Free Lulu Bell and the Cubby Fort by Belinda Murrell

Chapter 1
Packing
    The Easter holidays had arrived and the Bell family was busy packing. They were going to the country to visit Uncle Nick’s farm. Lulu Bell and her little sister Rosie were checking that they had packed absolutely everything they would need.
    â€˜Swimming costume?’ asked Lulu.
    Rosie peered into her bag. ‘Check!’ she replied.
    â€˜Jodhpurs and riding boots?’
    â€˜Check,’ confirmed Rosie.
    â€˜Lots of books!’ Lulu patted another bag, which was crammed full of books.
    â€˜Check,’ agreed Rosie.
    â€˜Good, then we have everything we need for a perfect holiday,’ said Lulu. She zipped her backpack closed.
    â€˜No,’ said Rosie. ‘I haven’t packed my angel wings and sparkly thongs.’
    Lulu put her hand on her hip. ‘You’re already wearing them, silly,’ she said.
    â€˜Although I’m not sure you’ll need them at the farm.
    It gets pretty muddy up there, remember?’

    Rosie twirled around and admired her sparkly silver shoes and white dress.
    The hall was filled with piles of sleeping-bags, inflatable mattresses, backpacks and boxes of food.
    Asha, the family’s oldest dog, lay right on top of the pile of sleeping-bags. She was watching the preparations anxiously. She hated to see her people packing until she knew whether or not she was included in their adventure.
    Mum staggered in from the kitchen. She was carrying a blue esky laden with food.
    â€˜Are you packed, girls?’ asked Mum. She placed the esky by the front door.
    â€˜Yes, all done,’ said Lulu. ‘Did you remember to pack the marshmallows, Mum?’
    â€˜Oh, no,’ replied Mum. ‘I knew I had forgotten something. Would you mindfetching them from the pantry please, honey bun?’

    At that moment, Gus came charging down the hall.
    He had a pack on his back and a toy plane in each hand. As usual,he was wearing his favourite outfit – the green-and-red superhero suit that Mum had made him for his third birthday. He loved it so much he never took it off.
    â€˜Bbbrrrooooooommmmmm,’ shouted Gus. He brought the planes in for a perfect landing on Asha’s back.
    â€˜Let me see what you have packed, honey bun,’ said Mum.
    Gus dropped his backpack to the floor and zoomed tothe front door. Mum opened the bag.
    â€˜Six superhero action figures, seven toy cars, a bar of chocolate that I’m sure I hid in the esky, three water pistols and a spare Bug Boy mask. Hmmm – do you think perhaps we should take some clean undies for you, Gus?’
    Gus paused to think, then shook his head. ‘No room,’ he said. Gus zoomed back towards the kitchen.
    Mum laughed and shook her head too. ‘He’s adorable.’
    â€˜I not ’ dorable ,’ Gus shouted from the kitchen.
    Lulu and Rosie raised their eyebrows at each other and giggled.
    â€˜Right, well – I’ll get the marshmallows,’ said Lulu. She threw one honey-coloured plait over her shoulder. ‘Do we need anything else, Mum?’
    Mum checked the pile of bags, boxes and sleeping-bags. Asha looked up at her with big brown eyes. She whined, thumping her tail against the wall.
    â€˜The dogs!’ said Mum. ‘Can you and Rosie get their beds, bowls and food, please? I’m going to grab some clothes for Gus.’
    At the word ‘food’, Asha jumped to her feet. She galloped down the hall towards the kitchen, her tail wagging madly. She looked back over her shoulder with her tongue hanging out, as if to say ‘hurry up!’
    Asha’s daughter Jessie was already waiting in the kitchen. She sat right beside the pantry, her mouth spread in a wide grin. Jessie was definitely the smiliest dog in the world.
    â€˜It’s not dinnertime yet,’ said Lulu.She rummaged in the pantry for the box of dog food and the marshmallows. ‘It’s just packing time – we’re going on holidays!’
    Asha