\u201cI’m definitely going to need your floral scarf for my costume, so get it right away\u201d – Bella’s shrill voice was almost a scream, making Mimi, who was picking up the discarded clothes from the floor, flinch.
\n\u201cBut that was my mother’s… sorry, but I don’t want to give it to you, I have so little of her\u2019s to remember her by.\u201d
\n\u201cWho cares? You can’t go to the party anyway, because someone has to look after Little Oliver. You’ve never worn that scarf before, and it’s just what I need. Hand it over!\u201d
\nThis was too much for Mimi. If it wasn\u2019t bad enough that they had to live together because of their parents, then on top of that they were stuck at home alone for two whole days with Little Oliver, their four-year-old brother. She had reached her breaking point.
\n\u201cYou\u2019re not having it! You can sort your costume out for yourself, but don’t boss me around. Just because my father married your mother, it doesn’t make us sisters!\u201d
\n\u201cI only asked for a stupid scarf, you can get stuffed, you jealous cow!\u201d Bella flushed red with anger, and stormed out of the room with such force that she even knocked Little Oliver down, who started crying immediately, of course.” “\u201cCome here, Little Oliver! Everything’s all right!\u201d Mimi said as she kissed her little brother’s head.
\n\u201cMimi,\u201d sniffled the little boy, \u201cwhat fancy dress party are you going to? Are you leaving me here?\u201d
\n\u201cOh, no, nobody\u2019s leaving you alone anywhere. I’m staying here with you, only Bella is going.\u201d
\n\u201cBut what is a fancy dress party?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not a fancy dress party, it\u2019s a costume ball… and there will be a fancy dress costume contest! And guess what the winner gets? A helicopter ride over the city with Bob the Dog, the singer.\u201d
\n\u201cWow, I love Bob! I like his song that goes, \u2018love is not my bread and butter, come with me if that\u2019s no bother!\u2019 Yay!\u201d Little Oliver chanted the refrain from the most recent hit. Every radio station had been playing it at least ten times a day, no wonder even a four-year-old could remember the catchy tune.
\n\u201cYes,\u201d sighed Mimi, \u201cit’s going to be a really cool party. It’s organized by the shoe company that Bob the Dog’s dad owns… Music, dancing and cool costumes… but whatever, there is no way I can go.\u201d
\n\u201cIt’s okay, I’ll play with you so you won’t get bored,\u201d the little boy tried to comfort Mimi.
\n\u201cNow, that’ll be great! I mean, I can’t wait!\u201d” “The door swung open, and Bella spun through it like a whirlwind.
\n\u201cOkay, I found a similar scarf at mom’s, so you’re off the hook. But I need your glass figurines! They will fit my shoes just right. I’m going to do something like Lady Gaga did at her last concert.\u201d
\n\u201cCome off it, Bella! They’ll break if you stick them on your shoes! Don\u2019t be daft!\u201d
\n\u201cI’ll glue them on so they won’t break. What\u2019s your problem anyway? They are just silly little glass figurines anyway!\u201d
\n\u201cBecause I collect them… It took me years to get this many. You don’t understand because you don\u2019t care about anything, nothing is precious to you!\u201d
\nLittle Oliver was getting fed up. \u201cStop fighting, that\u2019s not nice! You are always fighting.\u201d
\nIn despair Mimi stood between her brother and her stepsister. Little Oliver started to cry, and Bella was fuming with rage as usual. There was no other way.
\n\u201cYou can take two…\u201d Mimi whimpered.
\n\u201cI need four\u201d Bella replied sharply, and she was already running to Mimi’s dresser to take four of the figurines.
\nOf course, she chose Mimi\u2019s favourites.” “\u201cSo, how do I look?\u201d Bella twirled around in front of the hall mirror, obviously very pleased with herself. The sun was going down.
\n\u201cWell… honestly… it\u2019s quite a nice costume… and I especially like the mask,\u201d said Mimi, as she tried but just couldn’t find the words for the horrible pile of clothes Bella had chosen to combine. Little Oliver helped her out:
\n\u201cWho are you going as? A scarecrow? Ha-ha!\u201d
\nBella looked at her brother, enraged at the insult.
\n\u201cThe Spring Fairy, in case you hadn’t noticed. Well, good-bye!\u201d and as usual, she stormed off and slammed the door behind her. Mimi watched from the window as she boarded the bus, barely holding back her tears. Even Little Oliver couldn\u2019t console her.
\nThen she thought for a moment and took out the phone her parents had left at home in case of an emergency.
\n\u201cIt’s awful here at home without dad! Bella has been torturing me all day, and I couldn’t even go to the fancy dress party because I have to take care of Little Oliver. Auntie Esther, help me!\u201d \u2018Could you please call me?\u2019 She texted. Aunt Esther was Mimi’s long dead mother\u2019s sister, and lived not far from them. She was a really cool aunt who travelled a lot.
\n\u201cMaybe she is away travelling again,\u201d thought Mimi sadly. Her sadness did not last long, however, because the bell soon rang.” “\u201cHello, sweetie! You see, your fairy godmother is here, so go and get ready for the party I’ll look after Little Oliver. But be home by midnight, because I have a flight to catch… I’m going to the Azores for a yoga camp. Chop, chop!\u201d Aunt Esther said without taking a breath, and threw herself down on the sofa. \u201cWell, are you going, or aren\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cAunt Esther… It’s a fancy dress party. And I don\u2019t have a costume!\u201d
\n\u201cOh. That’s no good then. But we can sort something out! Let’s go up to the attic and see if we can find something fancy\u201d Aunt Esther was unstoppable as she ran up the stairs. By the time Mimi caught up with her, she was rummaging through a large box in the corner of the attic that contained some of her Mum’s old things.
\n\u201cBingo!\u201d She said, as from the box she pulled a beautiful bright red robe, with gorgeous, shimmering feathers on the sleeves and collar. \u201cDarling, you\u2019ll be a phoenix!\u201d
\n\u201cAnd the shoes…? I don’t have any shoes either!\u201d
\n\u201cWhat size are you? 36, if I am not mistaken? Here, take mine.\u201d And she kicked off her own sparkling, glittery red shoes. \u201cThank goodness I’m a snazzy dresser. Now, off you go! Oh wait, you need a mask too! This will do\u201d Aunt Esther said, as she cut two eyeholes into the sash from the dress with a pair of scissors.
\nMimi could not have been happier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1092,"template":"","class_list":["post-1094","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n