Энид Блэйтон (Enid Blyton)Bets goes Shopping
Of all the miserable holidays these just about beat the lot! said Pip to Bets. Why you had to start us off on this awful flu I cant imagine!
Bets looked hurt. Well, I couldnt help it, she said. Someone gave it to me before I gave it to you others. It was jolly bad luck that it happened at Christmas.
Pip blew his nose violently. He was sitting up in bed, feeling decidedly better but very bad-tempered.
You get it as soon as the Christmas hols begin - and you get it lighter than anyone! Then you give it to Daisy, and she gives it to Larry, and they have it all through Christmas, poor things. And then I get it, and poor old Fatty. What a mess-up of the Christmas hols! Hardly any left of them now!
Pip sounded very cross indeed. Bets got up. All right. If youre going to be such a crosspatch I wont sit with you this morning. Ill go and see Fatty. I think youre very unkind, Pip, after all the games Ive played with you and the books Ive read you.
She was just stalking out with her head in the air, looking very high and mighty, when Pip called to her.
Hey, Bets - tell Fatty Im feeling better, and ask him to get on the track of some mystery AT ONCE, because I feel its just the kind of tonic I need. And weve only got about ten days of the hols left.
Bets grinned round at him. All right. Ill tell him. But Fatty cant just spin a mystery out of thin air, Pip. I think well have to go without one this hols.
Fatty can do anything, said Pip, with the utmost conviction. Ive been lying here for days, and most of the time Ive been remembering all the mysteries weve ever solved with old Fatty. Ive never had time to do so much thinking before. Old Fattys a wonder.
I knew that without having to do a lot of thinking, said Bets. All his disguises - and the way he works out the clues - and the tricks hes played on Mr. Goon.
Oh yes! said Pip, a broad smile on his pale face. I say - it makes me feel better even to think of all those fatheaded tricks of Fattys. For goodness sake tell Fatty to work up some mystery or other for us - itll do us all good. Give us some interest in life!
Im going, said Bets. Ill bring a mystery back for you if I can!