Read Online Alice-Miranda in Japan 9 by Jacqueline Harvey - Free Book Online Page B

her shock when she opens it?’ Alice-Miranda giggled.
    â€˜No worse than when I found that antique taxidermy polar bear in the cellar and had it brought up until we could find it a new home at the museum,’ her father replied.
    â€˜I remember that. It was horrible. Poor creature. I’m sure that Great-Grandpa Highton only had him in the house because it was fashionable. I’m glad that these days sensible people prefer to admire animals in their natural habitat rather than shooting them and putting them in the sitting room.’
    â€˜Yes, darling, I couldn’t agree more,’ her father nodded. ‘Now, I did buy some other bits and pieces and I was going to keep them until later, but . . .’
    â€˜But you’re hopeless at keeping secrets,’ Alice-Miranda chimed in.
    â€˜You know me far too well.’ Hugh hung his head in mock shame. Then he reached down and produced a dainty bag from which he pulled three exquisitely wrapped boxes. They were covered in the most beautiful shiny paper with scenes of cherry blossoms and castles, and tied with perfect gold bows.
    â€˜One for you.’ Hugh passed Jacinta a box. ‘And one for you.’ He reached across and gave Millie another. ‘And this is for you, sweetheart.’ He dropped a third box into Alice-Miranda’s hand and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
    â€˜Daddy, you didn’t have to buy us presents,’ said Alice-Miranda.
    â€˜I know, but when I saw these I thought they’d be the perfect memento of our trip – and I knew your mother would love them too,’ Hugh said.
    The girls each examined their gifts.
    â€˜I’m dying to know what’s inside,’ said Jacinta. She studied the box closely then gave it a shake next to her ear.
    â€˜I don’t want to touch it,’ Millie said. ‘I’ve never seen anything so perfectly presented. My gifts always look like they were wrapped by a spider wearing boxing gloves – I can never get the paper straight when I cut it and I always end up using half the sticky tape roll to keep it together.’
    â€˜Go on, girls, I want you to open them,’ said Hugh with a sparkle in his eyes. ‘What do you say we take a photograph and then you can dive in.’
    Millie pulled her camera from her blue backpack and lined the trio of boxes up on the counter in front of them. She snapped away, then Hugh took some pictures of the girls holding them and finally a waitress offered to take another couple of shots of Hugh and the girls together.
    After they’d covered just about every photographic scenario, all three girls began to unwrap their presents.
    â€˜Turn the other way,’ Millie said, ‘so we can’t see what each other got until we’ve all unwrapped them. But Alice-Miranda, don’t take forever or we’ll show you.’
    â€˜Aha! You’re assuming that you’ve all got the same,’ Hugh said.
    â€˜Are they different?’ Alice-Miranda asked.
    â€˜You’ll just have to hurry up and see.’
    Jacinta was first to gasp. ‘Oh my goodness, it’s lovely!’ She beamed at Hugh while carefully concealing her treasure.
    Millie was just as enthusiastic. ‘It’s beautiful. Is it real gold?’
    â€˜Daddy!’ Alice-Miranda’s voice dropped. ‘You’ll have to take mine back.’
    Millie and Jacinta wondered why she sounded so disappointed. Hugh frowned. There was an awkward silence.
    â€˜I’m kidding! It’s gorgeous.’ Alice-Miranda turned back to her father and gave him a tight squeeze.
    â€˜Oh, you little monster,’ Hugh sighed.
    The girls helped one another put their gifts on before properly examining each necklace.
    Jacinta was wearing a pretty gold chain with a dainty charm in the shape of a paper crane.
    â€˜It’s lovely,’ said Millie and Alice-Miranda as they admired the intricate detail.
    Millie’s charm was a