- Susie Keene

Snowball

“I am a tomcat, and my name is Snowball on account of the fact I have a white patch under my chin resembling a snowball, and I live here!” said the cat, looking Daisy up and down with his two large yellow eyes. “Can you get me some food now?”

Snagsby

“Hi,” said a hedgehog as he stepped forward from the crowd. “My name is Snagsby, and we first met in the Messrs’ cloakroom where I was hibernating.” “So, you were real and not a toilet brush,” said Daisy laughing as she tried to shake Snagsby's hand.

Valentine

“Yes, it is true I come from the Robin family, but we aren’t all called Robin you know. My name is in fact Valentine,” he said, hopping on one of his spindly legs and fluttering his wings. “Oh, I am so sorry, I didn’t realise you all had different names," said Daisy apologetically.

Mr Meagles

“That was no dream as it happens every night,” squawked one of the birds whom Daisy now knew to be a magpie called Mr Meagles. “Look out tonight and you will see the bluebells shining brightly again,” he continued.

Mrs Fan Flowerdew

Sensing Daisy was about to come out with a flood of questions, as he knew from experience Daisy was an inquisitive girl, Snowball hurriedly introduced her to the old lady. “This is Mrs Fan Flowerdew and she used to live in Bluebell Lodge,” he said in an authoritative voice. Mrs Flowerdew who was wearing a long dress containing myriad colours made from flower petals of all shapes and sizes, motioned to Daisy to come and sit beside her on another large cushion. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs Flowerdew,” said Daisy in a faint voice.

Dombey

The old lady explained that when Dombey, the fairy who looked after the daffodils, had been about earlier, he had seen the boss of the men surveying how many bluebells were remaining.

Rosa

“My name is Rosa and I look after the roses,” said a fairy with a bright pink face, smiling dark eyes and long black hair. She was wearing a floor-length pink satin dress.

Mr Smiley

Mr Smiley had a big smile on his face (hence his name), big blue eyes and he proudly wore a new yellow bow Mum had bought for him two weeks ago, after he had had yet another wash and brush up and his brown fur looked nice and fluffy again. Daisy often wondered how a bear who spent so much time in her bedroom managed to get himself so dirty and she had always suspected when she was asleep, he crept out and had adventures in the outside world.

The Messrs

Dad explained the word ‘Messrs’ was used as a title to refer to more than one man in names of companies, so instead of calling them Mr Bramble and Mr Bramble they were called Messrs Bramble & Bramble. Daisy had been present when her parents signed the document and thought both the Messrs looked a little frightening.

Daisy

There were so many flowers of different shapes, sizes and colours and it was by far the prettiest garden Daisy had ever seen. Of all the flowers though, the bluebells stood out the most and large clumps sat proudly looking out over the whole garden. There were so many of them. “I wonder how much noise all the bluebells would make if it were possible to ring the bells?” thought Daisy.

Marigold

Marigold, on seeing her book, grabbed it, ran into the lounge for a read, and forgot she was hungry. She had been deprived of all her books since last night’s outburst and this was one of Charles Dickens’ works she didn’t possess. “I wonder how they knew I didn’t have this one,” thought Marigold fleetingly before stretching herself out on the settee for a long reading session.

Belle the Bluebell Fairy

Daisy was delicately nibbling on her eclair when the Bluebell Fairy came and sat on the floor beside her. “Don’t be shy, Daisy, we are all friends here and you will soon get to know us all,” she said. “By the way, my name is Belle and as you have probably realised by now it is my job to look after the bluebells.” When tea was over and Snowball had partaken of a large bowl of his favourite fizzy lemonade, the Bluebell Fairy waved her wand again and the table and all its contents disappeared.