Enid Blyton - Five Are Together Again

George, cant you sit still for even a minute! said Julian. Its bad enough to have the train rocking about all over the place, without you falling over my feet all the time, going to look out of first one window and then the other.

Well, were nearly at Kirrinalmost home! said George. I cant help feeling excited. Ive missed old Timmy so much this term, and I just cant wait to see him! I love to look out of the window and see how much nearer we are to Kirrin. Do you think Timmy will be on the station to meet us, barking madly?

Dont be an ass, said Dick. Hes a clever dog, but not clever enough to read railway time-tables.

He doesnt need to, said George. He always knows when Im coming home.

I really believe he does, said Anne, seriously. Your mother always says how excited he is on the day you are arriving home from schoolcant keep stillkeeps going to the front gate and looking down the road.

Dear, dear Timmy! said George, falling over Julians feet again, as she scrambled once more to the window. Were nearly there. Look, theres the signal-box, and the signal is down. HURRAH!

Her three cousins looked at her in amusement. George was always like this on the way home from school. Her thoughts were full of very little else but her beloved Timmy all the way home. Julian thought how much she looked like a restless boy just then, with her short, curly hair, and her determined expression. George had always longed to be a boy, but as she wasnt, she made up for it by trying to speak and act like one, and would never answer to her full name of Georgina.

Were coming into Kirrin station! yelled George, almost falling out of the window. I can see our porter. Hey, Peterswere back again. WERE BACK AGAIN!

The train slid into Kirrin station, and Peters waved and grinned. He had known George since she was a baby. George opened the door and leapt out of the carriage.

Home again! Back at Kirrin! Oh, I do hope Timmy will be at the station! she said.

But there was no Timmy there. He must have forgotten you were coming, said Dick, with a grin, and at once got a scowl from George. Peters came up, smiling all over his face, and gave them his usual welcome. Everyone in Kirrin Village knew the Fivewhich, of course, included Timmy the dog.

Peters soon had the childrens luggage out, and wheeled it down the platform on his trolley. Ill send it along to Kirrin Cottage as soon as the van comes, he said. Had a good term?

Smashing! said Dick. But it seemed very long, as Easter is so late this year. My wordlook at the primroses on the railway banks.

But George had no eyes for anything just then. She was still looking out for Timmy. Where was he? WHY hadnt he come to the station to meet them? He came last time and the time before! She turned a troubled face to Dick.

Do you think hes ill? she asked. Or has he forgotten me? Or

Oh, dont be an ass, George, said Dick. He is probably in the house somewhere and cant get out. Look outthe trolley nearly ran you over then.

George skipped out of the way, glaring. WHERE was Timmy? She was sure he was illor had had an accidentor was tied up and couldnt get away. Perhaps Joan, the cook, had forgotten to let him loose.

Im going to take a taxi home, if Ive enough money, she said, taking out her purse. You others can walk. I must see if anythings happened to Timmyhes never missed meeting our train before.

But George, its such a lovely walk to Kirrin Cottage! said Anne. You know how you love to see your islanddear old Kirrin Islandas we walk to your mothers houseand the bayand hear the waves crashing on the rocks.

Im taking the station taxi, said George, obstinately, counting the money in her purse. If youd like to come with me, you can. Its Timmy I want to see, not islands and waves and things! Im sure hes ill or has had an accident or something!

All right, George, do as you please, said Julian. Hope you find dear old Timmy is perfectly welland has only forgotten the time of the train. See you later.

The two brothers, and their sister Anne, set off together, looking forward to the walk to Kirrin Cottage. How lovely to see Kirrin Bay again, and Georges island!

Isnt she lucky to have a real island of her very own! said Anne. Fancy it belonging to her family for years and yearsand then one day her mother suddenly gives it to George! I bet she worried and worried dear Aunt Fanny until she gave in to old George. I do so hope Timmy is all right; we shant enjoy our holidays with Georges mother if theres anything wrong with Timmy.

Oh, George will probably go and live in Timmys kennel with him, said Dick, with a chuckle. Halook! The seaand Kirrin BayAND the little old island as lovely as ever!

With its gulls circling round, and mewing like cats, said Julian. And the old ruined castle there, just exactly the same as usual. Not a single stone fallen out of it, as far as I can see.

You cant possibly see that at this distance, said Anne, screwing up her eyes. Oh, isnt the first day of the hols heavenly? We seem to have all the time in the world in front of us!

Yes. And then, alas, after a few days, the holidays rush by, said Julian. I wonder if George is home by now.

Well, her taxi passed us going at a tremendous pace! said Dick. I bet old George was shouting at the driver to go as fast as possible!

Looktheres Kirrin CottageI can just see the chimneys in the distance, said Dick. Smoke is coming from one of them.

Funnywhy only one? said Julian. They usually have the kitchen fire going, and a fire in Uncle Quentins study. Hes such a cold mortal when hes working out all his wonderful figures for his inventions.

Perhaps hes away, said Anne, hopefully. She was rather afraid of Georges hasty-tempered father. I should think Uncle Quentin could do with a holiday at timeshes always buried in rows and rows of figures.

Well, lets hope we dont disturb him too much, said Julian. Its hard on Aunt Fanny if he keeps yelling at everyone. Well try and be out of doors most of the time.

They were nearly at Kirrin Cottage now. As they came near to the front gate, they saw George come running down the garden-path. To Julians horror, she was crying bitterly.

I sayit does look as if something has happened to old Timmy, he said, scared. Its not like George to cryshe never cries! What can have happened?

In great alarm they began to run, and Anne shouted as she ran, George! George, whats the matter? Is something wrong with Timmy? Whats happened?

We cant stay at home, wept George. Weve got to go away somewhere. Something awfuls happened!

What is it? Tell us, you idiot! said Dick, in alarm. For goodness sake, whats happened? Is Timmy run over, or something?

Noit isnt Timmy, said George, wiping her eyes with her hand, because, as usual, she had no handkerchief. Its JoanJoan, our dear, darling cook!

Whats the matter with her? asked Julian, thinking of all kinds of dreadful things. GEORGE, will you please TELL US!

Joans got scarlet fever, said George, sniffing dolefully. So we cant be at Kirrin Cottage.

Why not? demanded Dick. Joan will have to go to a fever hospitaland we can all stay at Kirrin Cottage and help your mother. Poor old Joan! But cheer up, George, scarlet fever isnt much of a thing to have nowadays. Come onlets go in and see if we can comfort your mother. Poor old Aunt Fanny, she will be in a stewwith all of us four cousins at Kirrin Cottage too! Never mind, we can

Stop jabbering, Dick, said George, exasperated. We