The school the Owner’s two daughters attended was producing a rather special Christmas Show, it was part of the fund raising effort to build a new science laboratory. Mrs Owner and her younger sister were old students, although taking very different directions in life, both still kept in contact with old school friends. And indeed it had been one such person who suggested Mrs Owner’s sister, now an actress playing a thrice weekly role in a soap opera on television, might like to take a role in the concert. Non were quite as surprised as The Mops on hearing about this, neither they discovered, did it finish there, for soon afterwards they also had been given parts, albeit only in the last scene. The Sister, knowing that the Pulis lived at The Manor, had asked if they could be included in the last scene, where they were to pull along her small carriage. Certainly the Sister’s appearance in the production had resulted in a high demand for tickets, and the teachers were delighted at the way things were working out.

A few of days before the show, Mr Owner fetched The Sister from the railway station, she preferred to travel by train because it gave her time to prepare herself for the show. Arriving at the house The Sister was dressed in a very expensive mid length red coat with black faux fur collar and hat, black leather gloves, bag and long boots. The Pulis were intrigued, because if the trimmings had been white, they decided amongst themselves, The Sister would have looked rather like Father Christmas. Mrs Owner overheard this and immediately told them off, adding if they did not behave, they would not be allowed to take part in the concert.

Children at the school also enjoyed working with The Sister, they had done loads of rehearsing before her arrival and knew the show off by heart, so when time came for the rehearsals with the actress things went much better than the teachers had expected. In fact The Sister was very impressed with their talents she promised to return to the school to give drama lessons.

On the evening of the dress rehearsal everyone was very nervous and there were a few little mistakes but The Sister helped by saying all actors suffered from nerves and errors did often happened. To help them feel better The Sister took the whole cast out for a Pizza following the rehearsal, except of course The Mops had to given theirs at home because they were not allowed into the restaurant. Towards late afternoon of the big day, Mrs Owner drove her sister, daughters and The Mops to school to prepare for the performance.

Twinkling lights covered two large trees either side of the main entrance

of the old school building.

Father Christmas arrived well before the show started and went to his Grotto to meet some of the younger children, and carols were sung in the foyer by students, whilst parents and friends enjoyed a glass of mulled wine and talked to teachers and staff, before taking their places in the crowded hall.

Soon the show opened and The Mops were left alone in their cages, boredom began to set in. The Sister had found whilst playing in The Manor garden one day with Korde and Kordette a rather special toy. This was a magical bone, given to them in the summer by an Inn Keeper, and she had put it in the crate with the Young Pulis. Kordette was now lying with the bone between her front paws, and not thinking said "I wish we were all in the castle with the princess". Of course Kordette was really thinking of being on stage with The Sister playing the princess.

Suddenly, with a loud bang, The Mops found themselves in a very different place, a fairy tale castle lit by beautiful magical lanterns, set high in the hills of a far away land where snow was falling in big thick flakes. They were in a room where a large log fire was burning, and a very pretty young girl was decorating a large tree.

Realizing straight away what had happened, Kordette let out a rather loud "Oh dear" and was especially agitated when she realized the bone was missing. A young girl turned to see all four Pulis standing beside the fire looking slight aghast. They were in a huge room, furnished with heavy velvet drapes, large sofas with comfortable looking cushions, side tables and cupboards on which stood expensive looking items.

"Oh dear" muttered Kordette again.

"Well" said the girl in a kindly sounding voice "who do we have here?" Klaude

"We are not dogs, we are Pulis" Kloe said in disgust.

"But you still have four legs and a tail" pointed out the girl "Father will not be happy to find you here."

"The bone" cried Kordette "I must have dropped it. We cannot return with out it! What are we going to do!"

At once they all started looking about the large room.

"Hurry" urged The Princess, but it was of no use, the bone had disappeared from sight.

"Father will be here soon" insisted the girl, "I will have to hide you, follow me quickly" As they left the room by one door, they her someone enter by another, heavy foot steps were heard crossing the room.

Time passed by without The Princess returning and all The Mops were getting very worried, Kordette was extremely upset.

"We will miss going on stage with The Sister" she cried. Kloe tried to sooth her daughter whilst Klaude and Korde discussed trying to find their way back through the castle to look for the bone. Then with little warning the door of the room opened and The Princess ran in, "I have found your bone" she whispered urgently, outside in the corridors loud footsteps could be heard coming from that direction.

"Father thinks I am playing hide and seek, I must go or he will come in here. You must go now. You do know how to use the bone don’t you?"

"Oh yes" said Kordette "We know! We know!" She grabbed the bone, thanking The Princess as she did so and wishing as hard as she could they were back at school.

There was a big bang, followed by a huge amount of clapping, and Kordette heard The Sister say "Oh there you are a last! What an entry!" The audience was enthralled by the sudden and delightful arrival of the Pulis, it certainly made a wonderful finale to the concert seeing them pull the small carriage across the stage. The performance came to a close with tremendous applause from amore than appreciative audience, and at the party held afterwards more than one person was heard to ask "how did the Pulis arrive like magic on stage?"

Mr and Mrs Owner knowing all about the magic bone and remembering only too well the day Korde and Kordette had turned up unexpectedly at their holiday hotel, kept silent about the whole thing and tried to look as surprised at the trick as everyone else.

The Sister though seemed to know, quite how The Mops had know idea, but said Klaude as they settled down on their warm duvets later that night "I do think The Princess looked very much like Mrs Owner’s sister.

The Mops of Puli Manor Stories

by Susan Hopgood

(c) Sue Hopgood

(c) www.puli-information.com

All rights reserved