Melody Trumpet chapter sampler

2. An unhappy birthday

Ten candles burned on Melody’s seven-tier, rainbow- coloured ice-cream cake. Taking centre stage was an extravagant cake-topper — a small and edible version of Melody in a sparkly purple dress singing into a microphone. Miss Sprinkles had outdone herself with the birthday cake this year. She clapped her hands, then leaned over to straighten the red headband and green bow in Melody’s long jet- black hair. ‘Well, blow out the candles!’ Miss Sprinkles said in her usual excitable and breathy voice. ‘And don’t forget to make a wish, my sweet Melody. Turning ten is a special day, you know. What are you waiting for?’ Melody glanced at her mother’s empty seat at the head of the long, narrow dining table. She’d rushed off to take an urgent phone call five minutes into dinner

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