Free Gnomeo and Juliet by Disney Book Group Page A

beautify her garden with gnomes in blue hats. Like Miss Montague, Mr. Capulet had no clue that his garden gnomes and lawn ornaments came to life when he was not around. In fact, the friendly competition between the two humans to have the best garden in their little town, Stratford-Upon-Avon, was, in its way, the source of the heated rivalry between the two groups of gnomes. Over the years, it had become Blues against Reds, and Reds against Blues. Every gnome on each side played his or her part…even the pretty daughter of Lord Redbrick, the leader of the red gnomes.
    â€œWow! A Cupid’s Arrow orchid!” Juliet exclaimed. She had just climbed a tree to get a better look at the flower growing out of the top of a neglected greenhouse. The derelict greenhouse was situated in an abandoned garden opposite the Montague and Capulet gardens.
    â€œJuliet,” croaked a frog-shaped fountain named Nanette. “Come down from there! What if your dad sees you?”
    As if on cue, the girls heard a booming voice.
    â€œAaaargh!Juuu-liiiii-et!” shoutedLordRedbrick.
    Hearing her father’s call, Juliet jumped. She lost her footing on the tree branch, and her toe sent a red apple flying. It crashed into a ceramic planter on the ground at Lord Redbrick’s feet. Juliet grasped another branch and swung through the air. She landed gracefully right on the spot where the planter had shattered.
    â€œHi, Dad,” she said casually.
    â€œJuliet! Do you want to get smashed to bits?” Lord Redbrick scolded her. He worried about his only daughter, wanting to keep her safe and sound in the garden. Unfortunately, Juliet’s love of adventure made for constant tension between them.
    â€œBut, Dad, that orchid will put the Blue garden to shame,” Juliet said excitedly. “I could get it. It’s just across the alley—”
    â€œThis feud is none of your consternation,” Lord Redbrick interrupted. He liked to use big words, but he didn’t always use them correctly.
    â€œYes, it is,” Juliet replied. “I am a Red, after all.”
    Lord Redbrick smiled tenderly at Juliet and said, “Oh, honestly, you are just as impulsivated as your mother.” Lord Redbrick stared off into space for a moment, remembering Juliet’s mother, who had gotten smashed in a gardening accident long ago. But before Juliet could take advantage of her father’s change in sentiment, he added, “Now, back where you belong.”
    â€œI can’t just stay tucked away on that pedestal all the time,” Juliet complained, reluctantly returning to her pedestal in the center of a lush green grotto that Mr. Capulet had lovingly made by hand.
    â€œGoing into that alley, you could chip yourself!” Lord Redbrick continued as though he hadn’t heard her. “Or worse!”
    â€œSo what if I got a little chipped?” Juliet replied. It just wasn’t fair! She loved her father, but she hated his rules. Sometimes she felt trapped in the Red garden.
    â€œMark my words, young lady. You get a chip now, you’ll regret it when you’re older! Just look at all my scratches and chips!” Lord Redbrick pointed to his arms and legs. They were covered with dents and dings from a lifetime of garden mishaps.
    â€œBut I like your scratches and chips, Dad! They’re you!” Juliet replied. To her, Lord Redbrick’s scarred exterior meant that he had been somewhere and done something exciting.
    â€œWell, they are not you !” Lord Redbrick exclaimed, exasperated. “When will you realize that you’re delicate?”
    â€œI’m not delicate!” Juliet cried out, frustrated.
    â€œShe’s definitely not delicate,” Nanette the frog chimed in.
    â€œStubborn girl,” Lord Redbrick muttered as he walked away. As far as he was concerned, the conversation was over.
    â€œI’ll show him who’s delicate,” Juliet said under her breath.