Alice and Alfie came alive as they heard the car going up the road away from the windmill. They ran to the window and saw Nichole and her mummy and daddy disappear into the distance. At that moment their little hearts sank and they could not imagine what life was going to be like not having Nichole with them.

Alice said to Alfie, “They have left us and we are all alone,”

Alfie said, “Don’t worry. We will be alright,” and just at that moment they heard the front door open. They looked down the staircase and saw a little old man with a white short beard and a small black cotton hat. They quickly ran back to the bedroom and sat very still on the windowsill. The old man, whose name was Jacques, came into the bedroom and put his suitcase on the bed. He was the owner of the windmill and he had rented it out to Nichole’s mummy and daddy.

Jacques saw the rag dolls on the windowsill. He picked them up and said to himself, “What lovely toys.” He realised that Nichole and her mummy and daddy had left them behind. He put them back on the windowsill and went downstairs to get some dinner.

As Jacques walked downstairs, Alice and Alfie came alive. They looked out of the window and spotted some kittens running around by the water. Jacques had bought them back with him to try and keep the mice away. All of a sudden two little mice came running into the bedroom. They saw Alice and Alfie and started shouting, “Please help us.”

Alice said, “Quick, jump into our pockets.” Alice lay down and Alfie lay in front of her and they told the mice to keep very still. The kittens ran into the bedroom but could not find the mice, so they scurried downstairs and sat in front of the large log fire that Jacques had lit. He sat there and ate his dinner and the kittens had their milk.

Alice took the mice out of her pocket and said to Alfie, “We will have to hide them somewhere.” They decided the best place was in the box that Nichole used to put them in at night. The mice thanked them for what they had done and then they said that when Jacques went out they would show Alice and Alfie the windmill and the woods.

That night after everyone had gone to bed, the two rag dolls sat at the window when all of a sudden the moon floated down. To their amazement the moon spoke to them, saying, “Nichole sends her love to you both and says she will be back for you one day.”

The next morning when Alice and Alfie awoke they heard the kittens playing in the garden and saw Jacques go off to town to do some shopping.

Alice said, “Lets go down and play. I should like to take the mice with us.” The mice sat up and said, “What!…what!… They will eat us!”

Alice replied, “No they won’t. We will all be friends,” and so they all climbed down the ladder at the side of the window and went off to join the kittens.

The rag dolls sat and played with the kittens and Alice said, “I have brought some new friends for you to play with,” and the kittens said, “Where?…where?… Do show us.”

Alice took the mice out of her pocket and the mice said, “Don’t eat us, please don’t eat us.” The kittens laughed and replied, “We only chase mice because we want to play with them,” and so they all became good friends.

Alice said to Alfie, “I can’t believe it we have made some friends already.” That night when they went to bed the moon shone down and said to them, “Nichole sends her love and hopes you have lots of fun on your adventures.” The moon then drifted away and they both fell fast asleep.