Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief. Laura Ellen Anderson
Pumpkin Patch birthnight party sounds super fun!’ said Tangine. ‘I know Pumpy will love it!’
Pumpy, Tangine’s own genetically modified pet pumpkin, tried to roll over, but fell asleep halfway through the roll.
‘Although, I’ve recently discovered Pumpy suffers from Chronic-Upside-Down-Sleep-Syndrome . . .’ said Tangine, giving Pumpy a nudge so that he was upright once
again.
The huge pumpkin flexed his six-pack
and PA-DOOFED once into Tangine’s
arms, causing the prince to fall backwards.
‘PRINCE DOWN!’ yelled Florence as
Tangine groaned.
Amelia tried to smile but couldn’t quite
manage it.
‘You seem sad, Amelia,’ said Grimaldi.
‘What’s up?’
‘Me and Mum had a bit of an argument,’
sighed Amelia. ‘I told her I didn’t want to play
the organ this week so that I could finish
Squashy’s costume – and read more Positively
Pumpkin. And she got really cross. I just don’t
think I can be the perfect vampiress she wants
me to be.’
‘THAT’S TOO BAD,’ said Florence, putting
a big hairy arm around Amelia’s shoulders.
‘YOU’LL BE ’APPY YOU STUCK WIV THE
ORGAN THOUGH. I WISH I COULD PLAY.’
She yawned.
Amelia and her friends were all feeling a
little tired after the big Petrifying Palace
Parade a few nights before, where everyone
had celebrated the Kingdom of the Dark and
the Kingdom of the Light becoming friends.
After many years of being completely
terrified of the other, Creatures of the Light
and the Dark could now live alongside each
other in peace, since the evil Alpha Unicorn
had been defeated by Amelia and her friends.
Along with a group of mighty unicorn lords,
Alpha Unicorn had been spreading false and
scary rumours about the creatures from each
kingdom to keep them divided. But thanks to
Amelia and the gang, everyone was now free
to roam wherever they pleased. Things were
better than ever, and the Creatures of the
Dark now accepted the wonders of glitter;
once the stuff of utter DAYMARES!
The parade had been a LOT of fun,
but after much dancing, singing and pumpkin
juggling, Amelia and her friends could have
done with a little bit more sleep.
From across the graveyard came the rattling
sound of the Catacomb Academy welcome
bones.
‘C’MON, FANG,’ said Florence to Amelia
affectionately. ‘I’M SURE A BIT OF BORING
OL’ SCHOOL WILL ’ELP CHEER YOU UP!’
Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Squashy,
you can stay out here in the graveyard and
play with Pumpy while we’re at school.’ She
gave the little pumpkin a pat on the stalk.
Squashy pa-doinged once and blew a
raspberry at Pumpy. Pumpy responded by
puffing his six-pack chest out at Squashy.
‘You two need to learn to be friends,’ Amelia
said kindly. ‘I hope you are by the time
school finishes.’
Amelia would usually sneak Squashy into
class with her, but she felt having a pumpkin buddy would be good for him. It didn’t stop her from missing Squashy every second they were apart, though. Luckily, Amelia had lots of new school subjects to focus on and keep
her mind occupied.
Since the Kingdom of the Dark and the Kingdom of the Light had become friends, Catacomb Academy had introduced a variety of new Kingdom of the Light themed lessons, to educate the Creatures of the Dark. Alongside Pumpkinology and Slime Skills, Amelia and her friends now also studied
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Angel-Kitten Singing, Cloud Crafts, Glitterology
and History of the Bug Blossoms.
‘Good evening, class,’ said the headmistress,
Miss Inspine, as the students settled on to their
plinths. ‘Firstly, I’d like to welcome the fairy
exchange students from the Kingdom of the
Light. I appreciate you may be a little sleepy
while you get used to the time difference,’ said
Miss Inspine, addressing the fairies.
Five fairies of varying sizes waved shyly
from the back of the classroom, not looking
remotely alarmed that their new headmistress
was a skeleton. One teeny weeny fairy with a
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puffy dress had fallen asleep
inside a test tube and was
snoring loudly.
‘Now class, you may remember I asked
you all to put together a presentation on a
subject of your choosing, to introduce
our visitors to the Kingdom of the
Dark,’ Miss Inspine continued.
‘Tangine, I believe you’re up
first – what is the title of your
presentation?’
Tangine stood up and
strutted to the front of the
classroom.
‘May I present to
you, MY LIFE . . . IN
SONG,’ said Tangine
straightening his bow tie.
Amelia, Florence and
Grimaldi looked at each
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other wide-eyed, trying not to laugh.
‘Um . . .’ began Miss Inspine. But before she could continue, Tangine bellowed:
‘FELLOW CLASSMATES AND FAIRIES FROM AFAR!’
‘Oh, he’s actually doing this . . .’ said
Amelia, a little surprised. She’d never heard
Tangine attempt to sing before.
‘Thiiiiiis