Polly didn’t stay in bed for long. Her tummy was doing the collie wobbles and her brain was whizzing as she thought about Aunt Isabel, Uncle Harry and Sofia, her cousin. She wondered if she would share a room with Sofia or if she would have her own room. She worried about Sparkles her hamster and who would look after him. She thought that she could take him with her and then thought maybe not. She expected Aunt Isabel would be the type to run under the chair if Sparkles got out and hid under the sofa like he had done a few months ago.

Mum said Aunt Isabel was glamorous. She also said she spent a lot of money on shoes and was what Dad called ‘high maintenance’. Polly had only met her a handful of times and she had seen Sofia only once at a New Years Eve party. Polly had thought that Sofia was glamorous too. She had never met anyone quite like Sofia before. She was all shiny and polished and spoke like a newsreader. Polly felt a bit like an old shoe next to a glass slipper.

Polly started to pack her travel case ready for the long journey. She hadn’t a clue what to take. Life would probably be very different in a big old rambling house. She packed some clothes, her toothbrush, her favourite books and games and stuffed her old doll into the front pocket so no one would find it. She didn’t want Sofia to think she was a baby but she wanted to take it none the less.

“Do you need any help packing?” Mum called from the sitting room. “I doubt you will need a lot sweetheart. Aunt Isabel said you can borrow Sofia’s clothes when you get there as she’s about the same size as you.”

Polly thought that Sofia might not like her borrowing her clothes. She began to pack more so that she wouldn’t have to ask. She hated to ask for anything and preferred to be prepared.

Mum walked into Polly’s room holding a scrap piece of paper.

“This is the number at Grandma’s and that’s Dad’s number at work” she said. “Ring me anytime day and night and I will call you. I’m going to miss you lots and lots”

“You too mummy” said Polly flinging her arms round mums neck and holding her tight. “Mummy?” said Polly.

“Yes sweetheart” said mum.

“When will I be back?” said Polly.

“After the summer.” said Polly’s mum. “In time for school in September”.
Polly and her mum spent the rest of the day waiting nervously for Aunt Isabel to arrive as if they were waiting for royalty.