Read Online Hubble Bubble by Christina Jones - Free Book Online Page A

still awry, but looking a little less harassed, dished up three portions. Doll continued to look at her plate in surprise. Considering she knew more or less what was in it, it had turned out looking like one of those ‘and here’s one I made earlier’ jobs that the telly chefs served up. However, as you could never be too careful, she topped up everyone’s glasses with Clyde’s toxic home brew.
    ‘To my first venture into cookery—’ Mitzi looked more amazed than any of them ‘—and to making our wishes come true …’
    Giggling, they clinked glasses in the firelight as Mott the Hoople crooned in the background.
    ‘And yes, it’s entirely suitable for vegetarians.’ Mitzi beamed at Lulu as she reached for the greens. ‘Granny Westward must have known. Right – gravy anyone? More potatoes? Okay – so now for the good bit. The Wishes Come True only works if you wish when you take the first mouthful, or so it says in the book.’
    Lu poured more wine. ‘What are we all wishing for? Weekly lottery wins and size ten figures for ever?’
    Mitzi laughed. ‘No way. And none of the Miss World universal peace and health and happiness for man, woman and animal-kind, either – we all want that anyway. According to Granny Westward’s notes, the wishes must be personal and contrary to tradition, spoken out loud. So, who’s going first?’
    ‘You must,’ Doll said. ‘You’ve done all the work. Go on then.’
    Mitzi sat back in her chair, her loaded fork hovering. ‘Well, as I’ve been feeling a bit lonely and adrift since being forced into retirement, I’d really like to feel needed and useful again. I want a purpose in life and I want to be loved. For myself. I’m going to wish for that. For someone to really need me and love me.’
    Doll pulled a face. ‘That’s so boring, Mum! Everyone loves you and needs you anyway – me and Lu and theneighbours and your friends – and look at all those people who’ve been ringing up for your baby-boomers thing … Nah, you should wish for something much more personal.’
    Mitzi pushed the forkful of food into her mouth and chewed. ‘Far too late, I’m afraid. I’ve done it – oh, and this tastes okay. Now you two …’
    Lu topped up her glass again and lifted her own fork. ‘Easy-peasy. I wish someone would give me Heath Ledger – in his scruffy, shaggy-haired, drop-dead sexy Knight’s Tale mode, not all cropped haired and straight-looking, of course – as a plaything.’
    ‘Lu!’ Doll and Mitzi howled in unison. ‘That’s not in the spirit of the game at all!’
    ‘Tough,’ Lulu gulped down her first mouthful. ‘That’s what I’ve wished for and oh, hey, Mum – this is great. Really great … Go on then, Doll – what’s your wish?’
    Doll took a deep breath. She’d been wishing for so much earlier in the evening, hadn’t she? Holidays, more money, sex … They all seemed a bit too personal and grasping somehow. Oh, of course this was all a load of hokum, but if, just if, it worked. ‘Well – getting married and having kids would be lovely – but there’s fat chance of that at the moment, so to get things kick-started in the right direction I’ll settle for wishing that Brett would show some impromptu romantic inclinations …’
    Lulu frowned. ‘Oh, pul-ease! That’s too disgusting to even contemplate. Postman Brett on the rampage – yuk! Still, if it’s what you really want … go on then – eat it or it won’t come true.’
    Doll looked down at the pie. Years of living with Brett had deadened her taste buds to all but the plainest of plain cooking. Even a touch of coriander was considered exotic in the bungalow. Oh, well. She took a mouthful of the pie. It tasted unusual, but certainly not unpleasant. The textures all blended into rich creaminess and even the spotty pastry melted in the mouth. She smiled and forked up some more.
    ‘Congratulations, Mum – I think you’ve found your newforte. Watch out Nigella, is all I can