Betsey's Birthday Surprise Read Free Page A

still.”
    “Desmond, I want to make a hut – right here in the middle of the back yard!” Betsey beamed. “Will you help me?”
    “Why d’you want to do that?” Desmond asked. “And why should I help you?”
    “Because I’ll live in the hut instead of the house and then none of you can tell me what to do,” said Betsey.
    “Well, if it’ll get you out of the house, then I’ll definitely help you,” Desmond said at once. “We’ll need long branches and banana leaves and palm fronds and loads of string.”
    “I’ll get the leaves,” said May.
    “I’ll get the string,” said Betsey and she dashed into the house.
    Ten minutes later, they all gathered in the back yard again. Desmond showed them how to set up the branches to make the frame of the hut and how to cover the branches with the leaves and fronds to make the walls. Then they each took long lengths of string and tied the leaves and fronds on to the branches.
    It was very hard, hot work but at last it was all finished. They all stepped back to admire the hut.

    “It looks wonderful,” breathed Betsey. “Just like a real house.”
    “It’s not bad at all,” Desmond admitted.
    “Desmond, you can’t come in,” said Betsey. “Not unless I say so, because it’s my house.”
    “Thanks a lot!” sniffed Desmond. “Anyway, I’ve got homework to do, so you keep your house.” And with that, off Desmond marched.
    “That was a bit mean, Betsey,” said May.
    “Never mind him. Let’s get some things to make my house more homely,” said Betsey.
    So off they went. Betsey gathered up her dolls, her bow and arrows and some of her books. Then she took the sheet and the pillow off her bed and into the back yard. In the meantime, May made some ham and tomato sandwiches.
    “It’s a bit cramped,” said May, once everything was placed in the hut.
    “That doesn’t matter.” Betsey smiled. “It’s lovely and it’s
mine
!”
    They sat down to eat their sandwiches but the hut was so small they were squashed up against each other and their feet stuck out of the entrance.
    “Shall we play a game?” May suggested after they’d finished eating.
    “No, it’ll make my new house untidy.” Betsey shook her head.
    “Your house is too small to get untidy,” said May.
    “You’re the only one making my house untidy. And if you don’t like my house you can always leave,” said Betsey, crossly.
    “I don’t mind if I do.” May crawled out of the hut and stood up. “I won’t stay where I’m not wanted.”
    Betsey folded her arms as she sat in her house, getting crosser than cross. This was her house and she wasn’t going to let May or Desmond in it, or anyone else for that matter. She was going to keep it all for herself. And that way it would stay clean and tidy and be all hers. Betsey looked around her house. It was small but perfect. She couldn’t believe she had her very own home. The only trouble was . . . it was a bit lonely. There was no one to play with and no one to talk to.

    “That doesn’t matter,” Betsey told herself.
    But as she sat in her home, all alone, she began to feel that it did. What was the point of having her very own house if she didn’t have anyone to share it with? The back yard was so quiet. She could hear the bamboo plants at the side of the yard, creaking as the wind blew through them, but that was all. She missed Gran’ma’s laugh and Mum’s voice. She missed Sherena’s moaning and complaining. She missed May’s company. She even missed Desmond teasing her. Betsey stuck her head out of the entrance to her hut. Grey clouds were scudding across the sky. Betsey crawled out of the hut and stood up in the back yard. She smiled up at the sky, then went into the main house. The whole family as well as May were sitting in the living room, watching telly.
    “What are you doing here?” asked Desmond.
    “I thought you had your own home now,” said Gran’ma Liz.
    “I do, but it’s going to rain and my house