Read The Pinhoe Egg for Free Online Page B

“And they got sent home and that Joe Pinhoe got told off for being lazy. I was good. I helped,” she concluded. Only then did she scamper off with Dad’s message.
    Dad began wearily climbing the stairs. “Let’shope Gammer’s uprooted herself by now,” he said.
    But she hadn’t. If anything, she was rooted to the bed more firmly than ever. When Great-Aunt Sue said brightly, “Up we get, Gammer. Don’t we want to see our lovely clean new home?” Gammer just stared, mutinously.
    â€œOh, come on, Mother. Cut it out!” Uncle Arthur said. “You look ridiculous like that.”
    â€œShan’t,” said Gammer. “I said root downward and I meant it. I’ve lived in this house every single year of my life.”
    â€œNo, you haven’t. Don’t talk nonsense!” Dad said, turning red and shiny again. “You lived opposite the Town Hall in Hopton for twenty years before you ever came here. One last time—do you get up, or do we carry you to the Dell bed and all?”
    â€œPlease yourself. I can’t do with your tantrums, Harry—never could,” Gammer said, and closed her eyes.
    â€œRight!” said Dad, angrier than ever. “All of you get a grip on this bed and lift it when I count to three.”
    Gammer’s reply to this was to make herselfenormously heavy. The bare floor creaked under the weight of the bed. No one could shift it.
    Marianne heard Dad’s teeth grind. “Very well,” he said. “Levitation spell, everyone.”
    Normally with a levitation spell, you could move almost anything with just one finger. This time, whatever Gammer was doing made that almost impossible. Everyone strained and sweated. Great-Aunt Clarice’s hairstyle came apart in the effort. Pretty little combs and hairpins showered down on Gammer’s roots. Great-Aunt Sue stopped looking neat at all. Marianne thought that, for herself, she could have lifted three elephants more easily. Uncle Charles and four cousins left off loading the donkey cart and ran upstairs to help, followed by Uncle Richard and then by Great-Uncle Lester. But the bed still would not move. Until, when every possible person was gathered round the bed, heaving and muttering the spell, Gammer smiled wickedly and let go.
    The bed went up two feet and shot forward. Everyone stumbled and floundered. Great-Aunt Sue was carried along with the bed as it made for the doorway and then crushed against thedoorpost as the bed jammed itself past her and swung sideways into the upstairs corridor. Great-Aunt Clarice rescued Aunt Sue with a quick spell and a tremendous POP! which jerked the bed on again. It sailed toward the stairs, leaving everyone behind except for Uncle Arthur. Uncle Arthur was holding on to the bars at the end of the bed and pushing mightily to stop it.
    â€œRidiculous, am I?” Gammer said to him, smiling peacefully. And the bed launched itself down the stairs with Uncle Arthur pelting backward in front of it for dear life. At the landing, it did a neat turn, threw Uncle Arthur off, bounced on his belly, and set off like a toboggan down the rest of the stairs. In the hall, Nutcase—who had somehow gotten out again—shot out of its way with a shriek. Everyone except Uncle Arthur leaned anxiously over the banisters and watched Gammer zoom through the front door and hit Great-Uncle Lester’s car with a mighty crunch .
    Great-Uncle Lester howled, “My car, my car !” and raced down after Gammer.
    â€œAt least it stopped her,” Dad said as they all clattered after Great-Uncle Lester. “She hurt?” heasked, when they got there to find a large splintery dent in the side of the car and Gammer, still rooted, lying with her eyes shut and the same peaceful smile.
    â€œOh, I do hope so!” Great-Uncle Lester said, wringing his hands. “ Look what she’s done!”
    â€œServe you right,” Gammer said, without