The Swamp Boggles Read Online Free Page A

voice floated out of the kitchen. “Oh, let me tell her! Let me!” he was begging Mrs B.
    â€œSomething tells me it’s going to be bad,” Sophie muttered, her heart sinking as she heard the delight in her brother’s voice. She braced herself and went into the kitchen.
    Mrs B was holding out a plain white plastic bag. “Here it is, duckie!” she beamed. “I was in Jack’s shop this afternoon, and he’s just got a job lot of them in. He was telling me how much his granddaughter, Daisy, loves hers. All thegirls at school are playing with them, apparently! You really should have said.”
    Sophie felt a flicker of horror as she thought about what all the girls in her class had been playing with for the last two weeks. No, surely Mrs B couldn’t have bought her a… a…
    â€œIt’s a Fluffy !” Anthony crowed, unable to keep quiet a second longer.
    Sophie opened the bag and peered inside. Big blue eyes stared back at her out of a round plastic baby face. She cautiously took the creature out of the bag. It had a tiny rosebud mouth, long eyelashes and a body shaped like a fat baby, but it was covered in fluffy pale pink fur.
    â€œPress the button on its tummy – go on!” Mrs B urged.
    Reluctantly, Sophie did.

    â€œMama!” it said in a voice like a dalek. It blinked its eyes and stared at her. “Feed me!”
    â€œIt even comes with its own bottle,” cooed Mrs B. “Well, what do you think, Sophie?”
    Sophie thought the Fluffy was the grossest, yuckiest thing she had ever seen in her life, butshe forced herself to smile. “Thanks, Mrs B. It’s… it’s great.”
    She saw the horror and sympathy on Sam’s face as she gingerly held the Fluffy at arm’s length. It was still staring at her with its ridiculously big eyes. “Mama! Baby hungwy! Feed me, Mama!”
    Anthony chortled. “Go on, sis! Feed it!”
    Cringing inside, Sophie took the bottle out of the bag and pressed it to the Fluffy’s lips. Immediately it began to make slurping, sucking noises. Then it blinked again. “Wanna cuddle! Wanna kiss-kiss. Wanna…” It seemed to pause and look at her. “WEE-WEE!”
    Sophie’s heart dropped like a stone as Anthony and Sam both collapsed laughing, united for once. How could Mrs B have given this to her? There was no way she could take itinto school! She could just imagine how the boys who she played football with at break time would laugh at her too.
    â€œHonestly, you two!” huffed Mrs B at Sam and Anthony. “Don’t laugh at Sophie’s lovely present.”
    Anthony and Sam sniggered.
    Mrs B frowned. “That’s enough. Now come and help me get the ironing things out. I really must get it done before teatime. Sophie and Sam, can you fetch the laundry basket, iron and starch spray from the utility room, and Anthony, can you get the ironing board out for me, please?”
    Anthony sighed, but Sophie and Sam helped willingly as Mrs B fetched biscuits and drinks for them all.
    â€œWhat’s this spray for?” Sam asked curiously,taking the iron and starch spray to Mrs B. “My mum and dad don’t spray our clothes when they iron.”
    â€œStarch, duckie?” Mrs B said, plugging the iron in. “It takes out the creases and stiffens the clothes.” She chuckled. “When I was a girl I used to use so much starch on my father’s shirts they could stand up all on their own. Now, I’d better get some hangers and get started.”
    Looking interested, Sam started to read the back of the can.
    â€œWeirdo alert!” Anthony muttered under his breath as Mrs B bustled out of the room to fetch the hangers. “Only you could be interested in some dumb ironing spray, Sam.”
    Sam flushed, quickly putting the spray down again.
    â€œShut up!” Sophie hissed.
    Anthony grinned. “Why? What will you do? Hit me with your