Ellie went home from dog-training feeling that she and Rascal still needed lots more practice.
“Did you have a good time?” Mum asked.
Ellie nodded. “Rascal didn’t do anything too bad,” she promised. “We’re doing training off the lead. He was OK while I was close, but he got distracted really easily. I’m going to practise with him at the weekend. Oh, and I got this phone number for Lucy, the new girl I told you about. She’s looking for a ballet class.”
Mum smiled. “That’s nice. Maybe she’d like to come to your party.”
Ellie looked up at her hopefully. “Does that mean I can have a sleepover?” She’d told Mum Christy’s idea when she got home from school.
“Yes. But only four friends.”
“Thanks, Mum!” Ellie picked up Rascal and hugged him. “It’s going to be brilliant! I can’t wait to tell Christy! You can sleep on my sleeping bag, Rascal!”
But Christy was late to school the next morning. Ellie strode up and down the playground fence, desperate to tell her best friend the exciting news.
“Hi, Ellie,” someone said shyly behind her, as she checked her watch for what seemed like the hundredth time.
Ellie turned round. “Hi, Lucy.”
“Are you OK?”
“I was just waiting for Christy. I wanted to tell her, my mum’s said I can have a sleepover for my birthday.” She smiled a little shyly at Lucy. “Would you like to come?”
“Really?” Lucy’s face lit up with excitement. “I’d love to. Um, when is it?”
“Two weeks’ time. Not this Saturday but the next one. Oh, there’s Christy!” Ellie grabbed Lucy’s hand and towed her towards the gate. “Christy! Christy! Mum said yes! Can you come? Lucy’s coming too!”
Ellie was so excited about her sleepover that she didn’t notice that Christy wasn’t quite as pleased as she ought to have been.
“Oh, cool,” she murmured, and as the bell rang she followed Ellie and Lucy into school with a surprised, slightly hurt look on her face.
“FOUR? Four extra girls?” Max stared at Mum with his mouth open in horror. “All night?”
Mum nodded, and then thought for a moment. “Would you like me to arrange with Lewis’s mum for you to stay the night?”
Max nodded eagerly. “Yes, please!”
“Can I go too?” Dad murmured, grinning at Ellie, and she pretended to elbow him in the side.
“Why don’t I ever get to have four mates to sleep over?” Max asked, scowling down at his dinner plate.
Mum rolled her eyes. “Because I like my house the way it is, thank you. I’ve seen what you can do, five of you would be like a wrecking ball.”
Lila shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about it. Ellie, do you want me to help you decorate the house for your party?”
Ellie gazed at her delightedly. “Please!” She could feel Rascal wagging his tail against her leg under the table. She was sure he was as excited about the party as she was.
After tea, Ellie raced upstairs. She’d finished her homework when she got back from school, and now she got out her best paper and pens, and the pots of glitter that Auntie Gemma had given her at Christmas. Carefully, she began to design her party invitations, dabbing the glue on to make a glittery paw-print shape. Rascal sat on her lap, trying to lick the glue. Then he sniffed eagerly at the glitter, but it made him sneeze.
“Oh, Rascal!” Ellie was half-laughing, half-cross. “Look, it’s everywhere!” She tilted her head to one side, eyeing the purple and silver swirly pattern that Rascal had managed to create. “Actually, that’s quite nice, Rascal…”
