Just a bit of fluff before the rehearsals kick off for the competition.

Much as the kids had been advised not to fantasise about Disneyland Resort, so they wouldn't feel disappointed if they lost the competition, it was still a favourite topic of conversation.

Lofty remarked just before Mr Keogh came in for his class, that he'd like to go there so he could meet Snow White.

"Snow White!" jeered Cal. The others hoped he wasn't going to start being mean again.

Then he said, in his best 'older and wiser' voice, "Best Disney babe EVER's Sleeping Beauty. Besides, you'd look better with a blonde babe seeing as you're dark-haired."

Lofty saw Robyn scuttling in.

"Tell you what, though, I think Ariel's nicest. I like red-haired girls."

Robyn glowed. She turned round and gave Jess a vicious look.

Poor Jess didn't understand what she'd done wrong, and wanted to cry, but here was Mr Keogh ready to start the class.

"Now I think too many of us are getting too excited about Disney, so I've got something to take your mind off it", he announced.

The kids expected sum books, but then Mr Keogh told them he was bringing his big dog to school the next day. She was called Dervla and he was very fond of her.

"Please Mr Keogh, she'll not get our rabbits, will she?"

"Goodness me, no, Ethan, she'll not be allowed anywhere near the rabbits. But I thought some of you might like a walk with her tomorrow lunchtime, after you've eaten. So easy on the Carbonara tomorrow, eh?"

Next day the kids all met Dervla. She was a big dog indeed, but very gentle.

Jess came along on the walk, and Robyn wasn't pleased one bit. Jess was scared of Robyn and was hoping she'd not come on the walk.

"Me and Ben are going to get married when we're fourteen", Robyn suddenly announced.

"Oh you SHOULD", said Jess, beaming, "You'd be lovely together."

Robyn suddenly realised Jess wasn't the enemy after all, and offered her a sugar free fruit sweet.

By the end of the walk Robyn had promised to ask Zax if Jess and Jeff could join the Fierce, Brave Gang and Jess wasn't scared any more.

And Big Mac noticed that the wire on Ron and Harry's cage had been nibbled, making a gap, and they'd vanished. He felt queasy, especially with Dervla being at the school. Then he saw them both in Flossy's cage and felt relieved. If only he'd known…

Two weeks later, Ethan came up to Lofty, looking frightened.

"B-Ben, I think Flossy's ill."

Lofty tried to keep his temper because Ethan was only a baby but he was worried immediately for Flossy.

"Let's go and have a look at her" he said as kindly as he could.

When they reached the enclosure, Lofty grinned at the smaller boy.

"Look, silly, she's fine."

"B-but she's got fatter!"

"Oooh, yeah, so she has. Maybe she's getting greedy. It's not your fault, Ethan, we'll ask Big Mac what to do."

"But what if she has a big heart attack and dies?" Ethan couldn't bear it.

"You two twerps!" jeered Cal behind them, "She's got fat because she's full of baby rabbits!"

Ethan's knees wobbled in relief.

"But how can she be?" persisted Lofty.

Cal slanted his eyes over to Harry and Ron.

"She wouldn't do that!" Lofty gasped in horror, "They're her brothers!"

Cal, feeling delightfully superior, answered:

"I think it's allowed with rabbits. Like in ancient Egypt."

Fortunately, the bell went at that moment.