The Flower Power Collection

But Nasty was of the opinion she had a perfectly wonderful voice. Far better than her sister’s.

“I will go in for the contest as well,” she thought. “But I will not tell her.”

Part 2

The day of the singing contest arrived. Gerry was so nervous she didn’t want to eat anything, but her mum said she must or she would feel faint.

“Nasty,” she said, “go and make your sister a sandwich.”

“Oh, if I must,” said Nasty.

Nasty made the sandwich out of hard-boiled eggs, all mashed up with salt and pepper, oil of cloves, mustard, soya sauce, tomato ketchup, and… garlic! Six whole cloves of it. Yeeeeurgh!

“Tee hee!” thought Nasty. “This sandwich will make her puke, for sure!”

But Gerry was in such a state she didn’t even notice.

“Is it all right?” said Nasty.

“Yes. Thank you. It is very yummy,” said Gerry, wondering why Nasty was suddenly being so nice to her.

After she had eaten the sandwich, Gerry and her mum left for the TV studio. On the way there Gerry came over a bit peculiar, but she thought that it was just nerves.

“Once I start to sing,” she thought, “I will feel better.”

She was going to sing her favourite song, Love ya, baby! These were the words:

Love ya, baby!

I sure do.

Don’t want her.

Just want you!

Trust me, babe!

It’s me ‘n you.

She had sat up all night learning them.

When they reached the studio there were dozens of really cool kids there, all hoping to become famous. They took one look at Gerry (who by now had turned quite green thanks to the mustard, oil of cloves, soya sauce, tomato ketchup and garlic sandwich) and curled their lips.

“Look at her!” they went. “What chance does she think she stands?”

“None!” came a voice from the doorway.

Gerry turned, with a gasp. It was Nasty! What was she doing there?

Part 3

“Ha, ha,” sneered Nasty. “You didn’t expect me, did you?”

Gerry shook her head. She was beginning to feel very odd and weird.

“The minute you left I jumped into a cab and followed you,” said Nasty. “My voice is far louder than yours! I will be the pop star, not you!”

Gerry opened her mouth to say something, but all that came out was a big … BURP! Ugh, phew! The smell of garlic was so strong that Gerry’s poor mum instantly passed out with the stench.

“Tee hee!” giggled Nasty. “That will teach her a lesson!”

Nasty could not forgive her mum for putting Gerry in for the contest instead of her.

Gerry turned to her sister. She opened her mouth – and another burp came out. Yeeeeeeurgh!!! It was even stinkier than the first one. Nasty promptly joined her mum on the floor. She was out for the count!

And now all the other contestants were plopping down. All those really cool kids that had curled their lips! They were dropping like flies. The smell was too much!

Very soon, Gerry was the only one left…

Part 4

Gerry felt a whole lot better, now that she was getting rid of some of the garlic fumes. But she still couldn’t stop burping! How could she sing Love ya, baby! if she was burping all the time?

The answer was – she couldn’t! She had to think quickly. There were millions of viewers out there, waiting to be entertained. And all the other contestants were flat on the floor. It was up to Gerry!

So guess what she did? She burped her way through three whole verses of God Save the Queen! (She only knew the words to the first verse, but it didn’t really matter as she wasn’t singing them.)

Burp burp burp BURP burp burp

Burp burp burp BURP burp burp

BURP burp burp burp

Nobody had ever heard anything like it! The clapometers went mad! And of course Gerry won the contest, because who else was there?

Now she is famous. She has changed her name to Betsy Burp, and even has her own backing group… Betsy Burp and the Belchers!

THE END

Dear Katie,

I hope you liked my short story that I sent you last week. Maybe you have not had time to read it yet. I expect you are very busy going to parties.

I have been on the London Eye! I was not sick as it really does go slowly so that you hardly know you are moving. The view is amazing, you can see all over London.

Well, that is all for now. Please write back soon!

XXX Violet