Princess Party Sleepover

It was a warm summer’s evening and Olivia’s bedroom window was wide open. Purple wisteria flowers nodded against the sill and furry bumblebees buzzed around them, collecting the last of the day’s pollen. The setting sun made the houses of Catterton glow a rosy pink.

“Our first sleepover!” Olivia squealed, twirling in her pink ruffled nightie.

“I’ve never been to a sleepover before,” Grace said, doing up the last button of her favourite star-patterned pyjamas. “What should we do first?” The girls flopped on to Olivia’s bed, which had a fluffy pink duvet.

“Let’s play princesses,” Olivia suggested. She leapt to her feet, wobbling on her bed, and wrapped her duvet round her shoulders like a royal robe.

“Ta-dah!” she said and pretended to wave at her loyal subjects.

“Hello, your royal highness!” Grace said and bowed to Olivia.

“Now it’s your turn,” Olivia said, jumping down to sit beside Grace. “You’d make a lovely princess.”

Grace shook her head, making her blonde ponytail fly about. “No way! Who wants to be a princess and have to wear dresses and go to boring parties? Yuck!”

Olivia stared open-mouthed at her friend. “I would love to be a princess, trying on all those lovely outfits and tiaras.”

Suddenly, the setting sun sent a golden beam of light directly through the open window.

“Maybe Cuddle’s coming!” Olivia said, looking down into her back garden. The girls couldn’t wait to see the magical kitten again.

Cuddle always arrived in a sudden burst of sunshine and took them on amazing adventures.

A sound drifted through the window.

Jingle jangle jingle.

“That’s her bell!” Grace cried.

The wisteria branch beneath Olivia’s window was shaking, its flowers bobbing up and down. A tiny white tail with a kink in its black tip flicked out from the quivering leaves.

“Cuddle!” both girls shouted.

The kitten’s green eyes flashed as she scrambled on to the window sill, the silver bell on her pink collar jangling. She sprang between the girls into Olivia’s room, landing in the middle of the bed. “Miaow!”

Cuddle pawed Olivia’s arm. Olivia scooped the kitten up, cradling her upside-down to show her tummy.

“Cuddle’s purring,” Olivia said, her eyes shining. “That means we’re going on another adventure!”

“Where are you going to take us, Cuddle?” Grace asked, nuzzling Cuddle nose to nose.

Cuddle’s purr grew louder and louder, buzzing like the bumblebees outside.

The girls’ skin tingled all over, making them giggle.

Grace and Olivia squeezed their eyes tightly shut.

“Here we go!” Olivia said.