Garden of Empress Cassia by Gabrielle Wang

homework to do.’ Her mum didn’t look up, just waved as Gemma went past.
    Mimi came rushing out of the kitchen at the sound of Peppy’s frantic barking. He never barked in the clinic. Something was terribly wrong. She put down the tray of drinks and raced up to her room.
Please no, not the pastels,
she prayed. But when she saw the silk scarf lying on the floor where Gemma had thrown it, she felt as though her soul had been stolen as well.
    Maybe it’s not too late,
she thought frantically.
    Mimi flew down the stairs two at a time, then out the door and down the street towards Gemma’s place. Peppy ran along beside her. All the way she practised her tough sounding voice –
GIVE THEM BACK GEMMA. I KNOW YOU TOOK THEM. I WANT THEM NOW.
    She came to a house with a neat path bordered with white roses. Taking a deep breath, Mimi pressed the security buzzer on the wall. She waited.
    â€˜Who is it?’ came Gemma’s voice.
    â€˜You know perfectly well who it is, Gemma,
give the pastels back!
’
    â€˜Is that you, Mimi? Sorry I couldn’t hang around for morning tea but I remembered I had some homework to finish,’ Gemma said innocently.
    â€˜Give them back or I’ll tell.’
    â€˜Look, Mimi, I have no idea what you’re on about.’
    In desperation, Mimi changed her tone. ‘Please Gemma, Miss O’Dell says they’re really dangerous, so did Old Ma. Don’t you see? You can’t use them. You mustn’t use them!’
    â€˜I don’t know what you’re talking about. Have to go now. Seeya.’ The speaker went dead.
    As Mimi walked home, she felt as though all her bones had splintered and her muscles had turned to jelly. How was she going to tell Miss O’Dell? Old Ma was wrong. She didn’t deserve the pastels. She couldn’t even look after them properly.
    Mimi looked up at the sky swollen with sombre grey clouds. A flash of lightning. The crack of thunder. Wind lashed the electric power lines, playing them like a guitar. Then, as though the whole force of nature was punishing her, the rain came. Each drop like a silver bullet biting into her skin.

Helplessly, Mimi watched through the shop window as the garden slowly dissolved.
    The Lake of Secret Dreams, the Pavilion of the Mysterious Way, the Dragon Wall, all became rivulets of murky colour that slipped over the curb and into the storm water drains that criss-crossed beneath the city. The pastels were lost and now too was the garden. And the rain did not let up until Mimi had cried herself dry.
    Josh waved at her through the window, then entered the shop. ‘Hiya, M, I’m starved. Is your mum serving dumplings today?’
    Mimi turned to face him.
    â€˜Hey, what’s wrong?’ he asked.
    â€˜Something terrible’s happened.’
    â€˜What is it, M?’
    Mimi took a deep breath, then, like a dam wall bursting, she told Josh about Miss O’Dell’s gift, the curse of the pastels, her meeting with Old Ma, the story of Empress Cassia and the healing power of the garden.
    Josh stood listening in disbelief.
    â€˜Wow! That’s amazing,’ he said when she had finished.
    â€˜But now,’ said Mimi. ‘Gemma has stolen the pastels.’
    â€˜What? How did it happen?’
    â€˜She came to see me and stupidly I left her alone in my bedroom.’
    â€˜It’ll be okay, M. Don’t worry. She’ll get the guilts and give them back.’
    â€˜No, not Gemma. I’m really scared for her. Miss O’Dell and Old Ma said the pastels can be dangerous.’ Mimi buried her head in her hands.
    â€˜Did they tell you anything about the curse?’ asked Josh.
    â€˜No. I never asked. What am I going to do?’
    Josh stood up. ‘I’ll go over to Gemma’s right now and get them back,’ he said with determination.
    â€˜It’s no use. I tried that already.’ Mimi’s voice was tired and lifeless.
    â€˜What