Bob and Nat were twins. Bob liked to play football and climb up trees. Nat liked to read books and paint pictures. Bob liked to play tricks whereas Nat was very quiet and kind. Bob would play a prank on someone and Nat would get into trouble for it!
Once Bob let the dog loose when there were guests for tea. The dog bounced in and there was chaos as his mother’s friends shrieked and stood up on chairs and half the crockery smashed on the floor. So, Papa thought Nat was responsible and scolded him.
Aunt Jessica came to stay for a few days. In the afternoon, Bob thought everyone was busy resting or watching TV. This was a good time to play a prank! He went to the shed at the back of the house and picked up all the gardening tools: a rake, a spade, a watering can, a pair of shears.
Aunt Jessica came out of her room and saw Bob carrying the tools upstairs.
“Now what is that naughty boy up to?” she wondered, “I had better find out.”
She saw him put all the stuff into Nat’s cupboard. “Oh! So that’s his trick, isn’t it? I’ll make sure he never plays a prank again!” she decided.
Quietly, she went looking for Nat and found him reading a book under a tree outside. She whispered something in his ear. Nat smiled and nodded.
The next day was a holiday. Papa had promised to clean up the garden. But when he went into the shed, he found only the lawn-mower was there. Where were the tools?
They were certainly not in the shed. Papa was very angry. He came into the house and began searching for them. And finally, he found them in Bob’s room.
“Bob, come here!” shouted Papa. Bob came along thinking he would now have a good time getting Nat into trouble again. He looked at the tools in horror! They were in his own cupboard, not in his brother’s! How did they reach there?
“I didn’t know you were so fond of gardening, Bob! From now on, you will help me in the garden every day. Pick up these things and come along with me,” ordered Papa.
Bob could say nothing at all! But he knew he had been caught out in his prank. Aunt Jessica and Nat smiled at each other. Bob won’t be playing any pranks for a long, long time!