But the show must always go on. That’s what Sidone told us.

I began singing again, even though my heart was breaking.

I am the dancing queen

My Irish legs have a lovely shhheeeeeen!!

And someone started whistling along.

Who could this be?

Alex! Alex the Good.

Alex came up the path. In a flouncy shirt.

He danced towards me in time to the music and put his hand to my face. The frills on his sleeve temporarily blinded me. He said in a deep voice, “Hello, Tallulah, you’ve grown up. You are the dancing queen. Your Irish legs have a lovely sheen.”

From somewhere behind him came a loud growling and Cain’s big black dog emerged . . . ridden by Cain.

Lullah’s Lululuuuve List

I WOKE UP ON Sunday morning to the light pattering of hail on the roof. I still felt a bit tired. As if I’d been dancing to Abba all night.

Rubes and Matilda were snoozing nose to nose at the bottom of the bed. I wanted to sneak out early without seeing Mr. Barraclough. So I quietly crept downstairs and unbolted the door without anyone hearing me. The church bells rang as I crossed the village green to the Dobbinses’ house.

Dandelion Cottage looked sweet in the early morning hail. The trees in the garden were losing their leaves, but a wisp of smoke came from the chimney and doves cooed by the side of it. But no sign of Little Lullah and Ruby. I hope they’re all right.

Would they know how to build a nest? Could they catch stuff to eat?

I don’t think their mum, Connie, has really shown them domestic skills. I’d seen her eat a mouse headfirst, but I hadn’t seen her teaching them grooming or homemaking. Bit like my mum and dad.

When I went through the unlatched door into the kitchen, Mrs. Dobbins looked up from the stove. Wearing a hat covered in dead leaves and brown stuff. She was so pleased to see me she started jumping up and down. And the hugging began immediately. She is very huggy.

“Oh, Tallulah, I have SO missed you!! You darling girl!! You’ve grown AGAIN!! Look at you! You are GORGEOUS. What a shame you’ve just missed the twins and Harold—they’ve gone to church. They’ve got Micky and Dicky with them because it’s Tortoise Sunday. We had such a time last night foraging: We found an old badger’s set. Thrilling!!! Harold followed the badger droppings . . . actually, he brought some home—I’m drying them in the airing cupboard so be careful with your undies. . . . Anyway, when they’re dried, we’re going to make sculptures with them.”

I said, from underneath her arms, “That sounds, er, spiffing.”

Dibdobs kissed me on the hair.

“Oooooh, you smell soooo Tallularish. The twins will be so pleased to see you. Are you coming to church?”

I said, “Er, well, I’d love to but, er, I haven’t got a tortoise.”

Dibdobs said, “The boys would let you hold Micky and Dicky, I’m sure! Or you could take a duck.”