Chapter 2

George, Julian, Dick, Anne and Timmy the dog had been met outside the station by their Aunt Molly and Uncle Charles.

"Look at how you've all grown!" exclaimed Aunt Molly, clasping each of them into an embrace. "And darling Timmy! We've a nice juicy bone waiting at home for you!"

"Wuff!" said Timmy enthusiastically. The Five were all very fond of Aunt Molly and Uncle Charles and had leapt at the opportunity to stay with them at their new house in Peterswood, which was much closer to Kirrin and their respective schools.

"I say, Julian, you're almost as tall as me!" said Uncle Charles as he helped load their trunks into his car. "You're all looking very well. Been playing any sports?" Uncle Charles had been a fine cricket player in his youth and was keenly interested in the sporting activities of his young nieces and nephews.

"Well, I'm in the school's cricket XI," replied Julian, "And Dick has just made the rugby team."

"Well done, lads!" said Uncle Charles, proudly.

"Actually, old George is probably the sportiest of us," said Dick. "Hockey and lacrosse. Apparently she's a bit of a demon on the field with a stick in her hand!"

"Oh, Dick!" laughed George but felt a burst of pride at being recognised for her achievements on the sporting field by her cousins. She hated being expected to do all the things girls did, like cook and sew and being able to excel at sports made her feel much better about attending an all-girls school. Her curly hair was still cropped short and she was wearing a jersey and jeans. And of course, her cousins knew never to refer to her by her hated full name, Georgina. No wonder the Find-Outers at the station had mistaken her for a boy!

"What about you, Anne?" asked Aunt Molly.

"Oh, no sport for me, I'm happy on my nature rambles!" smiled Anne. "But it is terribly exciting to watch George play. She really is a marvel!"

George smiled at her mild-mannered cousin. "Well, Anne is the finest cook in our cooking classes. I still can't even make a cup of tea properly!"

"Sounds like you're all doing marvellously," said Aunt Molly. "Well, I hope you shan't be bored during your stay here. Peterswood is a lovely town and I'm sure you'll find plenty to keep you occupied!"

"You might have some competition if any mysteries pop up, though!" chuckled Uncle Charles. "There are some local kids, the Five Find-Outers, they call themselves. Helped out in all manner of curious affairs, they have, by what they say down at the market. Even the local constabulary has been baffled at times by how they've managed it!"

"Well, it wouldn't take much to baffle PC Goon," replied Aunt Molly darkly. "A more inept officer of the law, I'm sure I've never met. Anyway, standing around here nattering isn't going to get Timmy his bone or food on the table for the rest of us."

With that, they piled into the car, with Timmy on George's lap, sticking his head out of the window. He gave a short bark at a Scottie dog being walked by a stocky young man along the road.

"Say hello, Buster," said the boy, waving at the car, and the Scottie obligingly gave a short bark in return.

"Why, there's one of those Find-Outers now," remarked Uncle Charles. "That's Frederick Trotteville, if I'm not mistaken."

"He seems friendly enough," said Dick.

"Well, I hope the others aren't like those annoying children we met at the train station who were trying to pat Timmy," said George.

"Oh, come, George!" said Julian. "They were being kind to him. If they had been teasing him or throwing stones, I could understand you being upset but they were just giving him a pat."

"You know how I feel about Timmy going to strangers," said George haughtily and would say no more until they arrived at Aunt Molly and Uncle Charles' house.