Knickers in a Twist: A Nana & Nell Story

A Nana & Nell Story

by Glenda Berger & Vivia Kesteven

For Sophia and Max, whose Nana said the silliest things.

N

ELL loved taking the bus into town

with Nana.

She liked looking out of the window and watching the people pass by.

Nana pulled Nell’s woolly hat down over Nell’s ears to keep them warm.

On the bus, Nell snuggled close to Nana.

A lady stepped onto the bus, but the big suitcase she was pulling behind her, got stuck in the doorway.

She PULLED and she TUGGED and she YANKED at the suitcase, until at last it burst free from the doors.

Grumbling under her breath, she marched passed Nana and Nell.

❝She’s got her knickers in a twist,❞ Nana whispered to Nell.

❝But how do you know Nana?❞ asked Nell.

❝Look at her face,❞ said Nana.

Nell noticed that the lady with the big suitcase had red-red cheeks.

Nell whispered to Wilf…

❝That’s what happens when your knickers are in a twist❞

At the traffic lights, Nell saw a police officer riding a beautiful, black horse.

The police officer had red-red cheeks.

Crikey!❞ thought Nell.

❝

❝How do you ride a horse…

…with your knickers

in a twist?❞

Nell watched in wonder as the police officer passed by, riding high on top of her horse,

with her knickers

in a twist?

At the zebra crossing Nell saw a post boy riding a shiny, red bicycle.

The post boy had red-red cheeks.

Crikey!❞ thought Nell.

❝

❝How do you ride a bicycle…

…with your knickers

in a twist?❞

Nell watched in wonder as the post boy passed by, pedalling his bicycle into the wind,

…with his knickers

in a twist?

Suddenly, Nell had a horrible thought.

She remembered someone very important, who had the reddest cheeks of all.

Cheeks as red as his hat.

Cheeks as red as his waistcoat.

Cheeks so red they glowed above his long, white beard.

❝But how does he get down the chimney?❞ wondered Nell.

❝And do the Elves know?❞ ❝Maybe he keeps it a secret?❞ ❝Maybe he suffers in silence?❞

NANA❞ shouted Nell.

❝

❝ Does Father Christmas have his knickers in a twist?❞

❝He has red-red cheeks,❞ frowned Nell.

Everyone on the bus looked at Nell.

❝Just like that lady, and she’s got her…

…knickers in a twist, you said so.❞

❝It’s a cold and windy day, that’s why the lady has red cheeks,❞ said Nana.

❝And it’s cold and windy in the North Pole, that’s why Father Christmas has red cheeks.❞

❝ Knickers in a twist has nothing to do with the colour of your cheeks, love,❞ smiled Nana. ❝It’s a saying about someone who gets cross, for no good reason.❞ ❝Phew,❞ sighed Nell. ❝Do I get my knickers in a twist Nana?❞ Nana pointed to Nell’s shoes.

❝Oh!❞ said Nell. ❝Like when I can’t do up my shoe-laces.❞

❝That’s right,❞ said Nana.

Nana and Nell got off the bus and walked to the shops.

They passed a window cleaner who was about to climb his ladder.

Nana nudged Nell.

❝I wonder?❞ she said.

Can you think of a time when you got your…

in a

?

This book belongs to:

A Na

na & N

ell St

ory

Nana and Nell are riding the bus into town, when Nana says the most extraordinary thing that leaves Nell with a most horrifying thought…

is Father Christmas in trouble? ©Glenda Berger 2022