Brian and the Denby-Bottom Dognappers Chapter 17 Talking Book

That Saturday morning at the shopping centre, Brian told the team that he might have a lead on the dognappers.   “I wish you would stop using the word lead", said Matthew. ”Anyway, what is a dognapper ?" Brian ignored him and carried on. "I think we need to go back to Denby Bottom farmhouse and investigate some more. Meet me outside the youth club tomorrow at two o’clock."

Brian had not been able to persuade his mother to change her mind about the part of Joseph.   That evening he was in the hall next to the church, changing into his Joseph costume. Looking in the mirror, he had to admit that the costume was not bad looking. Farmer Bolfrey was standing in the entrance porch to the church. He apologised to Miss Smith for the lack of sheep. Somebody had left a gate open in his field last night  and the sheep had wandered out. He had also brought a different donkey. "This donkey", he said, "is an incredibly well behaved donkey." It stood quietly whilst Miss Smith helped to lift Claire onto its back. It stood quietly whilst Brian held its reigns. It stood quietly whilst the choir and congregation sang "Hark the Herald Angels" and the vicar welcomed them.

As the first few lines of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" were sung, Miss Smith opened the doors and the donkey was obediently led by Brian into the church.   When Brian, the donkey and Claire got half way down the aisle, one of the boys in the choir let out a shout. Candle wax had dripped onto his hair and he could smell burning. His father, who was also in the choir, saw the smoke. He grabbed his son, ran him over to the font and pushed his head under the water. At exactly the same time as this, the donkey shook its reigns free of Brian's grasp and kicked out with its back legs. Claire, who had not been expecting this, did a kind of double somersault sideways into a pew and landed on top of Miss Smith who had been singing. Both went down with a thud, Miss Smith still grasping her hymn book in her hands. The organ stopped playing. The congregation stopped singing. The choir eventually stopped singing and sat giggling. The donkey lay down and closed its eyes. “The donkey’s dead,” thought Brian. Several men rushed forward to help. The vicar asked everyone to sit down, whilst the men helped Claire and Miss Smith from the church. Luckily both Claire and Miss Smith proved to be none the worse for their experience. "What about the donkey?", wondered Brian.