Presenting Miss La La Nadine

Cowan

Presenting Miss La La

Written by Nadine Cowan

Illustrated by Nadine Cowan and Katie Crumpton

Chapter 1

The circus was in town!

Aniyah, EJ and Olivia sat on the edge of their seats in the packed tent. Their hearts raced as they watched two motorcycles zoom around inside a globe-shaped cage.

Strobe lights somersaulted across their faces.

Aniyah’s gasp was drowned out by the music as Olivia gripped her arm. The motorcyclists were heading straight for each other, but before they had a full-on collision, they swerved in different directions.

EJ grinned. “Just in time!”

As the motorcyclists left the stage, the ringmaster announced the end of the show.

The smell of akee and saltfish danced in the air as they headed over to the Blue Mahoes food truck which was parked up outside the circus tent. Blue Mahoes was Aniyah and her cousin EJ’s family restaurant, and the food truck was in the park, ready to serve the hungry circus crowd.

“I brought the Ludi board,” EJ said, as he shoved candyfloss into his mouth. “Let’s have a game.”

He rummaged in the back of the van and reappeared with the wooden board. The game was a family heirloom, and etched around the side were the words:

Roll double six, or double three, let’s learn about your history.

Something amazing happened every time they played and as Olivia rolled a double six, a puff of iridescent smoke emitted from the board. The children grinned as a wormhole appeared and pulled them in.

Aniyah and EJ found themselves squashed in a crowd of people. It was evening, and the street was lit up with gas lamps.

Aniyah spotted a man pulling a pocket watch out of his waistcoat.

“Everyone looks dressed up,” she said. She checked her coat pockets to see if there was anything helpful there, but they were empty.

“I don’t have anything,” EJ replied. “Oh, hang on, I’ve found another pocket.”

EJ pulled out two bits of paper.

ROYAL AQUARIUM THEATRE Westminster

CIRCUSADMISSION

1SHILLING

Monday10thMarch1879

ADMIT1

CIRCUS ADMISSION

1 SHILLING

Monday 10th March 1879

ADMIT 1

“Another circus!” EJ said. “Cool.”

“So, we’re still in London but it’s 1879,” said Aniyah. “Wait a minute, why are there only two tickets? We’ll need three.”

EJ and Aniyah looked around and that’s when they realised. EJ bit his lip. “Um, where’s Olivia?”