Davina Dupree's Bizarre Birthday Balloon Ride by SK Sheridan Page A

are before! Literally towering above us, rather breath-taking.com .
    A funny little man with flying goggles propped on top of his head stopped talking to two other men and jogged over to meet us.
    â€˜Hello, hello,’ he yelled. ‘So good to see you. You must be the Davina Dupree party.’ He stopped, a little puffed out, and beamed round.
    â€˜Giles!’ Mrs Fairchild exclaimed, taking a step back and putting a dainty hand to her mouth. ‘My my! I didn’t know you’d become a pilot.’
    â€˜Well bless my cuff links, is that you, Mrs Fairchild?’ The small man’s eyes grew large. He shook his head, stared at Mrs Fairchild for a few seconds, then his mouth broke into the biggest grin I’ve ever seen. ‘Well, well, well! It’s so good to see you. I don’t think I’ve seen you since I graduated from Dormouse College fifteen years ago. Has it really been that long?’
    â€˜I think it has,’ Mrs Fairchild put her hands either side of his rosy cheeks. ‘And you haven’t changed one bit. Still the cheeky little chappy I remember. I’m good friends with Giles’ mother, Sophia,’ she said, turning to me and Arabella. ‘Although the shame of it is we lost touch after she moved to the Bahamas. Well girls, all I can say is that if Giles is your pilot today, you’re in safe hands. You excelled at physics and engineering, didn’t you Giles? We all thought you’d do something aeronautical. Personally I thought you might become an astronaut.’
    â€˜Oh you do say the kindest things, Mrs Fairchild,’ Giles chuckled. ‘I did get round to taking my pilot’s licence a few years ago and I’ve been working as a luxury hot air balloon pilot ever since.’ He turned to me and Arabella. ‘You’re in for a real treat today girls, the ride of a lifetime. These balloons are really something.’
    â€˜Marvellous!’ Mrs Fairchild clapped her hands together and jumped up and down. ‘How absolutely exciting. Now listen, I mustn’t hold you up any longer, I’m sure you’re all keen to get started. Oh girls I am pleased to be leaving you with Giles. Have a fabulous time, both of you, and come and tell me all about it when Bertie brings you back on Sunday. Although I’ll be out until three o clock at my archery lesson.’ She gave us both a big hug.
    â€˜Do send my love to your dear mother, Giles,’ she twittered, leaning forwards to kiss him on both cheeks before turning to sashay back down the path towards the trees.
    â€˜Oh I will, Mrs Fairchild,’ Giles grinned. ‘Right, come on girls, let’s get you kitted up for an experience you’ll never forget!’
    He took us to an elaborate log cabin in the middle of all the hot air balloons and showed us how to strap light weight, folded up parachutes to our backs.
    â€˜Just a safety precaution of course,’ Giles said, adjusting straps here and there. ‘No one’s ever had to use their parachute on one of our trips but we pride ourselves on being the safest luxury hot air balloon company in the country. Better to be prepared, I always say. Now, whose birthday is it?’
    â€˜Mine,’ I said.
    â€˜Then may I say happy birthday young lady,’ Giles said, doing a theatrical bow so low his flying goggles nearly touched the floor. ‘If you make your way to the log cabin behind the gold and black hot air balloon you’ll find a scrumptious birthday brunch laid out for you. Compliments of your mum and dad. Please wait in that cabin until I come and call for you, I’m just waiting for a few more passengers to arrive.’
    â€˜Oh goodie,’ Arabella said. ‘I’m absolutely starving. Come on Davina, let’s go!’
    I have to go now, Diary, as Arabella is pulling my parachute, trying to get me to hurry up so she can start eating!
12pm, Lunch Cabin, Thursday, 18 th March
    Yum,