-Victoria Louise and the Magic Box.

Chapter 1.

Victoria finds the box.

Victoria Louise Atherston was bored and believe it or not when Victoria Louise Atherston was bored she was usually in a bad temper. She sat on the edge of her bed with her arms folded and with a glum look on her freckled face. She pursed out her bottom lip and stared blankly into space. Then she tried to whistle but only achieved an almost soundless blow. 'Dreadful Douglas' can whistle she thought to herself. Boys always can. 'Dreadful Douglas' was so called because he was always in trouble. Even Victoria's mother who was usually kind about people called him 'That dreadful boy Douglas!'

I wish he were here now she thought. The trouble was it was the school holidays and everybody was away. Even 'Dreadful Douglas' had managed to find somebody to take him away. I wonder how long his aunt will tolerate him, she thought, before she sends him home. Victoria almost wished that she would. After all, even 'Dreadful Douglas' would be better company than having no one to play with. Well, for a short while anyway.

Although Victoria despised Douglas most of the time she rather secretly admired him for his courage. After all it was Douglas who could pick up spiders with his bare hands. Ugh! Victoria shuddered at the mere thought of it. He was very brave. However she hated and loathed it when he put the spiders in other people's beds. Especially when it was her bed.

Victoria uncrossed her ankles and idly swung her legs backwards and forwards. Then her attention was caught by a row of furry animals staring blankly back at her from across the room. They sat in a row on her toy cupboard where she had neatly arranged them. The rabbit dressed in his grey suit with check trousers had his eyes closed. He was always asleep. The dark brown furry owl just goggled back at her. If only you could all talk she thought. She tossed her red ponytail back in frustration with a flick of her head and then jumped down from the bed and headed for the door. On the way out of her bedroom she suddenly had a brilliant idea. 'The attic!' She thought 'I wonder if I dare?' Victoria Louise and the Magic Box page2.htm.htm