MRS Wilkolak nodded when she read the head teacher’s note. ‘Evening Howl will be early tonight,’ she announced. ‘Madam Grubeloff is going to announce the winner of the garden competition.’
Aggie sat up, looking very pleased with herself. ‘That’ll be me!’ She gave Lottie a superior smile. ‘I win everything, you see. My father says I’m very, very special.’
Wilf growled something under his breath, but Aggie just stuck her nose in the air. ‘Some people are just SO jealous!’ she said. ‘I can’t help being clever. It just comes naturally.’
The rest of the day went very quickly. Lottie found, much to her relief, that she could remember the names of most of the stars in the astronomy lesson, and after astronomy they had moon studies.
‘I’ve written a WONDERFUL poem about the moon,’ Aggie announced, and she read it out. Lottie was surprised to find it was very good, and she joined in the clapping at the end with enthusiasm.
‘That was excellent, Aggie,’ Mrs Wilkolak said, and Aggie bowed, pink with pleasure.
She does love being best, Lottie thought to herself.
The last bell went soon after. There was just enough time to tidy the classroom and get ready for the Evening Howl. Lottie was sent to change back into her own clothes, which were now dry. When she got back, she found to her disappointment that the class had already started leaving the classroom. Wilf and Marjory were nowhere to be seen, so she had to follow behind Aggie and Bruno.
Quickly, they walked down corridor after corridor and into the Great Hall. Lottie gasped. She had never seen anything quite like it. The ceiling was painted with swirling clouds and silver stars, with walls of midnight blue. There were no windows, and the hall was lit entirely by tiny sparkly lights. Soft music was playing, and Lottie was sure she could hear the distant sound of owls hooting. ‘It’s beautiful!’ she breathed.
Aggie sounded almost friendly as she said, ‘It is, isn’t it?’ Then she gave a self-conscious little cough. ‘Actually, my grandfather built it.’
‘Wow! He was really, really clever!’ Lottie was so obviously impressed that Aggie smiled at her.
‘My dad’s a builder too,’ she said. ‘And so is Bruno’s dad.’
‘No he’s not!’ Bruno was scowling. ‘He’s a teacher!’
‘Oh, yes.’ Aggie was flustered. ‘I forgot. He’s a teacher now, but he used to be a builder.’
Lottie wasn’t sure what to say in answer, but at that moment Madam Grubeloff sailed on to the stage, and everyone was silent. She was wearing a long black cloak trimmed with silver, which made her look much grander than she did when Lottie met her earlier. The music stopped, and she looked around. ‘Good evening, everyone.’
There was an answering chorus of, ‘Good evening, Madam Grubeloff.’
‘Before we have our Howl,’ the head teacher said, ‘I have an important announcement to make.’
At once there was a rustling and whispering, and Madam Grubeloff held up her hand for silence. ‘As you know, you were all asked to design a garden for the wasteland behind the school. The owner has said that she will let us have it if we can make it truly beautiful, and you have all been working hard to create a very special place where we can feel peaceful and at ease, walking among flowers, looking at the water—’
‘I did fall splosh in the water, though!’ a squeaky voice interrupted.
‘Thank you, Bernie. So you did.’ Madam Grubeloff smiled at the tiny cub. ‘And before my announcement, I’d like to thank one of our pupils, a pupil who not only joined us today, but did a very brave thing too.’ Lottie felt herself begin to blush and she stared hard at her feet. ‘She saved little Bernie from drowning,’ Madam Grubeloff went on. ‘Thank you, Lottie. Not only that, but she has also designed a delightful garden. It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that our competition winner is… Lottie Luna! Lottie, would you please come and collect your certificate of honour?’
Wilf and Marjory led the applause as Lottie made her way up on to the stage. Only two people didn’t join in – Aggie, who stood open-mouthed, and Bruno.
As Lottie took the certificate, Madam Grubeloff smiled at her. ‘Well done, Lottie!’
Lottie smiled back. ‘Thank you most enormously,’ she said. ‘And could we…’ She hesitated, in case she was about to ask too much, but Madam Grubeloff looked at her encouragingly.
‘Yes? What is it, Lottie?’
‘Could we possibly call it the Bloom Garden? I’ve chosen flowers that look extra beautiful in the moonlight… Would that be all right?’
‘Oh, yes!’ The head teacher clapped her hands. ‘That would be PERFECT. It would make our full-moon parties and ceremonies extra special. I love that idea!’
It seemed that everyone else loved the idea as well. The applause grew even louder as Lottie made her way down from the stage, but as she passed Bruno he sneered at her. ‘You only won because you can swim,’ he hissed. ‘Your garden’s rubbish! Aggie’s was much better.’
Lottie was saved from replying by the sound of an owl hooting three times, and the hall fell silent.
‘The time has come to join together,’ Madam Grubeloff said. ‘Everyone – take your neighbour’s hand.’
Aggie didn’t look at all happy as she held out her hand to Lottie, but Lottie gave her a friendly grin. ‘What happens now?’ she whispered.
‘Look up,’ Aggie said, and Lottie glanced up at the beautifully painted ceiling. Slowly, very slowly, a silver moon floated out from behind the swirling clouds. Lottie held her breath as it shone brighter and brighter, almost as if it was real.
WOW! she thought, when at that moment Madam Grubeloff began the Howl. It started very low, gradually building to a wonderful harmony as all the teachers and pupils joined her. Lottie could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prickling as the noise grew louder and louder. At her last school, the Howl had been nothing special, but now she felt as if she was swept up into something so grand and magnificent that her heart swelled with pride.
I’m so very glad we moved, she told herself as the Howl gradually died away and Aggie let go of her hand. Goodness! I’ve SUCH a lot to tell Ma and Pa!
