Treasure Trove (9781743583548) (4 page)

Lola wrung out the other leg.

‘My laces are
twisted
and my popper just
popped
for sure!' he wailed.

‘Buddy?'

‘I'll be
limping
and
walking
in circles for days!'

‘Buddy!'

‘And I'll be – oh sorry, yes?'

‘I've finished.'

‘Oh.'

‘
Now
shall we go home?' she asked.

Buddy nodded, so she carried him back to the toy box train. She placed him next to the Almost Toy.

Then she took one last look around the Button Mines.

She hoped the teddy bears would be back soon.

Someone had to look after all those beautiful buttons.

But I'm sure I'm right,
she thought.
I'm sure there was a big battle here.

Lucky we arrived in time to save this poor toy!

Whenever Lola was about to leave the Kingdom, she always had the same feeling. A sort of happy-but-sad feeling.

And a feeling that she would come back again.
Very
soon.

Lola climbed
into
the train. But she climbed
out of
…

Lola climbed
out of
her toy box. She was safe and sound, back in her bedroom. It felt very bright compared to the darkness of the tunnel.

She popped Buddy in his spot on her favourite pillow.

Then she carefully lifted the broken Almost Toy out of the toy box. In the light, Lola could see what was wrong with him.

The Almost Toy's arm had been bent back too far. It was cracked and the whole arm had very nearly fallen off.

I hope this works,
she thought, as she headed down the hall. She knocked on Nick's door.

‘What?' Nick called.

‘You were right,' called Lola through the door. ‘I should have asked before I used your plastic door for my palace. I'm sorry. And I've found something else of yours.'

The door flew open. Nick gasped when he saw the broken toy in Lola's hand. ‘Where did you find that?' he said.

Lola
nearly
told Nick that she'd saved it from the Button Mines.

But she kept quiet.

‘Wow!' said Nick, taking the toy. ‘I lost him ages ago! It looks like he needs fixing.'

Nick disappeared into his room and slammed the door.

Lola smiled. She hoped Nick would play with the poor thing once it had been fixed. She wasn't sure she wanted the Almost Toy to end up in the Kingdom again.

Lola skipped back into her own room and picked up Buddy for a quick cuddle. He was nearly dry.

‘You need to stay warm for a little while, my friend,' she told him with a grin. ‘By your
buttons
, you do!'

She popped him back on her pillow. Then she sat down with her building blocks.

She was going to build a Button Mine!

Danny Parker is a writer and drama teacher who lives in Perth with his family. His previous books include Tree and Parachute. Danny is a keen juggler, singer and performer – just like Buddy!

Guy Shield is an illustrator who lives in Melbourne and is obsessed with drawing. When he was a kid, Guy loved building palaces and cities with his toys, just like Lola – and Nick!

The Treasure Trove

published in 2015 by

Hardie Grant Egmont

Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street

Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia

www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au

This ebook is also available as a print edition in all good bookstores.

A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia.

eISBN 9781743583548

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.

Text copyright © 2015 Danny Parker

Illustrations copyright © 2015 Guy Shield

Series design copyright © 2015 Hardie Grant Egmont

Design by Stephanie Spartels

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