Googol Boy and the peculiar incident of the Great Quiz Trophy by John Michael (classic books for 13 year olds txt) 📕

A day which will be committed to posterity, these tumultuous events shall forever more be recorded in the archives of history. A day which, by its association with this Great Quiz, shall mark it out from all the preceding ones, and facilitate the remembrance of its exceptionality, and simultaneously demand introspection, and afford prominence to it. To be certain, a day which you will tell your grandchildren about as you roast chestnuts around an open fire on a frosty winter’s day. A day jam packed with enough adventure and hijinks to last you until you are old and grey and full of sleep.”

“You’re nod wrong there sir! I dink that I’ve had more dan enough eggcitement dank you very much!

“Amen to that!” exclaimed Barney.

Oh how we chuckled and backslapped each other until we were all quite giddy and drunk with laughter. Then, out of the blue, we were distracted by a slow moving shadow which drifted over us. We all looked up and were taken aback by the sheer brilliance of it all − it was such a wondrous sight to behold. The contraption seemed to be some kind of flying machine similar to a hot air balloon but much more elaborate and ornate. The top part consisted of two red and gold striped balloons held together with rope meshing over the top, while the undercarriage was made of steel and copper with a brass propeller spinning at the rear and a large funnel emitting steam at the front. But never you mind about all that now, as this was the beginning of a brand spanking new story − a tale that was sure to be even more peculiar than the story which you have just witnessed.