Chapter One

Rocket Boulsworth was pumping up a giant inflatable banana in the lounge-kitchen-diner, with nobody as his audience save Meryl the sheep, who clearly was not accustomed to people blowing up giant inflatable bananas in the room and was eying it very cautiously. Jade somehow managed to make it down the stairs without falling over whilst carrying a gigantic pile of hats (two of which she was wearing) and she plonked the lot on the kitchen table.

"All ready for the beach!" she stated. Her head turned to the banana.

"Where'd you get that from?" she asked Rocket.

"Dad told me he found it in the loft with the other inflatables," Rocket replied, still pumping even though the banana was full, "Speaking of the attic, I don't think I've ever been in there. I wonder if they have any magical artefacts hidden in some secret cupboard that mum and dad have never found-"

Suddenly, the banana gave a small bursting sound and began spewing out air. Meryl the sheep sprang off his bed in fright and landed on the sofa.

"Hey, wait! No, no…" Rocket shrieked as he frantically searched for the leak.

Jade struggled not to giggle at the sight. Just then, Brandon appeared in the doorway clad in a sky blue t-shirt and navy shorts, arms laden with the rest of the inflatables, none of which were blown up. Archie hovered beside him with a parasol.

Rocket managed at that moment to find the hole and yelled at the others, "Quick! Get the puncture repair kit!"

Jade, Archie and Brandon dropped whatever they were doing and sprinted for the banana's box. Alli came downstairs next, caught sight of the three wrestling the banana and immediately said, "What are these flat rubber rings doing on the floor?"

Jade had just finished mending the banana so Rocket replied, "Oh! We're doing them next!"

The bunch busied themselves with the task of pumping up a selection of armbands and rubber rings. About 20 minutes later, Peter Boulsworth stepped into the dining area and noticed the kids' progress.

"I see you're almost finished," he remarked uneasily, sick at the thought of the bad news he was about to break to them.

Rocket pushed the stopper into a beach ball. "We're ready to go!" he called back, looping a rubber ring under his arm and holding the ball in his palm.

"Race you to the front door!" said Jade playfully. Peter got out of the way as a stampede of kids bounded through the door to the hallway.

"Hold on a minute," he tried to reason with them.

"We're all set to go, Dad!" said Rocket excitedly, but Peter's face remained solemn. Eventually, Rocket asked, "Where's mum?"

"Kids," said Peter, seating himself on the stairs, "Could you come a bit closer? There's something that I need to tell you."

Rocket and the others stepped toward him with a serious air. Mr Boulsworth continued, "I'm afraid…" All eyes were upon him. "I'm afraid Sarah has got the flu."

"What!?" spat Alli.

"Oh no!" wailed Rocket.

"You mean we can't go to the beach?" said Jade worriedly.

"I'm afraid we are going to have to cancel the trip," answered Peter, "I can't leave Sarah here on her own. I'm sorry, everyone. There's nothing we can do." Alli groaned monstrously. "Ipromise next time we'll go to the seaside. What more can I say?"

"I don't believe this!" shouted Alli, dropping the arm bands she was carrying, "It's not fair! You always stop me from having fun!"

She stomped off up the stairs. "Alli!" said Peter disapprovingly.

"Leave me alone!" Alli yelled back, rushing to her bedroom. Archie surreptitiously picked up the water wings she had let go of.

"To think we spent all morning pumping up these toys," complained Rocket.

"It's nobody's fault Sarah is unwell," replied Peter, "Could you please just accept that? I don't need Sarah having to worry about you getting cross you couldn't go on the trip on top of being ill."

"All right, Dad," responded Rocket.

"Thank you," said Peter, "I understand this is going to be hard for you but hopefully there are plenty of other things you can spend the day doing."

"It's OK, Mr Boulsworth," agreed Jade. Archie nodded.

Peter went on, "Since Sarah will be stuck in bed for a while, I think I'd better start some of her jobs round the farm for her. Remember to take care of her while I'm gone"

Peter went outside while Jade spread her inflatables on the table. "Do the pumps deflate the toys as well as inflate them?" she queried. Archie sat forlornly on one of the chairs.

"Don't say that!" said Rocket, "Mum might perk up."

"Not if she's got the flu, she won't," commented Brandon, "She'll be in bed the rest of the week."

"Well we can't give up hope!" answered Rocket.

"What else can we do?" said Jade, "It's not as if we can magically make Mrs Boulsworth better."

"Hang on…" evaluated Rocket, "That's brilliant!"

Abruptly, he hurried out the front door. "What happened there?" asked Jade. "What did I say?"

Brandon shrugged. "I guess it's just us who are going to let down the inflatables," he said, changing the subject, "Come on." He took some off the table and thrust them onto the sofa. A few loud sobs came from Alli upstairs.

At the same time, Rocket hopped on his quad bike and took off at top speed to the village. Before long, he arrived beside the Ballabungie village shop. Throwing off his helmet, he bolted into the shop and at the counter was none other than Dibber's granddad – exactly the person he wanted to see. Dibber was also there. "Quick!" Rocket hollered at Dibber's granddad, "I need to see your book!"

"What is it, Rocky?" wondered Dibber.

"No time to explain!" said Rocket, as everyone hurried to the room round the back of the shop.

Once inside, as Dibber's granddad pulled out the aged volume of Ballabungie legends, Rocket enquired, "Do you have anything on medicine? Anything that can cure flu?"

"Flu?" asked Dibber.

"My mum's really sick," answered Rocket as Dibber's granddad spread out the hardback on the table, "We were supposed to go to the seaside as a family too!"

"Oh, yeah…I remember," recollected Dibber.

"Aaah…" mused granddad, "So, it is the healing potions you are after? I will show you the best healing potion of them all…" He turned to a page and shone the red light on it. "Here is the recipe for the balm of Ballabungie – a remedy that can cure any illness known to man. One cup of this ointment will heal your mother like no other thing can, but be warned! If you do not comply with the strict list of rituals that comes with the method the potion will be annulled and perhaps your mother's condition will get even worse…"

Rocket was gawping in astonishment. "That's amazing!" he cried, "What does it need?"

"You will soon see…" said granddad mysteriously, whipping out a quill pen, ink and some thick paper from a nearby drawer. He started copying from the tome, with Rocket and Dibber watching attentively.