Paddington Here and Now

Paddington Here and Now
Michael Bond

Paddington – the beloved, classic bear from Darkest Peru – is back in this fantastically funny, long-awaited, brand new illustrated novel from master storyteller Michael Bond!'I'm not a foreigner,' exclaimed Paddington hotly. 'I'm from Darkest Peru.'Paddington Bear always manages to find himself in tricky situations, sometimes extraordinary situations. Like the time he had a difficult encounter with a policeman or when he found himself in deep water with a newspaper reporter. But since arriving from his native Peru after an earthquake Paddington has always felt at home with the Brown family who found him on Paddington station. Then one day, a surprise visitor arrives at thirty-two Windsor Gardens. Is it time for Paddington to decide where 'home' really is?In 2008 Michael Bond's first novel featuring the adventures of Paddington Bear will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary. Paddington's amazing ability to get into and out of trouble is at the heart of the countless stories that have been loved the world over ever since. However, it is many years since a new novel has been published, and in celebration of this landmark, Michael Bond has written the funniest and the most moving Paddington novel ever.

Copyright (#ulink_f8cbb2c5-4e05-54f2-957d-fe31202f3524)

First published in hardback in Great Britain by

HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2008

This edition published in 2018

HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF.

www.harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk

Text copyright © Michael Bond 2008

Illustrations copyright © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2008

Cover illustration copyright © Peggy Fortnum and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2008

The author asserts the moral right to be identified

as the author of the work.

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Conditions of Sale

This book is sold subject to the condition

that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise,

be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated

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Source ISBN: 9780007269419

eBook Edition June 2008 ISBN: 9780007281916

Version: 2018-05-23

Contents

Cover (#u64d76d43-4360-5af4-b995-f5bc103a43fa)

Title Page (#u395ba1ee-207b-5397-949c-64b73cf0c517)

Copyright (#u8d1103ef-ad3f-593d-817d-b164c0b1fd8b)

1. Parking Problems (#u935e2177-e351-418d-a17c-13eb6e6243f6)

2. Paddington’s Good Turn (#u0dc4a4c9-3b63-4dbb-b562-a3462dba2c26)

3. Paddington Strikes a Chord (#litres_trial_promo)

4. Paddington Takes the Biscuit (#litres_trial_promo)

5. Paddington Spills the Beans (#litres_trial_promo)

6. Paddington Aims High (#litres_trial_promo)

7. Paddington’s Christmas Surprise (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

By the Same Author (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_84606b47-2b2e-5bf6-93bf-0fef0e9ab02d)

PARKING PROBLEMS

“MY SHOPPING BASKET on wheels has been towed away!” exclaimed Paddington hotly.

He gazed at the spot where he had left it before going into the cut-price grocers in the Portobello Market. In all the years he had lived in London such a thing had never happened to him before and he could hardly believe his eyes. But if he thought staring at the empty space was going to make it reappear he was doomed to disappointment.

“It’s coming to something if a young bear gent can’t leave ’is shopping basket unattended for five minutes while ’e’s going about ’is business,” said one of the stallholders, who normally supplied Paddington with vegetables when he was out shopping for the Brown family. “I don’t know what the world’s coming to.”

“There’s no give and take any more,” agreed a man at the next stall. “It’s all take and no give. They’ll be towing us away next, you mark my words.”

“You should have left a note on it saying ‘Back in five minutes’,” said a third one.

“Fat lot of good that would have done,” said another. “They don’t give you five seconds these days, let alone five minutes.”

Paddington was a popular figure in the market and by now a small crowd of sympathisers had begun to gather. Although he was known to drive a hard bargain, he was much respected by the traders. Receiving his custom was regarded by many as being something of an honour: on a par with having a sign saying they were by appointment to a member of the Royal Family.