Read Online Annabel's Perfect Party by Holly Webb - Free Book Online Page A

like, could we still have a party? If we were brilliantly good?”
    All three of the triplets fixed their eyes on their mother anxiously. Annabel was faking the anxious look, but she was very convincing. She couldn’t resist quickly dropping one eyelid in a wink at her mother, though, when she was certain the other two weren’t looking.
    Mrs Ryan looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling, and then at her toast, enjoying teasing Katie and Becky. Then, “As it happens,” she said slowly, “I was thinking about that myself.” She got up and went over to the dresser, picking up a big brown envelope. Then she tipped the contents on to the table – a cascade of sparkly, silvery cards.
    The triplets stared at them in amazement. Then Katie said, “Can we touch. . .?”
    â€œOf course, darling. Read one,” answered Mrs Ryan, smiling hugely.
    Katie gingerly picked up one of the cards, and her sisters leant over to look at it with her. On the front was a snowflake, cut out of shining, pearly paper that caught the light in loads of different colours somehow. She opened it up and read out, “‘Please come to our party! Annabel, Becky and Katie would love you to come and celebrate their birthday’ – Mum, this is brilliant! You changed your mind?”
    â€œWhat sort of party is it, though?” asked Becky, sounding confused, but excited. “Oh, and when is it? Is it that same Saturday, the day after Dad comes?”
    Katie checked the date. “Yes, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wow, that’s ages. What are we going to do, Mum? We were going to ask you if we could try and work out something we’d all like, have a sleepover, maybe, but we hadn’t thought of anything much yet.”
    Mrs Ryan gave them a smile that looked scarily like Annabel at her very smuggest. “I’m not telling you, I’m afraid. You’ll find out on the day – it’s a surprise. Now, there are ten invitations there – all you have to do is give them out, and tell whoever you’re giving them to to get their parents to phone me and tell me if they can come. Then I can give them their instructions.” Another deeply smug smile.
    â€œTheir instructions?” echoed Katie, intrigued. “Mum, what are you planning? This sounds so cool!”
    Mrs Ryan just looked down at her watch. “You need to get going, girls, or you’ll be late. Don’t forget the invitations, will you? We haven’t got a lot of time left before the party.”
    There was no danger of that. Katie swept them up and back into the envelope, and then bore it reverently out to the hall to put it in her rucksack. Becky followed her, and Annabel loitered at the kitchen door until she was sure they were out of earshot.
    â€œMum, you’re a star! Those invites look gorgeous – how did you do them so quickly? Katie and Becky loved them!”
    â€œWell, let’s just say I’m going to fall asleep on the sofa this afternoon. It was just lucky I had the paper and the glitter, that’s all. Annabel darling, do you really think you’ll be able to keep all your plans a secret from Katie and Becky? You know keeping quiet isn’t your strong point! Wouldn’t it be easier to tell them?”
    Annabel looked very determined, and set her mouth in a firm line, frowning at her mother. “I am not telling them! Sorry, Mum – I didn’t mean to snap, but I really don’t want to tell them. They laughed at me when I tried to keep my idea of the party a secret the first time, it was so annoying. They didn’t mean it that way, but it was like, Oh, poor Bel’s so ditzy, she can never keep secrets – well, I’m going to show them now. This is going to be the best birthday they’ve ever had, and I’m going to organize it perfectly, and it’s got to be a complete surprise. You mustn’t tell them, Mum!”
    Mrs Ryan was surprised.