Enid Blyton - Five Have a Wonderful Time

I do think its mean, said George, fiercely. Why cant I go when the others do? Ive had two weeks at home, and havent seen the others since school broke up. And now theyre off for a wonderful fortnight and Im not with them.

Dont be silly, George, said her mother. You can go as soon as that cold of yours is better.

Its better now, said George, scowling. Mother, you know it is!

Thats enough, Georgina, said her father, looking up from his newspaper. This is the third breakfast-time weve had this argument. Be quiet.

George would never answer anyone when she was called Georginaso, much as she would have liked to say something back, she pursed up her mouth and looked away.

Her mother laughed. Oh, George, dear! Dont look so terribly fierce. It was your own fault you got this coldyou would go and bathe and stay in far too longand after all, its only the third week in April!

I always bathe in April, said George, sulkily.

I said BE QUIET, said her father, banging down his paper on the table. One more word from you, George, and you wont go to your three cousins at all.

Woof, said Timmy, from under the table. He didnt like it when anyone spoke angrily to George.

And dont you start arguing with me, either, said Georges father, poking Timmy with his toe, and scowling exactly like George.

His wife laughed again. Oh, be quiet, the two of you, she said George, be patient dear. Ill let you go off to your cousins as soon as ever I cantomorrow, if youre good, and dont cough much today.

Oh, Motherwhy didnt you say so before? said George, her scowl disappearing like magic. I didnt cough once in the night. Im perfectly all right today. Oh, if I can go off to Faynights Castle tomorrow, I promise I wont cough once today!

Whats this about Faynights Castle? demanded her father, looking up again. First Ive heard of it!

Oh no, Quentin dear, Ive told you at least three times, said his wife. Julian, Dick and Anne have been lent two funny old caravans by a school friend. They are in a field near Faynights Castle.

Oh. So theyre not staying in a castle, then, said Georges father. Cant have that. I wont have George coming home all high and mighty.

George couldnt possibly be high and mighty, said his wife. Its as much as I can do to get her to keep her nails clean and wear clean shorts. Do be sensible, Quentin. You know perfectly well that George and her cousins always like to go off on extraordinary holidays together.

And have adventures, grinned George, who was now in a very good temper indeed at the thought of going to join her cousins the next day.

No. Youre not to have any of those awful adventures this time, said her mother. Anyway, I dont see how you can, staying in a peaceful place like the village of Faynights Castle, living in a couple of old caravans.

I wouldnt trust George anywhere, said her husband. Give her just a sniff of an adventure, and shes after it. I never knew anyone like George. Thank goodness weve only got one child. I dont feel as if I could cope with two or three Georges.

There are plenty of people like George, said his wife. Julian and Dick for instance. Always in the middle of something or otherwith Anne tagging behind, longing for a peaceful life.

Well, Ive had enough of this argument, said Georges father, pushing his chair out vigorously, and accidentally kicking Timmy under the table. He yelped.

That dogs got no brains, said the impatient man. Lies under the table at every meal and expects me to remember hes there! Well, Im going to do some work.

He went out of the room. The dining-room door banged. Then the study door banged. Then a window was shut with a bang. A fire was poked very vigorously. There was the creak of an armchair as someone sat down in it heavily. Then there was silence.

Now your fathers lost to the world till lunchtime, said Georges mother. Dear, oh dearIve told him at least three times about Faynights Castle, where your cousins are staying, bless him. Now, George, I do really think you can go tomorrow, dearyou look so much better today. You can get your things ready and Ill pack them this afternoon.

Thank you, Mother, said George, giving her a sudden hug. Anyway, Father will be glad to have me out of the house for a bit! Im too noisy for him!

Youre a pair! said her mother, remembering the slammed doors and other things. Youre both a perfect nuisance at times, but I couldnt bear to do without you! Oh, Timmy, are you still under the table? I wish you wouldnt leave your tail about so! Did I hurt you?

Oh, he doesnt mind you treading on it, Mother, said George, generously. Im going to get my things ready this very minute. How do I get to Faynights Castle? By train?

Yes. Ill take you to Kirrin Station, and you can catch the ten-forty, said her mother. You change at Limming Ho, and take the train that goes to Faynights. If you send a card to Julian, hell get it tomorrow morning and will meet you.

Ill write it now, said George, happily. Oh, Mother, I began to be afraid this awful cold would hang on all through the holidays! I shant bathe again on such a cold day in April.

You said that last yearand the year before that too, said her mother. You have a very short memory, George!

Come on, Timmy! said George, and the two of them went out of the door like a whirlwind. It slammed behind them, and the house shook.

At once the study door opened and an angry voice yelled loudly. Whos that slamming doors when Im at work? Cant ANYBODY in this house shut a door quietly?

George grinned as she fled upstairs. The biggest slammer-of-doors was her father, but he only heard the slams made by other people. George turned her writing-case inside out to find a post-card. She must post it at once or Julian wouldnt get itand it would be so nice to have all her three cousins meeting her!

Were off tomorrow, she told Timmy, who looked up at her and wagged his tail vigorously. Yes, youre coming too, of coursethen the Five will all be together again. The Famous Five! Youll like that, wont you, Tim? So shall I!

She scribbled the post-card and flew down to post it. Slam went the front door, and her father almost jumped out of his skin. He was a very clever and hard-working scientist, impatient, hot-tempered, kindly and very forgetful. How he wished his daughter was not so exactly like him, but was like his quiet, gentle little niece Anne!

George posted the card. It was short and to the point.

Cold gone. Coming tomorrow. Arriving 12.05 so make sure you all meet me and Timmy. Our tails are well up, I can tell you!

GEORGE.

George turned out her drawers and began to pick out the things she wanted to take with her. Her mother came to help. There was always an argument about packing, because George wanted to take as little as possible, and no warm things at all, and her mother had exactly opposite ideas.

However, between the two of them they managed to pack the suit-case full of quite sensible things. George refused as usual to take a dress of any sort.

I wonder when youll grow out of wanting to be a boy, and of acting like one! said her mother, exasperated.

All right, all righttake those awful old shorts if you want to, and that red jersey. But you are to pack those warm vests. I put them in once, and you took them out. And you must take a warm rug, Julian says. The caravans are not very warm this weather.

I wonder what theyre like, said George, stuffing the vests in. Theyre funny, old-fashioned ones, Julian said in his letter. Perhaps theyre like the gypsies havenot the modern, stream-lined ones that are pulled along by cars.