Jane E M Atkinson - ANNA & BELLAs Festival Fun

Hi, Im Anna.

If youve read my other books, then you can skip this part. But if you havent, Ill need to explain a few things.

Over a year ago, I found a very special gem that whisked my sister, Bella, and me away to a magical land called Flower. In many ways, Flower is just like our world. There are people, schools, libraries, and stores. But one thing Flower has that we dontis magic!

In Flower, there are mermaids, fairies, and even a magical family. Some of our best friends live there.

Tulip, Lily, Ivy, Rose, Daisy, and Poppy These are some of our fairy friends. I just love being a fairy. You have no idea how amazing it is to fly!

Amelia, Julia, and Jack They live in the village and are regular kids like us.

Finn He lives with his magical family in Winter Woods. Bella and I know his secret (that hes magical). Were hoping hell tell our other friends soon.

Kate and Maria Theyre our mermaid friends. We always have an amazing time exploring the ocean.

Keira Shes a real princess, but dresses and acts just like Bella and me. Keiras mom, Queen Katherine, is like a second mom.

The last thing I need to tell you is the most important thing of all, especially if youre reading this book at bedtime. I promise that you will never, ever find any mean or scary characters in my books.

So now that youre all caught up, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story!

I smile into my locker mirror, and a pretty mermaid smiles back at me. I just love my Halloween costume. My mermaid tail is shiny green, and my swim top is sparkly blue. On my head is a flower headband and around my neck is a gorgeous shell necklace. I look just like Kate, my mermaid friend from Flower.

I glance at myself one last time and then shut my locker door. My best friend, Mackenzie, is waiting for me.

Your costume is amazing, Anna, Mackenzie says.

Thanks, I reply, so is yours.

Mackenzie is dressed as the tooth fairy. Shes wearing a white dress, fairy wings, and a golden crown. On the chain around her neck is a plastic tooth.

My mom helped me make it, Mackenzie says as she twirls away from me and flutters into class. I grab my school bag and swim into class.

Most of my classmates are wearing costumes. Geoff is dressed as a pirate. Soumyaa and Kashaf are superhero twins, and Ashley is the Easter Bunny.

I overhear Soumyaa and Kashaf discussing our English teachers costume. Soumyaa thinks Ms. Singleton is a jaguar, but Kashaf thinks shes a cheetah.

A cheetah has spots that look like dots, I tell my friends. Since the spots on Ms. Singletons costume look like flowers, she cant be a cheetah.

Then she must be a jaguar, Soumyaa concludes.

Shes not a jaguar either, I tell Soumyaa. Ms. Singleton is actually a leopard. Jaguars and leopards both have spots that look like flowers. However, jaguar spots are larger and spaced farther apart. Leopard spots are smaller and spaced closer together. I point at the small flower spots on Ms. Singletons costume.

Cool! Thanks, Anna. I never knew that, Kashaf says.

Me neither, Soumyaa adds.

After singing O Canada, and listening to the announcements, we line up at the classroom door. Every year, my school has a Halloween parade. Students in kindergarten and grade one march through the hallways, while the rest of us watch. My sister, Bella, is in grade one, so she gets to march in the parade.

Mackenzie and I follow our classmates into the hallway. As the Kindies walk past us, we wave and give them high-fives. They all look so cute!

After the last kindergarten class passes by, I see Bellas friends, Olivia and Areej. Bella is only a few steps behind them. Shes wearing a lacy, lavender dress, with long white gloves. On her head is a sparkling tiara with rainbow gems.

Mackenzie pokes me in the side. I glance over at her as she says, Look, Anna, theres"

I wait for her to say Bellabut she cantbecause Mackenzie, and everyone else around me, are as still as statues. The entire hallway has gone completely silent.

I look back at the spot where Bella was standingjust a second agobut shes gone. Shes totally vanished!

Now for anyone else this would be a very freaky situation. But not for me, because I know exactly whats going on. Bella is on her way to Flower! Although, I dont know how she found a gem in the middle of the Halloween parade.

I eagerly look around for my gem, and find it tucked under the locker behind me. The gem is sparkly orange which means Poppy is bringing me to Flower.

As soon as my fingers touch the gem, they warm up and begin to tingle. The next thing I know, Im zooming through a multi-coloured orange slide. Flashes of tangerine, pumpkin, apricot, coral, and amber zoom past me.

I shoot out the end of the slide and land on a dirt path. All around me are huge, green hedges.

Bella appears from behind the nearest hedge. Youll never guess where we are! she cries.

Im about to answer, were in a bunch of hedges, when I suddenly recognize where we are. Were in the palace hedge maze, arent we?

Bella grins and nods her head. Then a puzzled look crosses her face. Did you find a gem? she asks.

I found an orange gem by my locker, I answer. Where did you find yours?

I didnt find one, Bella answers. So I dont know how I got here. One second I was fixing my tiara, and the next second I was on the orange slide to Flower.

Thats strange, I comment. Well have to ask Poppy when she arrives. Have you seen her?

Not yet, Bella says, but I did find this. She shows me a small, orange envelope. Our names are written on the front in amber glitter.

What does it say? I ask excitedly.

I dont know. I havent opened it yet, Bella admits. She lifts the flap and pulls out a tangerine-coloured piece of paper.

Anna and Bella,

Youve landed in a maze,

With lots of different ways.

At the exit well all win,

Because the festival can begin.

Poppy

Bella glances at me. Does this mean what I think it means? she asks hopefully.