The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster Read online

  Miss Spinnaker smiles and cups Polly’s cheek. ‘Polly, it’s you. You’ve always been a bit … different. And now I see why! Look, maybe this was brought on a little earlier by your spell at the gallery, but this conflict between witches and monsters has been heating up for a long time now. Don’t worry, I will support you as best as I can. And the stones will guide you the rest of the way. I can train you to use your spells more effectively, and teach you some basic potions.’

  She looks up at Polly and her eyes crease into a mischievous smile. ‘Though you might need to work on your temper.’

  Polly chews her bottom lip nervously. ‘I’m scared,’ she admits.

  ‘Of course you are!’ Miss Spinnaker says. ‘Gosh, that’s completely understandable! I imagine some of the things the stones showed you might have been terrifying. But every Silver Witch has a companion. Someone you can trust. You might have seen them in your visions, framed in a white light. Did anyone like that come into your mind, Polly?’ she asks.

  Polly frowns, and tries to think back.

  ‘There was a white light,’ she remembers. ‘And there was someone in it.’ Polly pauses, closing her eyes for a moment. ‘I don’t think it was a witch, though. Actually, I think it may have been a monster. Oh! Yes, I remember now. It was a monster. A big, hairy monster …’

  Miss Spinnaker and Polly turn to look at Buster. He has snuck another ju-ju fruit out of the bowl and jammed the whole thing into his mouth. Juice dribbles down his furry chin. When he feels both witches’ eyes on him, he slowly stops chewing and wipes his chin on the back of his paw.

  ‘Wha–?’ he says, blushing. ‘Miss Spinnaker said I could help myself. Ohhhhh,’ he says, finally realising why they are staring at him. ‘I’m a big hairy monster!’

  Polly grins. She is terrified of what lies ahead, and is absolutely certain there is no way anything Miss Spinnaker can teach her will make her strong enough, or clever enough, or brave enough.

  Acknowledgements

  If I had to squeeze all the people into my heart that I needed to thank for helping me bring this book into the world, it would explode into a million pieces and the room would be covered in heart bits and muck, so it’s probably much safer I just try to list them all here.

  Everyone at Hardie Grant Egmont is my absolute favourite person: Annabel, Marisa, Penny, Amanda, Sarah, Charlotte, Ilka, Haylee, Mandy – and anyone else I may have overlooked in my excitable typing. It’s a joy to work with such talented, enthusiastic, gorgeous ladies. I couldn’t imagine being in better hands. But of course I must give special mention to Hilary Rogers, publisher, midwife, hand-holder and book whisperer who has been there for Polly and Buster from the beginning.

  Pippa Masson is my constant champion, as is Davina Bell, who I want to bundle up and bottle for all the sparkling gorgeousness that she is. I could never thank her enough for hot chai on a cold beach, old lady yoga sessions and the winery writers’ retreats where this book began to take shape. She also gives the best manuscript feedback around.

  I am beyond excited that the completely brilliant Stephanie Spartels agreed to design this book. I am such a massive fan of her work and as far as I am concerned she has made true magic happen across these pages.

  My very first readers big and small deserve monster-sized thanks: Fiona Harris and Scott Edgar, as well as Nellie Edgar who chatted with me about witches and monsters over ice-cream and whose daddy helped me get my drawing mojo back. Tilly, Tessa and Ollie listened to me read parts of this aloud and laughed uproariously in all the right places and Dom carries my heart into the world.

  My mother, who has somehow become my accountant, life organiser and career advisor all in one, but who, even more importantly, said to me those very words that Buster’s mother does to Polly: ‘It’s all very well to love those who are loveable, but it’s the unloveable ones who need it the most.’ She is a beacon of generosity and kindness.

  Lastly, Buster is Polly’s dearest, loveliest friend who is there for her through everything: sad when she is sad, joyful in her joy. If you ever find a friend like this, hold onto them tight because there is no greater treasure in the world. I have many beautiful friends who sparkle like stars and guide me when I need it most. But I have only one Buster, and I intend to hold onto him as close and as long as time will allow.

  About Sally Rippin

  Sally Rippin is the sort of grown-up who remembers exactly what it was like to be a kid. That’s one of the reasons her books are so beloved around the world. She has written more than sixty books for children, including the bestselling Billie B Brown and Hey Jack!. Sally’s books have sold over four million copies internationally, which is enough to make any monster puff up with happiness.

  For Patrick, who is my very own

  heart-squeezing Buster.

  And without whom this

  book wouldn’t exist.

  The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster

  published in 2017 by

  Hardie Grant Egmont

  Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street

  Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia

  www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.

  Text & illustration copyright © 2017 Sally Rippin

  Series design copyright © 2017 Hardie Grant Egmont

  A CiP record for this title is available from

  The National Library of Australia

  eISBN 9781743584958

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