Unicorn School by Linda Chapman Page B

whinnied teasingly.
    â€˜No,’ Willow replied. She was, but there was no way she was going to admit it to the older unicorn.
    He looked at her for a moment. He reminded her of her brother Cassius. He had the same teasing gleam in his eyes.
    â€˜Didn’t you know,’ he said to her, ‘Year Ones always go into school first?’ He glanced at the shut gates. The elves were standing in front of them talking. ‘You just go up to thegates and bang on them three times with your horn and then the elves will let you in.’ He stared at her with wide innocent eyes.
    But Willow wasn’t fooled. ‘Really? I think you missed out the bit about me having to turn a somersault first.’ She laughed and swished her tail. ‘As if I’m really going to do that. I’m not stupid!’
    The unicorn’s friends giggled and he looked slightly taken aback. But then he gave an easy shrug. ‘OK, maybe you’re not!’ he said, grinning back at her.
    â€˜Come on, Oriel,’ the girl unicorn said. ‘Let’s go and find the others!’
    The older unicorns cantered off.
    Â 

    They swerved round a crowd of very grown-up-looking unicorns who looked like Year Sixes.
    â€˜Slow down there!’ one of the elves called out. ‘No cantering in front of the gates!’
    Oriel and his friends ignored him. Oriel put his head down and gave a cheeky buck. The elf’s face turnedred with rage. ‘Why… you… you…’
    Just then, one of the other elves stepped forward and blew a long note on a bronze horn. He was wearing a green velvet hat with three corners and looked like he was the elf in charge. As the horn’s note floated out, the unicorns all stopped talking. When everyone was silent the elf cleared his throat.
    â€˜Right, everyone, it is time to go into school. Can you all line up in your houses please?’ The other four elves stood in a line beside him. ‘Star House, Sun House, Moon House and Rainbow House,’ the chief elf said, pointing to each ofthe elves in turn. ‘Year Ones, you will find out your houses when you go in, so I would like you to line up in front of me!’ He took a list of names out of his pocket and unrolled it.
    The unicorns moved into five separate lines. Willow trotted forward and found herself near the front of the group of first years. Oriel and his friends were jostling each other in the line for Rainbow House. The elf in charge looked like he was getting very cross with them. Willow turned round and saw Storm joining the line of Year Ones.
    â€˜Oh, for goodness sake!’ The elf in charge of Rainbow House bustledover. ‘What are you doing?’ he said very crossly, pointing at Storm. ‘You’re not a Year One. You’re far too big. Now get out of that line right now!’
    Willow saw Storm look embarrassed. ‘But… but I
am
in Year One,’ he said, his voice little more than a whisper.
    The elf glared at him. ‘Don’t be ridiculous! Of course you’re not! Now which house do you belong to?’
    Storm looked very anxious. People were staring at him curiously. ‘I… I don’t know. This is my first term,’ he stammered.
    â€˜Right, that’s it!’ the elf exclaimed.‘I’ve had enough of this! Out of this line! You’re going straight to the Headmaster!’

Chapter Two Making Friends
    Oriel and his friends sniggered. Storm looked as if he wanted to sink into the ground. Willow couldn’t bear it. ‘He
is
in Year One!’ she exclaimed, stepping out of line. She was aware of everyone turning to look but she didn’t care. ‘I heard him saying goodbye to his dad,’ shetold the elf. ‘It
is
his first term here!’
    The elf frowned and for a horrible moment Willow thought he was about to tell her off too. Then suddenly another unicorn walked out of the line to stand at her side.
    â€˜It’s true,’ a