Mr Badger and the Big Surprise (6 page)

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

I
t 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.