Stories in this issue:
- The Jinx From St Jonah’s (artist Mario Capaldi)
- The Haunting of Form 2B (artist Rodrigo Comos) last episode
- Gwen’s Stolen Glory
- Make-Believe Mandy (artist Ana Rodriguez)
- Merry at Misery House (writer Terence Magee)
- Do-It-Yourself Dot (artist Alf Saporito)
- Dora Dogsbody (artist José Casanovas)
- Gail’s Indian Necklace (artist Phil Gascoine)
- Bird-Girl Brenda (artist Phil Gascoine)
- A Dream for Yvonne (artist Miguel Quesada)
- Angela’s Angels (artist Leo Davy)
Katie Jinks is kicked out of her new job, for having inadvertently set off the fire alarm, scared all the customers out of the shop, and soaked her boss in the bargain! The reason she took that job in the first place was to be able to buy herself a swish new swimming costume, which she now can’t afford – but at least she can buy some patches in the store – “It’ll be a little bit of profit for them, to make up for all the trouble I caused!” Of course with Katie it’s never that easy – she is the 100,000th customer to the store and gets a prize as a result – reluctant though the manager is to grant it! This turns out to have been a really good, solid two-parter, with plenty of gags and plot twists. There’s even one at the end – the costume she’s been after is a sunsuit, which shouldn’t be used to swim in – so she has to give it to her mother and resort to patches after all!
“The Haunting of Form 2B” comes to an end in this issue. The girls are indeed in big trouble in a small boat, and nearly drown – but it is not Judy Mayhew’s intervention that saves them. The ghost teacher warned a lock-keeper who helped to rescue them just in time. Just as well, as in trying to save them (as she thought) it was actually Judy who was acting massively recklessly and would have got them all drowned. Very much like the curse in Macbeth! But because Miss Thistlewick was able to save the girls in the end, her spirit is now at rest and she can leave them in peace to enjoy their modern lives.
Everything is working out beautifully for Gwen and her Stolen Glory. The grateful parents of the girl that everyone thinks she rescues are buying a house for her and her family to live in, and Gwen’s talent has won her a place at drama school now that she has been given some attention (and now that injured Judith is out of the way). The only risk to Gwen is if Judith ever regains her memory – and Gwen is far-gone enough now to be happy to prevent that from happening.
Make-Believe Mandy has to pass more tests set by Miss Madden. What has complicated things is that Mandy’s cruel family have twigged that there is something going on, and have tried to horn in on what might be coming to her.
We find out in this week’s episode that Merry’s friend Carla is still alive, but being kept hidden so that Merry is psychologically tormented along with being ostracised by her friends. But Merry finds out too, soon enough, and risks quite a lot to get Carla out of where she has been hidden. Miss Ball is even more of an enemy of Merry’s, after that…
Gail finds out something important about her necklace, and now knows what she needs to do to appease the vengeful spirit Anak-Har-Li that lives in it. Of course getting nearer to her goal isn’t easy, as the spirit seems quite happy to hurt people that stand in its way – and possibly Gail’s Aunt Marjorie might soon count!
“A Dream for Yvonne” develops further on its miserable course – she is picked up by a children’s welfare officer who is sceptical about her claim to have lost her memory, so he takes her to a reformatory, which she will be hard-pressed to escape from. Writing this, I am reminded of the fact that Miguel Quesada also drew Tammy‘s “Little Miss Nothing” – a similar Cinderella story.
A Resource on Jinty: Artists, Writers, Stories 
Hi, I collected Jinty many moons ago until my step mother threw them out. I wonder if you could perhaps help, in the early editions there were recipes, I am looking for the fudge recipe if I remember correctly some 40 years later it was either issue 7,9,11 or 14. If you do have a copy of the issue please will you share the recipe with me, it was by far the best tasting fudge ever, I remember the ingredients just not the quantities. Thanks a million.
Wow! I will look as soon as I can and let you know.
Very well remembered! It was in issue 14, assuming you are referring to the “Helensburgh Toffee” recipe in this issue. The recipe says:
1 pound granulated sugar; 1 small can condensed milk; 4 tablespoons milk; 2 ounces butter; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence; 1 dessertspoon syrup.
Place butter and milk in a pan,melt butter. Add sugar and syrup and stir until dissolved, then pour in the condensed milk. Boil mixture, stirring gently.
To check it is cooked remove a teaspoon of mixture and place in a saucer of cold water. if when rolled between the fingers it feels like putty then it is ready. If it dissolves in the water it needs more cooking and if it cracks it is over-cooked.
Remove from heat and allow to settle, then add vanilla essence. Beat mixture until thick. Grease a tin and pour in the mixture. Mark into squares when almost set.