Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief. Laura Ellen Anderson

‘You’ve probably most definitely

      heard of me, because I’m sort of famous.’

      ‘You’re the daughter of the Count and

      Countess Fang?’ said Mr Sublime, ignoring

      Tangine.

      38

      ‘Oh, yes,’ said Amelia shyly. ‘That’s Mum

      and Dad.’ Amelia’s chest tightened as she

      remembered the argument she’d had with her

      mum the night before.

      ‘I heard your mother puts on a ravishing

      Barbaric Ball every year!’ said Mr Sublime. ‘I

      expect you’ll follow in her frightful footsteps?’

      ‘Hmmm, she’d love that, but I’m not really

      into party planning and all that stuff,’ said

      Amelia, feeling a little deflated. ‘I really want

      be a Pumpkinologist when I grow up.’

      Mr Sublime leaned forward and lowered

      his voice. ‘Well, Amelia Fang, that’s just

      wonderful. You remember to follow that cold

      vampiric heart of yours. You have a dream –

      don’t let anyone get in the way of that!’

      Amelia felt herself smiling from ear to ear.

      Mr Sublime believed in her!

      ‘I have dreams too! You can expect HUGE

      things from me!’ said Tangine, throwing his

      39

      arms up in the air.

      ‘Amelia and, er, Prince . . . Tangy, I believe you both have a sublime future ahead of you, and don’t you forget that,’ he added before wandering over to Florence and Grimaldi.

      ‘OH, HI MR SLIME!’ Florence bellowed. Grimaldi snorted with laughter so hard that

       the fifty Perfumed Peas flew out of his nostrils and into Amelia and Tangine’s mixing bowl.

      ‘You’ve ruined our Sublime Cookie mix!’ Amelia groaned.

      ‘SORRY ’BOUT THAT,’ said Florence. ‘MAY YOUR COOKIES REST IN PEAS . . .’

      40

      CHAPTER 4

      PUMPKIN

      PARADISE PARK

      By the end of the cookery lesson, Amelia and

       Tangine had made four batches of cookies,

       whilst Florence and Grimaldi had just made

       a mess.

      ‘I hope you’ve all enjoyed your first cookery

      class with me!’ Mr Sublime beamed as

       Florence poked another ingredient into

       Grimaldi’s eye-socket. ‘I have one last exciting

       announcement . . . I am launching a special

       competition!’

      The pupils murmured with anticipation at

      the word ‘competition’.

      ‘A SUBLIME Cookie Competition!’ the

      43