Benny Boyle and the Weredolly: Benny Boyle Mysteries, #3

By Scott D Bryant

Polly Jameson has doll a special doll named Brown Matilda. Polly and Brown Matilda had many fun tea parties and spent many nights together. Then one night, Brown Matilda came to life and started breaking things.

Now Polly doesn't know what to do.

Looks like a job for Benny Boyle, Story Book detective!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scott D Bryant
• Release date: Jul 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536510232

Scott D Bryant

Living in Western Australia, Scott is a father of three children, all mentioned in the dedication. He enjoys listening to a variety of music and has a large collection of fiction and non-fiction books in his library.  Nathanael is the nine year old son of Scott who began the outline for this story. Like his father Nathanael has a passion for reading good stories and writing.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Naughty Dolly

POLLY JAMESON’S HEART sank as she walked into the kitchen. Another cup had been broken and her Brown Matilda doll was in the middle of the mess again. Oh no! she thought. This was the third time this had happened. She'd been warned that she'd be grounded next time.

It wasn't fair. Polly didn't know how the cups broke. Polly didn't know how Brown Matilda ended up in the mess. All she knew was her dad blamed her each time a cup was found broken because Brown Matilda was in the mess.

Well, Dad wasn't awake, so Polly had time to clean up and take Brown Matilda away before she could be in trouble. She picked up the doll, put her on the table and went to get the dustpan and brush.

She cleaned up just in time. No sooner was the lid of the rubbish bin closed, when her dad came into the kitchen. What're you doing my red-haired princess? he asked.

Oh, just cleaning a bit of a mess, she said.

That's very good of you. What kind of mess?

Just some stuff. Polly put the dustpan and brush away. What do you want for breakfast? she asked, trying to change the subject.

Are you offering to cook it for me?

Oh Daddy. Polly shook her head. I'm only nine years old. I'm not allowed to use the stove or anything like that. I was offering to get things out of the fridge for you.

I'll just have toast and—

CRASH! BANG!

The noise came from beside the pantry. Polly and her dad turned to it. There was a broken plate on the floor and Brown Matilda was sitting in the middle of the pieces.

Polly's dad looked at her sternly.

Polly could only shake her head.

Well? her dad asked.

It wasn't me, Polly said. Brown Matilda was on the table.

That's on the other side of the room, her dad said.

That's where I put her. Polly started to sob. It's not fair. I didn't—

Well how did this happen? That doll couldn't have just walked there. It's a toy.

If Mummy was here, she'd know.

Polly's dad shook his head sadly. I miss Mummy too, Princess, but preposterous stories like that—

What's preposterous?

Your story about—

No, what does preposterous mean.

Polly's dad sighed. It means silly.

Well why didn't you just say silly?

You remember what I said would happen if this happened again?

It's not fair. Polly started to cry. You were here. I was nowhere near the—

Alright. Polly's dad got the dustpan and brush and handed it to her. Clean this up, put Brown Matilda away and get ready for school.

Polly cleaned up the broken plate and took Brown Matilda to her room.

POLLY DRAGGED BROWN Matilda to her room by her leg. Sure the doll was responsible for getting her in trouble, Polly sat on her bed and frowned at the doll's smiling face. She thought about getting rid of it, but she couldn't. Brown Matilda had been given to her by Aunt Lucy. She explained the doll didn't have her mummy and was sad. Polly spent the nights having tea parties with Brown Matilda and comforting her. When it was time for bed, Brown Matilda comforted her in return. Now Polly didn't need comforting so much and Brown Matilda was just a doll, so she kept her on her drawers.

Polly looked at the doll's smiling face. Don't try and look innocent, she seethed. I know it was you. I don't know how, but it's the only explanation.

She laid the doll on her bed and went to her wardrobe for