Free Lulu Bell and the Christmas Elf by Belinda Murrell Page B

over early to help with the props. He’s usually so punctual.’
    Roy was the father of Lulu’s friends Olivia and Josephine. They were twins in Lulu’s class. Olivia was the oldest by just a few minutes. She was a beautiful singer, while Jo was a talented piano player. They would be performing a duet together at the Christmas concert.
    â€˜Perhaps something came up,’ suggested Tien. ‘Everyone is busy at the end of the year. He should be here soon.’
    Tien and Mum finished the angel dresses and started on the elf costumes for Lulu’s class. Mum cut out the green material while Tien stitched pieces together on the sewing machine.

    â€˜Come and try this on for me please, honey bun,’ said Mum. ‘I want to see how it looks.’
    Lulu changed into her elf costume. She wore a red-and-white striped t-shirt with stripy tights. Over the top she wore a green tunic. On her feet were green curly-toed slippers with golden bells.
    Mum popped a red elf hat on her head. ‘Perfect,’ she said.
    Gus looked at Lulu in her costume. He pulled a silly face. ‘Lulu funny. Lulu Christmas elf.’
    Lulu laughed. ‘Not as funny as you, Gus.’
    Rosie skipped across the kitchen. Her halo slipped over one ear.
    â€˜I can’t wait for the school concert,’ said Rosie. ‘It will be so much fun.’
    The two dogs were lying on their beds in the corner. Suddenly Asha woofed and ran to the door. She wagged her tail and sniffed. A moment later someone knocked.
    â€˜That must be Roy and the girls,’ said Mum.
    Lulu ran to open the door. The bells on her slippers jingled and tinkled.
    It was Olivia and Jo with their dad. Although the girls were twins, they were not alike. Olivia had dark hair and dark eyes, like her mum. Jo had fair hair and blue eyes. Lulu smiled at the girls.
    But something was wrong.
    Usually Olivia had a happy, smiling face with two deep dimples in her cheeks. Not today.
    â€˜Sorry we’re late,’ said Roy. He spoke with a soft Dutch accent. He was a tall man, with dimples just like Olivia’s. ‘We had a problem at home.’

    Roy came in, carrying a pile of cardboard boxes and a big roll of canvas.
    â€˜Never mind,’ said Mum, waving her hand. ‘We’re making good progress.’
    Roy put the boxes on the floor. ‘I’ll get to work covering these boxes,’ he said. ‘Then I have some last-minute touch-ups to our sleigh.’
    The parents chatted as they set to work. The girls stood near the door. Molly came to join them.
    â€˜Is everything all right?’ asked Lulu. ‘You both look so worried.’
    Jo stared at the ground as though she was trying hard not to cry.
    Olivia sighed. ‘Bonnie is missing,’ she said. ‘We’ve looked everywhere for her.’
    Bonnie was the girls’ fluffy tri-colour cat. She sometimes came for check-ups at the vet hospital. Lulu knew that the girls adored her.
    â€˜Oh no,’ said Lulu. ‘I’m so sorry. How long has she been gone?’
    â€˜Since yesterday morning,’ said Olivia.
    â€˜We thought Bonnie would come for dinner last night,’ said Jo. ‘We called and called.’
    â€˜Mum said not to worry,’ said Olivia. ‘She thought Bonnie would probably be home for breakfast. But she wasn’t. We’ve searched everywhere.’
    Jo wiped her eyes. Lulu gave her a hug.
    â€˜She’s been missing so long,’ said Olivia. ‘We just don’t know what to do.’
    â€˜We need to make a plan to find her,’ said Lulu. ‘Come with me.’

Chapter 3
A Plan
    Lulu led the girls into her bedroom. They all sat on the rug.
    Lulu pushed one honey-coloured plait behind her ear and started to speak. ‘First, we need to let people know that Bonnie is missing. That way, if anyone finds her they will know who to call.’
    â€˜We could put an ad in the newspaper,’ said