Truly Tan Baffled

Festival to get through. There’s such a lot to do. Lanterns to make. Menus and food to prepare. Rose’s costume to organise. I want all of you focused. Not squabbling.’ ‘What costume?’ says Emerald, turning to Rose. ‘No one told me about a costume.’ ‘Rose is competing forWinter Queen at this year’s festival,’ says Mum. ‘She wrote a remarkable poem and I’m sure she’s going to win.’ ‘Winter is my time,’ says Rose. ‘My time to rise up and shine.’ She holds her hands high. She looks impressive. ‘It’s desperately exciting,’ says Amber. ‘I can’t wait. I’m planning a Winter Wonderland outfit for Doodad, with blue sequins and a blue tiara and a silver neck ruffle. She’s going to look so pretty, aren’t you, Doody? Just like a princess.’ Doodad looks around with a dumb look on her face. She is wearing a bright pink sheepskin coat and she looks three times her normal size except her head is still the size of a peanut and so is her brain. Doodad has no idea what Amber is talking about because Doodad cannot understand plain English. I lean against my dog, Awesome, and give him a nudge. He wags his tail. He knows exactly what I am thinking. That’s how smart Awesome is.

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