Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

Author:Lauren Child
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

SIX

Merrily on High

At breakfast it is just me and grandad listening to the Christmas radio songs, eating our Sugar Puffs. I’m not sure where everyone else has gone but it is very quiet except for the tree branch outside, which keeps tapping at the window.

Grandad says he’s had an idea.

He says,

‘I asked Peggy about it and she said

she thought it was a good one.’

And I wait for him to tell me what the idea is.

Grandad says, ‘I ALWAYS trust Peggy.

She always knows what’s right,’

and then he starts talking about something else Peggy once said when he lost his keys in the park.

It is quite a long story, which is rambling on

and making me fidget.

So I say, ‘Grandad, WHAT is your idea that

Peggy agrees is a good one?’

He says,

‘Help walk the dogs.’

I am not sure what he is talking about but then Mum comes out of the larder and says,

‘He means Karl’s dogs

and Karl’s mother’s dogs –

if you help walk them,

then Karl can earn his Christmas money

and Mrs Wrenbury can stay home

with Karl’s brother and this can be

your Christmas present to Karl.’

I say, ‘But two of us isn’t enough,’

and Grandad says,

‘But me and Peggy will help

and together we would be able to manage

his two dog customers as well as

his mother’s five dog customers

and Cement.’

It is a very remarkable idea and I agree with it.

So Grandad calls Karl’s mum and she says,

‘Yes, that will really cheer him up.’

Then she says, ‘And, you know what,

I would love to stay home with Alf

and watch the Muppets.’

And so me and Grandad and Cement walk over the hill to the block of flats where Karl lives.

We can see Karl and his mum waving to us from the second-floor balcony. Alf is waving next to her in a bobble hat and a far-too-big coat.

Karl’s mum calls down,

‘Karl knows where to pick up

the dogs so he will lead the way.’

Grandad calls back, ‘Righto.’

Karl’s mum calls out,

‘I can’t tell you what this means to Karl.’

Karl makes a stupid face at his mum and Karl’s mum pulls his hat down over his eyes.

And she calls out,

‘Thanks so much!’

and Alf calls out, ‘Thanks so much.’

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