The Fifty Per Cent Princess and Other Goodnight Reads

By Teena Raffa-Mulligan

There is magic, mystery, adventure and fun in this collection of short stories for young readers.

Meet a monster with a toothache, a princess who doesn't behave like one and a fairy who can't fly. Find out what happens when Cinderella's slipper is the wrong fit, how to solve a Dads' Day dilemma and the solution to losing a little brother in another time. Often funny, sometimes serious, the 15 stories are an entertaining mix of humour and whimsy, fantasy and reality.

The Fifty Per Cent Princess & Other Goodnight Reads is certain to become a family favourite for bedtime sharing or reading alone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sea Song Publications
• Release date: Jan 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648250357

Teena Raffa-Mulligan

Teena Raffa-Mulligan is a reader, writer and daydream believer who believes there is magic in every day if you choose to find it. She discovered the wonderful world of storytelling as a child and decided to become a writer at an early age. Teena writes for children and adults and her publications range from poetry and short stories to picture books and novels. Her writing life has also included a long career in journalism. She shares her passion for books and writing by presenting talks and workshops to encourage people of all ages to write their own stories.

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Copyright © 2019 by Teena Raffa-Mulligan.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, contact the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the email address below.

Sea Song Publications

Warnbro/Western Australia

Email: [e-mail]

www.seasongpublications.com

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Book design © 2019,  BookDesignTemplates.com

Cover design: Confetti, bookcoverzone.com

Raffa-Mulligan / Teena. Author — First Edition

Paperback ISBN 978-0-6482503-6-4

Ebook ISBN 978-0-6482503-5-7

The following stories have appeared in The School Magazine: Oops!, Melva, Delilah and the Good Morning Muffins, Plus Mum - Ben’s Story from Dads’ Day, Sam is a Problem, I Don’t Have an Uncle, Big Nana, Little Nana, Pa’s Gal Nell (published as a two-part serial called Flash), Noella’s Christmas Wish. Noella’s Christmas Wish also appeared in Once Upon a Christmas (Christmas Press). Oops! also appeared in Lucky Draw (Prints Charming Books).

On the Wrong Foot and Not Fairy Flu are both available from online retailers as individual e-books. Jessica’s Dazzling Do-athon was released as a picture book by Therapy Focus.

Oops!

ALEX didn’t know why everyone was treating him like a criminal. It wasn’t his fault Max was gone. He hadn’t opened the door to Dad’s laboratory and told his little brother, Go play with the Time Link.

He’d forgotten to close the door. That was all. Forgetting wasn’t a crime. His family had decided it was and found him guilty. They were all glaring at him as if he was a monster. Dad’s expression was as dark and threatening as a winter storm cloud. Two bright red spots blazed on Mum’s cheeks. Grandpop’s bushy grey eyebrows sheltered eyes that sparked with fury. Even gentle Grandma had tightly pursed lips and a frown-creased forehead.

Alex squirmed and studied his shoes. If only he’d done Basic Invisibility this term. He could disappear till they’d all stopped being mad at him. Unfortunately he didn’t know the first thing about making himself invisible and there was no time to take a crash course.

In case they hadn’t heard him earlier, he repeated, I didn’t do it on purpose.

That’s no excuse, snapped Dad. You had no business going into my lab in the first place. You know the rules.

Mum dabbed at her tears with a tissue. We left you in charge. We trusted you to watch Max while we were out.

I was. That’s how I know what he did. Alex sighed. How many times did he have to tell them what had happened?

He was writing a description of the Time Link for school but couldn’t remember how many buttons there were on the control panel. He’d only been in Dad’s lab for a nanosecond before rushing out to write down the number quickly before he forgot. Almost instantly he’d realised about the door and skidded to a stop.

Only Max was a speed ace. He spotted his chance and took it. Alex hardly had time to blink before the little guy was in there and at the controls. Alex had dived to stop him – too late. Now Max was gone. Well, not exactly gone. He was somewhere. They just didn’t know where. Or when.

Alex scrunched up his forehead in thought. Why make such a big deal about it? Dad was a genius. He’d invented the Time Link. He knew how it worked. They’d even been on a couple of family test trips.

Alex hadn’t been too impressed with 1970-something but Ancient Egypt had been awesome. So if Dad could take them all there and back without any hitches, surely he could figure out where one little kid was and bring him home.

Grandpop was obviously thinking the same thing. You can track the coordinates he used? His voice was hopeful.

Dad shook his head. No. It’s still a work in progress. I haven’t got that far.

That’s when Mum lost it. Her quiet sobs gave way to the most awful wail that sent a deadly chill right through Alex. It stopped barely long enough for her to choke out her fears.

He’s — three — years old. Anything — could happen to — him. He’ll be — in danger. Ohhh — my poor little — baby.

And once again that dreadful howling filled Alex’s ears.

He blinked back the tears that pricked his eyes and tried to swallow past the huge lump of terror that suddenly filled his throat so he could hardly breathe. His little brother. Lost in time. Alone. Afraid. All the excuses Alex could come up with wouldn’t change that.

Even if it wasn’t really his fault, he wanted Max back. A feeling of loss and helplessness settled in his chest right about where his heart sat. He was only a kid himself. What could he do? If his super smart genius dad didn’t know how to get Max back, what hope did Alex have?

He stared at the Time Link, there on the bench, its panel of control lights a steady glow of rainbow hues. If only he’d waited till Dad got home to ask him how many there were. If only he hadn’t forgotten to shut the lab door. If only he could turn back time—