Read Online One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing by David Forrest - Free Book Online
Authors: David Forrest
Tags: Comedy
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launcher in the bushes of Central Park. We will fire an explosive missile into the museum, in the appropriate gallery, thus necessitating redecoration of that part.”
“Not only redecoration, Comrade Leader, but certain rebuilding. And we cannot wait that long.” Sam Ling’s fingers wound themselves automatically as he went on. “I believe that, earlier, you had ideas which could be put into excellent use at this time.”
Lui Ho peered at him from under his straight black eyebrows. “Yes?”
“You suggested, with your usual luminosity, Comrade Leader, that we should assist the nanny-ladies. You said we should help them, but remain anonymously in the background. They can be helped in many ways.”
“As you say,” grunted Lui Ho. “I am indeed brilliant, but cursed by such a poor memory. No doubt it could be traced to some inherited imperialistic weakness that will, no doubt, be bred out of future generations.”
“A minor fault, Comrade Leader,” said Sam Ling, his fingers relaxing. “Now, here’s what you probably suggested . . .”
Two full days passed before there were any developments in the nannies’ plans. Nothing seemed to be happening. They waited anxiously. Then, on the third morning, an excited Emily arrived at the park bench. She was puffing and out of breath. Her spiky hair stood out around her cap, and her pince-nez were steamed up.
“It worked!” she gasped, happily. “I told you it would work, I’ve just come from the museum, and they’ve already started to do something. I saw men carrying lots of steel tubing, and tins of paint and things along the corridors.”
Hettie looked at her in disbelief. “Away with you,” she said.
“Absolutely honestly,” Emily protested. “I swear it. They’re going to redecorate that hall.”
“Then the museum director must be a wee bit daft,” said the Scots nanny. “That letter didnae sound at all as though it was written by Her Majesty.”
She noticed Emily’s hurt look, and she reached out and patted her arm. “There, we’re sorry we didnae completely believe in you. But we’re VERY pleased to hear your news. We’re sure the 25th Earl would be delighted.”
Una smiled at Emily. “People always believe the things they want to believe. The museum man would probably like to be visited by a Crown Prince, THAT'S why he believed the letter.”
“Not at all,” insisted Emily. “It was because I wrote that letter exactly how I thought Her Majesty would write it. I just imagined myself to be the queen, and a boy’s mother, and wrote quite naturally.”
“Right, ma bonnies,” said Hettie. “Let’s not waste any more time. It’s enough that Nanny Emily’s idea came off. Now we can get down to the real work. Let’s away to the museum first, and see what’s going on there. Una, it’s your turn to look after the bairns while we go in.”
The nannies stood at the entrance to the hall and watched the men pull a heavy, yellow canvas sheet over the fossilized brontosaurus.
“There,” said Emily. “I told you. It’s just as I said it would be. We’ll watch for a few minutes.”
Hettie looked round the hall to familiarize herself with the positioning of the scaffolding.
The hall attendant strolled over to the group.
“Sorry, ladies. You can’t come in now. We’ve got some decorations to restore.”
A sly look came over Emily’s face. “Are you expecting visitors?” she asked.
“Expecting them?” The man scowled. “Lady, we’ve just had them. Nearly cost me my job. Some nut squirted Commie peace slogans on the ceiling.”
“Paint?” queried Emily.
The man nodded, and pointed. There were several large blotches on the high roof.
“And that ain’t all,” he growled. “You should read what he wrote on the walls about the president . . .” He turned to show them, then changed his mind. “Guess you’d better go now, ladies. We got work to do. Why not come back in a week’s time? You’ll be able to
“Not only redecoration, Comrade Leader, but certain rebuilding. And we cannot wait that long.” Sam Ling’s fingers wound themselves automatically as he went on. “I believe that, earlier, you had ideas which could be put into excellent use at this time.”
Lui Ho peered at him from under his straight black eyebrows. “Yes?”
“You suggested, with your usual luminosity, Comrade Leader, that we should assist the nanny-ladies. You said we should help them, but remain anonymously in the background. They can be helped in many ways.”
“As you say,” grunted Lui Ho. “I am indeed brilliant, but cursed by such a poor memory. No doubt it could be traced to some inherited imperialistic weakness that will, no doubt, be bred out of future generations.”
“A minor fault, Comrade Leader,” said Sam Ling, his fingers relaxing. “Now, here’s what you probably suggested . . .”
Two full days passed before there were any developments in the nannies’ plans. Nothing seemed to be happening. They waited anxiously. Then, on the third morning, an excited Emily arrived at the park bench. She was puffing and out of breath. Her spiky hair stood out around her cap, and her pince-nez were steamed up.
“It worked!” she gasped, happily. “I told you it would work, I’ve just come from the museum, and they’ve already started to do something. I saw men carrying lots of steel tubing, and tins of paint and things along the corridors.”
Hettie looked at her in disbelief. “Away with you,” she said.
“Absolutely honestly,” Emily protested. “I swear it. They’re going to redecorate that hall.”
“Then the museum director must be a wee bit daft,” said the Scots nanny. “That letter didnae sound at all as though it was written by Her Majesty.”
She noticed Emily’s hurt look, and she reached out and patted her arm. “There, we’re sorry we didnae completely believe in you. But we’re VERY pleased to hear your news. We’re sure the 25th Earl would be delighted.”
Una smiled at Emily. “People always believe the things they want to believe. The museum man would probably like to be visited by a Crown Prince, THAT'S why he believed the letter.”
“Not at all,” insisted Emily. “It was because I wrote that letter exactly how I thought Her Majesty would write it. I just imagined myself to be the queen, and a boy’s mother, and wrote quite naturally.”
“Right, ma bonnies,” said Hettie. “Let’s not waste any more time. It’s enough that Nanny Emily’s idea came off. Now we can get down to the real work. Let’s away to the museum first, and see what’s going on there. Una, it’s your turn to look after the bairns while we go in.”
The nannies stood at the entrance to the hall and watched the men pull a heavy, yellow canvas sheet over the fossilized brontosaurus.
“There,” said Emily. “I told you. It’s just as I said it would be. We’ll watch for a few minutes.”
Hettie looked round the hall to familiarize herself with the positioning of the scaffolding.
The hall attendant strolled over to the group.
“Sorry, ladies. You can’t come in now. We’ve got some decorations to restore.”
A sly look came over Emily’s face. “Are you expecting visitors?” she asked.
“Expecting them?” The man scowled. “Lady, we’ve just had them. Nearly cost me my job. Some nut squirted Commie peace slogans on the ceiling.”
“Paint?” queried Emily.
The man nodded, and pointed. There were several large blotches on the high roof.
“And that ain’t all,” he growled. “You should read what he wrote on the walls about the president . . .” He turned to show them, then changed his mind. “Guess you’d better go now, ladies. We got work to do. Why not come back in a week’s time? You’ll be able to
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