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The Magic Room
By Sue Clarke
Poppy is spending the summer with her aunt Bella. Aunt Bella is out and Poppy is exploring the big, old house. She's found a staircase at the end of a corridor, which has taken her to a magic room, with walls that change colour, moving furniture, and a table with delicious food. Suddenly, a boy appears. Who is he?
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"Hi," he said. "I am the genie of the lamp. Who are you?"
"I'm Poppy," she replied, "but you don't look like a genie."

The boy stood there in front of her. He was wearing a designer T-shirt and jeans, very expensive trainers, and a baseball cap on his head.
'"No," he said, "I suppose I don't. I got bored with all that red and gold stuff, and after two thousand years my clothes were really old, so I got some new ones."

"How do I know you are a real genie?" said Poppy.
The boy looked at her. He muttered a kind of spell.
"Hocuspocusinversus"
And then suddenly Poppy was in the air. She flew very fast around the room and then she stood on the ceiling.
"Okay! I believe you," she shouted. "Get me down!"

Poppy floated down to the floor and landed softly.
"So, what's your problem? How many wishes do you want?"
"Me?'" said Poppy. "I haven't got any problems!" But her face was red.

Then she sat on the floating sofa and told the cool genie how lonely she was. She told him about the rain, and feeling sad. She told him about having no friends. The cool genie just nodded his head. Sometimes he muttered some strange words - like 'Solusincanta' - but mostly he just listened. When Poppy finished her story she felt better.

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