The Little Vampire by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg

for the thorn branches weretwisted together like linked hands, and the princesses caught fast and died a terrible death. At last, after many years, a certain princess happened to come to that part of the country. An old man told her the story of the castle behind the wall of thorns, and the princess declared: ‘I’m not afraid! I shall try to reach this handsome prince!’ What the old man did not realise was that this particularprincess was in fact a vampire. She turned herself into a bat and flew over the hedge. Once in the courtyard of the castle, she saw the dogs and horses lying fast asleep, and venturing further inside, she found the entire court sleeping as well. Finally she came to the tower with the little room where the King’s son lay. He was so handsome that she could not take her eyes off him, and she bentdown and gave him a vampire kiss. He stirred and opened his eyes and looked at her happily. It did not take long before he was a vampire too, and the pair of them lived happily ever after.”
    “I know that story,” said Tony. “It’s the same as ‘ Sleeping Beauty .’”
    “My version’s better, though!” laughed Anna.
    “You forgot the court,” reproached Tony, “and the King and Queen. Did they turn into vampiresas well?”
    “I haven’t decided yet,” said Anna. “I wanted to ask you about it. You don’t think that would make it too grisly?”
    “Why should it?” asked Tony. “After all, no one believes these tales of vampires nowadays ...”
    “What?” said Anna furiously. “No one believes in vampires? What about you? Don’t you believe in us?”
    “Oh, er, yes, I do, of course,” Tony reassured her hurriedly. “But everyoneelse ...”
    “Everyone else? I thought everyone was frightened of us.”
    “Sorry.” Tony shook his head. “Last week, for instance, we had to write a composition. The title was ‘A Terrifying Experience.’ I went up to our teacher and asked her whether we were allowed to write about vampires, and she just laughed. ‘Vampires?’ she said, loud enough for the whole class to hear. ‘Vampires belong to fairytales, Tony. No, now you are in the third form, you must write about something that really happened.’”
    “What an old goat!” snorted Anna. “What did you write about in the end?”
    “Something I saw on the television once.”
    “Did she notice?”
    “No, she thought it was quite lively and realistic, and gave me five out of ten.”
    “Huh!” said Anna. “You’d have got ten out of ten for a vampire story! Whatabout your parents? Don’t they believe in us?”
    Tony shook his head. “They least of all. But they would like to meet you. You’ve been invited to tea.”
    “Really?” Anna’s face lit up. “At last I’ll be able to meet your parents, Tony!” She clapped her hands and gave a little jump. “Are they as nice as you?”
    “Er, I suppose so.” Tony was embarrassed.
    “When can we come?”
    “Next Wednesday?” suggestedTony. It was the first day that came into his head. “Do you think Rudolph will come too?”
    “I’ll ask him at once,” she said, and jumped up onto the window-sill. “Bye then – see you on Wednesday.”
    “W-wait a minute,” stuttered Tony. “Are you really going to come?”
    “You bet!” she smiled, and vanished.

Final Preparations
    “Come on, Tony,” said his mother the following Wednesday. “Help me whip this cream.”
    “It’s much too early still,” protested Tony.
    “Nonsense! It’s almost five o’clock.”
    “That makes no difference. They always have an afternoon rest.”
    His mother gave him a searching look. “I’m sure even you don’t really believe that.”
    “Yes, I promise it’s true. It’s good for their health.”What a business it all was! He did not think vampires ever got up before sunset, and that would mean they might not arrive until eight o’clock! And Mum was already putting the kettle on and heating the milk for the cocoa!
    “Er, Mum,” began