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An extract from 'Ms Wiz Spells Trouble'
by Terence Blacker
In Ms Wiz Smells a Rat, Podge Harris agrees to look after Ms Wiz's magic rat for a while. Although Podge's parents happen to hate
magic - and they're not that crazy about rats either - Podge manages to keep Herbert hidden in his room for a while. Then, one day,
Podge and his friend and friend Lizzie receive a bit of a surprise...
'You treat this place like a hotel, said Podge. 'I never thought you'd be so irresponsible.'
'It's not that you've let us down,' said Lizzie. It's that you've let yourself down. We're very disappointed.'
Herbert looked coolly from Podge to Lizzie and back again. 'Thank you Mummy and Daddy,' he said.
'And what are you doing in the cupboard?' asked Lizzie.
'We thought it looked cosier in here,' said Herbert sleepily. 'Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to catch up on my kip.'
'We?' said Podge and Lizzie together.
It was at this moment that, from another shoe nearby, a second pair of ears emerged nervously, shyly. In the half-light, Podge and Lizzie could see another rat - one that was quite unlike Herbert. It was greyer, darker and with no white on it - the sort of rat you might see scurrying along a ditch or across a road late at night.
'Podge,' muttered Lizzie beneath her breath. 'I think that's a wild rat.'
'Meet my new girlfriend,' said Herbert proudly. 'I've called her Arabella.'
'Arabella?' said Podge politely. 'Very posh.'
'Just because she doesn't talk like you and me.' Herbert's little eyes blazed angrily. 'Just because she was born in a sewer, you think you can laugh at her.
'We weren't laughing,' said Lizzie. 'It's just that fancy rats and feral rats aren't meant to mix. I read it in a book.'
'She is a bit of a wild child, it's true,' said Herbert. 'That's what I like about her. I'll teach her how to talk and she'll bring out my inner warrior.' He smiled at Arabella, who was staring at him with adoring eyes. She gave a little squeak of admiration.
'I think the talking might be a bit of problem,' murmured Podge.
'She's different from you.' Lizzie spoke gently, not wanting to hurt Herbert's feelings. 'She'll probably have… fleas and things.'
Herbert shrugged. 'What are a few blood-sucking parasites when true love comes to call? You know what they say - love me, love my fleas.' He placed a paw on his heart and gave a little cough. 'In fact,. I'm writing a song for Arabella. Would you like to hear it?'
Without waiting for an answer, he began to sing in a thin, quavery voice.
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Copyright 2001
© Actis
