The Bronson Escapades

By Alison Bellringer

MEET THE CHILDREN:

KENNEDY, 17 – THE FASHIONIST!

(Always telling others what’s wrong with their outfit)

CHLOE, 15 – THE BOOKWORM!

(Never Stops Reading)

EDWIN, 12 – THE EXPLORER!

(Often starts sentences with ‘did you know…’)

BRIDGET, 11 – THE PRETENTIOUS SNOB!

(Usually speaks in a false poncy accent)

AL, 9 – THE CHATTERBOX!

(Quite frequently refers to something outside the current context of conversation)

These, along with their mother and father, make up the Bronson family, and together they get into all sorts of trouble – from causing havoc in town, to being locked outside their own house! Join the ride as these five unlikely siblings embark upon some truly epic adventures of a lifetime; including: searching for their mother’s lost ring, helping the mayor, and even giving the garden fence a fresh coat of paint. Read along and see how Kennedy, Chloe, Edwin, Bridget, and Al manage to muddle along through everything that tumbles their way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781035826346

Alison Bellringer

Alison Bellringer has been writing short stories to share with friends and family for many years and always enjoys exploring her creativity when putting pen to paper. She is excited to have the opportunity to share her love of writing with others. Alison loves spending time with her pet dog, a Labrador x Huntaway called Smoky, teaching her tricks and taking her for walks. She lives in a small town in New Zealand near many beautiful parks and beaches. Alison has been playing trombone since about 2010, and euphonium from mid-2019, and always likes getting together with a few friends to ‘make a joyful noise’. She also enjoys a bit of photography when she gets the chance, especially if it involves taking pictures of sunsets.

Book preview

(1)

The Lost Ring

Mrs Bronson called all five of her children into the living room and told them to sit down in front of her, because she urgently needed to speak to all of them at once.

The children marched into the room in single file, instantly distracted from their individual pursuits of the afternoon. Kennedy, Chloe, and Bridget all squashed together on the sofa, and the boys (Edwin and Al) perched themselves rather precariously beside their sisters, one on each of the nearby armrests. When they were all conveniently lined up, and the Bronson children had eventually ceased their fidgeting and quieted down, Mrs Bronson addressed them again. She stood in the middle of the room, flapping her arms up and down in sheer distress (almost like what a duck would do in order to stretch its wings. Or maybe even a bit like when they can’t quite manage to take off and simply flutter about wildly in a state of utter frenzy). And you know what that looks like, don’t you? Like Mrs Bronson…

I’ve lost my engagement ring! Mrs Bronson shrieked, panicking (obviously she was in a rather high disarray of confusion already, since well before the children had even arrived on the scene). I was just doing a spring clean throughout the house. I thought I put the ring safely on the windowsill in my bedroom, and now it’s gone.

Chloe suddenly snorted through her nose. Rather loudly in fact. She was reading a book about a stupid princess (something really funny must have just happened to make her laugh so).

Really, Chloe! Bridget gasped, all proper-like. How rude! Mother is speaking to us about something important.

Her sister didn’t look up from her book though. And then Edwin spoke up for the first time (well, it was the first time during this conversation anyway, not for the first time in his whole entire life… he was twelve, after all).

Did you know… He began, that Mother’s ring is a real diamond? If we sold it, we could make lots of money.

Of course we know that! But we can’t sell Mother’s ring: it’s special, Kennedy snapped back. Anyway, it’s lost! And Al, you really shouldn’t wear that bandana around your wrist, it looks daft!

Plum pie is my favourite, Al answered, not seeming to realise that anyone was actually speaking to him. Especially with vanilla ice cream.

We’re not talking about ice cream. Or pie, Bridget announced pompously. We’re talking about Mother’s ring.

Yes, children, Mrs Bronson sighed. Can you please find it? I’ve looked everywhere I can think of…

I bet you haven’t looked in the barn, Edwin said. Did you know that there is a family of mice living in the loft?

YES! All the other children hissed back at him. Well, all except for Chloe that is; she was still reading about the stuck-up princess and her pet camel.

Thank you, dears, Mrs Bronson said. But upon vacating the room, it was hard to tell if she looked relieved, or was more nervous than ever about leaving the fate of her irreplaceable ring in the hands of her bizarre assortment of children.

Let’s check in the barn, Al, Edwin leapt off the sofa, almost doing the splits when he landed, in the mad rush to get outside.

Edwin, don’t be so silly! The ring’s not in the barn, Chloe interjected. Apparently, she could read and have some idea what was going on around her at the same time. Unlike Al.

What time is dinner going to be? He asked no one in particular. Are we having pie?

The same time it always is, Bridget rolled her eyes impatiently. And no, we’re not having pie for dinner.

Then why are we talking about pie? Al asked in bewilderment.

You’re the only one talking about pie! Kennedy said in despair.

How do you know? Edwin was answering Chloe’s sharp retort from earlier on. No one has checked.

The Bronson family lived in a large, two-storey house on a substantial block of land just a couple of miles from the nearest country village. They owned lots of chickens, ducks, and geese, two billy goats, three cats, one dog, five horses, and several milk cows. The barnyard was always teeming with activity, making it one of Edwin’s favourite places to be: there often seemed to be something new going on, and plenty of things for him to watch. Such as when a chicken accidentally hopped into a pig pen by mistake and got charged at by one of the outraged residents. Oh, I forgot to mention this earlier; they also had some pigs. Four sows, and one, two, three… eleven, twelve, thirteen… no, never mind that, all you need to know is that they each had lots of squealing little piglets. The Bronson household is a very noisy place, so you know (if you ever care to visit the place) that if it’s quiet, then be warned—there is probably something dreadfully wrong going on.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes! The children were just about to start hunting for the ring.

Let’s split up, Bridget was organising where everyone should go. Chloe, you go with Al. Kennedy, you’ll have to be with Edwin so that he doesn’t get distracted. And I can look on my own.

Hey! Who put you in charge? Kennedy protested. And scarves don’t really suit you, Chloe; they’re not your style at all. Now, a headband, for instance, might work because it would keep your hair out of your eyes while you’re reading.

Chloe was twirling a lock of hair between her fingers and holding the book right up to her nose with the other hand, peering demurely over her fake glasses (which she thought made her look more scholarly). She always said that she wanted to be a college professor or something when she was older, but Chloe would never get any work done if she always had her whole face shoved inside a book. Bridget often said that she held her books so close to her face that she was quite sure Chloe would go blind from squinting before she was ten years old. Well, Bridget had been saying that to her since she was old enough to speak (which was at least ten years ago already, not to mention the fact that her sister was already a lot older than that), so Chloe hadn’t taken any notice of that sentiment yet. And probably never would either. But going back to the problem of the missing ring: the children had just split up to start their search.

It’s not in here! Edwin complained, somewhat later. Did you know this bedroom used to belong to Kennedy?

It was the biggest bedroom in the house, aside from Mr and Mrs Bronson’s, and naturally the oldest got first pick.

You’ve been in here for all of one minute, Kennedy interjected abruptly. "And this is my bedroom. Everyone knows that."

Oh, well, Edwin shrugged. Did you know that I share a bedroom with Al? And we have a giant leopard poster on the far wall?

You told me that yesterday, Kennedy frowned. And the house only has five bedrooms, so you have to share with Al.

How come we have to share next door to Mother and Father, when you, Chloe, and Bridget all get your own bedrooms upstairs? He asked next.

Because we’re all girls, Kennedy explained. And we’re older than you.

Bridget’s not, Edwin countered, pouting slightly.

Well, too bad! That’s how it is. Now, are you going to help or not? Kennedy was on her hands and knees, shuffling through a pile of dirty clothes that had been scattered across the floor. The mess spread all the way from the end of the bed over to the edge of the wardrobe that stood in the furthest corner.

Fine, then, Edwin huffed, glancing about. He didn’t like being in his oldest sister’s bedroom: it was boring. Did you know…

Now, you might think the children are awfully thick, the lost ring being lost in their parents’ bedroom and all, and then going straight upstairs to have a look around. But really, at least their intentions were kind-hearted, to some degree anyway. And besides, Bridget wasn’t having any luck either and she was searching outside in the garden, just in case the ring had been knocked out of the window.

I felt sure it would be here… She was muttering to herself, but a chicken had followed her, squawking. It was obviously hoping for some yummy titbits or something. The chicken tossed her head and ruffled her silky black feathers in annoyance at coming all this way over from the henhouse and receiving nothing in return for her trouble.

Just look how dirty my pretty frock is now! And my hands… urgh! Bridget kept muttering on. I wonder how the others are getting along… Soon after, she skipped back inside to check on the progress of her brothers and sisters.

Bridget found Chloe and Al still in their parents’ bedroom (right where they had begun). Chloe was sitting on the edge of the bed (still reading) swinging her legs back and forth, while Al was peering through all the drawers in the bedside cabinets. He was pulling stuff out to look underneath, but then soon found that not everything would fit back in place again no matter how hard he shoved, attempting to slam the drawer shut before something could once again fall out on top of him.

Chloe! Bridget demanded, putting her hands on her hips (in order to look even more menacing than usual) from where she stood in the doorway, surveying the rest of the bedroom in all directions. Why aren’t you helping? Do you want to be the one telling Mother we couldn’t find her ring!?

It’s behind the dresser, Chloe barely looked up at the intrusion, not wanting to lose her place in the book. I’m just getting to the good part: the schoolteacher’s ship is just about to dock in the city, where she got posted a new job.

"What happened with Begonia and Parsley-Sauce? Did