Earthling Ambassador (22 page)

They all covered their heads as the helicopters landed in noisy mini-cyclones of sand. Nicola looked up and saw a group of people ducking under the helicopters' rotors and running across the sand.

It was her mom, her dad, and what looked like a whole pack of
prime ministers, presidents, kings, and queens
all heading toward
her
!

“Congratulations, Nicola and the whole Space Brigade,” the prime minister of Australia bowed deeply. “You saved the world!”

“We are forever in your debt.” The Queen of England actually curtsied!

Nicola looked around her and recognized famous faces from the television. All the leaders of the world were in one place! It seemed that the possibility of losing your planet really brought people together.

“If only you did your jobs around the house as well as you did this one, eh!” Nicola and Sean's dad ruffled their hair. Dads always made the most embarrassing jokes.They had a talent for it.

“Children, have you
cleaned your teeth
?” hissed Nicola's Mom. “You're talking to royalty!”

Yep. Moms were just as embarrassing.

“I am curious, Nicola, what was the secret to your success?” asked a handsome young emperor. “Was it, perhaps, keen strategic thinking?”

Nicola thought for a moment.

Was there a secret? Was it just good luck?

Then it came to her.

“Friendship,” she answered. “The secret was friendship.”

“Ah.”The emperor nodded and looked confused.

“It was friendship between planets. It was friendship between old friends and new friends.” For a minute, Nicola felt herself swell with great wisdom. “It was friendship with older annoying brothers. It was even friendship with
enemies
!”

The World Leaders all burst out into condescending laughter.

“Ha ha! Friendship! Good one!”

“If only it were that simple!”

“As if we could all just be friends like schoolchildren! Ha!”

Oh well.

“Now, we've organized a street parade to honor the Space Brigade and the Save the Little Earthlings Committee,” explained the prime minister. “I believe that tall, lanky chap over there started the Committee?” He nodded at Georgio who was currently walking on his hands along the beach much to the delight of a crowd of awed children.

“Yes, that's Georgio,” said Nicola.

“I'd better go home before the parade.” Princess Petronella came up quietly beside Nicola.

“And who is this young lady? Are you another of the kindly Globagaskarians who lobbied to save us from that evil princess?” asked the prime minister.

“Well, actually this
is
Princess Petronella,” said Nicola.

The world leaders gave a collective gasp.

“It's okay,” said the princess. “Nicola and the Space Brigade convinced me not to turn your planet into a garbage can, although I might declare war on you if Sean doesn't stop teasing me.”

A rather fragile prime minister put a hand to her forehead and fainted right into the Queen of England's arms, while a red-faced president puffed his chest out and said, “Bring it on, girlie!”

“For heaven's sakes, she's only
joking
!” said Nicola hastily. “And of course, you must join us for the parade, Princess Petronella! We insist!”

A short time later, Nicola, the princess, and the rest of the Space Brigade stood together on an open-topped car, driving through the streets of the city, listening to the grateful roar of the crowd, and waving to people as if they were celebrities—which they were, actually.

Georgio had organized for the Wardrobewhizonics to pay a quick visit and they'd organized cloud-swimming outfits for everyone to wear to Nicola's birthday party that afternoon.The girls' dresses shone richly in the sunlight, while the boys wore long black coats like Georgio had worn when he took Nicola cloud-swimming, along with wraparound dark glasses. Nicola couldn't wait to introduce them all to their first belly flop on a cloud.

In the back of the car, Georgio, Mully, and Nicola's mom and dad were getting along famously.

“You must come along to our place for a barbecue,” said Nicola's mom.

“Delighted!” said Georgio. “What's a barbecue?”

Behind them was another car packed with all the other members of the Save the Little Earthlings Committee. Nicola could see Mr. Puck with the parrot on his shoulder squawking “Hooray! Hooray!” and freckly Molly Smith together with her redheaded daughter who had pretended to be the princess.There was Pamela George, the color expert who loved purple, wearing a celebratory new purple ball gown, and Ileria the astrologer giving the crowd a mystical wave. Rory Racrory, the letterologist who liked the letter
r
was smiling broadly, while policeman Sergeant Tom Atkins looked grimly happy with his arms folded across his enormous chest. And of course, there was the very ordinary-looking psychic Ella Bell who had correctly predicted that something significant would happen on a beach beginning with the letter
B
.

As Nicola waved to the crowd, she realized it was only three days ago that she'd sat in Mrs. Zucchini's class trying to learn how to master mental telepathy in the hopes of making her birthday more memorable. It seemed like a million years ago. Since then, she'd traveled in space, kidnapped a princess, battled hungry alien creatures, and made new friends. She looked up at the sky. Instead of seeing garbage falling, she could see thousands of brightly colored streamers raining down and, above that, swirly gold and white clouds she'd be surfing on later. Nicola grinned. There was no doubt about it.This had turned out to be her most memorable birthday yet.

P.S. One more little thing you might like to know . . .

Just as they were coming to the end of the parade, one of the streamers fell straight into Nicola's hand.To her surprise, there was a gold envelope attached to it with her name written in thick black letters: NICOLA BERRY.

Curious, she opened it.There was a white card inside. It said:

Nicola put the card back in the envelope and looked at the other members of the Space Brigade.Would they be interested in taking on another mission?

She had a feeling the answer would be a very definite ...YES.

Liane Moriarty had her first story published when she was ten years old. Her mother still thinks it's the best thing she's ever written.When she is not writing she's either eating chocolate, reading in the bathtub or competing with her husband to see who can get their baby to laugh the fastest.