LATER that day, when a very tired Lottie, Wilf and Marjory were back in class, Mrs Wilkolak announced that Madam Grubeloff had spoken to the owner, who had agreed they could hold the Evening Howl in the Bloom Garden on the following Friday. ‘Wear your best clothes,’ Mrs Wilkolak said. ‘It’s going to be a very special evening!’
‘Wow!’ Lottie had stars in her eyes when she looked at her friends. ‘I can’t wait! Won’t it be amazing!’
Aggie looked down her nose at Lottie. ‘What if it rains?’
‘It won’t,’ Lottie said firmly, and then she added, ‘I do hope you’ll like the garden, Aggie. I put in lots of pink roses, just for you.’
‘Oh!’ An astonished smile spread over Aggie’s face. ‘Thank you, Lottie. That was… that was nice of you. And…’ It was obvious Aggie felt awkward about something and was making a huge effort. ‘And… I’m so very, very sorry that Bruno tried to spoil it.’
Lottie stared at her. ‘Did you know it was Bruno?’
‘Ummmm…’ Aggie looked very uncomfortable. ‘I kind of guessed it was. I knew Mr Gnawbone had been a builder, because he’d worked with my dad, so it all seemed to add up. I didn’t know Mr Gnawbone wanted to build a road, though. I thought Bruno was just doing it to get his own back on you.’
Lottie couldn’t answer. She was feeling confused. Why hadn’t Aggie said something earlier? But, then again, she’d been wrong to suspect Aggie…
She gave Aggie a huge smile. ‘Don’t worry about it,’ she said.
The next week seemed to go very slowly. Lottie, Wilf and Marjory were counting down the hours, and they found it difficult to concentrate on their work. They did their best, however, and Mrs Wilkolak was very patient.
There was no sign of Bruno, or his father. Wilf said that his gran, who worked in the bone store, had heard they had left home in a hurry with no forwarding address. ‘Gone for good, Gran says –’ Wilf grinned – ‘and she’s always right.’
At long last it was Friday. The day dawned bright and clear, and all the pupils arrived at school, laughing and chattering. Instead of lessons, Mrs Wilkolak showed the class how to make paper lanterns. As twilight fell, Class W trooped out to the Bloom Garden to join the other pupils and to hang twinkling lights on all the trees. Just as they hung the last lantern, Madam Grubeloff came sweeping out of the school in her long black cloak trimmed with silver. Beside her was an elderly werewolf who walked with the aid of a stick. Lottie looked at her with interest. Was this the garden’s owner?
Madam Grubeloff saw Lottie’s interested gaze and smiled. ‘Lottie, everyone – may I introduce Madam Talon de Scrazziola, the owner of the Bloom Garden! And Madam de Scrazziola, I believe you have something you wish to say?’
‘Indeed I do.’ The elderly werewolf nodded. ‘I am delighted to be here… and I am even more delighted to see this very beautiful garden. It exceeds all my expectations, and I know it will bring you all joy for many, many years to come.’ She opened her handbag and pulled out a scroll tied with a silver ribbon. ‘This document states that from henceforth and forever the Bloom Garden will belong to the pupils of Shadow Academy.’ Then, looking around, Madam de Scrazziola asked, ‘Where is Lottie Luna? Because I believe that, without her, this garden would never have existed.’
‘I’m here.’ Lottie, blushing furiously, stepped forward.
Madam de Scrazziola gave her a formal little bow and held out the scroll. ‘Lottie Luna, please accept the ownership of the Bloom Garden on behalf of all your fellow pupils.’
‘Three cheers for Lottie Luna!’ shouted Wilf, and the cheers echoed up to the evening sky.
Jaws, watching from the branch of a cherry tree, saw Lottie’s moonstone necklace was shining as bright as the stars up above, and he sighed happily.
‘Thank you so much, Madam de Scrazziola,’ Lottie said, ‘but I couldn’t have done it without my friends – and all the other pupils.’
‘Well said, Lottie!’ Madam Grubeloff beamed at her. ‘And now let us celebrate our glorious Bloom Garden with the most wonderful Evening Howl ever!’ She paused for a moment, and all the pupils and teachers fell silent.
‘The time has come to join together,’ she began. ‘Everyone, take your neighbour’s hand…’
The velvet indigo sky was patterned with clouds, but, as the Howl began, they floated gently away and the moon turned everything to silver. Lottie, holding hands with Marjory and Wilf, looked up in wonder. ‘It’s a full moon!’ she whispered. ‘How perfect is that?’ She sighed happily. ‘Aren’t I just so lucky to be here… and tomorrow will be another glorious day!’
