“WonDERful, wonDERful, wonDERful!” chanted the others.

“Of course let her stay on if she’d like to,” said Aunt Fanny. “But as a girl this time, not a boy!”

George heaved a sigh of relief. That was all right then. She wouldn’t mind Berta as a girl, even though she was a silly girl!

“Woof!” said Timmy suddenly, and made everyone jump.

“He says he’s jolly pleased you’re staying, Berta, because now Sally-dog will have to stay too,” said Dick. “So he’ll have someone to play with as well!”

“Shall we really send the sergeant a book about this adventure?” said Anne. “Did you really mean it, Dick?”

“Rather!” said Dick. “Our fourteenth adventure — and may we have many more! What shall we call the book?”

“I know!” said George, at once. “I know! Let’s call it ‘FIVE HAVE PLENTY OF FUN’!”

Well, they did — and they hope you like it!

THE END

ENID BLYTON (London, United Kingdom, 11th August 1897 - London, 28th November 1968). Enid Mary Blyton was born on 11th August 1897 at 354 Lordship Lane, a two-bedroom flat above a shop in East Dulwich, South London. Shortly after her birth her parents moved to Beckenham in Kent and it was there, in a number of different houses over the years, that Enid Blyton spent her childhood. She had two younger brothers — Hanly, born in 1899, and Carey, born in 1902.

ENID AND HER FATHER, THOMAS CAREY BLYTON

Enid’s father, Thomas, was a cutlery salesman as a young man. He then joined his uncle’s firm selling Yorkshire cloth and, later still, set up his own business as a clothing wholesaler. He and his daughter had a close, loving relationship — both had dark hair and alert brown eyes, and shared an appetite for knowledge and a zest for life. Together they enjoyed nature rambles, gardening, the theatre, art, music and literature. When Enid had whooping cough as a baby, and was not expected to live till morning, her father refused to accept the doctor’s opinion and sat up all night with her, cradling her and willing her to survive.

Enid learnt a lot from her father, especially about nature. In her autobiography, The Story of My Life (1952), she wrote:

“...my father loved the countryside, loved flowers and birds and wild animals, and knew more about them than anyone I had ever met. And what was more he was willing to take me with him on his expeditions, and share his love and his knowledge with me!”

“That was marvellous to me. It’s the very best way of learning about nature if you can go for walks with someone who really knows."

Thomas also taught his young daughter lessons that would stand her in good stead in daily life. When she wanted to plant seeds in her own patch of garden he made a bargain with her, saying: