Read Online Treasure Hunt by Titania Woods - Free Book Online Page B

grew, until all at once joy was bursting across her face like a sunrise. She laughed in delight, slipping the ring on to her finger and holding it up to admire it.
    â€˜Gran?’ said Twink softly.
    Gran looked up. Her eyes widened, and she stared around her as if she had only just seen everyone. ‘My darlings, what are you all doing here?’ she cried. ‘Alix, Jasmine – and Twink ! Why on earth aren’t you at school, young lady?’
    â€˜Mum, you’re back!’ burst out Twink’s father. He hugged his mother tightly.
    Gran shook her head as she patted his shoulder. ‘ Back? And where am I supposed to have been, pray tell?’
    â€˜Hello, Silvia,’ said Miss Shimmery warmly, coming forward. ‘It’s wonderful to see you again!’
    As Gran exclaimed in surprised delight, Twink’s mum flew to her side. ‘Well done, darling,’ she whispered in a voice choked with emotion. ‘We tried everything, and nothing seemed to reach her. None of us knew what to do – but you did!’
    â€˜Yes, I can see that there’s no more reason for me to stay,’ put in the doctor, a short fairy with bright blue wings. ‘And I must say I’m glad of it – she had me very worried!’
    â€˜Is Gran really all right now?’ Twink asked anxiously. She rubbed her hands against her violet petal skirt. ‘She won’t slip into the Doldrums again, will she?’
    â€˜No, she’ll be fine,’ smiled the doctor. ‘She’s finally had that shock of happiness that we’ve all been trying to give her – I guess we just weren’t shocking enough!’
    Later, when they had explained to Gran all that had happened, Gran called Twink over and put an arm around her. Smoothing back her granddaughter’s bright pink hair, she said, ‘My dear, I don’t remember – did my journal explain why this ring was so precious to me?’
    Twink shook her head, relieved that Gran didn’t seem to mind that she’d read it. ‘You just said that it was your favourite.’
    â€˜Yes, because my own grandmother gave it to me when I was very young,’ said Gran. She traced the ring’s smooth silver lines with her finger. ‘I loved her dearly, and it was all I had of her when she died. Losing it felt like losing her all over again.’
    Impulsively, Twink kissed her gran’s cheek. ‘I’m so glad that I found it for you, Gran,’ she said.
    Gran took the ring off her finger and pressed it firmly into Twink’s hand. ‘I’m giving it to you, my dear. It’s a ring that should be passed down from grandmother to granddaughter.’
    â€˜But . . .’ Twink struggled to speak. The ring gleamed in her palm. ‘Gran, I can’t –’
    â€˜Of course you can,’ smiled Gran. ‘You’ll give it to your own granddaughter some day. And meanwhile . . . thank you, my dear. With all my heart.’

    Slowly, Twink put the ring on her finger. It felt as if it belonged there. ‘Thank you, Gran,’ she said. ‘I’ll wear it always.’
    Her parents and Miss Shimmery had stood silently through this, and now Miss Shimmery cleared her throat. ‘Twink, we should be getting back to school,’ she said gently. ‘You’ll still be able to attend most of the third-year disco, if we hurry.’
    â€˜Yes, all right,’ said Twink happily. Now that she knew her gran was well again, the disco sounded brilliant!
    Her parents beamed at her. ‘Dance the night away, Twinkster,’ said her father, ruffling her hair. ‘You deserve it.’
    As Twink and Miss Shimmery prepared to leave, Gran hugged Miss Shimmery with a laugh. ‘And by the way, Aurora – I really might have known that that dreadful cricket of yours would turn out to be the culprit!’
    The star-gazing platform had been transformed into a glittering wonderland of