Lulu Bell and the Arabian Nights (4 page)

Amira spread her arms wide. ‘Ali Baba ran all the way home, carrying a bag of treasure. He was greeted at home by his wife.'

Molly was acting in the part of Ali Baba's wife. Molly and Zac danced together with excitement as they examined the coins.

‘I'll bury the treasure so no-one can find it,' said Zac.

‘Yes, but first we should weigh it,' said Molly. ‘There's far too much to count. I'll go next door and borrow a set of scales from your brother Cassim.'

Amira continued to narrate the story. ‘Cassim's wife was suspicious and placed some wax at the bottom of the scales. When the scales were returned she discovered that a gold coin had stuck to the wax. She showed her husband, who insisted that his brother Ali Baba tell him where he had found such fabulous treasure.'

Amira gestured towards the rock on the side of the stage. Max, who was playing the part of greedy Cassim, marched up to the rock and yelled, ‘Open sesame.' The rock rolled aside and Max crawled inside.

‘Cassim went inside the magical cave,'
continued Amira. ‘He shouted “close sesame” to shut the door. But he was so excited by all the treasure inside that he forgot the magic words to open the door again. Cassim was trapped inside.'

The opening to the cave closed, hiding Max. But just as it closed, kids dressed as thieves rushed onto the stage, waving their swords. The captain stood before the rock and yelled, ‘Open sesame.'

Amira pointed to the thieves. ‘The forty bandits discovered Cassim stealing their treasure. They dragged him from the cave and made him confess how he had learnt its secret.'

‘It was my brother Ali Baba who discovered your secret,' Max cried.

‘We must find Ali Baba before he can tell anyone else about our treasure,' said Daniel, captain of the thieves.

All the children ran off the stage, pushing the rock with them.

‘Luckily for Ali Baba, he had a clever and brave slave girl called Morgiana,' said Amira.

Lulu came onto the stage carrying a basket on her head. She was dressed as Morgiana the slave girl. Lulu sat cross-legged on the ground and began to rummage through her basket. ‘Morgiana saw one of the thieves marking her master's door with chalk.'

Flynn skulked onto the stage, looking suspicious. He drew a chalk mark onto one of the houses painted on the backdrop. Lulu watched him, pretending she was busy
with her basket. Flynn looked around then slipped away.

‘Morgiana guessed that the captain of the thieves would be back later to find her master. As soon as the thief had left, Morgiana marked all the neighbourhood doors with chalk so that the captain wouldn't know which one was her master's,' explained Amira.

Lulu put her basket down and ran around, drawing white chalk marks on the other houses.

‘The robber captain was furious to find his plot had been foiled,' continued Amira. ‘Finally he discovered which house belonged to Ali Baba. He disguised himself as an oil merchant. Then he hid the thirty-nine other thieves inside oil jars. He planned to have the thieves capture Ali Baba in the middle of the night.'

Daniel came on stage, wearing a turban and a long cape. The other children followed him. Each one carried a piece of cardboard cut into the shape of an oil jar. They crouched down behind their jars.

‘The captain knocked on Ali Baba's door and said that he was an oil merchant on his way to the market but had nowhere to stay the night. Ali Baba welcomed him and Morgiana was
ordered to prepare a bed and cook a feast for the stranger.

‘But when Morgiana went into the courtyard to get some oil from one of the jars, she discovered what was really inside. Thirty-nine thieves!'

Lulu pulled away a cardboard jar to reveal one of the children hiding there. Lulu shook the jar and the thief ran away squealing. Lulu chased all of the thieves off the stage. The audience roared with laughter.

Daniel, Zac and Molly came onstage and sat on a pile of cushions. Lulu came onstage carrying a tray of silver goblets which she served to the others.

Lulu curtseyed and pulled her sword from her sash. ‘Master, may I dance for you?' she asked. ‘I would like to honour our guest with an ancient Persian sword dance.'

‘Of course, Morgiana,' said Zac.

Persian music began to play. Lulu danced, holding the sword above her head with two hands. She swayed and spun and turned cartwheels. Lulu swished the sword in the air, making circles and figure-eights. Lulu danced closer and closer to the group seated on the cushions.

Suddenly, Lulu lunged with her sword and pointed it at Daniel.

‘Morgiana, what are you doing?' cried Zac. ‘Release our guest at once.'

Lulu knocked off Daniel's turban with her sword. ‘Look, master,' she said. ‘He's not an oil merchant at all. He's the captain of the forty thieves and has come to attack us.'

Everyone onstage froze. Amira stepped forward to the middle of the stage.

‘So Morgiana, the brave and clever slave girl, saved Ali Baba from the robber captain. Ali Baba was so happy that he set her free. Morgiana married Ali Baba's son and they were happy and wealthy for the rest of their days.'

All the children ran to the front of the stage. They bowed low. The audience clapped and clapped.

Amira and Lulu grinned at each other. Lulu stuck her sword back in her sash.
That was so much fun
, thought Lulu, bubbling with excitement.
And
everyone
loved it!

After the play, it was time for the feast. The playground was filled with children dressed in various costumes. Food stalls were decorated with bunting, flags, balloons and streamers. The Iranian stall had giant cardboard palm trees. Gus, dressed in his knight suit, was running through the crowd.

Mum and Leyla were dressed in long loose dresses, with scarves tied over their hair.
They served food to the kids. There were bowls of dates, apricots, peaches and grapes. A platter held
mezze
, with little dishes of olives, hummus dip, eggplant dip, and stuffed vine leaves called
dolma
. There was also flat
naan
bread. Large platters held barbecued lamb
kababs
with yoghurt sauce.

The children queued up with their plates and forks. Amira explained to Lulu and Molly what all the different dishes were.

‘Try the
dolma
,' said Amira. ‘
Dolma
are vine leaves stuffed with meat and rice.'

Mum piled the girls' plates high with food. ‘Amira, you were
wonderful
as the narrator,' she said.

Amira beamed a dazzling smile. ‘Thanks. Everyone was great.'

Leyla gestured around at the playground buzzing with kids and parents. ‘This is wonderful. I can't believe how welcome you've made us feel.'

Mum laughed. ‘I'm so glad.

Harmony Day is a fabulous celebration.' The girls moved away so that the next children could be served.

‘This is delicious,' said Lulu. ‘I love the
mezze
and the
kababs.'

Amira smiled. ‘I'm glad you like it.'

Molly looked at Amira. ‘It's lovely to see you smile.'

Amira gave Lulu and Molly a hug. ‘When I started school last week I was so upset,' said Amira. ‘I didn't want to move house. I didn't want to change schools. And I'd lost Taj. But you have both been so kind.'

Molly and Lulu hugged her back. ‘We're just glad that you're happy again,' said Lulu.

‘There's just one thing,' said Amira.

‘What's that?' asked Molly.

‘Could you teach me how to play handball?' asked Amira.

Lulu can't wait for her holiday at Tarni Beach to begin. She has a new pink surfboard and Dad is going to teach her to surf.

Lulu and her friend Zac like to spot wildlife in the bush nearby. But what has happened to the mummy koala and her joey? Bulldozers have arrived and the trees might soon be gone. Lulu needs to work out how to save the koalas' home!

Out now