Spangles. Can’t we, Mum?’ asked Lulu.
    Mum smiled at the girl. ‘Of course we can. Why don’t we search back through the park? You girls look down this side. Gus and I will search along the lagoon bank.’
    Lulu, Rosie and the girl set off across the grass.
    â€˜Hi, I’m Lulu Bell,’ Lulu told the circus girl. ‘This is my sister Rosie. These are our dogs Asha and Jessie.’
    â€˜I’m Stella,’ the girl replied. She patted Asha and Jessie.
    The girls called and whistled as they walked along. They asked several people if they had seen a small lost dog. No-one had. Lulu glanced towards the lagoon. She could see Mum and Gus walking beside the rushes.
    â€˜Do you live in the circus?’ asked Rosie.
    Stella nodded and pointed back towards the camp. ‘I live in the little blue caravan on the end with my mum and dad.’
    â€˜Wow. That must be so exciting,’ said Lulu.
    â€˜It is fun,’ agreed Stella. ‘We’re all trick riders. We also train the dogs. Spangles is my very own dog. I’ve had her since she was a tiny puppy.’ Stella’s voice wobbled. ‘Mum and Dad are going to be so upset if we can’t find Spangles. She is the star of our new act.’
    Lulu patted Stella on the shoulder. ‘We’ll find her,’ said Lulu. But the longer they searched, the less certain she felt.
    At last they joined up with Mum and Gus at the beach end of the park.
    â€˜No luck?’ asked Mum.
    â€˜No luck at all,’ answered Lulu gloomily.
    Stella blinked and looked away.
    â€˜Doggy gorn ,’ said Gus helpfully. He shrugged his shoulders.
    Spangles seemed to have disappeared. Where could the circus pup possibly be?

Chapter