Moonlight Dreamers Amber

24 Pages·2016·1.17 MB·English

Inside Cover
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moonlightdreamers.com
First published 2016 by Walker Books Ltd
87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ
Text © 2016 Siobhan Curham
Illustration © 2016 Kate Forrester

Moonlight Dreamers
Meet the
Amber

A keen blogger with two fathers, Amber is sick of the
bullying OMGs at her school so decides to set up a
secret society – the Moonlight Dreamers.
Loves ... vintage clothes & records
Hates ... people who think they’re better than
everyone else because of the way they look
Dreams of ... getting more people to read her blog
and visiting the grave of her hero, Oscar Wilde, in Paris
Maali
A keen amateur photographer who lives with her
parents and little brother on Brick Lane above her
Mum’s confectioners, Bluebird Burfi.
Loves ... Brick Lane and the Hindu goddess Lakshmi
Hates ... racists
Dreams of ... finding the confidence to talk to boys
Sky

An aspiring poet who has recently lost her mum
and is struggling with her dad’s new relationship.
Loves ... living on a houseboat, travelling the
world and poetry
Hates ... the fact her mum is dead
Dreams of ... finding the confidence to compete
in a poetry slam
Rose
The daughter of famous and divorced parents,
Rose would rather hide from the limelight than
attract attention to herself.
Loves ... New York City, motorcycles and cake
Hates ... people who invade her privacy
Dreams of ... becoming a patissier and owning a
Harley Davidson
In the first meeting of the Moonlight Dreamers
at 1001 Café in Brick Lane, the girls discuss
the rules and share thCehira pdtreera Smixst.een
Chapter Sixteen
“The Moonlight Dreamers?” What the heck were the
Moonlight Dreamers? Rose stared at Sky. But Sky kept her
gaze fixed firmly on Amber.
“The Moonlight Dreamers?” What the heck were the
“Yes,” Amber said. “It’s a group for teenage girls who are
Moonlight Dreamers? Rose stared at Sky. But Sky kept her
sick of being told who to be and how to look, and who want
gaze fixed firmly on Amber.
to find the confidence to live their dreams. It’s supposed to
“Yes,” Amber said. “It’s a group for teenage girls who are
be secret.” She looked at Sky pointedly. Sky’s face flushed.
sick of being told who to be and how to look, and who want
Rose’s brain started working overtime. Far from dragging
to find the confidence to live their dreams. It’s supposed to
her to a dullsville poetry event, Sky had brought her to the
be secret.” She looked at Sky pointedly. Sky’s face flushed.
meeting of some kind of secret society. She hated to admit
Rose’s brain started working overtime. Far from dragging
it, but it sounded pretty cool. Amber looked pretty cool too.
her to a dullsville poetry event, Sky had brought her to the
Rose loved the way she’d styled her hair into a quiff and the
meeting of some kind of secret society. She hated to admit
whole men’s suit thing looked awesome.
it, but it sounded pretty cool. Amber looked pretty cool too.
“Cool,” Rose said, barging past Sky and sitting down next
Rose loved the way she’d styled her hair into a quiff and the
to the shy-looking Asian kid.
whole men’s suit thing looked awesome.
“Really?” Amber looked at her like she didn’t quite believe
“Cool,” Rose said, barging past Sky and sitting down next
her. “I mean, you do understand that you mustn’t tell anyone
to the shy-looking Asian kid.
about what goes on here tonight.”
“Really?” Amber looked at her like she didn’t quite believe
Rose nodded and settled back into her armchair. “Sure.
her. “I mean, you do understand that you mustn’t tell anyone
about what goes on here tonig1h17t.”
Rose nodded and settled back into her armchair. “Sure.
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I won’t say a word.” This night out with Sky was shaping
up to be way more interesting than she ever could have
imagined.
Sky sat down next to Amber, not knowing what to think.
She’d been certain that Rose would make fun of the whole
thing and had been hoping that she would leave, but from
the way Rose was staring at Amber, the very opposite was
happening; she seemed engrossed. Sky shifted back in her
squishy armchair but didn’t take off her coat, just in case
Rose did or said something embarrassing and they needed
to make an emergency exit.
“So,” Amber said, reaching under the table and pulling
out a battered leather briefcase, “I wrote some rules to give
us some kind of guidelines, but please feel free to add your
own.” She took out some leaflets and handed them out. “I’ll
go and get some drinks while you have a read. What would
you like?”
“Diet Coke, please.” Sky fumbled in her bag for her purse.
“It’s OK, they’re on me,” Amber said with a tense smile.
“I’ll have a cappuccino,” said Rose, taking off her jacket.
“Could I have an orange juice, please?” Maali asked,
sitting bolt upright on the edge of her chair. She reminded
Sky of a little bird about to fly away at any moment.
As Sky took a leaflet Maali smiled at her, and a pair of
dimples appeared either side of her mouth, making her look
even sweeter. They settled back and began to read.
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MOONLIGHT DREAMERS ~ THE RULES
1. The Moonlight Dreamers is a secret society – members
must never speak a word of its existence, or of what
happens at the meetings, to others.
2. Meetings will begin with members reciting the
“Moonlight” quote from Oscar Wilde.
3. This quote is the Moonlight Dreamers’ motto and must
be memorized by members – and NEVER forgotten.
4. All members must vow to support the other Moonlight
Dreamers in the pursuit of their dreams – always.
5. Moonlight Dreamers are proud of being different. They
would rather die than be the same as everyone else.
Being the same as everyone else is a crime against
originality; the human equivalent of magnolia paint.
Sky shivered with excitement as she read the words. It
was all so mysterious and poetic. But then she thought of
Rose reading the leaflet. She didn’t seem like the kind of girl
who wanted to be mysterious or poetic – or different. She
glanced across the table. Rose was studying the leaflet, her
face etched into a frown. Sky’s heart sank. Amber headed
over to them with a tray of drinks. “So?” she said as she
placed the tray down. “What do you think?” She looked at
Sky anxiously.
“I really like it,” Sky said defiantly, wanting to get in
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before Rose could say anything to ruin it.
“Me too!” Maali exclaimed, her brown eyes gleaming with
excitement. “Especially the last bit.”
They all looked at Rose, who was still staring at the leaflet.
“What’s the quote and who’s Oscar Wilde?” Rose asked,
finally looking up at them.
Sky’s throat tightened as she noticed Amber’s expression
harden.
“He’s a writer,” Amber said curtly. “One of the greatest
writers who ever lived.”
Rose shrugged. “So, what did he write?”
“The Importance of Being Earnest,” Amber said.
Rose frowned. “I thought that was Shakespeare.”
“No!” Amber looked horrified.
Sky started wracking her brains for some way to get Rose
to leave without causing a massive scene.
“He also wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Maali said. She
turned to Amber and smiled. “I googled him after you gave
me the postcard.”
“Oh, I love that one!” Rose exclaimed with a grin.
“You do?” Amber and Sky said at the same time, sounding
equally surprised.
“Uh-huh, my dad was in it.”
Amber frowned. “What do you mean, your dad was in it?”
“It’s about the dude who makes a pact never to get old,
right?” Rose asked. “So he has a portrait of himself painted
and that gets old instead.”
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