" I won't hurt you, please don't run away," said Emily, trying to sound as earnest as possible. The woman continued to dart looks left and right, as if expecting a hole to appear and swallow her up. Emily tried another tack.

" My names Emily, what were you doing in my room ?"

" I...." she appeared to swallow and start again, " I got separated from my friends when we were chased by a dog. I came in the vent to hide,"

" I bet that was Sparky from next door, he's always chasing our cat over the fence, he didn't capture any of you, did he ?"

" I don't know, I didn't see, I was too busy getting away myself." Emily saw the woman rub her arms as if to keep warm.

" Are you cold ? I have some doll clothes here that you should fit, would you like to try them on ?"

Valerie nodded her head slightly, not entirely sure if she could trust this Giant girl. Emily just grinned broadly and before Valerie could voice a protest, scooped the woman up into her hands and carried her over to the desk. Putting her down on the surface, Emily rushed over to a dolls house sitting in the corner and pulled out a cardboard box. Bringing it over she proceeded to pull out various doll outfits, muttering to herself as she scrabbled around inside.

" I'm sure I had a Polly Parka coat here," Emily said, pushing stuff to one side while Valerie looked on cautiously.

With a cry of triumph, Emily pulled out a lurid pink, fur trimmed jacket, and handed it to the astonished Valerie.

" Thank you...I think. It's certainly about my size, not entirely sure the colour goes with my hair, but what the heck !" said Valerie, giving the girl a wide smile as she pushed her arms into the jacket and pulled it together at the front.

Emily grinned back and watched as Valerie twirled around to show off the fur-trimmed hood. A sound outside her door made Emily gasp, quickly starting to put the clothes and shoes back into the box as a knock sounded on her door.

" Are you okay Emily ? Hows the homework coming ?" asked her Dad. Valerie darted behind a stack of books, crouching down to make herself as small as possible. Emily shoved the box of dolls clothes under her desk just as the door opened and her father walked in.

" Nearly done Dad, only one more page to do," said Emily, smiling brightly up at her father.

" That's great, anything I can help you with ?" he persisted, casting an eye over the books spread over the desk.

" Oh no....I can manage," said Emily airily, keeping herself between Valerie and her parent.

" Well then, I'm off to watch the news, they said in the bulletin that there have been more sightings of the Little People in our area, and that there's a huge reward for them. Wouldn't it be great if we caught one of them ?"

Emily gulped nervously and raised a sickly grin in reply.

" Yeah, it would, I'll be out in a sec to watch it myself,"

" Okay, well ,see you soon." and her father left, one hand raised in farewell.

Emily sank down into her chair, her long held breath whooshing out in relief. She quickly sat up and looked for Valerie behind the books.

" I won't hand you in, I promise," Emily stated, crossing her heart as a sign of good faith.

" Thank you Emily, I appreciate that."

" Do you have to go ?"

" I really should, my friends will be looking for me and worried, but I'd love to keep the coat, if you don't mind ?"

" Will you come back and visit, sometime ?"

" Now I know you live here, I just might. Maybe we can find an outfit to go with this coat ?" quiped Valerie, giving the girl a broad smile.

" Okay, I'll see what I can find. You never did tell me your name ?"

" It's Valerie."

" That's a nice name, I don't think I know anyone with that name....not like mine, there's heaps of girls that have mine, atleast three in my class alone,"

" Emily....I really need to find my friends." Valerie reminded her.

" Oh sure, hang on I'll lift you down to the floor,"

Very carefully, Emily picked up Valerie and carried her over to the floor vent, putting the tiny woman down as if she were made of porcelain.

" Thank you Emily.....I'm glad we met, its nice to know that not all Giants are our enemies," and so saying, Valerie climbed through the grate and disappeared, with a final wave, into the gloom of the vent.

Emily watched her go, then turned back and seated herself at the desk, staring blankly as the book open in front of her.

" I can hardly believe that actually happened, oh boy."

She continued to stare off into space for nearly five minutes until a call from her mother snapped her out of her dream and she shut the books with a crash.

Running down the passageway towards the living room, Emily heard the news broadcaster talking about the Little People and how dangerous they were.

" Just goes to show how much you know !" muttered Emily, a secret smile crossing her face as she entered the kitchen and greeted her mother.