The Clumsies Make a Mess of the Airport

For R. J. P and D. M. P

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Check in, check out, shake it all about

Knickers

Drummond and the nose cones, part 1

Drummond and the nose cones, part 2

Copyright

About the Publisher

The Clumsies Make a Mess

The Clumsies Make a Mess of the Seaside

The Clumsies Make a Mess of the Big Show

The Clumsies Make a Mess of the Zoo

The Clumsies Make a Mess of the School

It was a Tuesday morning and Howard and the Clumsies were going on holiday. Howard was carrying a bag and feeling

Mickey Thompson was carrying a sombrero and staring at a vending machine while Allen the dog and Ortrud the elephant (carrying nothing), were looking a little bit

Howard glanced down at them.

‘There’s no need for

Allen and Ortrud nodded

‘We’re going to

‘Yes, indeed,’ said Howard. ‘Our holiday starts right here; the travelling’s all part of the fun.’

‘Oh, I can’t wait, I can’t wait,’ said Mickey Thompson. He stuck out his arms like wings and raced off shouting

‘COME BACK,’

went Mickey Thompson, racing back and

‘Ouch,’ said Howard.

‘Sorry, Howard,’ said Purvis, grabbing his brother before he could set off again. ‘He’s over-excited about the

‘We’re going to

‘PURVIS!’ said Howard, loudly. ‘Tell us which part of the holiday you’re most looking forward to.’

‘Travelling wisely,’ said Purvis, delving into his bag and producing a well-thumbed book called “The Wise Traveller”.

‘It has all sorts of useful information,’ he said, ‘but there were one or two things I wanted to ask you, Howard.’

‘Ask away,’ said Howard. Purvis opened the book and out

a minute,’ said Howard.

‘Yes,

a minute,’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘That’s my drawing; I did it last week.’

‘I know,’ said Purvis. ‘I borrowed it to use as a bookmark.’

‘I’ve been looking for it everywhere,’

‘We will,’ said Purvis, ‘as soon as we get back from holiday.’

‘Oh no we won’t,’ said Howard. ‘It’s unflattering.’

‘It isn’t,’ protested Mickey Thompson. ‘It looks just like you.’

‘I disagree,’ said Howard.

‘I think it’s

‘So do I,’ said Mickey Thompson.

‘But, but,’

‘Listen,’ said Purvis, tapping his book.

‘“The wise traveller is a calm traveller, remaining cheerful at all times and never bickering with his, or her, companions.”’

‘Sensible advice,’

‘Well,’ said Purvis, ‘there are chapters on safaris and camel trains and hot air ballooning, and what to wear

and what to pack and what to say, but I couldn’t find anything about airports.’

‘Nothing at all?’ said Howard, sounding

‘No,’ said Purvis, ‘so I don’t know what it is we’re supposed to do here.’

‘It’s simple,’ said Howard. ‘First we check in at “check in”. He pointed at a sign marked “Check in”, and everyone looked and

‘Check in,’

‘Then we go through security.’ Howard pointed at a

‘After security we leave the “landside” part of the airport, which is here, and go to the “airside” part of the airport, which is through there.’ Howard pointed at some double doors marked “Airside through here”, and everyone looked slightly

‘Then we wait until it’s time for us to

Mickey Thompson started

‘Not so

‘No, Howard,’ said the mice.

‘No, Howard,’ agreed Howard. ‘Please explain it to Allen and Ortrud, too.’

‘They heard you,’ said Purvis.

‘They’re still looking

‘We certainly are,’ said Purvis. ‘Ortrud wants to go snorkelling and Allen would like to try golf.’

‘Excellent,’ said Howard. ‘And I’m going to take you all to see the Armitage Museum.’

‘Oh,’ said Purvis. ‘Yes.’

‘Did you know,’ said Howard, ‘the Armitage Museum was founded by my great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother’s second cousin once removed, Miss Hortence-Howardenia Armitage?’