Free Lulu Bell and the Arabian Nights by Belinda Murrell Page A

loud, ‘Take that!’
    The two dogs sat and watched. They knew not to get in the way. Jessie smiled her big doggy smile.
    Rosie spun around in a circle then dashed forward to attack. Lulu sprang into another cartwheel to escape. Rosie darted in, swinging her sword. ‘You’re down,’ she yelled.

    Lulu pretended to fall. She dropped to the ground and rolled over. Both dogs came to lick her back to life.
    Mum came to the back door. She smiled as she watched them play. ‘Careful, you little warriors.’
    Mum waved a piece of paper in the air. ‘Lulu, can you please tell Gumpa that the tea is ready? And I’ve just checked the note from your teacher. It looks like we have a huge week coming up.’

Chapter 2
Feathered Friends
    Everyone came up into the house. Nanna was already sitting at the kitchen table. The table was set with teacups and a milk jug. Mum had made a pot of tea for the adults. There was a fruit platter for the kids.
    â€˜Check your weapons at the door, honey buns,’ joked Mum. ‘No sword fights in the kitchen.’
    Lulu, Rosie and Gus propped up their swords in the corner. Mum poured out the tea for Nanna and Gumpa. Everyone sat around the table.

    â€˜So what did the note say?’ asked Lulu. ‘What exciting things are happening at school?’
    Mum picked up her teacup and took a sip. ‘It’s Harmony Day next week,’ said Mum. She turned to Nanna and Gumpa. ‘I’m the class parent for year four. So it’s my job to organise the food stall and the decorations.’
    â€˜Oooh,’ said Rosie. ‘I love Harmony Day.’
    â€˜It sounds like fun,’ said Nanna, ‘but what is Harmony Day?’
    â€˜Everyone dresses up in national costumes,’ said Lulu. ‘At lunchtime there’s lots of yummy food from different countries. One of the classes is chosen to do a special performance.’
    Mum put her teacup down in her saucer. ‘It’s a celebration of the many countries around the world where different families come from,’ said Mum. ‘Every class is allocated a culture based on the background of one of the kids in the class.’
    â€˜It’s one of the best days of the year,’ said Rosie. ‘I think my class is celebrating India.’
    â€˜So will you wear a sari to school?’ asked Nanna.
    Rosie shook her head. ‘The food and decorations will be Indian – and I could wear a sari – but most kids wear acostume that shows where their family came from,’ she said.
    â€˜For our family that would be Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English, French and Spanish,’ said Mum.
    Gumpa laughed. ‘Lots to choose from there. What country is your class celebrating, Lulu?’
    â€˜We don’t know yet,’ said Lulu. ‘It won’t be Holland because we did that last year.’
    Last year, Jo and Olivia’s dad had cooked poffertjes . These were puffy Dutch pancakes, served with sugar and butter. The year before it had been Sri Lanka and Lauren’s dad had made egg hoppers and roti.
    â€˜It might be Vietnam this year,’ said Mum. ‘Tien could help us make lots of rice paper rolls.’
    Gus nodded happily as he crunched his pear. ‘ Dulishus . Gussie loves Tien rolls.’
    Lulu’s best friend Molly lived next door. Her mum Tien had originally come from Vietnam and she made the most wonderful Vietnamese food.
    Suddenly there was a loud noise from outside. It was a cawing, squawking sound. Lulu jumped up and looked out the window.
    â€˜The cockies are here,’ said Lulu. She ran to the pantry, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from a container, and slipped them into her pocket.
    Outside were three sulphur-crested cockatoos perched on the branches of a tree. They raised their yellow crests and screamed in greeting.
    Lulu stood out on the deck. She put a sunflower seed flat on the palm ofher hand. Then she stretched her arm out