Paddington Here and Now by Michael Bond Read Free Book Online Page A

think Paddington was serious about getting married, do you?” asked Judy when she and Jonathan were on their own.
    “I can’t picture him carrying anyone over the threshold if that’s what you mean,” said Jonathan. “He’d be bound to drop them, or else get stuck halfway through the door; besides, he’s got to find someone first.”
    “It’s hard to picture anyone wanting to share kippers in bed with him,” said Judy, reaching for the paint. “It would be a bad start to married life. I think we’re fairly safe.”
    By the time Paddington got back from the market, they had both made so many masks it was hard to find anywhere to sit. Having tried his paw unsuccessfully at painting one while standing up, Jonathan suggested that Paddington might look in the garage for some old pieces of frayed rope sothat he could make a wig for himself.
    Mrs. Bird set to work hollowing out the pumpkins, and as soon as that job was done, having left Jonathan and Judy to put the night-lights inside them, she turned her attention to the cooking, leaving Paddington to look for some way of dying his wig black.
    One way or another everyone was kept busy, but if the first half of the day passed quickly, waiting for it to get dark seemed to take forever.
    In order to pass the time, Paddington retired to his bedroom to write some Halloween poems while he was trying out his costume.
    “I’m ready for the trick-or-treat part,” he announced when he came back downstairs at long last.

    With the addition of a black pointed hat similar to the one on the cover of Mr. Gruber’s book, everyone agreed he made a very good witch indeed.The finishing touch was a set of white fangs Judy had made for him out of some orange peel turned inside out.
    “I wouldn’t like to meet you on a dark night,” said Jonathan when they went out into the front garden.
    “I thought perhaps we could start with Mr. Curry, as he’s nearest,” said Paddington.
    “Do you think that’s wise?” asked Judy.
    “I’ve written a special poem for him,” said Paddington. “I don’t want to waste it.”
    “You must like living dangerously,” said Jonathan. “I doubt if you’ll get anything out of him. It would be easier to get blood out of a stone.”
    “Pigs might fly!” agreed Judy.
    “I don’t suppose he’ll recognize me in my outfit,” said Paddington optimistically, as he set off through the front gate, leaving the others to hide behind the fence.
    “I wouldn’t bank on it,” called Jonathan.
    But he was too late, for Paddington was already out of earshot.
    Having pressed Mr. Curry’s bell push severaltimes, Paddington hid in the shadows, carefully keeping the lantern behind him so that his face wouldn’t show.
    “Yes?” barked the Browns’ neighbor as he opened the door a fraction and peered through the gap. “Who is it?”
    “Hurry, hurry, Mr. Curry,” called Paddington, disguising his voice. “Give me a gift, and I’ll be swift.”
    “Go away, bear!” exclaimed Mr. Curry. “How dare you! Any more of that nonsense and I shall call the police.” And with that he slammed the door in Paddington’s face.
    “That settles it,” said Jonathan when they heard what had happened. “It’s time for tricks, not treats. I found a good one in your book while you were in the garage this morning. You tie one end of a length of cord to someone’s front doorknob. Then you pull it tight and tie the other end to a convenient tree.
    “After that you ring the front doorbell and hide. If it’s done properly, when they try to open the door they think it’s stuck. I’ve brought some cordin case it was needed.”
    “It’ll serve him right for being so mean,” said Judy.
    “I’ll do it,” said Paddington eagerly. “Bears are good at knots.”
    He seemed so keen on the idea, the others didn’t have the heart to say no. Instead, they kept watch while he hurried back to Mr. Curry’s house armed with the cord.
    Tying it to the doorknob took rather