Free Rocky by Rebecca Lisle Page B

to.”
    Ruby sat beside her rock andstroked it. “I’m glad you don’t do things like that, Rocky,” she said. “What a good, well-trained pet you are.”
    Jane scowled.
    That night, when Jane went up to bed, she took Kitty with her. The kitten curled up on the bed and purred and went to sleep.

    Ruby put Rocky on her bed. The rock was finding it hard to settle down, so Ruby sang it a lullaby.

    â€œWhat’s all that noise? Why are you singing?” asked Jane, peering into Ruby’s room. “It’s not real,” she added, eyeing the rock on Ruby’s bed. You know it’s not. You’re just pretending.”
    Ruby smiled a big, secretive smile. She shrugged. “Goodnight, Jane, and shut the door please – I don’t want Rocky to get out in the night.”
    â€œIt’s not alive, Ruby, it really isn’t!” cried Jane. “Look, if you say it’s not alive and not a real pet, you can give Kitty her breakfast in the morning.”

    â€œNo thank you. And don’t shout, you’ll wake Rocky.”
    â€œOh, you drive me mad!” Jane was just about to slam the door shut when she had a thought. “I suppose you’ll be too busy to feed Kitty in the morning because you’ll be feeding your stone, won’t you?”
    Ruby looked blank.

    â€œNo? Why not, Ruby? Why doesn’t your stone eat anything? I’ll tell you why. Because it’s NOT ALIVE! ”
    And then she
did
slam the door.

Chapter Four

    THERE WAS GOING to be a church fête on Saturday. A leaflet came through the door with all the details of what was going to be there.
    â€œLook,” said Jane. “There are lots of competitions for pets. I’m going to enter Kitty for the cuddliest kitten competition.”
    Ruby stared at her. “Huh,” she said, “what about me?” She grabbed the sheet of paper from Jane.

    â€œSilly.You haven’t got a pet.”
    â€œI have. I’m going to enter my pet rock,” said Ruby.
    â€œYou can’t, it’s not real.”
    â€œI can. It is. It’ll win too.”

    â€œYou can’t! Mum, please don’t let Ruby enter her stupid stone in the competition,” cried Jane. “Everyone will laugh. Ruby, why are you so annoying?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Ruby. “Listen, if I
do
win, then you’ve got to let me share Kitty with you . . .”
    â€œNo!” said Jane.
    â€œJust a bit. Just let me play with her a bit. That would be fair . . . if I win.”
    â€œOh, OK . . . but you won’t win!”

    â€œWe shall see,” said Ruby mysteriously.
    Jane spent hours getting Kitty ready for the competition. She brushed her black fur until it gleamed and sprinkled her with perfume so she smelled like an exotic flower. When Kitty was quite ready, Jane tied a pink ribbon around her neck.

    Ruby watched and when Jane had finished, Ruby got her rockready. First she cleaned Rocky with soap. When it was spotless, she dried it. Then she rubbed it with olive oil until it gleamed. Next, she got a small box and painted the inside blue and green with silver squiggles. She filled the box with moss and leaves and rose petals to make a wonderful nest for her rock.There was one small window where you could look inside and when you did peer through, it was all murky and mysterious. The rock sat amongst the petalsand leaves like a peculiar, very still, smiling toad. Ruby made a label for it:

    Rocky the Marvellus Misteeriyus Rock Monsta from Planit Droppablok

    â€œNo prizes for spelling,” said Jane. “You don’t think it’s going to win the cuddliest kitten competition, do you? It can’t.”
    â€œWe’re not going to even try to win the cuddliest kitten competition,” said Ruby. “I’m not stupid.”

    There were all sorts of animals in the competition. Children brought cats, dogs, lizards, frogs, stick insects,