Ruth Quayle - Magnificent Mabel and the Magic Caterpillar

In our class at school we have two teachers and one white board and we have twenty-eight children.

We also have a class caterpillar whose name is Steve.

Every night, somebody has a turn taking Steve home and looking after him.

All the other children have had their turn, especially Torin Ray, who had three turns because he was allowed to look after Steve for the whole weekend.

Torin Ray lives next door to our teacher, Mr Messenger.

Torin Ray is always being lucky.

Every afternoon I jump up and down on the carpet and stick my hand in the air. I call out in my loud, persuading voice and I say, Please can I look after Steve this evening, Mr Messenger?

But Mr Messenger always picks someone who is sitting nicely on their spot and who isnt calling out.

This is the whole tragedy of my life.

Mum says my turn will come and that I have to be patient and not call out. Dad tells me not to worry because caterpillars are not very interesting to look after anyway. But Dad does not know Steve.

Nobody does.

If they did they would know that Steve is an unusual caterpillar with magic powers.

Steve only shows these magic powers to certain special people, and I am very lucky because one of these special people is me, Mabel Chase.

I am actually Steves special person in true life.

When everyone else in the class had already had a go at looking after Steve, I thought that this Wednesday it was going to be my turn.

In the morning before school on Wednesday, I gobbled up my breakfast.

I got dressed in a jiffy.

I let my sister Meg borrow my best hair band and I didnt even make her give me one of her things in return.

I brushed my teeth for two whole minutes with the minty toothpaste which I do not like as much as the bubblegum one that Mum only lets me use at Christmastime.

I didnt moan about itchy legs or hurty hair.

I didnt say, thats not fair, not even once.

Dad said, Blimey, whats got into Mabel?

Mum said, Whatever it is, I hope it lasts.

But I couldnt even hear them properly.

I was busy thinking. When I think my brain gets very busy.

I was planning what Steve and I were going to do together later after school.

I thought, Steve and I could cuddle up together in bed and have a midnight feast.

I thought, Steve could take me to Caterpillar Land to visit the other magic caterpillars.

I thought, Steve and I will go on a special adventure.

All day long at school, I kept catching Steves eye and winking at him.

I knew that Steve could understand my winks because Steve is magic and I am a bit too.

At break time, I stayed inside on my own so I could chat to Steve.

When Edward Silitoe saw me, he laughed and pointed and said I was a mad girl. But I didnt even poke Edward Silitoe in the tummy. I just felt sorry for Edward Silitoe because he didnt know that Steve was a magic caterpillar.

At home time when we were getting our coats and lunch boxes, Mr Messenger picked up Steves container.

He said, Who hasnt had a go at taking Steve home yet?

I jumped up and down all wriggly and I put my hand up. I tried not to shout out but a bit of a shout came out anyway.

Luckily I didnt have to worry because mine was the only hand up.

Mr Messenger smiled and said, Then it must be your turn, Mabel. Im sure you will look after Steve very well because I believe you are extremely keen on pets.

I thought it was very nice of Mr Messenger to know that I am keen on pets so I gave him my best smile.

I said, Thats true, Mr Messenger. I have a knack with caterpillars.

And then I said very quietly so that nobody could hear me, Especially magic ones.

Mr Messenger handed Steves box to me and I carefully carried Steve all the way home without asking for any help.

I put Steves box in a cool, dark spot in my bedroom because I didnt want Steve to get sunburnt.

Steve said he liked my bedroom better than everyone elses.

I know this because I can understand Steves magic caterpillar language.

Then Steve said that he was very bored of the boring green leaves that everyone gave him to eat.

Steve said green leaves were disgusting, and I agreed.

I do not like green food, except for green sweets and green ice lollies and the crisps that come in a green packet.

Steve told me that he prefers pink food to eat.

I told Steve not to worry.

I said, Leave it to Mabel Chase, chief jungle explorer.

Then I packed a rucksack and some water and a few emergency supplies such as a torch and a smallish biscuit, and I set off to the jungle to find food for Steve.

This took a long time because I had to hide from tigers and snakes.