The Party 1/5

"Now don't you forget," said Dad, "you tell your friends that we're having a party for them next Saturday afternoon. I'll be very disappointed if they don't all come."

"Yes, Dad," said Jennifer Jane and she went through the garden and into the woods. She was carefully holding the framed picture of King John losing his treasure in the Wash. It was a present for Clarence and she'd coloured it as near to the original as possible. Her Father had put a piece of glass over it and made a frame so that it was ready to hang on a wall.

"Wish Warehouse, carefully please!" she said as she reached the magic clearing in the woods. Last time, she'd arrived with the sort of bump which would have broken her picture.

This time the landing was perfectly normal. She arrived lightly on her feet and was very pleased to see Lieutenant Moonshine talking to Frosty.

"Are you Jennifer, er Jane?" asked Lieutenant Moonshine and then burst out laughing. "Poor old Forget-Me-Not, I'm afraid she'll never make sergeant."

"Things did seem to go wrong that day," said Jennifer Jane.

"Yes, I heard about it all from various people. I'm pleased Clarence was put in his place; he's always been a bit tricky. Meeting that Chinese dragon was lucky for you in more ways than one. So, how can we help you today?"

"I’ve got a bit of a problem," said Jennifer Jane, "you see, my Dad insists that everybody who's ever helped me comes to a party next Saturday afternoon and that means you and the witches, all the goblins, the dragons and giant, the Clerk of the Weather..."

"I see what you mean," interrupted Lieutenant Moonshine, "it doesn't seem possible, after all, grown ups usually can't see any of us. We could get over that with a bit of magic but then there's the dragons and what your parents would make of a giant as tall as a tree I really don't know!"

"You made the Giant smaller once so that he could have an afternoon off with Barnacle Bill in his paddle steamer."

"That's true," said Lieutenant Moonshine

"I've just had an idea," said Jennifer Jane

"I thought you might," said Lieutenant Moonshine with a smile, "well, come on then, let's hear it."

"We could have a fancy dress party, then everyone can come as themselves and Mum and Dad will think they're all dressed up."

"That sounds good," said Lieutenant Moonshine, "but first I think we must arrange a round trip to everyone so that you can ask them personally if they'd like to come. Most of the fairies will have to stay here on duty but I can arrange to come and I'm sure anyone who isn't working that day would love to come as well."

"None of the snowmen can go, of course," said Frosty, "it'll be far too hot but I expect some of them will volunteer for treasure sitting for the dragons, so that they'll be free to go if they want to."

"I thought we could go round in a circle," said Jennifer Jane, "Megan, then Clarence, the Witches' Home and back to the Giant's pool".

"You've forgotten the Clerk of the Weather" laughed Lieutenant Moonshine, "but never mind; I'll speak to him and you can see all the goblins."

"Delighted I'd be for sure," said Megan when Jennifer Jane asked her if she would like to come to the party, "though what your Da will say when he sees a real live dragon, I don't know!"

"Hello, Jonathan Jim," said Clarence as Frosty landed just outside his cave.

"Jennifer Jane," said Jennifer Jane with a sigh.

"Oh botheration, I thought I'd got it right that time. Are you sure it's not Jonathan Jim?"

Jennifer Jane didn't bother to answer the question.

"Would you like to come to a party at my home next Saturday?" she asked. "Megan is coming and I thought you could meet at the Giant's pool and then walk from there. I think it would be too much of a shock if you both flew into the garden."

"Absolutely delighted, old thing," said Clarence.

Jennifer Jane gave him the picture and Clarence invited her into his cave and hung it on the wall for her to see.

"Thanks very much," he said, "I think I'll move all the treasure from that raid and put it in a heap just underneath, that will really set it off."

Jennifer Jane left Clarence moving pieces of his treasure and arranging them carefully under the picture.

"See you on Saturday," she called, as Frosty took off for the Witches' Home.