As Amelia walked into the unliving room, she thought something odd had happened to her ears. She couldn’t hear a thing. But then she realised why.
The caticorns were snuggled up together in the empty suitcase that had once been full of new expensive toys.
‘SHHHHH, THEY FELL ASLEEP!’ Florence said, as quietly as she could.
‘It’s a miracle!’ whispered a relieved-looking Grimaldi.
Tangine was still sitting on the sofa in deep thought.
Amelia tiptoed over to her friends and handed out the glasses of sour milk before snuggling up next to Tangine. She took a long sip of the warm, soothing drink.
‘Looking at the caticorns now, they seem so cute,’ she said quietly. ‘You’d never believe they could cause so much trouble!’
‘They’ve worn themselves out after all that dancing, music and painting,’ said Grimaldi.
‘YOUR AUNT LEFT ALL THOSE PRESENTS FOR ’EM AND THEY STILL WEREN’T SATISFIED,’ said Florence in disbelief. ‘SHE SAID THE PRESENTS WOULD KEEP ’EM HAPPY! WHAT MORE COULD THEY POSSIBLY WANT?’
Tangine cleared his throat. ‘Attention,’ he said.
‘Huh?’ said Amelia.
‘Attention, ’ Tangine repeated, more firmly this time.
‘But we’ve given them attention,’ said Amelia, feeling more confused than ever.
‘Not in the way they really need it,’ said Tangine. ‘I suspect your Aunt Lavitora gives them lots of gifts to try to keep them happy.’
‘“Here’s a suitcase filled with some gifts to keep them happy”,’ Amelia quoted. ‘That’s exactly what my aunt said before she left.’
Tangine looked sad. ‘Yes. Well, that’s why I used to act like such a spoilt sprout, remember?’
Amelia did remember. When she had first met Tangine he was VERY different to the friendly, kind vampire-fairy she knew now. He had been bossy and spoilt and certainly didn’t know how to act like a good friend.
‘My dad thought that giving me presents all the time made up for the fact that he was never around when he was away searching for my mum. I had more expensive gifts than I could count,’ said Tangine. ‘But I didn’t really care about the presents. All I REALLY wanted was to spend some time with my dad and for some friends – like you guys!’
‘You’re right, Tangine!’ said Amelia. It was as if a lightbulb had flickered to life inside her head. ‘In fact, so were you, Grimaldi!’
‘Oh . . . okay?’ said a blushing Grimaldi. ‘But how was I right exactly?’
‘“They’ve worn themselves out after all that dancing, music and painting ” is what you said, Grimaldi,’ explained Amelia, sitting up straight.
Grimaldi look at Amelia with a baffled expression.
‘Guys, I’ve realised something,’ said Amelia. She beckoned Florence, Grimaldi and Tangine to lean in closer. ‘Gerrard is always dancing or swinging around on furniture. Butler is forever banging or tapping or plucking things to make music; and Mo is always drawing or painting on anything she can draw or paint ON!’
‘INCLUDING OUR FACES,’ Florence grunted.
‘Don’t you see?’ said Amelia. ‘They each have something special . . . a unique talent. But what if nobody has ever taken the time to notice it?’
‘IT’S KINDA HARD TO APPRECIATE THEIR SKILLS WHEN THEY’RE RUNNIN’ RINGS AROUND US,’ said Florence.
‘I know,’ said Amelia. ‘I think they just need us to take an interest in what they’re doing instead of telling them off for it.’ She smiled at her friends, giving Tangine a special wink. ‘And I know exactly what we can do!’
The clock struck midnight and the caticorns began to stir. Gerrard gave a long squeaky yawn and slowly opened his eyes.
‘You’re up!’ said Amelia happily.
Gerrard looked at her, clearly confused.
Butler and Mo stirred and opened their sleepy eyes. When they saw Amelia, they looked down at their paws guiltily.
‘Come on! Up we get!’ said Amelia enthusiastically. ‘We have a surprise for you!’
Gerrard, Butler and Mo looked at each other with wrinkled, furry little foreheads.
‘Mew?’ they said in unison.
Amelia whistled. Squashy and Pumpy came bundling into the unliving room wearing tiny top hats and bow ties.
‘Squashy and Pumpy have been rather bored,’ said Amelia, putting her hands on her hips. ‘They need entertaining ! And I thought to myself, I know JUST the trio who might be able to do that!’
Gerrard screwed up his little face in complete bafflement.
‘We need someone who can DANCE!’ declared Amelia. ‘Now I wonder WHO around here can dance?’
Butler and Mo poked at Gerrard’s head. ‘Mew, mew, mew!’ they chorused.
Gerrard stood up meekly and slowly twirled on the spot.
Amelia made an overly animated gasp. ‘OH MY!’ she said. ‘You can dance!’
Gerrard nodded enthusiastically.
‘Well then,’ said Amelia. ‘I’d best get Florence in here, so YOU can teach her some of your BEST dance moves for the show!’
‘Mew?!’ the caticorns echoed.
‘THAT’S RIGHT,’ said Florence, prancing into the room wearing a tutu and ballet slippers. ‘THE SHOW!’
‘We’re going to put on a show together!’ Amelia chimed. ‘We can practise in front of Pumpy and Squashy, our very friendly judges, and then we can perform in front of Wooo and Aunt Lavitora. I bet she’ll be so excited when she sees all the amazing things her caticorns can do!’
The caticorns were silent. They seemed stunned for a minute. Then, slowly but surely, the biggest smiles appeared on their adorable, fluffy little faces.
