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rush to visit Bella.
    ‘I asked Mia if she would she like to have some friends over after school,’ said her mother, perplexed, ‘and she tells me she’s too busy. None of her friends have been here for weeks! You know, I met Mrs Blackwell the other day when I was shopping and she seems a nice, gentle sort of person, slightly eccentric, perhaps, but for the life of me I cannot understand why Mia is so taken with her.’
    Since the day in the woods, Rory knew that Mia had been avoiding him. He wondered sometimes whether the conversation about imaginary dragons had actually taken place.Mia had made no further mention of any such creatures since. He missed playing and hanging around with her, but he was busy finishing a project for school on the Romans – he had to make a model of the Coliseum out of cardboard. As well as that, he was playing in the football league finals after school. Anyway, his sister seemed happy enough without him, so why should he worry.
    Mum and Dad were preparing for a trip to America where Dad was to take part in the annual Amateur Magicians of the World Convention in Las Vegas.
    ‘You will keep an eye on Mia while we’re away, Rory? I can rely on you to look after your sister, can’t I?’ Mum said, looking somewhat worried.
    ‘Of course, Mum,’ he promised. ‘Granny and Mia and I will be fine. Don’t worry about us!’

    The day of their departure finally came. Mum was busy checking passports and airline tickets and American dollars, and singing ‘Viva, Las Vegas’ under her breath when she thought no one was listening
    Rory helped Dad carry the suitcases and his props out to the car. He had never seen his Dad look so happy and excited. For the past two days he had rehearsed non-stop, perfecting his routine. His new trick, The Chinese Dragon, was amazing. A cardboard dragon would suddenly appear from a cloud of smoke and belch smoke and flames at the audience.
    ‘Have you got everything, Matt?’ asked Mum, checking theboot and the back seat.
    His father did a quick mental check. Everything seemed to be in order. He reminded Rory of a great explorer setting out on an adventure.
    ‘We’d better hurry,’ said Dad, ‘or we’ll miss our flight.’
    Mum gave them all a last hug and goodbye kiss.
    ‘Are you sure you’ll be able to manage, Rose, that the children won’t be too much for you?’
    Granny pretended to look offended. ‘It’s only for a few weeks, Helen. We’ll be just fine. You and Matt go and enjoy yourselves in America. We’ll be dying to hear all about it.’
    Rory and Mia and their grandmother stood watching as Mum and Dad drove off towards Glenkilty. They were flying to San Francisco first, and then on to Las Vegas. Mia was in a bit of a huff, she hated it when Mum and Dad went away and left her, even if Granny was in charge.
    That evening, Mia was even more annoyed. She’d helped tidy up after tea and swept the kitchen floor, and yet Granny was insisting she stay home.
    ‘What are you going around to Mrs Blackwell’s for, Mia? What do you do next door, pet?’
    Mia just shrugged her shoulders.
    ‘Mrs Blackwell is very old,’ began Rose Murphy. ‘She’s even older than I am. I know what a good, kind, sweet-hearted girl you are, Mia, but nobody expects you to spend every minute of your time with her.’
    ‘But I like going next door,’ Mia protested. ‘Nobody minded when Rory used go to see Mr Hackett all the timewhen he lived there.’
    ‘That was different,’ interrupted Rory. ‘He used to help me build my airfix planes, and taught me how to play chess.’
    ‘Well, Mrs Blackwell teaches me things too.’
    ‘What sort of things, Mia?’ quizzed her grandmother.
    ‘All about the olden days.’
    ‘Olden days?’
    ‘Long ago, centuries ago, before you were born, Granny.’
    ‘Ah, history! What else do you do?’
    ‘I just help her, that’s all.’
    ‘That glasshouse of hers is magnificent. Do you help her out there?’ asked Granny, staring at