My Brother Bernadette: Part 5

By JACQUELINE WILSON, Illustrator DAVID ROBERTS

"His name is Bernard," I said. "You lot shut up, do you hear me? Stop calling him silly names."

I can't stand it when anyone teases my brother Bernard. I tease him sometimes, but that's different. I'm his big sister.

I'm big but I'm not that big. I'm not anywhere near as big as Big Dan. I couldn't make him shut up.

"Bernadette," yelled Big Dan, and ruffled BernardÕs hair and poked him in the chest. He poked him lots of times, until Bernard fell over. Again.

I pulled him up quickly, but the helper had seen me and asked if Bernard was all right.

I fidgeted. I know you're supposed to tell a helper if you're in trouble. I knew if we told, Big Dan and his mates might get even worse.

"I'm fine, thank you," said Bernard, in a very small voice.

We could fool the helper but we couldn't fool Mum.

Publisher: Mammoth, $12.95 Age group: 7 + years