Betsey's Birthday Surprise Read Free Page B

isn’t waterproof,” said Betsey.
    And sure enough, the moment she’d said that there came a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. Giant raindrops hammered on the roof and the windows.
    “See!” said Betsey, happily. “I told you it was going to rain.”
    “Quick, Betsey. Your house is going to be washed away,” said Desmond, jumping up. “Come on. If we act now we can save it.”
    Betsey shook her head. “No, it’s OK, Desmond. That wasn’t my real home. My real home is where my family and friends are.”
    “Betsey, that’s a lovely thing to say.” Gran’ma Liz smiled.
    “And May, I’m sorry I was so mean about my house,” said Betsey. “The next time I have a house, you can come in any time you want to.”
    “Are you going to make another one?” asked May.
    “I might do,” said Betsey. “But next time, I’ll make it big enough for
everyone
!”
    And just to show she meant it, Betsey gave everyone a hug – even Prince!

Betsey on the Telly
    Betsey moved closer to the telly.
    “Betsey child, you’ll ruin your eyes if you sit that close to the TV screen,” said Gran’ma Liz.
    Betsey got up and stood in front of everyone.
    “Betsey, move! I can’t see,” Sherena complained.
    “I’ve decided I want to be on the telly,” Betsey announced.
    “Oh dear . . .”
    “Another one of Betsey’s ideas!”
    Groans and sighs and shakes of the head filled the living room!
    “I’m serious. I want to be on there.” Betsey pointed to the TV screen. “Gran’ma Liz, how do I get on the telly?”

    “The only way you’ll ever be on the telly is if you sit on it!” Desmond said before Gran’ma could reply.
    “Desmond, behave!” said Gran’ma Liz, laughing.
    “I mean it,” said Betsey, crossly. “I want to be on the TV. Dad’s coming home soon and it would be such a wonderful surprise for him.”
    “Your dad will be happy to see you in the flesh,” said Gran’ma Liz. “He doesn’t have to see you on the telly. Now come and sit next to me so we can all see the screen.”
    “But Gran’ma . . .”
    “Betsey, I have no idea how you’d go about getting on the TV. You’ll have to become an actress or go into politics or read the news or something like that,” said Gran’ma Liz.
    “Hhmm!” Betsey sat down next to Gran’ma but she wasn’t watching the evening film any more. She was thinking hard. Betsey didn’t know how yet but she
was
going to do it. One way or another she was going to be on the telly.
    The next day was market day. But for once, Betsey wasn’t even that excited about it. All the way there, Betsey was far too busy trying to work out how to get on the TV. At last they arrived at the market. It was full of hustle and bustle but Betsey hardly noticed any of it.
    “Betsey, are you all right? You’re very quiet,” said Desmond
    “Too quiet,” Sherena agreed.
    “I’m fine,” Betsey said, still deep in thought.
    Gran’ma Liz looked at Betsey very carefully but she didn’t say a word. Instead she led the way to the fish stall first. Usually Betsey loved the smell of fish – salt fish, flying fish, crab, snapper . . . But not today. Betsey was still too busy trying to work out her problem.

    And then she saw the answer! Over by the bread and cake stall was a thin man with a camcorder. The man moved his camcorder this way and that, filming the whole market. Betsey’s eyes opened wider than wide. That man was filming! Maybe his film would be on the telly . . .
    Betsey raced over to him and started jumping up and down in front of him.

    “Betsey, what on earth are you doing? And don’t run off like that,” panted Gran’ma when she reached Betsey.
    “I’m going to be on the TV,” Betsey said proudly. And she carried on jumping up and down.
    The thin man lowered his camcorder. “Er . . . I’m sorry, dear, but I’m just making a holiday video. I’m going to show all my friends back in England how wonderful this market is.”
    Betsey stopped