came across was a canvas bag with his name on the tag. Pulling on the drawstrings, he felt inside and discovered it was full of foreign coins.
“Uncle Pastuzo must have collected them while he was traveling around the world,” said Jonathan, taking a closer look. “I bet they’re worth a fortune!”
Underneath that, carefully wrapped in tissue paper, were seven large glossy photographs of the whole family taken inside the capsule on the London Eye.
“So that’s where he disappeared to,” said Judy. “I saw a notice on the way in saying if you pose at a certain point a picture is automatically taken, ready to buy when you get off.”
“What a very kind thought,” said Mrs. Brown. “We must have ours framed, Henry. It can have aplace of honor on the mantelpiece.”
“I shall put mine by my bed,” said Mrs. Bird.
“We can take ours with us when we go back to school,” added Judy.
“And I shall put mine alongside Aunt Lucy’s picture,” said Paddington. “I’ll give Mr. Gruber histomorrow. I expect he would like it for the shop.”
“We shall miss Uncle Pastuzo,” said Mrs. Brown on the way back to the house.
“He may have been a bit of a whirlwind, but it will seem very quiet without him.”
“At least that bear’s ends are tied up now,” said Mrs. Bird. “It’s always bothered me.”
Having overheard the conversation, as soon as he got indoors Paddington hurried upstairs to his bedroom and examined his reflection carefully in the mirror.
As ever, Mrs. Bird was right. He had no idea how or when it had happened, but Uncle Pastuzo must have done a good job. Everything was in its proper place. No matter which way he turned, he couldn’t see the slightest sign of any knots.
Later on that morning the Browns heard the sound of hammering coming from Paddington’s room, but everyone was so pleased by the fact that he was still with them, they pretended not to notice.
“I’ve been following Aunt Lucy’s example,” heannounced that evening when they all went up to his room to say good night. “I’ve been counting my blessings. Except, I wanted to do mine before I go to sleep. I have so many I may not have time tomorrow.
“I still have some important shopping to do and I shall need to go to the bank to get all Uncle Pastuzo’s coins counted.”
“I don’t think you will be very popular with the rest of the queue at this time of the year,” warned Mr. Brown.
“Anyway,” said Mrs. Brown, “you mustn’t go spending the money on us. Your being here is the best present we could possibly have.”
“Life just wouldn’t be the same without you,” added Mrs. Bird amid general agreement.
Paddington pointed to a large nail on the back of his bedroom door. “Uncle Pastuzo taught me one thing,” he explained. “Home is where you hang your hat.”
Removing his bush hat, he tossed it in the air. Much to his surprise, it landed back on his head.
“Never mind, Paddington,” said Mrs. Brown amid the laughter that followed. “Practice makes perfect, and from now on you have all the time in the world!”
About the Author
M ichael Bond is the author of all the books about Paddington Bear. His first book, A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON , was published in 1958. In 1997 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to children’s literature and in 2007 was made an honorary Doctor of Letters by Reading University. Mr. Bond lives in London, not far from Paddington Station, with his wife, Sue, and a guinea pig named Olga da Polga.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Other Paddington Storybooks by Michael Bond
A Bear Called Paddington
More About Paddington
Paddington Abroad
Paddington Helps Out
Paddington at Large
Paddington Marches On
Paddington at Work
Paddington Takes the Air
Paddington on Top
Paddington Takes the Test
Paddington on Screen
Copyright
PADDINGTON HERE AND NOW . Text copyright © 2008 by
“Uncle Pastuzo must have collected them while he was traveling around the world,” said Jonathan, taking a closer look. “I bet they’re worth a fortune!”
Underneath that, carefully wrapped in tissue paper, were seven large glossy photographs of the whole family taken inside the capsule on the London Eye.
“So that’s where he disappeared to,” said Judy. “I saw a notice on the way in saying if you pose at a certain point a picture is automatically taken, ready to buy when you get off.”
“What a very kind thought,” said Mrs. Brown. “We must have ours framed, Henry. It can have aplace of honor on the mantelpiece.”
“I shall put mine by my bed,” said Mrs. Bird.
“We can take ours with us when we go back to school,” added Judy.
“And I shall put mine alongside Aunt Lucy’s picture,” said Paddington. “I’ll give Mr. Gruber histomorrow. I expect he would like it for the shop.”
“We shall miss Uncle Pastuzo,” said Mrs. Brown on the way back to the house.
“He may have been a bit of a whirlwind, but it will seem very quiet without him.”
“At least that bear’s ends are tied up now,” said Mrs. Bird. “It’s always bothered me.”
Having overheard the conversation, as soon as he got indoors Paddington hurried upstairs to his bedroom and examined his reflection carefully in the mirror.
As ever, Mrs. Bird was right. He had no idea how or when it had happened, but Uncle Pastuzo must have done a good job. Everything was in its proper place. No matter which way he turned, he couldn’t see the slightest sign of any knots.
Later on that morning the Browns heard the sound of hammering coming from Paddington’s room, but everyone was so pleased by the fact that he was still with them, they pretended not to notice.
“I’ve been following Aunt Lucy’s example,” heannounced that evening when they all went up to his room to say good night. “I’ve been counting my blessings. Except, I wanted to do mine before I go to sleep. I have so many I may not have time tomorrow.
“I still have some important shopping to do and I shall need to go to the bank to get all Uncle Pastuzo’s coins counted.”
“I don’t think you will be very popular with the rest of the queue at this time of the year,” warned Mr. Brown.
“Anyway,” said Mrs. Brown, “you mustn’t go spending the money on us. Your being here is the best present we could possibly have.”
“Life just wouldn’t be the same without you,” added Mrs. Bird amid general agreement.
Paddington pointed to a large nail on the back of his bedroom door. “Uncle Pastuzo taught me one thing,” he explained. “Home is where you hang your hat.”
Removing his bush hat, he tossed it in the air. Much to his surprise, it landed back on his head.
“Never mind, Paddington,” said Mrs. Brown amid the laughter that followed. “Practice makes perfect, and from now on you have all the time in the world!”
About the Author
M ichael Bond is the author of all the books about Paddington Bear. His first book, A BEAR CALLED PADDINGTON , was published in 1958. In 1997 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to children’s literature and in 2007 was made an honorary Doctor of Letters by Reading University. Mr. Bond lives in London, not far from Paddington Station, with his wife, Sue, and a guinea pig named Olga da Polga.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Other Paddington Storybooks by Michael Bond
A Bear Called Paddington
More About Paddington
Paddington Abroad
Paddington Helps Out
Paddington at Large
Paddington Marches On
Paddington at Work
Paddington Takes the Air
Paddington on Top
Paddington Takes the Test
Paddington on Screen
Copyright
PADDINGTON HERE AND NOW . Text copyright © 2008 by
Similar Books
