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1. Garry Give-Up and Fanny-Find-A-Way
   Story: Specially Written
2. The Cat That Was Forgotten
   Story: Specially Written

Garry-Give-Up and Fanny Find-A-Way

An article just had to be written about the weird names of Enid Blyton and it appeared in the 'EBSJ' (#10 & #11) but didn't include Garry Give-Up and Fanny-Find-A-Way.

Mind you there are plenty of odd names in EB's assortment of books and, after all, it's only the surnames in this particular case. The tale begins with Garry not wanting to visit the market because a recent storm has flooded the lanes and he thinks it mightn't be possible to make the journey. His mother's adamant however and insists her butter has to be sold and she also wants Garry to bring back some flour or they'll have no bread for tomorrow. Her son sets off but returns a few minutes later saying there are puddles in the lane and he'll end up getting very wet.

Mother is angry and threatens to punish him if he doesn't go and fetch her flour immediately; so groaning Garry sets off again. Down the lane he trots, across muddy fields, over the hill, and along towards the stream. The storm looks as if it's caused a small landslide and Garry doesn't think he'll be able to climb over the heap of stones let alone wade through the running water because it's so high. He's wearing wellingtons but they won't help in this case so what to do? If he returns without the shopping there's bound to be suffering of sorts.

The boy sits down thinking he'll have to stay there until the water recedes and that might not be for a week or so. Sadly he declares,

"I'm a poor, unhappy, boy with a deep stream in front of me and an angry mother behind me."

Suddenly, hearing a merry little song, he turns and spies Fanny Find-A-Way walking towards him — also carrying a shopping basket. When Garry explains his dilemma, Fanny laughs and tells him he always gives up when a problem presents itself, but Garry insists that she won't be able to get across the fallen stones or the stream either. Sally's obviously a bright little girl because she states that it's quite possible to get across both obstacles and she won't even get her feet wet!

Now, how has she worked that out? The next page or two reveal her method, which could be labelled as simply 'Plain Common Sense.'

The Cat That Was Forgotten

There can be only one colour for a cat named 'Sootikin' and he lives with the Jones family. Sootikin's a 'killer' in that he despatches any mouse daring to invade and eat the Jones's crumbs. Unfortunately, Hilda and Ronnie Jones aren't very fond of animals and their mother often shouts at the cat simply because he dares to mew round her feet when she happens to be cooking fish.

Now the Enid Blyton experts can start visualising this story's end when they learn of a boy who lives next door. There are a few 'Boys Next Door' in the author's library and this one is named 'Billy.' He things Sootikin is the finest cat in the world and always pets him if the animal happens to be nearby. He wishes and wishes his family had a cat but Billy's mother doesn't like dogs or cats in the house although she often feels it'd be quite handy if Sootikin visited a few times and killed the mice in her larder.

One day the Jones family are very excited because they're off to the seaside for a month. The children yell their good news over to Billy, both of them looking very excited in the picture. Billy's probably quite envious because he's never even seen the ocean and would certainly love to tag along with them. The day arrives, and at nine-thirty all the Jones's set off in a taxi for the station leaving Billy feeling quite lonely. The house next door will be empty for a whole month and presumably Sootikin has gone as well. However, it turns out they haven't taken him because there he is on the wall curled up in the warm sun. Billy's mother tells him the Jones's have probably arranged for a friend to visit and feed him each day.

This doesn't appear to be the case however because upon becoming a little peckish, Sootikin makes his way to the kitchen door for a meal but nobody answers his mewing. He looks round for an open window but they're all fastened and there are no mice to catch for his supper because he's already caught every single one. Poor Sootikin is destined to sleep outside that night, and it has to rain of course making him very wet indeed, even though he's under a bush. The family have completely disappeared and his basket is inside the house so he can't jump into it for a night's slumber.

This state of affairs lasts next day as well although Sootikin manages to partake of a 'marvellous' meal — an old kipper bone he happens to find ... and, oh yes, he also discovers a soiled crust which is chewed up immediately to keep him from death's door. The third day passes and we're now into the fourth with poor Sootikin looking considerably thinner. He's also caught a cold. An idea suddenly occurs ... that kind boy next door. He might supply him with something to eat. Jumping over the wall, Sootikin is fortunate enough to find Billy digging in his garden. Billy turns and hardly recognises the animal approaching him.

"Why, it's you Sootikin. Poor thing you look so thin and hungry. Has no one been feeding you?"

It's unfortunate that animals can't talk because I'm sure there's a lot they could tell us but all the cat can do is to mew pitifully and Billy understands. He rushes to tell his mother and in no time at all Sootikin is enjoying a meal of fish-scraps and milk. Billy asks if the cat could sleep in their kitchen until its cold is better and his mother nods because she's a kind woman despite not being all that fond of having animals in the house.

Sootikin is now very happy. He finishes the meal, washes himself, jumps into a bed-sized box supplied by Billy, and is soon asleep in far more comfortable surroundings than he's experienced in the last few days. In the morning an excellent breakfast is served up and, later, Sootikin again sleeps the night away ... but not all night. No indeed!

And why would that be?

Mice! He hears them in the larder and knowing full well these creatures aren't allowed anywhere near food, he sets to work. Three big mice and a little one are summarily dispatched and left in a row for Billy's mother to discover in the morning. There's a nice full-page picture of Billy, his mother and Sootikin standing in a doorway with four dead rodents lying on the mat.

There just might have to be an alteration to Sootikin's life-style in the near future.

---

#1:

Our policy is as follows: "Words and phrases based on proper names that have lost connection with their origins (alsatian dog, cardigan, cheddar cheese, french windows, wellington boots, yorkshire pudding and many others) are lowercase. (The Guardian)

As is typical of the illustrator, Fanny adequately reflects her positive attitude to life.

#2:

Larders often contained mice and it's a mystery as to why house owners of some years ago didn't simply block mouse-enterable holes so they couldn't get in.

Curiously the Jones's didn't ask Billy to feed the cat when they were away. In fact it looks as if they didn't bother arranging for anyone at all to perform the chore.

I wonder how cats enter locked larders to kill mice ('locked' because of the children).

Best picture? All Soper pictures fill the bill, but there's a nicely arranged depiction of Billy and Sootikin in the garden.

The cover illustration (same at front and back) doesn't look like a Soper effort. In fact it's signed 'Main.' Never heard of 'Main' before but sure enough the all-embracing 'Dossier' contains two relevant artists' in the 'Illustrators' section — Jean Main and Marion Main. Take your pick. These illustrations are hidden by default to ensure faster browsing. Loading the illustrations is recommended for high-speed internet users only.