Zia LOVED the Christmas holidays. Her family were Muslim and celebrated a festival called Eid twice each year, but this was still a special time for them. They loved the twinkling lights that brightened up the town, and even though they didn’t exchange presents like the families of lots of children in her class, they spent time seeing aunts, uncles and cousins and eating lots of delicious food. This year was going to be even more special because in just a few days they were flying to India for a family wedding. But before that Zia had the last day of term to enjoy, and it was going to be BRILLIANT for two BRILLIANT reasons. Firstly, because her best friends were coming for a playdate after school. Secondly, because it was a non-school-uniform day. Put these things together and it meant today was definitely going to be Zia’s favourite day of the entire term.

“Come on, Zia! It’s time to leave!” yelled her mum. Zia’s family was a loud, bellowy sort of family. “Your sisters are waiting!”

Zia wondered how many times she’d been called already – her mind had been too occupied with playdates and choosing what to wear to notice. “Coming, coming!” she bellowed back from her room, checking her silver leggings and fluffy turquoise jumper in the mirror one last time. “Have you found my light-up trainers?”

“Yes! You know you’ve asked me that about five times already this morning?” Her mum had that half-cross face she often wore in the mornings before school – somewhere between a frown and a grin.

Zia trotted down the stairs, then smiled innocently at her mum while she put on her trainers. Her older sisters were fighting (as usual) to see who could get their coats down from the peg first.

“Everyone ready?” their mum asked, hurrying them out of the door so as not to be late for the bell. “And remember,” she said, turning to Zia, “your friends are coming for a playdate after school.”

Zia’s heart did another little leap of excitement.

“Mum, you know I’ve told you that about five times this morning!” she said cheekily. Surely her mum knew that was one thing she couldn’t possibly forget.

Zia was in Junipers class at Bishop’s Park Primary (every class in her year was named after a tree or bush) along with her two best friends, Cassandra and Katy. The three girls were inseparable and loved nothing more than planning adventures – and going on playdates to each other’s houses. Last term they’d set up a new secret club called the Playdate Adventure Club and it was the coolest thing Zia had ever been a part of.

That lunchtime, after finishing off the calendars they’d been making in class, the three girls huddled in the cold playground, chatting excitedly about the playdate they were having later.

“I’ve told my sisters they’re not allowed in my room the whole time we’re playing!” Zia exclaimed.

“Good thinking.” Katy smiled – she didn’t have brothers or sisters so didn’t have the same kind of problems Zia had with hers. Zia loved her sisters a lot, especially when they helped her with her homework, but sometimes they could be way too naughty.

“Do you think that thing might happen again at your house today, Zia?” Cassandra whispered.

Katy looked nervously over her shoulder, not wanting them to be heard by the other children in the playground. “You mean the same thing that happened when we had a playdate at my house?”

Cassandra nodded.

“I hope so,” said Zia.

But they didn’t get to finish their conversation because the bell went for them to line up in the playground, ready for afternoon lessons.

For the rest of the school day Zia couldn’t get the playdate out of her head. Something amazing had happened at Katy’s house last time. It was as though some kind of magic had descended on them all and turned their pretend adventure to space into an actual real space mission. Now Zia couldn’t wait to get home to find out whether the same thing was going to happen today.

“Zia, are you with us?” Ms Coco asked impatiently. Their teacher had walked over to Zia’s desk and was now leaning her hands on the table. Zia always worked hard and never usually found it difficult to concentrate.

“Er, yes, sorry,” she gulped, letting go of her plait and sitting up straight to make it look as though she was paying attention.

Ms Coco made a disbelieving “hmmmm” sound and walked back to the white board.

That was close, Zia thought, feeling Katy and Cassandra’s eyes on her.

She dared one more glance at the clock on the classroom wall.

Only forty-five minutes left of the school day, and then they’d be able to find out.