Free Paddington Races Ahead by Michael Bond Page B

between your toes. Bears’ follicles must be deeper than other people’s. I expect the fish ’ad trouble getting their little ’eads inside. Must be very frustrating. I bet some of them wished they’d been born with teeth after all.”
    Glancing up, the salesman’s face suddenly cleared as he realised a small crowd had collected while they had been talking.
    “Roll up, roll up,” he called, hastily changing his tune.

    “Gather round everybody. This young bear gentlemen ’ere is what’s known as a trendsetter. Or he would ’ave been, except he’s ’aving trouble with ’is follicles.
    “For that very reason I’m not charging him anything,” he added, giving Paddington a nudge, “and since I know ’e’s in an ’urry to be on ’is way, I suggest you form an orderly queue. . .”
    As the crowd set about following the man’s instructions, Paddington took the hint and made good his escape.
    Leaving a trail of wet footprints behind him, he hurried down the Portobello Road as fast as he could in order to tell Mr Gruber about his latest adventure.
    “I sometimes think people see you coming, Mr Brown,” said his friend, as he busied himself getting the cocoa ready for their elevenses, while Paddington dealt with the buns. “Things do seem to happen when you’re out and about.”
    “It’s a bit early in the day too,” said Paddington. “It’s only just past eleven o’clock.”
    A thoughtful look came over Mr Gruber’s face as he settled himself down on the horsehair sofa at the back of the shop. “This hot weather isn’t good news when you’re trying to run a business,” he mused. “People want to be out and about, not stuck inside an antique shop. I had been toying with the idea of putting our deck chairs out on the pavement like we used to, but all this talk of dipping your feet into ice-cold water has given me an idea.”
    He paused. “Seeing Jonathan and Judy are home for the summer holidays, perhaps you had better see what they feel about it first of all, but I think a nice peaceful picnic in the park this afternoon will do us all the world of good.”
    “A picnic in the park!” exclaimed Judy, when Paddington rushed home to tell the others. “What a lovely idea. Trust Mr Gruber to invite us along too.” She got up off the lawn and brushed herself down. “I’d better make some sandwiches.”
    “May I help,” asked Paddington excitedly. “Bears are good at sandwiches.”
    Jonathan licked a forefinger and held it over his head. “There’s a nice breeze,” he announced. “I might take my kite. I haven’t flown it for years.”
    He rushed upstairs and returned a moment or so later armed with a multicoloured object almost as tall as Paddington.

    “It’s what’s known as a double butterfly kite,” he said. “The frame is made of balsawood and the rest of it is Japanese tissue paper. I made it myself,” he added proudly. “ And I painted it!”
    “I expect bears would be good at flying kites,” said Paddington hopefully.
    Jonathan eyed him dubiously. “We’ll see,” he replied vaguely. “It isn’t always as easy as it might sound.”
    “You wouldn’t want to be carried off by the wind,” said Judy, coming to her brother’s rescue.
    “There’s no knowing where you might end up,” agreed Jonathan gratefully.
    Both Mrs Bird and Mrs Brown were only too pleased to have the house to themselves, so Mr Gruber’s suggestion met with all-round approval, and it was a happy party that eventually set off early that afternoon.
    Paddington gazed around with interest as they entered the park. There were all manner of things going on. To start with there was a children’s playground full of climbing frames, which looked very tempting. Then there were several outdoor restaurants; but best of all, there was a large lake with boats on it, so he made a beeline for that.
    “I think I might test my follicles first of all,” he announced, as he dipped his toes into the water.

    But