Mr Badger and the Big Surprise Read online

  Sylvia’s presents had been loaded into a Boubles Grand Hotel delivery van and were already on their way to Sylvia’s home.

  In the ballroom, Mr Badger swung into action. There was a big mess to be tidied up, not that there was much food or drink left. In fact, looking around, Mr Badger realised there was none.

  Every last glass of pink lemonade had been drunk. And every one of those delicious 410 watercress sandwiches, 820 party pies, 512 butterfly cakes, seven sponge cakes, eight tubs of assorted ice-cream, five tubs of mousse, huge bowls of strawberry jelly with raspberries and cream, and layered sponge fingers had been eaten by Sylvia, her hungry little friends and their parents.

  There was certainly not one pineapple tartlet to be seen. Sylvia had hidden these away amongst her pile of presents right at the beginning of the party.

  What’s more, every last piece of birthday cake had been eaten. All gone without a trace.

  Mr Badger and Miss Pims organised the clean-up as usual.

  The tables were cleared, the beautiful Boubles cutlery and china plates washed, dried and stacked away for the next party or special event. The pretty pink tablecloths, now covered with cake and watercress sandwich crumbs and jelly splodges, had been gathered up and sent down to the hotel laundry.

  The balloons had long since disappeared, and all the coloured streamers had been taken down from the ceiling.

  Miss Pims had gone, and the ballroom was all quiet and clean, as if the party had never happened.

  Even the members of the Boubles Grand Hotel Orchestra were now home, no doubt enjoying a well-earned sleep.

  In fact, absolutely nothing remained of Sylvia Smothers-Carruthers’ seventh birthday party.

  ‘Never mind,’ sighed Mr Badger.

  It was time for him to go home, too.

  CHAPTER 9

  Mr Badger’s

  Secret

  But tonight was not just any night, and today had not been just any day.

  For today was Mr Badger’s birthday.

  And now as he gazed about the ballroom, Mr Badger remembered how, long ago, he had spent his own seventh birthday at the Boubles Grand Hotel.

  On that day, for a special treat, young Mr Badger had been taken to one of the Boubles Grand Hotel kitchens to watch his grandfather the chef decorate a beautiful big birthday cake, which he had baked especially for his beloved grandson…Mr Badger.

  A little later, however, there had been a disaster in the dining room. At a birthday party for another little boy turning seven on that same day, the birthday boy’s cake had been knocked off the table and onto the floor.

  Mr Badger’s father had replaced the ruined cake with his little son’s special one. Yes, the very one created by his grandfather. Terrible but true – but Mr Badger’s father had had no choice.

  This was a memory that had stayed with Mr Badger, ever since he was very small.

  On his way home, as Mr Badger walked quietly past a shop window, he noticed the reflection of a tear. It was running down his cheek.

  Mr Badger hadn’t mentioned to anyone that it was his birthday. He was far too proud and professional and grown-up for that.

  However, he had rather hoped that at least one piece of Sylvia Smothers-Carruthers’ birthday cake might have been left uneaten.

  The walk home seemed especially long that night.

  CHAPTER 10

  Bravo, Mr Badger

  It was freezing cold and nearly midnight by the time Mr Badger lifted the latch, opened the picket gate and walked up the path to his front door.

  This had been a special day for Mr Badger.

  It was quiet, very quiet, as he reached for the key. Mr Badger stepped into a darkened room, fumbling for the light switch.

  But this was not just any night. Mr Badger was in for a big surprise.

  For when he turned on the light, he saw that the sitting room was full of balloons and coloured streamers.

  Many bright and eager faces were beaming up at him.

  Why, there was Mrs Badger, with their darling daughter Berenice, and of course baby Badger, too. Mrs Mopptop, Miss Pims, Harry the doorman – in fact, all of Mr Badger’s friends from the Boubles Grand Hotel – were there as well.

  What a welcome, thought Mr Badger.

  Everyone cheered and cried, ‘Surprise!’

  And so it was.

  Mr Badger’s birthday hadn’t been forgotten after all.

  On the table lay a stack of plates, spoons, forks and, best of all, a splendid big birthday cake with letters in beautiful pink icing that said: ‘Happy Birthday, Mr Badger!’

  ‘Oh my goodness!’ said a most surprised Mr Badger. In fact, he could barely speak.

  Once again a little tear ran down his cheek.

  But this time, it was a very happy one.

  The End

  More Leigh Hobbs books for you

  to enjoy from Allen & Unwin

  Horrible Harriet

  Hooray for Horrible Harriet

  4F for Freaks

  Freaks Ahoy

  Old Tom’s Big Book of Beauty

  Mr Chicken Goes to Paris

  For more details, visit Leigh’s website:

  www.leighhobbs.com.au

  Don’t miss Mr Badger’s other adventures at the Boubles Grand Hotel.

  A Bit about the Author

  Leigh Hobbs was born in Melbourne. He grew up in Bairnsdale, with a complete lack of interest and talent in sport and maths, but loving art right from the start. In fact, he enthusiastically drew every day, before and after school, using a drawing board made by his father.

  That board is still in regular use, though now it is covered with over fifty years’ worth of scribble, most of it made by a pen dipped in black ink, always Leigh’s favourite drawing medium.

  Another constant in Leigh’s life is his fascination with history, English history in particular.

  He finds London a source of endless interest and visits regularly, studying favourite sights and searching for new ones.