Billie B Brown, Collection 2 Read online

  Billie can’t understand the words but she knows Mika will. Do you know why? That’s right! Billie is writing in Japanese. Can you guess what it says? Turn over the page for the answer.

  Billie B Brown has two finished puzzles, three half-read books and one broken Lego castle. Do you know what the B in Billie B Brown stands for?

  Bored.

  Billie B Brown is bored, bored, bored.

  Usually when Billie is bored she can play with her best friend, Jack. But Jack is away this weekend so Billie has no-one to play with.

  Billie can’t even play with her baby brother Noah because he is having a nap. And anyway he is too young to play properly. He just messes up her games or tries to eat her Lego. He can be so annoying!

  Just then Billie has an idea. A super-dooper idea.

  She knows exactly what she needs. A pony!

  If Billie had her own pony, she would never be bored again.

  Billie runs downstairs to tell her dad.

  Billie’s dad is in the kitchen. He is baking bread. The kitchen is warm and smells yummy.

  ‘Hey, Dad,’ Billie says.

  ‘I know what I need!

  A pony! If I had a pony, I would never be bored.

  If I had a pony, I would brush it and feed it and ride it every day.’

  Billie’s dad smiles. ‘Billie, where would we keep a pony? A pony needs lots of space and lots of food. But how about a pet frog instead? I had a frog when I was a little boy. They can be lots of fun.’

  Billie frowns.‘A frog?’ she says.‘You can’t pat a frog. A frog is a terrible pet.’

  She stomps upstairs to find her mum.

  Billie’s mum is having a nap with Noah. Billie knows she is not supposed to wake her mum unless it is for something very important.

  But this is something very important. She tiptoes into the bedroom.

  ‘Mum!’ Billie whispers into her ear.‘Guess what?’

  Billie’s mum opens one eye.‘Billie,’ she says.‘Is this something important?’

  ‘Very important,’ says Billie seriously.

  Billie’s mum sighs. She turns over carefully so that she doesn’t wake Noah. Then she pats the bed next to her for Billie to lie down.

  Billie cuddles in next to her mum. She is warm and smells like milk and flowers.

  ‘What’s up, love?’ Billie’s mum asks.

  ‘I’m bored,’ says Billie. ‘I need a pet to play with. I want a pony but Dad said no.’

  Billie’s mum smiles. ‘What about Noah?’ she says, pointing to Billie’s baby brother. He is curled up next to Billie’s mum, snuffling like a piglet. ‘He’s a bit like a pet.’

  ‘Mum!’ says Billie crossly. ‘Don’t be silly. I’m serious!’

  ‘Sorry,’ Billie’s mum says. She makes her face serious. ‘Dad is right. A pony is much too big. But how about a pet cockatoo? I had a pet cockatoo when I was a little girl. I taught it to say hello. A cockatoo is a very good pet.’

  Billie frowns. ‘But you can’t cuddle a cockatoo! What about a puppy? Oh Mum, let’s get a cute little puppy. Please?’

  ‘A puppy is a lot of work, Billie,’ says her mum.

  ‘I can look after it!’ says Billie.‘I’ll feed it and walk it and play with it every day.’

  ‘Sorry, Billie,’ says her mum.‘We are much too busy with Noah to look after a puppy right now. Maybe when he’s older.’

  Billie feels very cross. ‘It’s not fair!’ she says loudly.

  Noah wakes up and begins to cry.

  ‘Oh Billie!’ says her mum. ‘Now you’ve woken Noah.’

  Billie scrunches up her fists and stomps out of the room. She is feeling very cross. It’s all Noah’s fault. If Noah wasn’t around, Billie is sure her parents would buy her a pony and a puppy.

  But then Billie feels bad for waking Noah.

  She really does love her baby brother. Billie picks up a puppet and puts it on her hand.

  ‘Peekaboo, Noah!’ Billie says, poking the puppet out from behind the door.

  Noah squeals with laughter. Billie and her mum laugh too.

  That afternoon, Billie and her mum go to Westland Shopping Centre. Billie helps Mum put Noah into the stroller.

  He wriggles but Billie snaps the buckles tight. Snap! Snap! Billie and her mum walk around the shopping centre looking in the shop windows.

  ‘Ooh look, the pet shop!’ Billie says.‘Can we just take a peek? Please?’

  ‘All right, Billie,’ says her mum, ‘but quickly. We still have lots of shopping to do. And Noah will need a feed soon.’

  The pet shop smells like hay. All around Billie, animals squeak and squawk and purr. Billie sees tumbling kittens and rolling puppies and teeny tiny mice. All the pets are so cute. Billie wishes she could bring them all home with her.

  Then, right at the back of the shop, she sees a cage all on its own. At first Billie thinks it is empty. But then she bends closer and spots a little round ball of ginger fur.

  ‘Hello,’ Billie calls softly. A little pink nose pokes out from all the fur.

  Then two shiny black eyes. Then two pink claws. Can you guess what it is? It’s a guinea pig! And it’s the cutest guinea pig Billie has ever seen.

  ‘Mum!’ Billie calls. ‘Come and look at this guinea pig. Isn’t it adorable?’

  Billie’s mum comes over with the shopkeeper. ‘She’s the last one left,’ the shopkeeper says.‘She’s a very special guinea pig. Just waiting for a very special girl, I think.’

  He winks at Billie.

  Billie looks at her mum. ‘Oh, please can we have her, Mum?’ she begs. ‘I promise I’ll look after her and feed her every day.’

  ‘Well…’ says Billie’s mum.

  ‘Please?’ begs Billie.

  Just then Noah begins to cry. He is fed up.

  ‘Let me think about it, Billie,’ her mum says. ‘Come on. The guinea pig will still be here when we’ve finished our shopping.’

  Billie squeals with excitement. That’s almost a yes!

  All afternoon Billie helps her mum look after Noah.

  She minds him while her mum tries on shoes. She wipes the banana off his hands and face. She even passes her mum a nappy after he has done a stinker!

  The whole time she is helping her mum, Billie thinks about the guinea pig. She has decided to call it Molly. Billie hopes so much that her mum will say yes!

  ‘Thank you, Billie,’ her mum says when their shopping is finished.

  ‘You have been such a good helper today. I think you will be very good with a pet, too. Shall we go and get that guinea pig now?’

  ‘Oh thank you!’ Billie squeals. She jumps up and down with excitement. Her very own pet! Billie can’t believe it. She will never be bored again!

  Billie rushes into the pet store. She runs straight up to Molly’s cage. She peers between the bars.

  But the cage is empty!

  ‘Oh dear,’ says the shopkeeper.‘A man came in just after you left. He said he wanted a pet for his daughter. He thought a guinea pig would be perfect for her. I’m very sorry.’

  Billie hangs her head. Her Molly, gone to another little girl? Billie presses her lips together to stop herself from crying.

  ‘I’m sorry, Billie,’ says her mum, giving her a cuddle.‘Shall we look for something else? Maybe there’s another pet that will be just right for you.’

  But Billie shakes her head sadly. Molly was the perfect pet. There will never be another pet like Molly.

  Billie sits quietly in the car all the way home. Even Noah’s noisy chattering can’t cheer her up.

  ‘I’m sure they will get some more guinea pigs at the pet shop,’ says her mum.

  Billie nods her head sadly.

  When they get home, Billie helps carry the shopping into the house. Then she flops down on the couch. A big fat tear slides down her cheek.

  She sniffs as she sees her dad’s car pull into the driveway.

  ‘Hey, Billie,’ her dad calls. ‘Can you help me bring in some shoppi
ng?’

  Billie gets up from the couch and trudges outside. Her dad is taking a cardboard box out of the boot. ‘Here,’ he says.

  ‘Why don’t you carry this inside?’

  ‘What is it?’ asks Billie.

  Billie’s dad smiles.‘Look inside.’

  Billie peers into the box.

  At first she thinks that it is empty. But then she sees it. A little ginger ball of fur.

  Can you guess who it is?

  ‘Molly!’ Billie shouts.

  She gently picks up her guinea pig. Molly snuffles right into her chest like she remembers Billie too.

  Billie B Brown has three long-haired dolls, one big teddy bear and one purple pony. Do you know what the B in Billie B Brown stands for?

  Bunny Babies.

  Billie B Brown really, really wants a Bunny Baby toy. Bunny Babies have soft fur and big sparkly eyes. Bunny Babies even have their own TV show.

  Every single girl in Billie’s class has a Bunny Baby. Except for Billie.

  ‘Please, please, please can I have a Bunny Baby?’ Billie asks her mum.

  ‘No, Billie,’ says her mum. ‘I’ve already said that you’ll have to wait until Christmas.’

  ‘But that’s ages away!’ Billie says.‘I can’t wait until then.’

  ‘Why don’t you try saving up for one yourself ?’ Billie’s dad says.‘You already have some money in your piggy bank. Maybe you can do a few jobs to earn some more?’

  ‘OK!’ says Billie.‘What can I do?’

  ‘Well, you could sort through your toys,’ Billie’s mum says.‘You can throw out any that are broken and give away the ones that you are too big for.’

  Billie frowns.‘That’s not a job! I mean like sweeping leaves or mowing.’

  ‘You’re too young to mow the lawn,’ says Billie’s dad.

  ‘But you can sweep the driveway. The brooms are in the back shed.’

  ‘Cool!’ Billie says. She runs out the back door.

  Billie sees someone peeking over the back fence. You know who it is, don’t you? That’s right. It’s Jack! Jack is Billie’s best friend. He lives next door.

  ‘Hey Billie!’ calls Jack.

  ‘Do you want to come over and play cricket?

  I’ve made a bat out of some old wood and I’ve drawn stumps on the fence with chalk. Come and see!’

  Billie giggles.‘Not now, Jack,’ she says.‘I have to sweep the driveway.’

  ‘Can I help?’ says Jack.

  ‘Sure,’ says Billie.‘Thanks!’

  Billie and Jack work hard sweeping the leaves off the driveway. Jack holds open the garbage bag and Billie scoops the leaves in.

  When they have finished, Billie’s dad comes outside to admire their work.

  ‘Hey, that looks great!’ Billie’s dad says. He gives her some coins.

  ‘Thanks, Dad!’ says Billie.

  She and Jack have done a good day’s work. Jack goes home.

  Billie runs up to her bedroom to put the money into her piggy bank. Billie is very excited. Soon she will have enough money for her very own Bunny Baby!

  The next day after school, Billie asks her dad if he has another job for her.

  Billie’s mum calls out from the kitchen.

  ‘How about sorting through your toys?’

  ‘Mu-um!’ says Billie.

  ‘The car needs a wash,’ Billie’s dad says. ‘It’s a big job, though. Do you think you can do it?’

  ‘Of course!’ says Billie. She runs outside.

  Billie gets one bucket of soapy water and one bucket of clean water.

  Jack is sitting on his front step.‘Hey, Billie,’ he calls.‘Do you want to play cricket now?’

  ‘I can’t,’ says Billie.‘I have to wash the car.’

  ‘Can I help?’ says Jack.

  ‘Sure,’ says Billie. ‘Thanks!’

  Billie washes the car with a big sponge. Jack rinses off the soap. It is hard work but Billie and Jack have fun.

  As the car gets cleaner, Billie and Jack get dirtier. Soon the car is sparkling. Billie and Jack are very tired and very grubby. Time for a bath, don’t you think?

  ‘Good job!’ says Billie’s dad. He gives Billie some more coins.

  After her bath, Billie flops down on her bed to count her money. She has earnt lots today but she still needs more to buy her Bunny Baby. Doing jobs is very tiring! Billie needs another plan.

  Just then Billie’s mum knocks on her door. ‘How about a glass of lemonade, honey?’ she says.‘You’ve worked hard today.’

  This gives Billie an idea. A super-dooper idea! Can you guess what she is thinking?

  ‘Thanks!’ Billie says to her mum. She gulps down the lemonade. ‘Now I have to go see Jack!’

  Billie runs outside and squeezes through the hole in the fence into Jack’s garden.

  Jack is sitting at the kitchen table with his mum.

  ‘Hey, Jack!’ Billie says. ‘I’ve got a plan that will earn us heaps of money.’

  Billie looks at Jack’s mum. ‘We’ll need lemons,’ she says.‘Lots of them! Can we please pick some off your lemon tree?’

  ‘Sure,’ says Jack’s mum. ‘Let me guess. You want to make lemonade, right?’

  ‘Right!’ says Billie.

  ‘A lemonade stand!’ Jack laughs.‘That’s a great idea. Let’s make some posters.’

  Billie grins.‘Good idea.’ She feels very happy. She will have enough money to buy her Bunny Baby soon.

  The next day is Saturday. Billie gets up early. She and Jack pick all the ripe lemons off the tree in his garden. Jack’s mum helps them mix the lemon juice with water and sugar. Soon they have three big jugs of delicious lemonade.

  Billie and Jack set up a small table on the footpath outside their houses. Jack’s mum weeds the front garden. Billie and Jack sell cups of lemonade to people walking past.

  Old Mrs Wattle from across the road buys four cups. She must be very thirsty! She even lets Billie and Jack keep the change.

  By lunchtime all the lemonade is gone. Billie and Jack run upstairs to Billie’s room. They add the money from the lemonade stand to the money from Billie’s piggy bank.

  ‘I need one more job,’ says Billie. ‘Then I’ll have enough money to buy a Bunny Baby. Oh, I can’t wait!’

  ‘What?’ says Jack.‘I don’t want a Bunny Baby. I don’t even like Bunny Babies. They’re dumb.’

  ‘They are not!’ says Billie. ‘I’ve been working hard all week to buy one.’

  ‘I’ve been working hard, too!’ says Jack. ‘So half that money should be mine.

  And I don’t want to buy a Bunny Baby. I want to buy something that we both want.’

  Billie frowns. Jack doesn’t understand. She has to have a Bunny Baby.

  All the girls have a Bunny Baby except her. Bunny Babies are the best!

  ‘Well, I didn’t ask you to help me!’ Billie says gruffly.‘Did I?’

  Jack gasps.‘You’re mean, Billie!’ he says.‘And I’m never helping you do anything ever again.’

  He storms out of her room.

  Billie looks down at her piggy bank. There is a little part of her that feels mean. That part wants to say sorry. But then she’d have to share the money with Jack. And then she wouldn’t have enough to buy her Bunny Baby.

  Billie doesn’t know what to do.

  Just then Billie’s mum pokes her head through the doorway.

  She is carrying baby Noah on her hip. ‘How are you going with your savings, love?’

  ‘Nearly there,’ says Billie quietly.‘I think I just need one more job.’

  ‘You could sort through your toys?’ Billie’s mum grins. Then she walks off to change Noah’s nappy.

  Billie sighs. She pulls out her toy basket from the cupboard. She sorts the broken toys into one pile. She puts the baby ones in another pile. It seems to take forever. Billie wishes Jack was here to help her. He makes everything fun.

  That night Billie’s mum tucks her into bed.‘Thanks for sorting through
your toys, Billie,’ she says. ‘How about we go get your new toy tomorrow?’

  ‘Thanks, Mum,’ Billie says. But somehow she doesn’t feel as happy as she thought she would.

  The next morning Billie and her mum drive to Westland Shopping Centre.

  Mum puts Noah into the pram and they walk through the busy mall.

  ‘Have you got your money, Billie?’ her mum asks.

  Billie nods. They walk into an enormous toy store as big as a supermarket. When Billie sees all the toys she begins to feel excited again.

  Billie and her mum walk up and down the aisles until they find the Bunny Babies. There is a spotted one, and a soft pink one. There are ones with sparkly eyes. There is even one dressed up like a princess.

  They are all so beautiful. Billie can’t decide which one to buy.

  ‘Come on, sweets,’ Billie’s mum says. ‘Noah is getting restless. Have you chosen one?’

  But the more Billie looks at the Bunny Babies, the harder it is to decide.

  She can’t help thinking about Jack. She remembers how hard he worked to help her. And suddenly Billie decides she doesn’t want a Bunny Baby anymore. Not if Jack doesn’t want one.

  Then Billie has an idea. A super-dooper idea. Billie knows exactly what she wants to spend her pocket money on. Do you know what she is thinking?

  Billie turns to her mum.

  ‘Um, I think I’ll buy something else instead,’ she says.

  ‘Really?’ says Billie’s mum, surprised. ‘What about your Bunny Baby? I thought you really, really wanted one.’

  ‘Nah,’ Billie shrugs.‘I can wait until Christmas.’

  Billie finds what she wants and pays for it. She keeps the box on her lap all the way home.