Jennifer Jane meets the North wind 1/3

Barnacle Bill was having a lovely time. He was busy showing somebody round his beautiful new paddle steamer, which was something he always enjoyed doing. This time was extra special, because he was showing Jennifer Jane round and of all his visitors, he enjoyed his talks with her the most.

Jennifer Jane on her part, was just the tiniest little bit bored. After all she had been shown the Saloon, the Engine Room and all the beautifully polished brass fittings so many times before. In fact she was quite sure that she could have shown anybody round just as well as Barnacle Bill.

However, there was one part of the tour to which she always looked forward. At the end of every visit, Barnacle Bill would take her up to the Wheel House and let her pull the cord that worked the steam whistle. At last, the moment she'd been waiting for arrived.

"Perhaps you'd like to blow the whistle," said Barnacle Bill, "I've got a good head of steam in the boiler today, so it should make a lovely loud noise."

Jennifer Jane pulled the cord and the loud booming hoot of the steam whistle echoed round the clearing in the woods. As usual when visiting Jennifer Jane, Barnacle Bill had moored in the giant's pool and now as the echoes of the whistle died away, they could hear the giant speaking.

"I suppose all that noise means that Jennifer Jane is playing with your whistle again," he said. "I don’t know, I have to put up with the wind roaring round my ears all through the Winter and now, on the one day when there's a bit of peace and quiet, I have to put up with all that noise."

"I'm ever so sorry, Mr Giant," shouted Jennifer Jane, "I promise I won't do it any more this afternoon."

"That's all right," said the giant, who was really very kind hearted, "I hope you've had a nice time with your friend" and he closed his eyes and dropped quietly off to sleep.

"He doesn't mean to be rude, you know," said Barnacle Bill, "but he only stops crying salt tears into his pool when I'm moored here and he doesn't get much rest otherwise."
Jennifer Jane quite understood and as it was time for her to go home, she said her "thank-you" quietly to Barnacle Bill and went past the giant carefully so as not to wake him up.

While she was walking home along the woodland path, she thought about the giant's remarks. It certainly was peaceful and quiet. There wasn't a breath of wind at all. Even the leaves on the trees were perfectly still and when she walked out of the wood into the open space of her garden, not even a blade of grass was stirring.

That night she was woken up by the noise of Barnacle Bill's steam whistle booming in her ears. She sat up in bed. Surely it couldn't be, but it certainly sounded very much like it.

A strong North wind had started to blow during the night and it was roaring round the house and rattling the windows. It was certainly blowing very hard but it was making such a funny noise. It really did sound as if Barnacle Bill's steam whistle was being blown all round the house.

Next morning at breakfast time, Dad mentioned the funny noise the wind had been making. "Did you hear the wind last night?" he said. “It was blowing round the gutter pipes and making a noise just like a ship's siren."

‘Of course,’ thought Jennifer Jane, ‘that must be the reason’ and she thought no more about it.

However, the very next night she was woken again. This time, as well as the wind whistling in the gutter pipes, there was another noise. Something was tapping on her window. Jennifer Jane went over and looked out into the garden. On the lawn stood one of the goblins from the village in the wood. When he saw her, he waved a piece of paper and beckoned.

Jennifer Jane crept downstairs and went outside. The goblin had to talk quite loudly because of the noise the wind was making. "Barnacle Bill is having some trouble with his steamer and wants you to help," he said. "He's explained everything in this letter." He handed Jennifer Jane the piece of paper.

"Now I'm off to my nice warm bed," said the goblin.

"Me too," laughed Jennifer Jane and off they ran in opposite directions.

When Jennifer Jane was safely back in her bed again, she opened Barnacle Bill's letter.

Dear Jennifer Jane,

I am in terrible trouble with the steam whistle on my paddle steamer. Please will you come and help me as soon as you can with one of your clever ideas.

Love, Barnacle Bill.