This is a story about four red haired children, Jim and Susan, the twins and their younger sister and brother, Nicolette and David. Their grandfather had been first-class at tennis, so had their father before he had been shot in the leg and could not play anymore.Mr. and Mrs. Heath lived in Tulse Hill with their four children and Annie, the cook and general help and Miss Pinn, the governess, who they called Pinny. She also made the children's clothes as the Heath's were not that rich. Annie came from a circus family and this kept the children amused while growing up with her various acrobatics.
The children's father had given the twins tennis rackets for their birthday. During the holdiay while at their Grandfather's house, Grandfather saw that Jim had a good serve. Both Jim and Susan were the first to learn tennis with their father coaching them. This was when the twins were nine, Nicolette was seven and David was four. To encourage them in developing their tennis, the children's Grandfather gave them a little silver tennis house to collect money in to help pay for things to do with tennis. It was decided by the children that they should put some of their pocket money in it each week and any birthday money. But sometimes it was difficult, especially for Nicolette, who being a little lazy ended up regretting this for two birthdays and two Christmas's.
Again Jim and Susan were the first to get to join a tennis club, but it was Nicolette who through persistence and a little bit of deviousness got to join too. David, he enjoyed learning to play tennis, but his singing was his passion.
As the story evolves the children have quite a few interesting escapades, which Nicolette seems to get herself involved in, and of course a lot of tennis. Everyone supports and encourages each other to do their very best.
A wonderful book to lose yourself in and become one of those children.
