Sonya's Birthday. Chapter 11

Soon it would be Sonya's birthday and Sonya's Mum was planning a surprise for her. None of the brigade knew what it was, but one morning Rex and Queenie saw Alice deep in conversation with Mr. Moonlight, outside the cubby house that Sonya was building, on the edge of the swamp. They watched with interest as they saw Mr. Moonlight take out a ruler and make careful measurements of the cubby house. Then after more discussion and pacing up and down outside, he took a small bottle of bright blue liquid from under his cloak and measured out seventeen drops, which he sprinkled on the cubby house. He scratched some marks with his wand outside the entrance, and after saying good-bye to Alice, Rex and Queenie, who had come to chat, he flew away.

“I think we will have your birthday party in the cubby house this year.” Alice said to Sonya. 

“But Mum it's too small.” Sonya replied with surprise.

“I mean outside the cubby house.” Alice said, rather quickly.

On Sonya's birthday nothing seemed to be prepared but Alice said that the swamp caterers would bring all the party food and arrange the tables. They flew down to the swamp together and Sonya began to worry as she saw all her friends gathered outside the cubby house, and there was no sign of the swamp caterers. Then she saw Mr. Moonlight amongst the animals. As they landed all Sonya's friends sang “Happy Birthday,” then Mr. Moonlight stepped towards Sonya.

“Many happy returns Sonya,” he said “I'm going to make a present for you, a magic cubby house for your birthday, it will last until midnight. Then everything will return to normal. Now come down and stand in front of the door, do not be frightened, as you know all my tricks are just illusions.” Her friends all held their breath as Sonya stood in front of the entrance to her house. Mr. Moonlight touched her with his wand, and it appeared that the air around Sonya began to tremble. It spread out in waves, and as it did so the shape of the cubby house began to change. The sticks grew tall and pearly, and held up an enormous tent of bright blue and silver. Through the entrance, Sonya and her friends could see tables appearing covered with their favourite kinds of birthday food, while on the far side of the marble floor, the Swampy Stompers were just arriving. Then there was a trumpeting from the swamp, and Sonya and her friends turned around to see Rex and Queenie leading their famous racing serpents. These were smaller than the serpents belonging to Sea Serpent taxi services, and very fast and frisky.

“Our birthday present for you, Sonya, is a fun afternoon riding our famous racers.” Rex said. “Their names are Speedy Gonzalez, Red Rum, Nooky, Mtoto, Desert Orchid and Scuffy. We have arranged a program for you, so let us pick six teams, one for each serpent, and begin.” Sonya and Sophie, Kelly, Leah, Megan and Crocadilly picked teams from among their friends, and the racing began. First they had a relay. The serpents whizzed through the swamp, and their riders had to hang on tightly, and got soaked with spray, as all the Mums and Dad's cheered their children on.

“Come on, Scuffy,” Rex and Queenie shouted, their son Charles was in Sonya's team on Scuffy, and they won by a head. After that they had an obstacle race that Sonya's team won on Red Rum. Kelly and her team of Triceratops all fell off as their serpent DesertOrchid took a particularly sharp corner at terrific speed, but they won the next event which was a pillow fight. Triceratops are very good at swinging pillows. After six races they were tired, happy and hungry, it had been very exciting, and every team had won a race.

They gave their serpents lumps of sugar cane and stroked and patted them, then Clara presented them all with red rosettes which said “Racing Serpent Fun Day 3 September.” and they went into the cubby house to eat and drink the wonderful things magicked by Mr. Moonlight. The Swampy Stompers were playing and the party continued until Midnight. Then Mr. Moonlight led Sonya to the door of her Cubby house.

"I hope you, and all your friends enjoyed your party,” he said.

"It was wonderful, thank you Mr. Moonlight, Rex Queenie and Mum.” Sonya said. Mr. Moonlight touched her with his wand, and as all the animals cheered the cubby house returned to normal. Then they all went to bed.