RATHER ODD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1941, Page 18

RATHER ODD

Shirley and Gwen were the eldest. Shirley was nine and Gwen had just turned eight. Then came Bobby, who was seven, and the youngest, Roddy, was four. All except Roddy went to school, and no other little boys or girls of Roddy's age lived near. When Shirley and Gwen were home they played "house" under the big fig tree at the side of the house. The grass was long there, and the tree roots formed little hollows where the doll-babies could be put to sleep. Leaves were used as sheets and pillow cases, blankets and eiderdowns. Roddy was not welcomed in this household. Last week mummy had said that the girls must let him play too, but when their backs were turned, Roddy had disappeared (as did the teapot of Gwen's teaset). No one would have guessed that that indignant little girl who ran up the path so anxiously was. until two minutes before, the distinguished young lady to be seen putting her three little girls to sleep under the fig tree. Round the corner of the house and past the garage she ran. In front of her was the vegetable garden, and between the cabbages and the beans she saw Roddy—a very happy Roddy with his hands and shirt covered with earth. He was digging

for worms and making them captives in the little teapot. What a noise our late young "lady" made! Mummy had to reinstate peace. No, Roddy definitely was not a welcome guest! Bobby met the "gang" every night after school in the barn near the tip. He didn't wish to draw his mother's attention to himself, and that was why he always chose the back fence to jump over and so complete his pet a way. 11 is: shanghai was concealed in his shirt, and some purloined peanut brownies kept string and pebbles in his pocket company. Mother was liable to sav "You can't go out unless you fake"Roddy, too!" Roddy couldn't climb trees, and cried when they went bird-

By — F. Bradshaw

nesting. Besides, the gang were inclined to call him "Nursemaid" if they saw him escorting Roddy. No wonder then that daddy referred to Roddy as the "odd" one, and he was called lt'Odcl or just Odd. When Roddy was -li Grannie gave him a teddy bear, and Teddy became Roddy's playmate. Daddy thought that at last R'Odd had been made "Even." One day when it had just stopped raining, Roddy was jumping along the footpath, throwing Teddy a foot or so up in the air and then catching him as he fell. What a clever boy I am! thought Roddy. Then he threw Teddy very high, and as he did so a very roly-poly puppy came bouncing towards him. As everyone knows, even grown-up people could not watch a roly-poly puppy and catch a teddv bear at the same time. Teddy fell and Roddy's arms were not there to catch him. That was how all the trouble really began. Roly-Poly Puppy jumped forward and picked up Teddv and off he ran. He didn't stop until he was right out on the middle of the road. Roddy, who was after all an obedient little boy, remembered daddy saying "Next time you go on to the road, it means 'Paddy wack the drum stick' for you mv little lad." Roddy didn't know what to do. (Continued next week)