Mystery Penta

1-The Beginning of The Holidays

"I do love the beginning of the summer hols," said James." they seem to stretch for ages and ages

"They go nice and slowly at first", said Anne "then they start to gallop."

Everyone started to laugh because they knew exactly what Anne meant. "Squawk" said another voice as though someone else thoroughly agreed too.

'Fawkes thinks you're right, Anne,' said Robert, and patted the big golden Macaw standing beside them. Harry patted him, too, and Fawkes licked them both.

The four children were lying in a sunny garden in the first week of the holidays. Usually they went to their cousin Roberta's home for holidays, at Fiji — but this time, for a change, they were all at the home of James, Harry and Anne.

James was the oldest, a tall, sturdy boy with a strong and pleasant face. Harry and Roberta came next. Roberta looked more like a curly-headed boy than a girl, and she insisted on being called Robert. Even the teachers at school called her Robert. Anne was the youngest, though, much to her delight, she was really growing taller now.

'Daddy said this morning that if we didn't want to stay here all the hols we could choose what we wanted to do,' said Anne. 'I vote for staying here.'

'We could go off somewhere just for two weeks, perhaps,' said Harry. 'For a change.'

'Shall we go to Fiji, and stay with George's mother and father for a bit?' said Julian, thinking that perhaps George would like this.

'No,' said Robert at once. 'I went home at half-term, and Mother said Father was just beginning one of his experiments in something or other — and you know what that means. If we go there we'd have to walk about on tiptoe, and talk in whispers, and keep out of his way the whole time.'

'That's the worst of having a scientist for a father,' said Harry, lying down on his back and shutting his eyes. 'Well, your mother couldn't cope with us and with your father, too, in the middle of one of his experiments at the same time. Sparks would fly.'

'I like Uncle George, but I'm afraid of him when he's in one of his tempers,' said Anne. 'He shouts so.'

'It's decided that we won't go to Fiji, then,' said James, yawning. 'Not these hols, anyhow. You can always go and see Mother for a week or so, Robert, when you want to. What shall we do, then? Stay here all the time?'

They were now all lying down on their backs in the sun, their eyes shut. What a hot afternoon!

'Don't, Fawkes,' said Anne. 'You sound as if you have been Flying for miles, and you make me feel hotter than ever.'

Fawkes stood on Anne's middle and she squealed. 'Oh, Fawkes — you're heavy. Get off.'

'You know, I think if we were allowed to go off by ourselves somewhere, it would be rather fun,' said Robert, biting a blade of grass and squinting up into the deep blue sky. The biggest fun we've ever had was when we were alone on Fiji Island, for instance. Couldn't we go off somewhere all by ourselves?'

But where?' said Harry. 'And how? I mean we aren't old enough to take a car — though I bet I could drive one. It wouldn't be much fun going on bicycles, because Anne can't ride as fast as we can.'

'And somebody always gets a puncture,' said James.

'It would be jolly good fun to go off on horses,' said Robert. 'Only we haven't got even one.'

'Yes, we have — there's old Dobby down in the field,' said Harry. 'He is ours. He used to draw the pony-cart, but we don't use it any more now he's turned out to grass.'

'Well, one horse wouldn't take four of us, silly,' said Robert. 'Dobby's no good.'

There was a silence, and everyone thought lazily about holidays. Fawkes snapped at a fly, and his beak came together with a loud click.