Page 55 - Mobile Magic

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On second glance there weren’t that many people in the room, a few local friends of her parents and two men whom she had never seen before. As Angie’s giggles died down, she saw that her children were home from school and called them over to meet Athol and Patrick.
‘Hey, Athol!’ she called to The Cat in the Hat, ‘Charles! Saffron! Come in and meet my dear old friends, Athol and Paddy.’
‘Not that old - we didn’t come with the Ark!’ they said in perfect unison.
‘Jinx, jinx, double-jinx!’ squealed Saffron.
‘Call me Chuckie, I hate the name Charles,’ said Charles, as he reached to shake their hands.
How weird shaking hands is, thought Saffron, as she darted into the kitchen to see what she could scab for afternoon tea. She found a tray of her father’s special cheese-puffs and coffee- walnut scrolls warming in the oven. So that was the lovely smell. She piled them high on a plate and took them into the lounge for everyone to share.
As soon as they all had eaten their fill, it was time for Saffron to show Patrick and Athol around Green Mountain. The afternoons were getting longer now that spring was really here, but there would be no time for riding today.
‘I might come with you,’ said Charles. ‘It’s been ages since I was over at Magic’s paddock. I'd like to see how real scientists do their research.’