Chapter 2: The arrival and some interesting information.
The next day, Fatty was very cheerful. The others thought it was because of his 'cousins'. It was half true.
"How many cousins have you got that are coming?" asked Bets.
"Err... None?" said Fatty
"But just you wait and see, ok? They'll be here any minute."
True enough, Mr. Trotteville' s big, black Rolls Royce pulled up and a lot of people came out. Fatty grinned at the other's astonished faces when they saw who stepped out. There were four boys and a girl. But the most astonishing thing was that two boys, I repeat, two boys that looked exactly like Fatty. Fatty walked towards them and gave the two each a brotherly hug. They grinned back at him.
"Meet my triplet brothers Francis and Franklin. This is my elder brother, Zachary. He's seventeen. And these are my little twin brother and sister, Rachel and Randall and they're nine." The others were shocked. To tell the truth, all of them looked very cheerful and friendly.
"What a rare family" thought Larry.
Zac had strawberry-blonde hair and dark blue eyes. The two triplets were, of course, exactly like Fatty. They were brunettes, with hazel-brown, bright and intelligent eyes. The twins had strawberry-blonde hair and big baby blue eyes. Their features made them look very lovable. Bets could not help smiling. She would have someone about her age to play with now.
"All right" said Mrs. Trotteville. "Welcome home. We've already got your rooms ready of course. Francis and Franklin will share a room with Frederick. Zac will have his own and the twins will have another. I want you all to unpack, and then Frederick will show you around a bit. Then finally, when your father comes home, we'll meet and celebrate with a homecoming dinner." She gave them each a hug and kiss.
After everyone unpacked, Fatty showed them around, Buster following and barking madly.
"Shut up Buster, have you forgotten your manners?" said Fatty in disgust.
"Are you sure these are your brothers? I thought you were an only child," said Bets. Fatty pulled Francis to him.
"Does he look my brother?" he asked, grinning. Bets turned red.
"Oh, Fred, I forgot to tell you. We've qualified for the audition callbacks," said Francis cheerfully. Fatty, however, looked superior.
"Ha! I already expected that," he said.
"There you go again, I wonder when you will change that old habit of yours," said Franklin. Fatty punched him. The others grinned.
"What auditions?" asked Larry.
"Oh, some studio people came to our school to look for students to auditions for an action movie. So we tried and got in," replied Francis.
"What are your names?" asked Randall suddenly.
"Oops. Forgot. Err… Larry, Daisy Pip and Bets. Bets will be company for you two." Fatty smiled at the twins.
"But Fatty, How come they were separated from you?" asked Bets
"Relation problems and stuff like that. I really can't be bothered to tell you. It's too long a story," Fatty replied. Larry, Daisy Pip and Bets looked at the triplets closely.
"Lets spot the difference. Whoever wins, gets an ice cream," said Larry solemnly.
"Idiot," said Pip.
But all the same, they looked. The triplets stood still grinning.
"I know! Fatty's hair twirls the other way," said Daisy
"Right first time," said Franklin. "I feel like a waxwork. Honestly! Couldn't you think of a better way instead of making us stand here like that?"
"I know! I know!" exclaimed Bets excitedly. "Frank has broader shoulders. It's quite obvious actually."
They also soon found out that Fatty was the youngest triplet.
"I thought that you were the oldest. You have fine qualities of a leader," said Bets, once again hero-worshipping.
Franklin pretended to choke.
"For goodness sake Bets, leadership qualities isn't everything. For example, ask Fred go for a 100m dash with me. He'll faint."
"Oh yes, Frank. Very funny. What about comparing your school results with me. Why! I am always top of form and you are always slightly above average…"
"I'm only two positions lower than you! Besides, I didn't study at all! You know I'm way smarter than you!"
"And not to forget..." but before Fatty could finish his sentence, Franklin pushed him onto the floor and soon the two boys were yelling and pummeling each other. Francis, the eldest triplet, sighed.
"Quarrelsome boys, those two," he said.
Mrs. Trotteville rushed up to see what the commotion was about, rather worried.
"Goodness! What's got into both of you! You're behaving like nine-year-old kids. Get up!" she said. The twins looked dignified.
"We don't behave like that," demanded Rachel.
"All right, six year olds then," drawled Francis.
"Hey! You watch your words Frans. Try me."
"Don't forget mother's here." Francis smirked.
"Right. Fight over. Cased closed." said Fatty, smoothing his hair. "Let's have lunch. I'm starving."