Read Online Over The Rainbow by Meredith Badger - Free Book Online

with her. Before she knew it, she’d burst into tears.
    â€˜I’m sorry!’ she wailed. ‘I just wanted to see if Jess was OK.’
    Grandmother frowned at Elly. ‘And who, precisely, is Jess ?’ she asked sternly.
    But before Elly could answer, her backpack slid off. And as it fell, the Tell Tale book Elly had shoved in it earlier tumbled out, flipping open when it hit the ground.
    The book coughed a couple of times, as if to clear away the dust. Then it began speaking in a loud, clear voice. ‘Fifibella Knottleweed- Eversprightly,’ it said, ‘sneaked out of the Rainbow Academy with her friend Emerelda Fernyfrond. Both fairies then left Rainbowville without permission, and stayed outside for an entire human day – eating human lollies!’
    Quickly, Elly slammed the book shut. But it was too late. Madame’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. Grandmother Knottleweed-Eversprightly’s face became very pale. For a moment, no-one said anything.
    Then to Elly’s astonishment, Madame Fernyfrond started to chuckle. It started as a low, deep rumble that seemed to work its way up her chest until it exploded into the air.
    â€˜Do you remember that day, Fifi?’ chuckled Madame Fernyfrond. ‘Do you remember how we had to tiptoe around the Sky Scanner Fairy, and she was snoring so loudly ?’
    Grandmother Knottleweed-Eversprightly frowned and opened her mouth to speak. Then something very strange happened to her face. The corners of her mouth began twitching. Then her eyes started crinkling up.
    And then a very peculiar noise poured out of her mouth. Grandmother was laughing! And once Grandmother started laughing, she couldn’t seem to stop.
    â€˜I can still picture everyone’s faces when they caught us sneaking back in. I’ve never been more terrified!’ she chortled.

    â€˜Our Head Fairy put us on dish-washing duty for three months straight!’ laughed Madame Fernyfrond. ‘And she confiscated our wands for the rest of the year!’
    Elly, Saphie, Gabi and Nadia looked at each other in confusion. They had never seen adult fairies behave like this before.
    Finally, Grandmother wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. ‘Elly,’ she said, ‘I’ve never told you this, but when I was your age I was always getting into trouble.’
    â€˜Really?’ said Elly. It was hard to even imagine Grandmother being her age, let alone getting into trouble!
    â€˜I’m afraid it’s true,’ smiled Madame Fernyfrond. ‘We were both very badly behaved. In fact, your grandmother had been to a number of other schools before she came to the Rainbow Academy. And she very nearly got expelled from here, too!’
    Grandmother was a fairy school drop-out, just like me! thought Elly, amazed.
    â€˜But after the rainbow incident I became much better behaved. I even topped my class in my final year!’ said Grandmother proudly.
    â€˜You did very well, Fifi,’ said Madame Fernyfrond softly. ‘But perhaps Elly is just not cut out for fairy life? Perhaps it’s time to start considering other options.’
    â€˜You mean ...’ said Grandmother.
    Madame Fernyfrond nodded. ‘Yes. Maybe Elly should stop trying to be a fairy, and start living like a human.’
    Everyone turned and looked at Elly.
    â€˜Is that what you’d like to do?’ asked Grandmother, in a surprisingly gentle voice. ‘Would you like to stop being a fairy forever?’
    â€˜Um, well, but I …’ Elly started to say. Then she stopped. She could feel a warmth in her chest. It was the same feeling that the Heart Tracker pendant used to create.
    But Jess had the pendant. What’s going on? Elly wondered.

Chapter Thirteen
    T here was a knock on the library door, and then a familiar voice called out, ‘Hello?
    Is anyone there?’
    Then the door was flung open and a small, dribbly figure flew at Elly and flung