Claire Taylor-Smith - Hattie B, Magical Vet: The Dragons Song (Book 1)

It was eight oclock on a sunny Saturday morning in March. Hattie Bright leapt out of bed, pulled on her Dalmatian-patterned dressing-gown and stepped into her bunny-shaped slippers.

I cant believe Im ten today! she thought.

Bursting with excitement, Hattie remembered the birthday sleepover she and her best friend Chloe had arranged for that night. Then there were the animal-themed presents she guessed would be waiting for her downstairs! Hatties family and friends knew that she loved animals and they always chose gifts with cute cats or dogs on them or ponies, or rabbits, or just about any other animal anyone could think of. Hattie adored them all.

Hattie bounded down the stairs, but when she burst into the living room it looked just the same as when she had gone to bed the night before. There were no presents piled up by the old Victorian fireplace and none heaped on the sofa either. All she could see on the coffee table were two empty mugs from last night.

Hattie couldnt believe it! No birthday presents and even worse she could see her parents in the hall, putting on their coats and getting ready to go to work at their vets practice in town.

Are you and Dad both going to work, Mum? asked Hattie, who had hoped that at least one of them might have taken the day off for her birthday. Hatties mum nodded as she tied a brightly patterned silk scarf round her neck. B-but dont you know what day it is? added Hattie, not believing her own parents could have forgotten it was her birthday.

Yes, of course, replied Mum. Its Saturday. What a silly question! Now, were going to be really late for our first patient if we dont get a move on. We should be home before lunchtime, though, and Peters in his room if you need him.

B-but Hattie stammered in protest. She knew that Peter, her grumpy teenage brother, wasnt likely to even get up by lunchtime, let alone wish her a happy birthday.

But nothing, young lady, interrupted Mum. We really had better get going. So see you just after twelve. Bye!

And, with that, Mum and Dad swept out of the house. The front door slammed and Hattie found herself standing alone in the hall, convinced that this was going to be her worst birthday ever.

Back in the living room, Hattie slumped in an armchair with the phone, ready to call Chloe and tell her how her birthday had got off to such a terrible start. But after a couple of rings Chloes mum answered. She told Hattie that Chloe wasnt at home because she had spent last night at her cousins house and was almost certainly going to stay there for the whole weekend. Hattie was devastated as she thought, What about our sleepover plans?

Im sure Chloe will tell you all about it back at school on Monday morning, added Chloes mum in a cheery voice. Bye for now, Hattie have a lovely weekend!

As Hattie said goodbye in a slightly shaky voice, she thought she heard a muffled giggle coming down the phone a giggle that sounded very much like it might have come from Chloe herself.

Hattie gasped and slammed down the phone with tears pricking in her eyes. Was Chloe actually at home after all? Was she there with some other friends when it was Hatties birthday? The tears started pouring down Hatties cheeks and dripping on to her dressing-gown collar. This definitely was the worst birthday ever Chloe was meant to be her best friend!

Feeling really upset that Chloe could treat her so badly, Hattie ran upstairs and grabbed the butterfly writing set that Grandma had bought her last Christmas. She sat down at her small wooden desk and rummaged in her kitten pencil case for a pen before furiously scribbling down how she felt:

Dear Chloe,

I thought it was bad enough when my mum and dad forgot my birthday, but now it looks like you have too! Your mum says you probably wont be here for my birthday sleepover either, even after we spent all that time planning the midnight feast and which DVD we were going to watch. I thought you were my best friend, but a best friend wouldnt forget something this important, so maybe we just cant be friends any more