Betsey's Birthday Surprise Read Free

me.”

    Betsey tore off the paper in about two seconds flat. It was a dress. The most beautiful dress Betsey had ever seen. It was a sky-blue silk dress, covered with tiny, delicate flowers. Betsey put it on, then hugged Mum tight.
    “Thanks, Mum,” she said happily.
    “Now isn’t that better than my old dress which doesn’t even fit you?” Mum smiled as she led the way into the living room.
    As soon as everyone saw Betsey they all started clapping. They all agreed – Betsey looked wonderful.
    “Well done, Betsey,” said Uncle George, grinning. “We thought we’d surprise you with a party, but you had a surprise of your own!”
    “It was my birthday surprise for all of you!” Betsey grinned.
    “I’m only sorry I forgot my camera at home!” laughed May’s mum.
    “Thank goodness you did forget it,” sniffed Gran’ma Liz. “Otherwise we’d never have lived it down!”
    But only Betsey heard that bit!

Betsey Moves House
    “Betsey, go and tidy your bedroom,” Gran’ma Liz commanded.
    “It’s Sherena’s turn,” said Betsey.
    “No, it isn’t. I did it yesterday. It’s your turn today,” Sherena argued.
    “But I wanted to play with May. We were going to play Robin Hood with my new bow and arrows,” Betsey said. “Sherena, couldn’t you do it for me . . .?”
    “Betsey . . .” Gran’ma Liz’s voice held a warning.
    “Oh, all right,” said Betsey reluctantly. And off she went to tidy her room.
    Ages later, when Betsey had finished, Gran’ma Liz said, “Betsey, it’s your turn to help me tidy up the kitchen.”
    “It’s Desmond’s turn,” Betsey protested.
    “Oh no, it isn’t. It’s my turn tomorrow. It’s your turn today,” Desmond said.
    “Oh, but . . .” Betsey began.
    “Betsey!” There it was again – that warning note in Gran’ma’s voice.
    “It’s not fair. It’s just not fair,” Betsey muttered under her breath. “If I had my own house, I could do what I liked when I liked and no one could boss my head.”
    “Did you say something, child?” asked Gran’ma Liz.
    “No, Gran’ma,” Betsey answered at once. And she followed Gran’ma into the kitchen to help with the tidying up.
    When Betsey had finished, May came round. But by then Betsey was in a bad, bad mood.
    “What’s the matter with you?” May asked.
    “I’m fed up! That’s what’s the matter,” Betsey said. “I wish I had my own house and no one to tell me what to do!”
    And that’s when Betsey had her extra brilliant idea. It was such an exciting idea that Betsey couldn’t help hopping up and down. Betsey took May by the hand and pulled her into the kitchen where Gran’ma Liz was reading her newspaper.
    “Gran’ma Liz,” Betsey began, “can I make a house in the back yard?”
    “Pardon?!” Gran’ma Liz stared at Betsey.
    “Can I make myself a house – a very small house – in the back yard?” Betsey repeated. “May will help me, won’t you?”
    “Sure! But how do we do it?” May asked.
    Gran’ma Liz sat back in her chair. “I’d like to hear that too,” she said.
    “I’ll make it with branches and leaves,” Betsey announced. “I saw how it was done on the telly last week. I’ll make myself a hut and then I can live there and have my own room and Sherena will have to tidy up our bedroom all by herself. Can I, Gran’ma? Please!
Please
!’
    “Go on then.” Gran’ma Liz smiled. “Just don’t make a mess in
this
house.”

    Betsey skipped out to the back yard, followed by May. She was going to do it. She was going to make her very own house!
    “Betsey, we can’t make a hut. It’ll be too difficult,” said May.
    “Not if we get some help!” Betsey smiled, and she pointed to her brother who was at the far end of the back yard with a drawing pad and a pencil in his hands. Betsey and May ran over to him.
    “What’re you doing?” asked Betsey.
    “Drawing some chickens for a school project!” said Desmond. “I just wish they’d keep