Chapter 1: An astonishing surprise

"Oh, I do hope the train will arrive quickly." aid Bets. "We've not seen him for months and I want to know if he has anything exciting to tell us." The four friends and Buster were getting impatient. They were wauting for Fatty as his school ended later than the others' and he was coming home today.

"A mystery you mean?" asked Pip. "Don't be an idiot Bets.You can't expect him to turn a mystery out of thin air at once. He's not a magician."

"It's been rather dull without him," said Larry."I..." But before he could complete his sentence, there came a deafening roar and the train pulled up. Buster immediately scuttled under the seats, frightened. The children scanned the approaching people, expecting to see a familiar round face, grinning from ear to ear, but to no avail. There was a boy though, but he was too thin. The boy was rather good-looking, with dark hair and a pair of bright, hazel eyes. He looked around calmly and, to the other's astonishment, walked towards them.

"He can't be Fatty," whispered Bets. " He's not, not fat although he has dark hair." The 'stranger' grinned and opened his mouth.

"Hallo," he said. The others instantly recognized that voice. Buster scampered around him and barked madly, obviously seeking his master's attention.

"How come you're so thin? You don't look like Fatty," exclaimed Bets.

"I've been training for basketball and tennis for the whole school term, gone on a diet and stuff like that. I'm more or less quite fit now. Don't look so astonished, I really am Fatty, " said Fatty.

"But if you're thin than you're not Fatty anymore. I think you look better last time."

"I think you look a lot more handsome like that," said Larry. Pip stuck out his tongue.

"I don't think he looks handsome," said Pip. Pip was a little jealous. He secretly thought the other way. Fatty grinned. Pip scowled.

"You must have trained a lot if it could change you so much. I bet you ate a pea for every meal," teased Daisy

"No I didn't. But the training was rather tough. I felt pretty sore the first few days. So sore my brothers had to help me walk to the dormitory. But I soon got used to it."

"You can't have been that sore!" said Pip

"Well, you haven't tried training. Here's the program. One hundred push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, and running round the track six times. That's warming up. And there are drills, so on so forth. You could also try..."

"Whoa. Now you're talking," said Larry. "It's easy now for you I suppose?"

"No. I still puff and pant a bit. " He said, grinning. They arrived at Fatty's house and saw Mrs. Trotteville. They greeted her politely. Mrs. Trotteville stared at her son and blinked.

"I must say I can hardly regconise you Frederick. Have you been starving yourself?" Without waiting for an answer, She smiled and hugged him. Fatty did the same. He then explained everything all over again.

"Alright. Go and unpack your things first, then we will have lunch together. Your friends can come back again later."

"Yes mummy." he said. He went up to his room, dragging his stuff behind. The others followed him. They entered Fatty's room and to their astonishment, saw that instead of one bed, there were three and two extra writing tables and drawers. They looked at Fatty, who looked slightly amused. He said nothing but instead went on unpacking his things.

He laughed at their surprised faces and said, "You'll find out tomorrow." After unpacking, he showed them out of the house and grinned to himself. Back at the drive, the others were wondering what the beds were for. How many surprises he's got I really don't know." said Pip. 'What were the beds for?' The others thought.

"Perhaps he's got cousins staying for a while," said Larry

"Then I hope they will be nice," said Bets.

Soon, everyone was convinced that here were cousins of Fatty's staying over.

"We'll be able to see them tomorrow," said Pip. "Fatty said so."

"Hopefully," added Larry.