Amelia Fang and the Unicorn Lords. Laura Ellen Anderson
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‘And I see your son is growing up to look just like his mother,’ said the well. ‘Got your nose, though . . . Shame.’
‘How do you know so much about us?’ asked Tangine. ‘You’re just a wishing well.’
‘I am the Wishing Well of Well Wishes! I know everything there is to know and everything that will be known.’
‘I KNOW YOU’RE PRETTY RUDE,’ said Florence.
‘Don’t take it personally,’ whispered the king. ‘Wells are notorious for being a little uncouth at times.’
‘If you know everything, then can you tell us where Glitteropolis is?’ said Amelia.
‘Maybe,’ said the well.
‘You just told us you know everything,’ said Amelia.
‘I do,’ said the well.
‘Then surely you know where the city of Glitteropolis is?’ said Amelia, becoming impatient.
‘Yes,’ said the well.
‘Then can’t you tell us ?’
‘I can’t,’ said the well.
‘Why not?’ Grimaldi cried.
‘I don’t just give out information. I’m not allowed to. So, the secret of who you are is safe with me. Unless someone wishes to know your secret, that is . . .’ The well coughed. ‘But anyway, if you want information, you must wish for it,’ said the well.
‘I WISH YOU’D JUST STOP TALKING!’ Florence blurted out, clenching her fists.
‘No, Flo—’ the king began.
But the well bubbled and a small envelope came hurtling through the air landing at Florence’s feet. She picked up the envelope and opened it.
PFFFFFFFFFFFTTT!
‘AAAARGH!’ Florence bellowed as the envelope exploded into a cloud of glitter. The glitter-cloud then rearranged itself to spell out:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FIRST WISH. WE HOPE IT WAS FULFILLED TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
Then the glitter words disappeared.
‘WHAT? I DIDN’T MAKE A WISH!’ yelled Florence.
But the well was silent. It made no sound, not even a bubble.
Amelia put her head in her hands. ‘I think you did make a wish, Florence. You wished the well would stop talking .’
‘THAT WASN’T A PROPER WISH!’ said Florence.
‘You have to be extra careful with what you say,’ explained the king.
The well was still silent.
‘I guess we need to wish for the well to speak again?’ said Tangine looking to his dad.
‘Hmmm, it does seem like the only way,’ the king said.
‘ALL RIGHT. FINE,’ said Florence. ‘I WISH THE WELL WOULD SPEAK AGAIN . . .’
Another small envelope came hurtling from inside the well, landing at Florence’s feet, and then exploding into a cloud of glitter spelling out the words:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SECOND WISH. WE HOPE IT WAS FULFILLED TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
‘Well done,’ said the well. ‘You just wasted two of your three wishes. It’s the standard three wish rule and you speak for everyone here, yeti.’
‘I AM NOT—’ Florence began. ‘OH, WAIT. I AM A YETI.’ She trailed off.
‘Guuuys, we only have one wish left!’ said Grimaldi, twizzling his angel-kitten tail nervously. ‘We should ask about Glitteropolis!’
‘WELL, ’IS MAJESTY NEEDS TO FIND ’IS WIFE, RIGHT?’ said Florence. ‘SO . . .’
‘Perhaps someone else should make this wish, Florence,’ said Amelia warily.
‘I agree, I can make this w—’ the king began.
‘I GOT THIS,’ Florence interrupted and stomped up to the edge of the well. ‘I WISH KING VLADIMIR WOULD—’ Suddenly Florence began coughing and spluttering. ‘BEEEE! A BEE! ’ she choked. ‘AAARGH! IT FLEW INTO ME MOUf !’
‘Oh no, Florence,’ stammered the king. ‘What have you done?’
Florence spat and coughed. ‘SORRY ’BOUT THAT. LEMME START AGAIN.’
But before Florence could carry on, an envelope came flying out of the well, landing at her feet with the usual glitter explosion.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THIRD WISH. WE HOPE IT WAS FULFILLED TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
Then . . .
The king disappeared into a puff of glittery smoke.
‘Pottering pumpkins! ’ cried Amelia.
‘WHERE’D THE KING GO?’ said Florence.
‘What did you do with my dad?’ Tangine yelled into the well.
‘We’ve wasted all the wishes!’ Grimaldi had entered full-blown panic mode.
Where the king had been, a small bumblebee perched on a flower.
‘Florence! You turned the king into a BEE!’ cried Amelia.
‘BUT I DIDN’T! IT WAS THE WELL WHAT DID IT! I ’AD A BEE IN MY MOUf ! MY WISH GOT INTERRUPTED SO IT SHOUDN’T ’AVE BEEN GRANTED!’ said Florence.
Tangine ran over to the bee. ‘Dad?’ he cried.
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz buzz buzzzzzz, buzzed the bee.
‘Daaaaaad! ’ said Tangine. He tried to pick his dad up.
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
‘Oh, Dad,’ said Tangine. ‘What do we do?’
The bee buzzed and then his little wings began vibrating and he flew away.
‘’E BUZZED OFf !’ said Florence.
‘Oh no! We’re going to lose him!’ said Amelia.
‘What if he gets eaten or trampled on?’ squealed Grimaldi, his eyes wide with panic. Tangine started twiddling his thumbs. ‘I’ve lost my mum and my dad now!’ Then he stamped his foot angrily, creating a puff of glitter. ‘How has this HAPPENED?’
‘Please leave,’ said the well calmly. ‘Your wishes are complete. You must wait for one year before you can make another three wishes.’
‘A YEAR?’ said the friends in unison.
‘That’s the rule,’