Enid Blyton - Five Have a Mystery to Solve

The nicest word in the English language is holidays! said Dick, helping himself to a large spoonful of marmalade. Pass the toast, Anne. Mother, do you feel down-hearted to have us all tearing about the place again?

Of course not, said his mother. The only thing that really worries me when holidays come, is FoodFood with a capital F. We never seem to have enough in the house when all three of you are back. And by the waydoes anyone know what has happened to the sausages that were in the larder?

Sausagessausageslet me think! said Julian, frowning. Anne gave a sudden giggle. She knew quite well what had happened.

Well, Motheryou said we could get our own meal last night, as you were out, said Julian. So we poked about and decided on sausages.

Yes, but Juliantwo whole pounds of sausages! said his mother. I know Georgina came over to spend the eveningbut even so !

She brought Timmy, said Anne. He rather likes sausages too, Mother.

Well, thats the last time I leave the larder door unlocked, when I go out! said her mother. Fancy cooking those lovely pork sausages for a dogespecially Timmy, with his enormous appetite! Really, Anne! I meant to have them for our lunch today.

Wellwe rather thought wed go and spend the day at Kirrin, with George and Timmy, said Dick. Thats if you dont want us for anything, Mother.

I do want you, said his mother. Mrs Layman is coming to tea, and she said she wants to see you about something.

The three groaned, and Dick protested at once. Oh Motherthe first day of the holidaysand we have to be in to tea! Its too bada glorious spring day like this too!

Ohwell be in to tea all right, said Julian, giving Dick a sharp little kick under the table, as he saw his mothers disappointed face. Mrs Laymans a nice old thingshe was always giving us little treats when we were little.

And she never forgets our birthdays, said Anne. Do you think we could ask George over toowith Timmy? George will be awfully disappointed if we arent with her the first day of the hols.

Yes, of course you can, said her mother. Go and ring her up now, and arrange it. And dont forget to put our old Tibby-cat into the shed, with a saucer of milk. Shes scared stiff of Timmyhes so enormous. And please, all of you, TRY to look clean at tea-time.

Ill see to Dick and Anne, said Julian, with a grin. I must remember to find their overalls!

Im going to phone George now, this very minute, said Anne, getting up from the table. Do you mind, Mother? Ive finishedand Id like to catch George before she takes Tim for a walk, or does some shopping for Aunt Fanny.

Uncle Quentin will be glad to be rid of George even for a meal, said Dick. He fell over her lacrosse stick yesterday, and wanted to know why she left her fishing net about! George didnt know what he was talking about!

Poor old Georgina, said his mother. Its a pity that both she and her father have exactly the same hot tempers. Her mother must find it difficult to keep the peace! Ahheres Anne back again. Did you get George on the phone, dear?

Yes. Shes thrilled, said Anne. She says its just as well were not going to spend the day with her, because Uncle Quentin has lost some papers he was working on, and hes turning the house upside down. George said she will probably be mad as a hatter by the time she arrives this afternoon! Uncle Quentin even made Aunt Fanny turn out her knitting bag to see if the papers were there!

Dear old Quentin, said her mother. Such a truly brilliant scientistremembers every book hes ever readevery paper hes ever writtenand has the finest brain I knowand yet loses some valuable paper or other almost every week!

He loses something else every day of the week too, said Dick, with a grin. His temper! Poor old Georgeshes always in some sort of trouble!

Well, anyway, shes jolly glad to be coming over here! said Anne. Shes biking over, with Timmy. Shell be here for lunch. Is that all right, Mother?

Of course! said her mother. Nowseeing that you had todays dinner for last nights supper, youd better do a little shopping for me. What shall we have?

SAUSAGES! said everyone, at once.

I should have thought you were quite literally fed up with sausages, after last nights feast, said their mother, laughing. All rightsausages. But Timmy can have a bonea nice meaty bone. I am NOT going to buy any more sausages for him, thats quite certain.

And shall we get some nice cakes for tea as Mrs Layman is coming? said Anne. Or are you going to make some, Mother?

Ill make a few buns, said her mother. And you can choose whatever else you likeso long as you dont buy up the shop!

The three went off shopping, cycling along the lane to the village. It was a truly lovely spring day. The celandines were golden in the ditches, and daisies were scattered everywhere. Dick burst into song as they went, and the cows in the nearby fields lifted their heads in surprise, as Dicks loud voice swept round them.

Anne laughed. It was good to be with her brothers again. She missed them very much when she was at school. And nowthey would have almost a whole month togetherwith their cousin George too. She was suddenly overwhelmed with joy, and lifted up her voice and joined Dick in his singing. Her brothers looked at her with affection and amusement.

Good old Anne, said Dick. Youre such a quiet little mouse, its nice to hear you singing so loudly.

I am NOT a quiet little mouse! said Anne, surprised and rather hurt. Whatever makes you say that? You just waityou may get a surprise one day!

Yeswe may! said Julian. But I doubt it. A mouse cant suddenly turn into a tiger! Anyway, one tigers enough. George is the tiger of our familymy word, she can put out her claws all rightand roarand ramp and rave!

Everyone laughed at the picture of George as a tiger. Dick wobbled as he laughed and his front wheel touched Annes back wheel. She turned round fiercely.

LOOK OUT, IDIOT! You nearly had me over! Cant you see where youre going? Be sensible, cant you?

Hey, Annewhatevers the matter? said Julian, amazed to hear his gentle little sister lashing out so suddenly.

Anne laughed. Its all right. I was just being a tiger for a momentputting out my claws! I thought Dick and you might like to see them!

Well, well! said Dick, riding beside her, Ive never heard you yell like that before. Surprisingbut quite pleasing! What about you showing old George your claws sometime when she gets out of hand?

Stop teasing, said Anne. Heres the butchers. For goodness sake go and get the sausages and be sensible. Ill go and buy the cakes.

The bakers shop was full of new-made buns and cakes, and smelt deliciously of home-made bread. Anne enjoyed herself choosing a vast selection. After all, she thought, there will be eight of uscounting Timmyand if were all hungry, cakes soon disappear.

The boys were very pleased to see all the paper bags.

Looks like a good tea today, said Dick. I hope the old ladywhats her name nowLaymanwhos coming to tea today, has a good appetite. I wonder what shes going to tell us about.

Did you buy a nice meaty bone for Timmy? asked Anne. Hell like that for his tea.

We bought such a beauty that Im pretty sure Mother will say its good enough to make soup from, said Dick, with a grin. So Ill keep it in my saddlebag till he comes. Dear old Tim. He deserves a jolly good bone. Best dog I ever knew!

Hes been on a lot of adventures with us, said Anne, bicycling beside the boys, as the road was empty. And he seemed to enjoy them all.