Free Betsey's Birthday Surprise by Malorie Blackman Page A

glasses?” Gran’ma Liz walked into the living room.
    “Gran’ma Liz, don’t step on me,” Betsey said quickly.
    And only just in time too. One more step and Gran’ma Liz would’ve stepped on Betsey for sure.
    Betsey carried on slithering and wriggling.
    “What on earth are you doing, child?” Gran’ma Liz asked.

    “I’m a worm,” Betsey replied. “But I’m not making much progress. I’ve only moved a few centimetres. It must be hard work being a worm. And you almost stepped on me. So it must be quite dangerous being a worm too.”
    “It’s harder work being your grandmother,” said Gran’ma Liz. “Betsey, get up off the floor. You’ll ruin your clothes.”
    “But Gran’ma . . .”

    “But nothing. Up. NOW!”
    With a deep, deep sigh, Betsey stood up. Botheration plus one hundred!
    “You’re in the way as a pig, you’re messy as a cat and you’re underfoot as a worm!’ said Gran’ma Liz. “I think that’s enough animals for one day.”
    And that was that! Botheration plus one million!!
    All day long, Betsey racked her brains. What animal could she be that
wouldn’t
upset Gran’ma? Maybe she could be a chirp-chirping bird? No. Gran’ma would say she was too noisy! Maybe she could be a flying fish – splish-splashing in the bath tub. No. Gran’ma Liz would say she was too wet!
    Later that night, as Betsey put on her pyjamas to go to bed, she said to her dog, “Oh Prince! This is a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
    “Woof!” Prince agreed.
    As Betsey climbed into bed, she still hadn’t decided on which animal she could be.
    “I’ll think about it in my sleep,” Betsey yawned. “Then I’m bound to get an answer.”
    And with that Betsey pulled the bed clothes up around her neck, closed her eyes and was asleep in less than a minute.
    Betsey opened her eyes and was instantly awake. It was the middle of the night. Silvery moonlight streamed in through the window. Betsey sat up and took a look around. Something had woken her up but Betsey wasn’t sure what it was. Creak! Creeeee-eeeak! There it was again. Someone was creeping through the house . . .

    “Sherena . . . Sherena . . .” Betsey hissed at her sister.
    Creeee-eeeak! The strange noise sounded again. Betsey slipped her feet into her slippers and crept towards her sister’s bed.
    “Sherena . . .”
    But Sherena wasn’t there . . . Betsey knew what had happened at once.
    “Prince! Prince!” Betsey whispered to the dog lying beside her bed. “Wake up! There are kidnappers in the house. And they’ve got Sherena!”

    But Prince refused to budge. He lay beside Betsey’s bed, his head on his front paws and his eyes tight shut. Betsey’s heart pounded like a sledge hammer as she tip-toed to the bedroom door. She was terrified. There were kidnappers in the house. Betsey had to get to Mum and Gran’ma Liz. But how could she do it? She looked back at Prince.
    Huh! Some guard dog you are! Betsey thought with disgust.
    Guard dog
 . . . That was it! Betsey thought of a way to wake up Mum and Gran’ma Liz without the kidnappers getting to her first. Betsey opened her bedroom door and got down on all fours so that the kidnappers wouldn’t spot her.
    “WOOF! WOOF!” Betsey barked at the top of her voice. “ARFF! ARFF! WOOF!”
    Then everything happened at once. There was a bang and a crash in the living room, followed by the lights being switched on in Mum’s and Gran’ma Liz’s bedrooms.
    “WOOF! ARFF!” Betsey barked even louder. Her throat was getting sore but she wasn’t going to stop now. At long last Prince joined in, but Betsey was louder.

    “What on earth is going on?” Gran’ma Liz came out into the living room and switched on the light.
    There lay Sherena, sprawled out on the floor. And next to her was a puddle of spilt orange juice, an empty plate and chocolate biscuits scattered here, there and everywhere.
    “Sherena, what d’you think you’re doing?” Mum frowned.
    “I