Free Isabella's Pink Bicycle by Emma Calin

Chapter 2 - A Strange Meeting In The Wood Shed
    Isabella’s mother worked cleaning the houses of richer people. Very often, Isabella was left to prepare the meal for the family when her father came home from the mine.

     
    Outside their house was a small garden where they grew vegetables. There was also a little shed where Isabella’s father sawed wood for the fire.
     
    One day her mother had told her to bring in some logs. She went to the shed and started to gather up some wood. As she watched, she saw a pile of sawdust start to move as if it were alive. At first she saw two eyes, then some small ears, some whiskers and a cute little nose. The creature blinked, sneezed and pulled out a long thin body from a dark tunnel that seemed to have opened in the ground.

     
     
    “Who are you?” said Isabella.
    “Frankie Ferret of course. And who are you?”
    “I’m Isabella.”
    “Yes; yes, and what do you want?” said Frankie Ferret.
    Isabella was not really ready for such a question, so she said the first thing in her mind.
    “I want a pink bicycle.”
    “Pink bicycles are not the sort of thing ferrets usually do you know,” said Frankie Ferret.
    “Ferrets are not the sort of thing that usually ask questions and anyway what is a ferret?” said Isabella.
    “What’s a ferret? I’m a ferret. Have you never heard of a ferret godfather?” said Frankie.
    “I’ve heard of a fairy godmother,” Isabella replied.
    “Hum – that’s the same sort of thing, but ferrets are more useful in tight spots.”
    The animal sat up on his back legs and pushed his front paws forwards over his ears and whiskers several times.
     

    Photo of Frankie Ferret
     
    http://bit.ly/10Y2B2I
     
    “Perhaps it wouldn’t have to be pink,” said Isabella, feeling that she ought to say something.
    “Oh – it must be pink if your dream is pink! Anyway can you ride a bike?” he asked.
    Isabella thought for a moment. She had never ridden a bike.
    “I know what to do,” she replied, hoping that he would accept her answer.
    “I know what to do, but I can’t do it young lady! It won’t matter anyway. One day you can ride, one day you can swim and you’re still the same person. It’s all about belief,” said Frankie.
    Isabella nodded and wondered if she was dreaming.
    “Now, next time you get the chance, come back here and I’ll see you again. A pink bike you said didn’t you?”
    “Yes – pink, with baskets on the front and back – please,” said Isabella.
    Frankie Ferret threw himself in a somersault and disappeared back into the pile of sawdust. Isabella quickly picked up the logs and ran to the house. She helped her mother prepare the meal but every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was a pink bicycle with baskets on the front and back.
     

    Watch this video to meet Frankie in the woodshed
    http://youtu.be/nom7b6EiuUU

Chapter 3 - Isabella Gets A Fantastic Surprise
    That night she could hardly sleep and the next day she ran home from school. Her mother had asked her to peel some potatoes and light a fire to boil some water. All she could think about was going to the shed. As she opened the door, she saw a wonderful sight. It was the most beautiful pink bicycle. Attached to the handlebars was a basket where Frankie Ferret had taken his position.

     
    “Well, let’s go then,” he said.
    “Go where?”
    “Where you want to go of course.”
    Isabella sat on the bike and turned the pedals which seemed to have no weight at all. At once she was at the place where she had once gone for the picnic. She ate apples from the trees and drank clear water from the stream. Birds sang and the sun was warm. Frankie Ferret jumped down and threw some excited somersaults.

     
     
    She could hear a voice calling her name.
    “Isabella, Isabella, where are you?”
    It was her mother!
    “Oh no – what can I do?” she asked Frankie Ferret.
    “Stop pedaling and blink three times. Come back next time you can and I’ll be here,”