Mr Badger and the Missing Ape
Mr
Badger
and the
Missing Ape
Leigh H
OBBS
First published in 2010
Copyright © Leigh Hobbs 2010
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ISBN 978 1 74237 418 5
Cover and text design by Sandra Nobes
Set in 15 pt Cochin by Sandra Nobes
Author photograph by Peter Gray
This book was printed in July 2010 at McPherson's Printing Group,
76 Nelson St, Maryborough, Victoria 3465, Australia.
www.mcphersonsprinting.com.au
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
For Susan Johnson
â my London companion
Contents
M
r Badger wasn't
just
the Special Events Manager at the Boubles Grand Hotel (pronounced
Boublay
). Because he had been there for so long and knew everyone, as well as just about every
thing
about the hotel, Mr Badger had all sorts of other important responsibilities. And one of the most important was keeping an eye on Algernon.
Algernon stood in the foyer of the hotel. For years, every morning when Mr Badger arrived at work, he would give Algernon a smile. âHow do you do, Algernon!' he would say as he walked past.
Mr Badger knew better than to expect an answer, of course, as Algernon was an ape. A very big ape. And he stood in a glass case.
Algernon had guarded the Boubles Grand Hotel foyer for years and years. Well, not really guarded; he was just there⦠peering out from his window on the world as if inspecting everyone who arrived at the hotel.
And maybe he was.
Children absolutely adored him, and whether they came to stay in the Boubles Grand Hotel or were just visiting for morning or afternoon tea, saying hello to Algernon was the first thing that every boy and girl wanted to do.
Sometimes there was such a crowd in the foyer that Mr Badger needed to gently organise the children into a queue, so that everyone got to have their own moment or two with Algernon.
Algernon was extremely popular.
Unfortunately, not every child was well behaved.
Sylvia Smothers-Carruthers would often cause trouble. Sometimes even a scene. Just because her grandparents, Sir Cecil and Lady Celia Smothers-Carruthers, owned the Boubles Grand Hotel, she would often try to push into the line.
