Free Olivia's Enchanted Summer by Lyn Gardner Page B

show….”
    â€œI remember you, too,” said the youngergirl, with a shrug that suggested she hadn’t forgotten their argument.
    â€œI’m Tatiana. But every one calls me Tati,” said the elder girl quickly, “and this is my little sister, Evie.”
    â€œI’m not little,” said Evie, glaring at her sister. “I’m thirteen.”
    â€œDo you want to join in?” asked Olivia. “You could try some juggling, if you like.” She pointed to the other end of the tent. The younger girl just stared at her stonily and shook her head. Her elder sister smiled apologetically, seeming embarrassed by her sister’s rudeness.
    â€œOh, whatever,” said Olivia, running out of patience. She went back to helping Jack with the wire. Why would anyone bother to come to a circus-skills workshop if they didn’t want to join in?
    â€œHey, it’s those girls again,” said Aeysha, coming over to see whether Olivia and Jack were ready to start the tightrope walking session.
    â€œI know,” replied Olivia. “I spoke to them. At least the older one tries to be pleasant but the younger one is just plain rude.”
    At that moment, Becky dropped two of her balls again and a third shot off in an arc. Thecollie chased after it, caught it on his nose and started bouncing it up and down with a skill that would have made a World Cup-winning footballer jealous. Everyone clapped.
    â€œThat dog’s amazing!” said Georgia. “That dog’s so clever.” Evie gave a whistle and the collie raced around the ring, leapt over the barrier and landed in her lap, where he started to lick her face vigorously. The children cheered and ran over. Even Olivia couldn’t resist following, the dog was so loveable.
    â€œWhat’s his name?” Aeysha asked Evie.
    â€œHarry,” replied Evie, her eyes sparkling. Pride and pleasure in her dog had transformed her face from its usual watchful state. It was as if she had let down her guard against the world. “After Houdini. Cos he’s a real escape artist.”
    â€œJust like you,” said Tati. Both sisters had Scottish accents but with a trace of something else that Olivia couldn’t quite place. The sisters glanced at each other as if sharing a memory.
    â€œDid you train him yourself?” asked Georgia.
    Evie grinned and nodded. “My auntie Zsa Zsa taught me how to do it. She’s a professional animal trainer. She’s the best.”
    â€œMaybe she could train my dog? He’s a Jack Russell and he’s very naughty,” said Georgia.
    Tati shook her head sadly. “We don’t know where she lives any more. We haven’t seen or heard from her for a couple of years. She might even be dead.”
    The Swans gasped.
    â€œNo she isn’t; I know she isn’t!” said Evie desperately. “She can’t be, not Auntie Zsa Zsa. She’s too full of life.”
    Olivia saw the same mix of vulnerability and defiance in the girl’s face that she’d noticed on the Mound steps. She remembered what she’d glimpsed through the garage window and wanted to ask them why they were living there, but she could hardly just blurt out a question like that.
    â€œDo you and your family live in Edinburgh or are you just here for the Festival?” she asked, as casually as she could.
    Tati looked sad. “Our mum and dad are—Ow!” she cried, as Evie kicked her and told her to shut up.
    Just then, Jack called out: “So who wants to try tightrope walking?” The Swans and some of the other children whooped and rantowards the low wire, while others drifted over to Pablo, who was going to show them how to build castells . Olivia walked a little way behind the girls, trying to text Tom quickly before the tightrope session began. She stopped still when she heard Evie hiss angrily at her sister.
    â€œStop talking so much, Tati. You’ll be