Free Clementine Rose and the Movie Magic 9 by Jacqueline Harvey Page A

attic, which Clementine and Will had transformed into a box office by the door. The retractable screen sat at the end of the room and the projector was positioned behind the seats. Several hand-drawn movie posters adorned the walls. The children had made tickets and positioned place cards on the seats too.
    â€˜Come on, everyone!’ Clementine was doing her best to round up the members of the household, who kept on disappearing. ‘Drew, you’re sitting next to Mummy,’ Clementine directed. She paused, looking around for her. ‘Uncle Digby, where’s Mummy gone now?’
    â€˜I saw her in the hallway with Ms Spencer,’ the man replied as he poured fresh lemonade for everyone.
    Clementine raced off to find her. ‘Mummy, the movie’s about to start,’ she said, grabbing the woman’s hand and dragging her down the hall.
    â€˜I’m coming, darling,’ Lady Clarissa replied. ‘What were you going to say, Ms Spencer?’
    â€˜I’m leaving this afternoon. Family emergency. I’ll pack my things and be off in a little while,’ the woman said breezily.
    â€˜Oh, I am sorry to hear that,’ Lady Clarissa replied. ‘I hope everything is all right.’
    â€˜Yes, better than all right,’ the woman purred. ‘I’m sure it will be fine.’
    Ten minutes later Clementine and Will had sold six tickets in total – to Lady Clarissa, Uncle Digby, Drew, Lavender, Pharaoh and, most surprisingly, Mr Doncaster. Clementine eyed the man warily as he walked in and sat in the middle of the front row, where she had reserved a seat for Aunt Violet.
    â€˜This had better not be a trick,’ Mr Doncaster complained.
    â€˜I can assure you, you’ll love this,’ Drew said.
    Clementine handed each guest a bag of popcorn and a cup of fresh lemonade, although Lavender and Pharaoh would have to wait until they were back in the kitchen to have theirs. Then she stood in front of the screen with Will beside her.
    â€˜Ladies and gentlemen,’ Clementine began, ‘we are proud to present, for your viewing pleasure …’ She looked over at Will and gave a nod.
    â€˜â€¦ Beauty and the Beast ,’ Will finished proudly.
    Clementine giggled and nudged him. ‘We’re not calling it that, remember?’ she whispered loudly. ‘Aunt Violet will get mad.’
    Will blushed as the audience tittered with laughter.
    Clementine took a deep breath and started again. ‘We are proud to present Lavender and Pharaoh: An Unlikely Love Story .’
    The two pets had front-row seats, except they were sitting on the floor.
    â€˜Weren’t you going to wait for me?’ Aunt Violet sniffed as she strode through the door.
    â€˜Aunt Violet!’ Clementine rushed to the old woman and hugged her around the middle. ‘I’m so glad you’re feeling better.’
    â€˜Settle down, Clementine. I just had a migraine. I wasn’t about to die.’ Aunt Violet made her way to a spare seat at the front, a smile at the corner of her lips. ‘Besides, I was told I had to be here,’ she said, glancing at Drew.
    â€˜Are you sure you’re feeling okay? Clemen tine asked. ‘You look different.’
    The old woman frowned. ‘Perhaps because I’m not wearing any lipstick. It seems to have gone missing.’
    Clementine and Will shared a look before taking their seats.
    With everyone finally settled, Drew pressed ‘play’ and the screen came to life. He hustled across the row of chairs to sit beside Clarissa. The movie started with a sweet scene where Lavender looked to be giving Pharaoh a kiss, followed by Lavender running about playing soccer and Pharaoh looking on lovingly through the Hobbses’ window.
    Clementine and Will took turns narrating the movie. Mr Doncaster chuckled at Lavender rolling about in Ana’s lavender bush and there were some shots of the two creatures in the garden at