The Monster Story-Teller (2 page)

“Of course!” said Natalie. “It’s a flying saucer!”

She went to have a closer look.

There was a little creature standing in the saucer.

Was it an ant?

“A flying ant!” Natalie giggled.

It wasn’t an ant.

It was a very, very, very tiny monster.

It had wild hair and pointy teeth and sharp claws and a long tail.

But it didn’t look fierce. It looked friendly.

“Hello!” said Natalie.

“Hello!” said the tiny monster.

“Can you speak up a bit?” said Natalie. “I can’t hear you properly.”

“I’m shouting!” said the tiny monster. “Can you speak down a bit? You’re hurting my ears.”

“Is it your flying saucer?” Natalie whispered, so softly her lips scarcely moved.

The tiny monster nodded proudly.

“Want to see me do twirlie-whirlies?” he said.

“You bet!” said Natalie.

The tiny monster tapped his teeny foot.

The saucer flapped its little wings and whizzed round and round in the air. The plant’s leaves waved wildly.

The tiny monster waved too as he circled Natalie’s head, round and round until she got dizzy.

The plant wobbled and wobbled until . . .

. . . it tipped right off the saucer and crashed onto the classroom floor!

“Oh help!” said the tiny monster.

“Oh help!” said Natalie. “What’s Mr Hunter going to say?”

MR HUNTER SAID plenty
.

“You naughty girl, Natalie!
What
were you doing over by the window? Did you knock that plant over on purpose?”

“No! It wasn’t me,” said Natalie.

“It was me!” said the tiny monster, flying his saucer behind Natalie.

“Look at the mess on the floor! Go and fetch a dustpan and brush from the store cupboard, Natalie,” said Mr Hunter. “And take that silly smile off your face. It isn’t funny.”

Natalie couldn’t help smiling. The tiny monster was tickling the back of her neck with his weeny claws.

Natalie hurried out of the classroom.

The flying saucer went with her, whirling round her head.

“Where are you going?” shouted the tiny monster.

“To fetch the dustpan and brush,” said Natalie.

“Boring, boring, boring,” said the tiny monster. “Come flying with me instead. Jump up on my saucer.”

“I can’t,” said Natalie. “I’m much too big. I’d smash the saucer. And squash you.”

“I can make you small,” said the tiny monster. “Hold my hand.”

Natalie held out her great big hand. The tiny monster held out his weeny little paw.

Then Natalie started shrinking!

She felt as if she were being rubbed with very powerful magic soap.

She got smaller and smaller and smaller until she was exactly the same size as the tiny monster. Only he didn’t look tiny now.