Fizzlebert Stump (16 page)

All the Stinkthrottles’ money had gone on the cleaning. They couldn’t afford to buy new furniture and so they spent their time sitting quietly in the middle of their empty living room, on the two wooden chairs that had survived.

While Mr Stinkthrottle leant his head on one side and closed his eyes, Mrs Stinkthrottle just sat and muttered to herself. She was never quite right after Charles had sucked her head. Something in her was scared the lion would come back if she dropped some litter, even in her front room. Her eyes bulged and she kept looking over her shoulder.

For all I know, or care, they might still be sitting there now.

And that’s where this book ends.
Most
of the people are happy and
everyone
has learnt valuable lessons, as they should at the end of a book. Personally, I’m not sure what the lessons are exactly, but if you were paying attention then maybe you know.

Readers Say . . .

“It’s funny, fantastic and ridiculous. I would put it in my top five books of all time, and I’ve read a lot of books – probably at least three thousand.”

 
Milo, age 8

“Evil old people, a sea lion in a sparkly jacket and a lion called Charles with false teeth! What more could you want? I laughed my socks off.”

 
Florence, age 9

“This book is like the 100 best books in the world put together!”

 
Hugo, age 10

“A great story that made me fizz with laughter!”

 
Felix, age 12

Bloomsbury Publishing, London, New Delhi, New York and Sydney

First published in Great Britain in 2012 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP

This electronic edition published in June 2012 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Copyright © A.F. Harrold 2012

Illustrations copyright © Sarah Horne 2012

The moral right of the author and illustrator have been asserted

All rights reserved

You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise

make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means

(including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying,

printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the

publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication

may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781408830215

www.afharrold.com

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