The Naughtiest Girl Collection 1: Books 1-3 by Enid Blyton

Author:Enid Blyton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, General, Social Themes, Classics, Friendship, School & Education
ISBN: 9781444932409
Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
Published: 2015-12-17T11:05:32.133000+00:00

15 Kathleen owns up

Everybody was disappointed that the match was off, especially the players themselves.

The rain poured down all the afternoon. Mr Johns and Miss Ranger got some games going in the gym, and the visitors enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

Joan was sorry for Elizabeth’s disappointment. She slipped her arm through her friend’s. ‘Elizabeth, never mind! There’s another match next Saturday. Maybe you’ll be able to play in that instead.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Elizabeth. ‘But it really is bad luck that it rained today. I’ve been practising so hard, and really I’m getting quite good at catching the ball and shooting at goal!’

‘I guess Robert was pleased that it rained so that you couldn’t play,’ said Joan.

‘Well, Joan, that’s the funny part – he was there to watch – and when it rained and we all went off the field, he came up and said it was bad luck and he was sorry,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I really was surprised. And somehow I felt rather mean.’

‘Wait till he plays a few more tricks, then you won’t feel so mean!’ said Joan.

But no more tricks were played. Kathleen hadn’t the heart to think of any more. She had seen somebody else publicly punished for her own wrong-doing, and she was beginning to despise herself. She hated Jenny and Elizabeth, but it was a miserable sort of feeling now, not a fierce red-hot feeling.

‘I’m a dreadful person!’ thought Kathleen in despair. ‘I’m plain and spotty and pale. I’m dull and slow, and now I’m mean and deceitful and cowardly! That’s the worst of beginning to do horrid things – they make you feel horrid yourself, and then you can’t ever be happy any more. I’m not fit to be at a school like Whyteleafe, where the children are happy and jolly – and where even a boy like Robert, who’s been hateful to others, can turn over a new leaf and begin again!’

Poor Kathleen! It had seemed such fun, and so clever, at first, to think out nasty little tricks to get Jenny and Elizabeth into trouble – but now that she had found that mean ways make a mean person, she hated herself.

‘And it’s much worse to hate yourself than it is to hate somebody else,’ thought Kathleen. ‘Because you can never get away from yourself. I wish I was a happy honest sort of person like Nora or John.’

Kathleen was really unhappy. She went about looking so miserable that the girls felt sorry for her.

‘Don’t you feel well?’ asked Elizabeth.

‘I’m all right,’ said Kathleen, and walked off with her head drooping like a sad little dog.

‘What’s up, Kathleen? For goodness’ sake, smile a bit!’ cried Belinda. ‘You’re enough to turn the milk sour! Have you had bad news from home, or something?’

‘No,’ said Kathleen. ‘I just don’t feel like smiling, that’s all. Leave me alone.’

Her work was so bad that Miss Ranger began to be worried. What in the world could be the matter with the girl? She looked as if she was worrying about something. Miss Ranger managed to get Kathleen alone for a few minutes, and spoke to her gently.

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