Magic Puppy: Cloud Capers (3 page)

Chapter
THREE

Jessica and Storm sat at the table under the awning, which her dad had put up outside the camper van. The other members of The High Flyers had arrived now and they were all having lunch together.

At first Jessica couldn’t help worrying that someone else was going to be able to see Storm sitting on her lap, but
when no one took any notice of him, she began to relax. After checking that she wasn’t being watched, Jessica broke off bits of her cheese roll and slipped them secretly to Storm.

The tiny puppy chomped them up eagerly and then jumped down on to the grass. His tail wagged as he nosed about, licking up every last delicious crumb and Jessica had to try her hardest not to giggle.

As soon as lunch was cleared away, Jessica’s mum and dad and the other High Flyers began unpacking the balloon and equipment from a trailer.

Jessica had seen them do this hundreds of times. She was about to suggest to Storm that they go and have a look around, but he seemed fascinated by what was happening.

‘What is that big flat coloured object lying on the grass?’ Storm woofed curiously as he gambolled around with his tongue hanging out. ‘Is it something to play with?’

‘No! That’s the club’s balloon. It’s made of a special light material but it’s collapsed right now so you can’t see the shape properly. Hey! Don’t go running
about on it or you’ll get a big surprise!’ she called to him in a whisper as Storm looked like he was about to bound on to the balloon. ‘Once they’ve got the burner ready, they’ll light the jets and start filling the balloon with hot air.’

Storm’s tiny forehead wrinkled in a furry frown. ‘What happens then?’

‘The balloon inflates and gets really big. It’s tied down now, but if it wasn’t it would float right up in the air. As high as the clouds.’

Storm glanced upwards, his big bright eyes sparkling in amazement. ‘Up there?’ he woofed.

Jessica nodded. She pointed to the basket that was lying next to the balloon. ‘See that? That’s where Dad
and the passengers stand when they go up in the balloon. You have to be a qualified pilot to be in charge. Dad’s taken exams on flying and navigation and stuff. He’s very experienced – he’s won lots of races!’

‘But why do humans do this?’ Storm wanted to know.

‘It’s a hobby. That’s something you do for fun,’ Jessica explained.

Storm’s midnight-blue eyes were as round as saucers as if he couldn’t believe that anyone would want to do such a strange thing. ‘Do
you
go up into the sky, Jessica?’ he barked, looking very nervous.

‘I used to, but I’m not very good with heights. My head goes all weird and I feel sick and wobbly,’ Jessica said.
‘I usually just watch from the ground or go with mum or one of the others in the support car to where the balloon lands. Sometimes I stay in the camper. But now that you’re here we can have lots of fun together.’

Storm nodded, looking relieved, and seemed to lose interest in the balloons. ‘Does that mean lots of walks?’ he yapped, with a cheeky doggy grin.

‘Definitely!’ Jessica said, laughing. ‘We can go for one now if you –’

There was a sudden loud hissing roar, as the burner ignited. A huge spurt of bright-yellow flame shot out and heated air began flowing into the collapsed balloon.

‘Yipe!’ Storm yelped, almost jumping out of his fur. He skittered sideways and
his hackles rose in a ridge along his little back. ‘Fire!’

Jessica felt a strange warm tingling feeling flowing down her spine as big gold sparks ignited in the tiny puppy’s brown-and-white fur and his ears and tail crackled with electricity. Storm raised a front paw and a fountain of
gold glitter whooshed towards the burner.

There was a soft
phut!
and the gas jets went out.

Mr Tennant looked puzzled. ‘That’s odd. Maybe the jets need cleaning,’ he said, trying to light them again but with no success.

‘It’s OK, Storm!’ Jessica whispered hastily. ‘That’s what’s supposed to happen. Can you make the burner work again, please?’

Looking rather shamefaced, Storm sent more sparks shooting out of his paw. The jets caught immediately and a fresh burst of flame gushed out of them.

‘That’s got it!’ Mr Tennant said.

Every last gold spark disappeared from
Storm’s fur, but Jessica could see that he was still frightened and wary and his little white tail was drooping.

Jessica quickly checked that everyone was busy before pretending to bend down and fiddle with her trainer. ‘Don’t worry. There’s no danger. Dad’s dead keen on health and safety,’ she soothed, stroking Storm’s soft little ears. ‘I’m sorry. I should have explained that the burners make a scary loud noise when you’re not used to them.’

Storm looked up at her trustingly and began wagging his tail.

Jessica felt a surge of affection for the brave little pup who had stood his ground and tried to help her, despite his natural fear of fire.

‘That’s a rubbish balloon! And the
basket’s a bit small, isn’t it?’ said a familiar voice behind Jessica.

Gayle! Jessica shot quickly to her feet, her heart racing in case the older girl had seen her talking to Storm. But Gayle was watching the blue-purple-and-white balloon rippling as it swelled to its full size.

‘It’s big enough for us. Dad’s won plenty of trophies in it anyway,’ Jessica replied.

Gayle curled her lip. ‘Sure he has,’ she scoffed, making it obvious that she didn’t believe Jessica for one moment. Unexpectedly, she smiled and her voice softened. ‘Why don’t you come and see our new balloon? It’s
so
cool.’

Jessica thought about reminding Gayle that she’d said she didn’t want to hang
out with younger kids, but her curiosity got the better of her. ‘OK then. We might as well… um… I mean –
I
might as well,’ Jessica corrected quickly. She would have to be a lot more careful about keeping Storm a secret.

Gayle gave her an odd look, but then she smirked and turned on her heel.

As Jessica followed Gayle, Storm trotted beside her. They wove through
the other balloons and trailers and emerged on to a big open space.

A vast black balloon in the shape of a snarling wolf’s head was just drifting upright. It hung there, connected to an enormous basket and tethered to the ground. Jessica stared at it in astonishment. She reckoned the basket could hold about ten people. The noise from the twin burners was really loud.

A gust of wind blew the huge black balloon and it seemed to turn in Jessica’s direction and grin down at her like a fierce monster.

Storm laid his ears back, shot behind Jessica’s legs and stood there trembling.

‘What did I tell you? Isn’t it amazing?’ Gayle said triumphantly.

‘It’s not bad,’ Jessica said, determined
not to sound too impressed. The Cloud Racers seemed to be a much bigger club than The High Flyers. She could see about twenty people around the enormous balloon.

Jessica noticed a small boy standing with them. He looked about six years old and wore a bright-red Spider-man T-shirt.

Gayle saw where she was looking. ‘That’s my brother, Mikey. He’s not allowed to go up in the balloon because the rules say he’s too short. That’s why he trails around after me when Mum and Dad are flying. He’s a real pain,’ Gayle grumbled.

Mikey looked over at Jessica and gave a sunny smile. He seemed really sweet.
I don’t suppose it’s much fun for him either
,
having to put up with a sister like Gayle
, Jessica thought.

A blonde woman stood next to Mikey. She looked over and waved at Gayle and Jessica. She was wearing lots of bright make-up, a floaty pink top and high-heeled sandals.

Gayle waved back. ‘That’s my mum. Isn’t she mega-gorgeous? Just like a Hollywood film star.’

‘She’s very pretty,’ Jessica commented, although she thought Mrs Young looked a bit too dressed up for ballooning. The other mums were wearing shorts and T-shirts and trainers.

‘If you’ve seen enough, you can go back to your pathetic old balloon,’ Gayle said cheerfully. She strolled across the grass towards her mum and little brother without a backward glance.

Jessica’s jaw dropped. She’d just given Gayle another chance to be friends and had ended up being snubbed – again!

‘Is there anybody as annoying as Gayle Young?’ she fumed to Storm. ‘Come on. I’ll just go and tell my parents that I’m going for a wander around.’

‘I would like that,’ Storm woofed. He threw a final wary glance at the monstrous black wolf balloon before scampering after Jessica.

Chapter
FOUR

‘It’s a no-fly evening,’ Mr Tennant said with a sigh a couple of hours later as he came into the camper.

Jessica was sitting reading a magazine on the sofa bed with Storm curled up beside her. They’d been to watch a monster trucks’ display and then a circus workshop. Now the tiny puppy’s ears were twitching as he dozed and his
tiny paws jerked as if he was running in his dreams.

As her dad came towards her, Jessica quickly shielded Storm with her magazine and scooped him into her lap.

‘Wroof!’ the tiny puppy yapped in shock, instantly awake and alert.

‘Sorry to disturb you, but Dad’s about to squash you,’ Jessica whispered as her dad sat down heavily next to her, exactly where Storm had just been lying.