The cat shook her golden head. “Not yet, I’m happy to say!” She smiled. “I’ve brought you here because there’s a fair in Sunshine Meadow today. I thought you might like to come.”
The girls looked at each other excitedly. “We’d love to!” Lily said.
“So that’s why everyone looks so busy,” exclaimed Jess. “They’re getting ready for the fair!”
Harry was pushing his wheelbarrow back across the clearing. It was now filled with so many nuts that he couldn’t see over the top, and his steering was off. As the girls and Goldie dodged out of Harry’s way, Jess’s little sketchbook fell from the pocket of her shorts.
She bent to pick it up, but a tiny golden-brown mouse got there first.
“I’ll get it!” the mouse squeaked.
Lily held her breath as the mouse struggled to lift the sketchbook. She’s so small, I could hold her with just one hand, she thought to herself.
“I’m doing it! I’m doing it!” panted the mouse. She managed to lift the book by one corner, and Jess reached down to take it. The girls kneeled beside her.
“Thank you,” Jess said. “What’s your name?”
“Molly,” said the mouse, sitting on a tuft of moss to get her breath back. “Molly Twinkletail.”
“That’s a pretty name,” said Lily. “You’re very kind.”
“I love helping people,” Molly said. “I’ve got a mommy and daddy and nine big brothers and sisters, and I help them all!” She twitched her whiskers. “I’m too little to help at our stall at the fair, though, so I’m helping anyone else I can. Are you hungry?” She opened her little bag and showed them what was inside. “Hazelnut chips,” she said. “Try some.”
Molly tipped the chips into Lily and Jess’s outstretched hands. They were each the size of a grain of rice.
“Yum!” the girls said together, nibbling the chips.
“Have some more,” offered Molly.
“But you won’t have enough left for yourself,” said Goldie.
“Don’t worry,” said Molly. “I’ll go home and fill my bag again. All this helping is making me hungry!”
She ran to a nearby tree, scampering up the stairs carved into the trunk and onto a branch where a pretty little cottage stood. A delicious aroma wafted from its open windows.
“Will you wait and take me to Sunshine Meadow with you?” Molly called down.
“Of course,” said Goldie. “Just ask your mom and dad if it’s okay first.”
Molly scurried indoors. A moment later, Jess and Lily saw nine little mouse faces at the windows. Molly’s brothers and sisters!
They waved, then Molly herself ran out, followed by a smiling mouse wearing an apron who introduced herself to the girls as Molly’s mother.
“What’s that delicious smell?” asked Lily.
“We’re dipping blueberries in toffee,” explained Mrs. Twinkletail. “Look for us at the fair, won’t you? Don’t get into any trouble, Molly. Good-bye, everyone!”
Holding her bag of hazelnut chips, Molly settled happily in Lily’s hands. The four friends set off for Sunshine Meadow and the fair.
Chapter Three
Grizelda!
Goldie led the girls through the trees. A bush of pale pink roses grew beside the path and Lily stopped to admire the delicate flowers. Molly leaned out of her pocket and wriggled her nose.
“They smell just like my mom’s strawberry pancakes!” she squeaked.
“All the flowers look beautiful, Goldie,” said Lily, looking around them. “Does that mean the Blossom Briar is better now?”
The Blossom Briar grew beside the cave where Goldie lived. As long as it was covered in blooms, all the flowers in Friendship Forest would thrive. Grizelda had tried to destroy it, but luckily the girls and Goldie had stopped her.
The cat nodded happily. “It’s covered in new buds!” She led them out of the trees. “Now, here’s Sunshine Meadow!”
The girls gasped as they stepped into a field of lush green grass. It was dotted with blooms of orange, yellow, and deep red.
“It’s beautiful,” Jess cried.
“The flowers are all the colors of sunshine,” said Lily. She set Molly Twinkletail on the ground and handed her the bag of hazelnut chips.
“Thanks for the ride,” said Molly. “I’m off to do some more helping. See you later!”
They waved good-bye to the tiny mouse, and watched as the meadow began to fill with animals preparing their stalls and games.
Goldie pointed to where a squirrel was setting up an apple-bobbing game—but his apples had fallen onto the ground. “I think Woody Flufftail needs a hand,” she said.
They went over to Woody’s stall and helped him gather up the runaway fruit.
“These look delicious,” Lily told him as she picked up a rosy apple from under the table.
“Here, try one!” Woody said. He held out an apple in each paw to Lily and Jess.
“Mmm,” said Jess, biting into the crunchy fruit. “It’s the best apple I’ve ever tasted!”
“They’re from the Treasure Tree,” Woody explained. “That’s where we get all our food from.”
Before the girls could ask Woody more about the Treasure Tree, Lily spotted Molly scurrying toward them.
“I helped Agatha Glitterwing the magpie set out all the shiny prizes for her raffle,” she said breathlessly. “And I helped Lucy Longwhiskers arrange her seed cakes.”
“Goodness—” Lily began, but Molly Twinkletail took a breath and carried on.
“And I helped Mr. Cleverfeather set up his Bubble-Blower machine,” she said. “He’s an owl and a brilliant inventor.”
The girls grinned at each other. “We met Mr. Cleverfeather last time we were here—in his inventing hut,” said Jess.
“Bother!” Woody exclaimed suddenly.
“What’s the matter?” asked Lily.
“I’ve only got big apples for my game,” he said. “I completely forgot to pick small ones for the little animals!”
Molly clapped her front paws together. With an excited squeak, she scurried away again.
“Molly, where are you going?” Jess called, but the little mouse had already disappeared.
Just then, a glint of light above the forest caught Lily’s eye. A glowing yellow-green orb was floating toward the meadow. The girls had seen it before, when they first came to the forest...
Lily felt her tummy flip over. She nudged Jess. “It looks like Grizelda has decided to join the fair, too,” she said nervously.
Jess gasped. “Oh, no!”
As the orb got closer, all the animals stopped what they were doing to watch. When it had reached the center of the meadow, there was a cra-ack and a shower of green sparks. When the sparks cleared, the girls saw a tall woman in a shiny purple tunic and tight black pants. She had cold, dark eyes and a thin, bony nose.
“Stay back!” Goldie warned everyone. “Grizelda the witch is here!” All the animals squeaked in fear.
Grizelda squashed some yellow flowers with the pointy toe of her high-heeled boot. “Well, well.” She sneered. “It’s the cat and her interfering humans.”
“Go away, Grizelda!” Jess shouted. “Go back to your tower and leave Friendship Forest alone!”
Grizelda pointed a finger at Woody’s pile of apples, and they disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. With gasps and shouts, the forest animals shrank away from her. Some of them huddled together in groups, with big ones shielding the little ones. Some were crying, and others ran to hide behind the stalls.