Old Tom's Big Book of Beauty

Old Tom’s

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For my mother Gwen, who did her best First published in 2007 Copyright © Leigh Hobbs, 2007 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or ten per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) under the Act. Allen & Unwin 83 Alexander St Crows Nest NSW 2065 Australia Phone: (61 2) 8425 0100 Fax: (61 2) 9906 2218 Email: [email protected] Web: www.allenandunwin.com National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: Hobbs, Leigh. Old Tom’s Big Book of Beauty. For children. ISBN 9781741145229. 1. Old Tom (Fictitious character) – Juvenile fiction. 2. Grooming behaviour in animals – Juvenile fiction. I. Title. A823.3 Cover design by Leigh Hobbs and Sandra Nobes Text design by Sandra Nobes Set in 20 pt Bembo by Sandra Nobes Printed in China by Everbest Printing Co Ltd 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 www.leighhobbs.com Illustration technique: pen, ink and gouache

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Angela Throgmorton had always adored Old Tom, though even when he was a baby she had a feeling there was room for improvement.

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So, when he was a bit more grown up, Angela gave him a gift. It was a book, The Big Book of Beauty.

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Angela was thrilled when Old Tom read it from cover to cover. It wasn’t long before she noted some changes.

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For a start, Old Tom always seemed to be in the bathroom… splashing, drying and brushing.

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She could hear him whooshing, gargling, combing, cleaning and preening.

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Old Tom was certainly taking an interest in his appearance. ‘Let’s hope it lasts!’ thought Angela Throgmorton.

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the EL NATURALE

the FURBALL the SHOCKER the FURBALL SURPRISE

the FABULOUS

the SHOW-OFF

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Old Tom was keen to have a stylish new look, and The Big Book of Beauty was full of ideas.

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The Shocker was Old Tom’s favourite for shopping, whereas the Furball …

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felt just fabulous for afternoon tea with Angela’s friends. But alas it wasn’t only Old Tom’s appearance that was changing.

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Soon Old Tom’s diary was so full that Angela had to ring for an appointment. There was no time at all to help with the housework. Old Tom had beauty creams to apply…

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and strawberry-flavoured milk baths for his delicate complexion. Angela was tempted to take back The Big Book of Beauty. She had a feeling …

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The Big Book of Beauty had gone to Old Tom’s head.

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‘Perhaps it’s a stage he’s going through,’ thought Angela Throgmorton. Whatever it was, she was seeing less and less of him.

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Though one day she caught a glimpse on her way home with the groceries.

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And once, Angela spotted Old Tom at the Beauty Parlour. Another time, on the bus, he pretended not to see her.

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More and more, Old Tom was mixing with a different crowd. He went to the Opera and sang along in his splendid new suit.

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Old Tom was seen at party after party. He never waited to be invited. Meanwhile, he was treating Angela’s house like a hotel.

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Of course, he still came home for meals, to relax, to check his diary and to take a look at The Big Book of Beauty. ‘A pity he missed the section on good manners,’ thought Angela Throgmorton.

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Angela longed for her old Old Tom. Nowadays, she had to make do with late-night peeks while he enjoyed his beauty sleep, or with a picture or two in the social pages.

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He was often on the evening news. In fact Old Tom seemed to be everywhere …

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at openings, closings, a ship launch and even at the races.

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However, Old Tom was wearing out his welcome. After some fancy footwork while ballroom dancing, he was shown the door.

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Then, when his fleas went wild at the Beauty Parlour, Old Tom was thrown out …

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and told never to return.

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Worse still, at a rather important event, Old Tom forgot himself and put his foot in the cheese dip.

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Soon someone was feeling unwelcome EVERYWHERE.

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Old Tom had ignored the one who loved him most.

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By now Angela knew that The Big Book of Beauty had been a great big mistake.

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For Old Tom had always been perfect, just as he was.

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Well, he was certainly as beautiful as he was ever going to get.

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