GOOD OLD SECRET SEVEN by Enid Blyton

02 THAT AWFUL SUSIE!

A fist banged on the door, and Peter called out at once. 'Password, please.'

'Wuff-wuff!' said a voice, rather loudly.

'Enter,' said Peter, 'and do remember not to say the password so that everyone can hear it for a milearound!'

'Sorry!' said George, coming in at the door, a grin on his face. 'Did I sound like Scamper? I tried to.'

'Well, you didn't,' said Janet. 'You sounded exactly like yourself. Sit down, George. We thought you were Jack. He said he'd be here early, because he has something to show us.'

Knock-knock , somebody else had come.

'Password!' yelled Peter, and the answer cameat once.

'Wuff-wuff! Wuff-wuff!'  In came Pam and Barbara, beaming all over theirfaces. 'Hallo! We're not the last. Good!'

Bang-bang!

'That must be Jack,' said Janet, asPeter called out 'Password, please!' But it wasn't. It was Colin. He marched inand shut the door smartly. 'Hallo, everyone! I say, it's nice and warm in here!What's the meeting called for? Anything special?'

'Yes,' said Peter. 'Jack asked me to call it. He has something jollyinteresting to show us. I can't think why he's not here. It's past ten, and hesaid he'd be early.'

'I bet it's that awful sister of his who'sstopping him coming,' said Pam.

'But how could she know about our meeting?' saidPeter. 'Jack wouldn't tell her, I'm sure.'

 'Here's Jack,' said Barbara, as more footstepscame down the path to the shed. Someone gave the door such a bang that they alljumped. Before Peter could call out 'Password' a voice shouted it loudly.'wuff-wuff'.

'Enter!' cried Peter, sure it was Jack's voice.

The door flew open - and there stood Susie, Jack's sister! She grinned round at them. 'Thanks for inviting me to your meeting,' shesaid, and shut the door behind her. She sat down on a box before anyone couldstop her.

'Susie! How dare you!' shouted Peter and Janettogether.

Peter threw the door open. 'Go away!' he said. 'You know you've noright here. You don't belong to the Secret Seven.'

'Well, you'd better let me belong then,' saidSusie. 'Because my mother says that the present Jack had from our Uncle Bob isto be shared between us! And as he's bringing it here to show you today, I'vecome to share it too.'

Someone else came down the path, carrying somethingover his shoulder - something long and straight. There was a loudknock on the door, and the password was said very clearly. 'Wuff-wuff,' said Jack's voice. It was exactlylike Susie's, so no wonder everyone had thought she was Jack!

'Enter!' called Peter. Jack came in, carrying hisload carefully. He glared angrily at Susie.

'How did she know our password, Jack?' askedPeter, sternly. 'Did you tell her?'

'No,he didn't. I just hid in a bush outside and listened,' said Susie. 'You needn'tglare at me like that, Jack. Mother said I could share that present, you knowshe did.'

'Can't we turn her out?' said Pam, who didn't likeSusie at all. 'She always tries to spoil everything!'

'You just try to turn me out!' said Susie, fiercely.'I don't want to come to your silly old meetings ; but I tell you, I'm going to share Jack's present as much as any of youare.'

Peter looked at her in despair. What could you dowith a girl like Susie? If they tried to turn her out she would probably shoutand yell, and bring his mother down to see what was the matter ; and Mother might even agree that Susie should stay and hear what Jacksaid about his present.

'TomorrowBinkie, my friend, is coming to stay with me,' said Susie. 'And I've said shecan share the present too ; myhalf of it, I mean.'

'Binkie ; thatawful little rabbit-face?' said George, in horror. 'That silly giggler , that..."

Everyone groaned. Susie alone was bad enough, butwhen she and Binkie were together the two girls were impossible.

'Well , whatare you going to do?' asked Susie. 'All rush on me together and throw me out?Or let me stay here at the meeting?'

Peter made up his mind quickly. On no accountcould Susie attend one of the Secret Seven meetings. On the other hand theycouldn't throw her out. She would make such a fuss! Very well then ; he must declare the meeting ended, and say that there would be noproper meeting, but just a talk about Jack's present, whatever it was. 'I declare this Secret Seven meeting ended,' hesaid, in a loud voice. 'We will all go indoors and see Jack's present in ourplayroom, I will not have strangers present at our secret meetings.' He got up,and all the others stood too -except Susie."

'All right, all right ; you win,' she said. 'Your mother would be cross with me, I know, if Igo indoors with you. She'll think I've interfered. But just you listen for aminute, and hear my side of the question!'