said the lift.
‘Never mind the postman,’ said the trolley.
‘Well you didn’t ought to go racketing around loose like that,’ said the lift. ‘You’ll cause an accident.’
‘Ah, shut up,’ said the trolley.
‘Ooh, I say,’ said the lift. ‘Don’t you take that tone of voice with me.’
CLATTER! went the trolley.
WHOOSH! went the lift. ‘Think you’re fast?’ it said. ‘I’ll give you fast.’
‘EEEEEP!’ went the mice.
CLACK!
went the trolley.
WHOOSH! went the lift.
‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘Oo-err,’ said the lift. ‘Not in here, lovey, please. See what you’ve done to him?’ it said to the trolley. ‘Gone all green, he has.’
‘Me?’ said the trolley. ‘You, more like; all that WHOOSHing.’
‘Whatever were you thinking of, you mice?’ said the lift. ‘You don’t want to go riding about in that clacketty old thing.’
‘Oh-ho!’ said the trolley. ‘Look who’s talking!’
‘He’s bonkers, you know,’ whispered the lift.
CLATTER!
went the trolley.
‘Err, the thing is,’ said Purvis, quickly, ‘we wanted to see the not-Christmas tree.’
‘Are you sure?’ said the lift.
‘Yes, please,’ said Purvis. ‘So could you take us there?’
‘YEAH! COME ON!’ shouted the trolley. ‘TEN. NINE.’
‘Oh leave off, do,’ said the lift. ‘You’re putting me in a tither.’
‘EIGHT. SEVEN,’ shouted the trolley.
‘Oo-err,’ juddered the lift.
‘What is it?’ said Purvis.
‘He’s upset me workings,’ said the lift, juddering harder. ‘Hold on!’
‘OHH
HHHH!’
shouted
everyone
as they
shot
downwards
very fast.
‘AAAAGGHH!’
shouted
everyone
as
they shot
upwards
very fast.
‘E E E E E E EEE !’
shouted
everyone
as
they
p
l
u
m
m
e
t
e
d.
There was a bump, and a ping, and the mice were
catapulted out of the lift and on to the tree.
through the air and high on the tree.
‘Oo, I say,’ called the lift. ‘I’m ever so sorry.’
‘I’m off,’ said the trolley, clattering away down a corridor. ‘You’re dangerous, you are.’
‘GET LOST, BONKERS,’ shouted the lift, after it.
‘Yeep!’ squeaked Mickey Thompson. ‘It’s a bit sharp.’
‘Ye-yeep!’ squeaked Purvis, in agreement. ‘It’s these pine needles.’
‘I’m all tangled up,’ said Mickey
Thompson,yanking a piece of tinsel.
‘Don’t squirm,’ said Purvis. ‘The more you wriggle, the more you’ll get spiked.’
‘YOUCH,’ shouted Mickey Thompson. ‘I WANT TO GET OFF.’
‘Shoosh,’ said Purvis. ‘Someone’ll hear.’
‘Good,’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘Then they can come and unhook me.’
‘Yes, and then what?’ said Purvis. ‘Just hush. I’m trying to think.’
‘Think faster,’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘What are you doing now?’ said Purvis. ‘Stop it.’
‘I’m not doing anything,’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘Well, what’s that swishing noise?’ said Purvis, and they peered upwards.
‘It’s a small plastic girl,’ said Mickey Thompson, ‘in a huge dress and wings.’
They watched as the plastic girl bustled down from branch to branch.
‘Hello,’ said Purvis, once she’d arrived.
‘What are you doing on my tree?’ replied the girl.
‘We’re stuck,’ said Purvis.
