Harriet Strikes Again

“On the other hand,” said Red-head, “I might decide to sell it. I might get given a fortune for it.”

As they all trooped off carrying their bits of Roman pottery and prehistoric bones, Stinky said in worried tones, “You don’t think she will, do you?”

“Will what?”

“Get given a fortune. I mean,” said Stinky, “this is my garden. Everything in it’s mine by rights. You said so.”

“I said you’d very generously decided to let people keep whatever they dug up. Honestly,” said Harriet, “you’ve got your hole. What more do you want?”

Next day they laid their lino and bought their plastic sheeting. Harriet was still lost in wonderment at her own brilliance. Without her they would never have had a hole!

“All it takes is a bit of brain power,” she said.

That night, Stinky’s dad walked down the garden to tip some vegetable peelings on the compost heap and fell feet first into the hole.

The following day, he stood guard over Harriet and Stinky while they filled the hole in again.

By tea time, Harriet and Stinky ached in every bone in their bodies and the hole was no longer there.

Harriet’s mum had stopped her pocket money for the second week running and Goody-goody Giles was due to arrive first thing Sunday morning.

“You and your brilliant ideas,” said Stinky.

“I like that! Whose idea was it to dig a hole in the first place?”

“Yours,” said Stinky.

“Humph!” said Harriet.

Dragging herself wearily home, Harriet bumped into Red-head.

“Hey, you know that Ancient Remain?” said Red-head. “Guess what? My mum took it down the antique shop and they gave us fifteen pounds for it!”

Life, thought Harriet, could be very bitter at times.

HELP THE AGED (#ulink_0aeaeff1-f2ad-5135-9f5e-cb153835732b)

One day in class Mrs Middleton said, “Tell me! How many of you ever travel by bus?”