Nine-year-old Amy Winter's holiday plans have gone from exciting to total disaster.
How is she supposed to have any fun being packed up and sent to stay with a weird relative she can't even remember?
And Aunt Penelope is as weird as they get. With...
"Give it time my dear, you can't rush these things..." Amy heard Aunt Penelope saying as she passed back through the mirror with a grumbling chinchilla in her hand.
"Aunt Penelope!" Amy interrupted her, "It happened! I'm a storyteller! Well, a Storyteller in training, at least." She was so excited, glancing at her bracelet.
"Really? Drats, I missed it. Oh, but that's so wonderful my dear! Tell me everything." Her aunt hugged her.
"You're squashing me!" Carlos shrieked with an ear-piercing squeal.
"My goodness, what do we have here?" Aunt Penelope exclaimed, quickly standing back. "Why its a Chinchilla! And what a fine looking fellow you are too. So handsome."
Amy watched Carlos's anger dissolve at her aunt's adoration. She was even more surprised when he jumped onto her aunt's shoulder and was rubbing his little nose against her cheek, making the cutest little squeaks.
"I think you have a new friend, aunty," Amy laughed.
Just at that moment, the door opened and Mr. Purrington silently walked in.
Amy quickly looked at Carlos, who was busy talking to her aunt. She was worried that Mr. Purrington would want to eat her teacher.
Amy watched Mr. Purrington glance slyly at Carlos and Aunt Penelope, before walking over to her, rubbing his head against her leg, purring loudly.
"There you are, my little apprentice," he greeted with a rich voice. "Oh, and I see you brought back a snack. How thoughtful."
"A snack... How dare you. I am at least a full course meal." Carlos's head had shot up at the implied insult by the cat.
"You can't eat Carlos! Hey... wait a minute... I can understand what you say!" Amy exclaimed.
"Of course," he meowed. "You're a Storyteller, now."
She grinned. "So I am... Wow...This is so new to me. I can't wait to see what else I can do. Hold on... what did you call me? Your apprentice?"
"Yes. You have the privilege of being my apprentice. Feel free to thank me at any time."
"Thank you?"
"You're welcome. See? You're already doing fine."
Amy was slightly unsettled, not quiet sure what Mr. Purrington was up to.
"I will teach you all you need to know about the animal world. Including how to handle difficult creatures like chubby little rodents." He nodded towards Carlos "My advice? Use honey not vinegar with your words."
"Honey?"
"They just love to be complimented and made to feel important. But they hate being criticised."
"Just like a cat, then?" Amy asked innocently.
"What...? No, they're nothing like a cat! Well... I mean, yes, you should never criticise a cat, either, but that'll be easy because we have nothing to critisice. We're perfect." Amy was sure she saw him smile.
"Mr. Purrington, I'm so glad you're here." Aunt Penelope looked in his direction, a twinkle in her eyes. "I would like you to meet Carlos. He's going to help teach Amy to be a Storyteller."
"Teach my apprentice? That rodent? I don't think so. I am all she needs."
"Mr. Purrington... Manners! And when did Amy become your apprentice?" Aunt Penelope asked with an arched eyebrow.
"That's why you brought her here wasn't it?" Mr. Purrington looked, for the first time, a little unsure of himself.
"Oh my dear Mr. Purrington, no, it wasn't," Aunt Penelope told him gently.
He didn't take the news well, turning away with his head lowered, tail dragging against the ground as he moved to leave the room.
Amy stared at her aunty, who nodded back, smiling.
Amy's eyes widened in surprise. She had actually heard her aunt tell her inside her head, "Go tell him then."
"Mr. Purrington, don't go. I don't mind if you want to teach me, too. The more teachers the better, I would think." Amy quickly bent down and stroked his silky black coat, until he started purring, all full of self importance again, but not before he gave Carlos a loathing glare.
"Now who's ready for breakfast?" Aunt Penelope started walking out of the bedroom, "Amy you can tell me everything that happened as we eat. Then maybe we can discuss how Carlos wants to handle your training schedule."
"And maybe I can at last find out what a Storyteller actually does." Amy chimed in.
Her aunt just laughed as the door closed itself behind them.
End of Book 1: The Storyteller.
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