Mr Badger and the Big Surprise (4 page)
Without any fuss, Mr Badger calmly motioned to Miss Pims, and in no time at all everything was back in its place and Sylvia's presents were once more carefully arranged on the table ready for her to open.
The party was about to begin.
W
ith a click of his paws, Mr Badger signalled for the orchestra to start playing. Soon the noise of Sylvia's tantrum was completely drowned out by music, laughter and merry chatter.
All these happy sounds prompted Mr Badger to look around the room, past the guests, until his eyes caught a reflection â his own â in one of the many ornate mirrors.
Many years ago he had gazed into that very same mirror, but the reflection back then had been of a much younger, smaller Mr Badger, standing in front of his father.
Bending down, his father had gently straightened little Mr Badger's bow-tie and helped him to put on his own pair of crisp, white gloves.
Then they had stepped back to check their matching uniforms before trotting off to help serve afternoon tea in the Grand Ballroom.
You see, Mr Badger's father had been Head Waiter at the Boubles Grand Hotel. Sometimes on weekends, and often at holiday time, he would take his boy to work with him. Young Mr Badger had adored spending time with his father.
No wonder Mr Badger loved his job. Every part of the hotel was full of happy memories.
Mr Badger was jolted back to the present by a dreadful commotion.
Sylvia Smothers-Carruthers had leapt up onto the gift table and was ripping open her presents.
Not just with her hands. She was using her teeth as well.
âGood heavens, my dear,' said Lady Celia Smothers-Carruthers. She leant over and gently suggested to Sylvia that it might be nice to read the cards with their thoughtful birthday wishes first.
Sylvia let out a loud sigh and, curling her lip, proceeded to pretend to read all of the cards at once â most of them upside down or sideways.
It must be said that Sylvia didn't look very impressed with her gifts. Rudely, she failed to even try to hide her disappointment.
Mr Badger was eager for the party to proceed as planned â there was a very full program of games and activities to come. So he quickly removed the mess of paper and ribbons and helped Sylvia down from the table into the arms of her grandparents.
Luckily the orchestra was ready to strike up the first notes for a lively game of musical chairs.
Sadly, this wasn't a great success, for every time the orchestra stopped and there was a mad scramble for the chairs, Sylvia missed out on a seat.
Many a guest was wrestled to the floor when Sylvia insisted that a seat be hers. Unfortunately Sylvia's behaviour got worse rather than better as her party progressed. In the end, Mr Badger followed Sylvia around the ballroom with a spare chair.
N
ow the most thrilling moment of Sylvia's party had arrived.
Mr Badger clicked his paws once more. The lights dimmed and, after a loud clang from the cymbals and a blast from two trumpets, Miss Pims wheeled in Sylvia's splendid big birthday cake, candles ablaze. It was an extravaganza.
Sylvia had insisted there be a hundred candles on her cake. Not that she was turning a hundred years old, of course â as everyone knew, she was in fact turning seven. But Sylvia had wanted a hundred candles on her cake so that it would look spectacular.
It
certainly
did. As well as the candles, there were four layers and nine different types of icing.
In the near dark, ringed with feathers and sparkles, Sylvia's face glowed from the light of the candles as the guests sang âHappy Birthday'.
Now it was time for Sylvia to blow out the candles and make a wish. The room was absolutely quiet as she climbed onto a cushion on top of a chair, took a deep breath, andâ¦and⦠andâ¦sneezed!
There was a whoosh of air and a flash of light as a hundred candles went out â all at once. The Boubles Grand Hotel Ballroom was plunged into darkness.
When the lights came back on, Sylvia's guests gasped. The birthday girl's face was covered with black soot from the candles and fairy dust from her fancy frock. Worse still, many of the feathers on Sylvia's dress had been blown off, and those that hadn't were sticking out in all directions.
Sylvia looked a fright.
