Benji Yahoo And His Friends: The Disco

By Donal Magnier and Jayne Magnier

The summer break has ended, so Benji and his friends return to Crossom Dale School for a new semester. On arrival, they receive the news that the school is including a drama class in the new term. The pupils are thrilled with the news, especially when Principle Sannen announces that there is a disco on the forthcoming Friday to introduce the new drama teacher Sylvester Appleyard. Benji and his friends are really excited, for they have never been to a disco before. But when Benji's school rival, Victor, begins to taunt Benji on his lack of dance skills, plus, along with his wily friends, puts on an amazing disco dance display in the canteen, making the girls cheer loudly in admiration, Benji and his friends feel humiliated. The pressure is on. Can Benji, Denny, Quarter, Qui Qui and Millie learn to dance by Friday? ... Or will Victor and his wily friends laugh them off the dance floor?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Apr 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398441491

Donal Magnier

Donal Magnier was born and brought up in Cork City, Ireland, where he currently resides. Donal worked as a musician, playing drums with various rock and cabaret bands. He was a keen sportsman, excelling in field sports, such as soccer, hurling and Gaelic football. Nowadays, Donal relaxes playing golf, writing, reading and is a regular visitor to the cinema.

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About the Author

Donal Magnier was born and brought up in Cork City, Ireland, where he currently resides. Donal worked as a musician, playing drums with various rock and cabaret bands. He was a keen sportsman, excelling in field sports, such as soccer, hurling and Gaelic football. Nowadays, Donal relaxes playing golf, writing, reading and is a regular visitor to the cinema.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book:

To LAYLA and AARON O DRISCOLL.

Copyright Information ©

Donal Magnier 2022

Illustrated by © Jayne Magnier

The right of Donal Magnier and Jayne Magnier to be identified as author and illustrator of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits 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 title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398441484 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398441491 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

To the Editorial Team and the magnificent staff of Austin Macauley Publishers. To Vinh Tran and his outstanding Production Team. To Jayne Magnier (aged 14) for book illustrations, including cover picture. To the Cathedral Credit Union, Cork City. To Maria Hernandez and to Jordan Ahern.

Chapter One

When a great storm destroyed the town of Plimsborough, Marge Berkshire decided to help her dearest friends and four orphans who were left homeless. Marge and her husband Oswald invited all of them to come and live at their farm in Dashbourne, an area of the town of Qualham, on the south coast of England.

Their home in Dashbourne was called the Honeybarn. Situated on a crop farm, it became the home of Benji Yahoo and his friends.

It was September and time to harvest the crops. Everyone in the Honeybarn was celebrating. It was looking like this year’s crop would be the most successful ever in Dashbourne. Farmer Oswald Berkshire, along with his farmhands, Barney Velder and Harold Herwick, had an early breakfast, so they could be out in the fields at dawn to begin their tiresome working day, reaping the fruitful new crop.

Inside the Honeybarn, on this cool, dry, but fresh, Monday morning, Marge Berkshire and Betty Herwick, the wife of Harold, were busy in the kitchen making breakfast for their housemates, who were already comfortably seated at the dining room table, eagerly awaiting their morning meal.

There were three sisters; Gertrude, Molly and Sally Rosecomb, and their flamboyant friend, Lydia Charbray, who themselves were about to have an eventful day. These four ladies sold the farm produce in their store in the town centre. The store was simply called ‘Qualham Fruit and Veg’. They would have to clear a lot of space in the store, especially in the cellar, to make lots of room for the new season’s vegetables and fruit.

Also sitting for breakfast, at the magnificent oak wood dining table in the primary room of the Honeybarn, were Benji Yahoo, Denny Kinder, Quarter Quack, Quincy Quiaga, better known as Qui Qui, and Millie Herwick, daughter of Harold and Betty. They were ready for a delicious morning meal to prepare them for their first day back at school. The summer holidays had ended and it was time for a new semester at Crossom Dale School.

Betty and Marge emerged from the ever-aromatic kitchen, carrying trays of fresh oatmeal in warm milk and wheattie cube cereal.

We’ll be back soon with fresh tea and wholemeal toast, Betty said, placing her tray on the table.

Gosh, I am tired, Benji said, yawning and stretching his arms in the air.Going back to school after the beautiful summer we’ve had, seems almost cruel."

It was a beautiful summer, Millie agreed, settling down to her oatmeal. Apart from that wild storm that we had back in June.

What is most cruel about returning to school, is sharing a classroom with the world’s biggest and loudest mouth, Victor Creole, Denny grumbled, picking up the jug of fresh milk to pour over his wheattie cubes.

And his cronies, Quarter sighed. Cody Bilberry and the ‘Tracksuit Twins’, Lemon and Roddy Teal. They certainly know how to ruin your day.

Not to forget that ever-annoying nuisance, Mitzy Corriedale, Millie added, frowning at her spoonful of oatmeal, before she consumed it.

You shouldn’t be so glum, Gertrude said, warmly smiling at the five schoolchildren. "School is by far the best