My Friend Walter (16 page)

So we came home after our great day in London. Father bought Hayes Barton and we moved in before Christmas. My friend Walter comes and goes as he pleases. Of course he only appears to Will and me, and he never goes headless anywhere. We insisted on that. So I suppose you could say he really has become one of the family.

On Christmas Day we were out walking together, my friend Walter and me, when I dared at last to ask him what I'd always longed to ask him. ‘All right,' he said. ‘I'll do it just this once, and only for you.'

And at that he took his cloak off and with a grand flourish laid it down across a muddy gateway. I held his hand and tiptoed across it in my wellingtons. ‘Thy servant, Your Majesty,' he said.

‘Thou art indeed a true friend,' I said in my queenliest voice. ‘And I would have thee by my side forever.'

‘So you will, my lady,' he said bowing low. ‘So you will.'

Who would you like to have an adventure with?

a) On my own

b) A ghost

c) Someone in my family

d) My best friend

e) My pet

Where would you like to go on holiday?

a) A remote island or a far-away mountain

b) A fantasy world

c) Anywhere as long as my family and friends are there

d) A different time period

e) The countryside

I would like to be . . .

a) Explorer

b) Author

c) Someone who helps others

d) Warrior

e) Circus ringmaster

My favourite stories are . . .

a) Full of adventure

b) Magical

c) About friendships and family

d) War stories

e) About animals