The Big Heavy Vase and the Old Carpet Sweeper had been left behind in the cupboard under the stairs in Ellie's new house. Lots of new things had moved in, but none of them wanted to have fun.
The Big Heavy Vase was at the back, and couldn't see anything. The Old Carpet Sweeper found himself near the brash New Vacuum Cleaner. "Hey, you're a bit battered," he said. He was very tactless.
"Well, I do lots of little jobs," the Old Carpet Sweeper said, "the ones that only take a minute."
"And what do you do?" he asked the Big Heavy Vase.
"I go out when Mrs Perkins has some tall flowers," she said with pride, "because I am the only vase for tall flowers."
" But Mrs Perkins has moved," the New Vacuum Cleaner said. "Ellie's family lives here now."
"Just ignore him, " the Old Carpet Sweeper whispered. "He thinks he knows about everything."
"I know," the Big Heavy Vase said with a sigh. "I just wish it wasn't so crowded in here with all the new things. And the cobwebs!" She gave a big deep cough.
"There's more than we need," the Old Carpet Sweeper said. He looked at the brushes, and the box of dusters and polish, the electric fan and the folding airer. And the cobwebs. Then there were the candles and the torch on the shelf, and the old coats and shopping bags and coats on the hooks. "Much more than we need." He sighed, and coughed.
"Yes, life's just not the same any more," the Big Heavy Vase said. "I just wish Mrs Perkins would come back."
The following day it rained. "Where's my ladybird umbrella?" Ellie asked.
"In the cupboard under the stairs," Mummy called from the kitchen. "Under the other things."
So Ellie opened the cupboard and started pulling things out to see if she could find her umbrella. She moved out the brushes and the box and the electric fan.
"Ooh...look at this, Mummy," she exclaimed when she pulled out the Old Carpet Sweeper.
Mummy came through from the kitchen.
"Look, it's easy!" Ellie said. "It picks up all the little bits. Whee...." And Ellie ran up and down the hall with the Old Carpet Sweeper.
"Yes, it's very useful," Mummy said, "but you're looking for your umbrella."
Ellie managed to move out the New Vacuum Cleaner, and then she climbed inside the sloping cupboard. She had forgotten about her ladybird umbrella.
"Mummy!" she called again. "Have you seen this vase?"
"What vase?" Mummy asked, putting her head into the cupboard.
"The Big Heavy Vase! It's all purple!"
Ellie kneeled down and pulled the vase towards herself. It was very dusty. She edged it slowly and carefully across the floor, and then Mummy bent down and lifted it out of the cupboard.
"Yes, it's beautiful," Mummy said, sitting back on her heels. "Much too nice to keep in the back of a cupboard."
"Oh, Mummy, can we keep it out?" Ellie pleaded.
"Yes, I think so," Mummy said. "I'll clean it up and then it can stand in the hall near the front door." She got up. "Now, what about your umbrella?"
"I still can't find it."
"Have you looked on the hooks?"
"Oh," said Ellie, "I thought it was under something."
"It is, silly. It's under your old mac." Mummy got the umbrella out for Ellie.
"I know," said Ellie. "Let's keep it in the Big Heavy Vase, then I'll always know where it is."
So now the Big Heavy Vase lives in the hall near the front door. Ellie keeps her umbrella there, and so does Mummy, and so do all their visitors.
"We're having lots of fun now," the Big Heavy Vase said in her jolly voice the next time she saw the Old Carpet Sweeper. "And I don't miss the tall flowers at all." She chuckled.
"You look very nice there," the Old Carpet Sweeper said. He was picking up bits from the carpet with a Whee...! "And I've got a new lease of life," he added breathlessly as he dashed down the hall with Ellie.
THE END
Have you found Herbert in the pictures?
He's not so shy when he is in a dark cupboard.
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