Felicity's door is unlocked. Having knocked twice Amelia and Granny P slowly push the door open and enter the cottage. It is dark, empty and unnervingly quiet.
'Felicity,' calls Granny P 'are you there my darling?'
There is no reply, Amelia pulls a candle from her silver clutch bag and gently lights it. It spits, glows furiously before slowly settling to illuminate the room. Beneath their feet sits a gigantic pile of bubble wrap, distressed and worn. The room feels somehow sad. Granny P heads for the door leading to the stairs and living room. Amelia follows close behind, glad to be with Granny P and not Florence. Granny P pushes open the old slatted wooden door to the living room. Everything in the room looks as it has been untouched for years, a little like stepping into a museum for lost souls. The door creaks behind them. The old Grandfather clock in the corner ticks rhythmically in the corner, the deep rich sound seem to fill the otherwise silent room. Amelia shivers.
'Felicity' coos Granny P.
She turns back towards the door and begins to climb the steep and narrow staircase. The stairs creek with each step. Amelia follows behind holding the candle higher ensuring Granny P has enough light. Although Granny P may be old, she is most certainly not frail, far too busy and curious to be frail. At the top of the stairs there are two doors, one to the right another to the left. Granny P knocks lightly on both doors and again calls out to Felicity. Nothing. Slowly the two women venture into the rooms hoping to find Felicity curled up quite unawares of the concern she is causing, but the rooms are empty.
'Good Lord' Granny P looks positively perplexed, 'where on earth could she be? How was she when you last saw her Amelia dear?'
'Well when I think about it she did look rather dazed.'
'Dazed?'
'Well yes, sort of a bit dishevelled and vacant really. Oh and her hair was covered in tiny little plastic bubbles, I remember thinking she looked most odd, but, well...I didn't really think too much about it I was rather busy.'
'Mmm. Very strange, I mean Felicity isn't the most, well... balanced of people I know, always seems to have something on her mind that one. Well it doesn't look like she is here, lets go and give Phoebe a little knock shall we?' Granny P begins to descend the staircase.
'Don't you think its a little late for that? I mean its gone two in the morning we can't possibly be waking Phoebe now, you know how fragile she is.'
'Oh nonsense, you know perfectly well that Phoebe loves a drama as much as you my dear, now come on.'
Amelia blushes, heart pounding like a small child who has been found out and follows Granny P reluctantly through the kitchen and out of the cottage. The two women follow the footpath leading to Phoebe's cottage. the moon glows brightly above and there is a light scent of smoke in the air. Eerie sounds seem to fill the skies and and an odd sensation that they are being watched sends shivers down Amelia's spine. On the approach to Phoebe's cottage the two women are surprised to find it glowing in candle light. Phoebe answers the door so soon after the first knock that Amelia almost jumps right out of her skin.
'Hello,' say Phoebe brightly 'I thought you would come.'
'Did you!' Granny P yelps quite startled.
'Do come in I''ll put the kettle on for a nice cup of tea, would you like a muffin ladies?'
Amelia and Granny P look at one another in disbelief.
'But Phoebe it's two in the morning darling what the devil are you doing up anyway?'
'Ah ha! Well do I have a surprise for you?' Phoebe giggles, wanting to keep Granny P and Amelia in suspense for much longer, and if it was any other time of day she would, without question, be keeping hold of this little gem of a secret until she was begged to reveal all. Looking at the pleading and exhausted little faces before her, she weakens, and with a wry smile she signals for them to follow. The two women tentatively follow Phoebe through to her dimly lit living room and there, splayed on the sofa, sleeping soundly, lies Bob.
'Good Lord!' Whispers Granny P.
'How long has he been here?' Amelia cries a little to shrill for such an hour. She turns to Phoebe who is now simply glowing with delight, and Amelia can feel her jealousy rise within her and at that moment she loathes Phoebe Frost, from deep within her she is in loathing for the woman Bob turned to in his need.
'Oh well, let me see, it must have been about twenty minutes ago. I was just about to retire having spoken with a very disturbed Clive Crookshank, you see he had got wind of Bob's disappearance and, well, poor man, it brought all that abduction business back to him, anyway where was I, oh yes, I had just put the receiver down and pottering around clearing and sorting as you do, when the door went. 'Whoever is that' I thought. You can imagine my absolute delight when I saw dear Bob standing there can you not?' Amelia looked over at Granny P who did not appear irritated in the slightest by Phoebe's ramblings which engendered even more bad feelings within Amelia.
'So I bring him in,' Phoebe continues, undeterred by Amelia's bitter glare, ...'guide him to the sofa, have to guide him see, because, well, lets just say he was in a bit of a trance really, poor man, whatever happened to him must have really shaken up. So I put the kettle on and go to warm some muffins and when I go though to the lounge he's asleep! Can you believe it?' Phoebe is positively gloating, even Granny P is amusing in noticing this. Bob stirs quite oblivious to preying eyes upon him, gives a little snort and repositions himself.
'Well, doesn't look like we'll get much sense out of this one tonight!' chuckles Granny P. Amelia has heard quite enough. Her mouth puckers, eyes narrow and after a deep intake of breath informs the two women that she must be getting back, she has, after all, responsibilities, she then flounces dramatically towards the door banging it on her way out just enough to show her contempt at Phoebe Frost and her wicked ways. Granny P and Phoebe look at one another, both attempting to bite back their amusement before losing themselves in to a wave of hysteria.
'Oh that Amelia, always wanting to be centre stage does that one!' cries Phoebe through her tears.
'I should say!' Granny P now quite hysterical looks towards Bob on the sofa where he stirs as if on cue, repositioning himself a tad too vigorously he slowly slides from the sofa landing in the most precarious heap on the floor where he continues to sleep. The women shriek in naughty delight, it has been quite a wonderful ending to an otherwise dramatic day.
'Now all we need to do is to find Felicity, but first we must sleep. Would you mind awfully if I took to your armchair Phoebe darling, only I don't think I have the energy to get up let alone wander home?'
'Of course my dear.' Phoebe fetches two blankets, positions one over Granny P and one over Bob who looks rather endearing with his bottom high in the air and his head rested on his folded arms.
'Goodnight dearies.' whispers Phoebe to an already sleeping Granny P and a sculptured looking Bob. Gently snubbing out the candles she closes the door and slowly climbs the steep and creaky stairs making way for her long awaited bed.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Chapter Eight. Party Progress
Laurence, Jack and Felix quietly yet eagerly, follow the path toward the hut down by the lake. Nicholas and Edward, not quite sharing their fellow searcher's enthusiasm, tag along slowly behind. It feels good to be in the great outdoors albeit slightly risky. The moon is full yet every now and then the clouds obscure its view inducing an eerie darkness. A light mist gently hovers just above the surface of the lake making for a rather dramatic scene. Shadows lurk swaying with the direction of the wind, and the rustle of trees and bushes add to the tension. Nicholas catches sight of something ahead.
'Look!' he whispers, his voice tight with tension, but it turns out to be only shadows.
'What , where!' Felix stops in his tracks Laurence slams into him, followed by Jack and the three of them fall clumsily to the mud soaked ground. Nicholas and Edward stop before joining the human dominoes and Edward lets out a guffaw.
'Thank lord for the bubble wrap.' flusters Felix, clearly annoyed. They pick themselves up and look in the direction of the perceived shape.
'Can't see a damned thing.' whispers Felix, in a rather bothered way. They move on quietly making for the rickety bridge. The bridge is slippery wet and they must tread carefully. The men proceed to cross, the bridge creaking underfoot, but as Edward crosses, the bridge gives way, and he crashes into the stream with an almighty splash, a branch besides him cracks and pebbles spread with gravel like crunch beneath his almighty weight.
'Good God Edward man! Cries Felix.
'Blinkin' heck Ed, you alright?
Nicholas, Laurence and Jack quick into action attempt to pull Edward, arms stretched above his head, expression contort with shock and bewilderment. In any other setting, an afternoon picnic perhaps, this would be a highly amusing event, but Edward's falling has only heightens the potential hazards which lay before them. Laurence and Jack continue to pull Edward whilst Nicholas gets around the back end of him down by the side of the stream and vigorously pushes him up toward the bank. He is indeed a rather heavy man and it takes a lot of pulling and pushing before he is finally up safely on the bank.
'Good men,' says Felix humbly realising with shame that he did not act in the heroic way he would have imagined, instead he became rooted to the spot. Edward felt remarkably heavy. The bubbles which he had unwittingly popped earlier along the walk were now brimming with water. He was cold and hungry and in desperate need of more cake.
'Come on,' Jack clearly eager to continue with the search, looks at Edward 'Do you feel OK Edward?'
Edward nods in reply, but in truth he wants nothing more than to return back to his cottage, to his cakes and his king sized bed.
The men approach the footpath ahead, eyeing the thick dark brambles, they hesitate, anxious they may not get through. Felix gets out the map, 'Mmm this is definitely the way, anyone know of an alternative route to avoid these ghastly brambles?'
'We could take the path to the left but its a fair trek, and even then I'm not sure it will take us straight to the Orchard.' says Laurence.
'Come on,' say Nicholas 'if we get down low we should just about get through without too many problems, time isn't really on our side chaps.'
Without further ado they fall to their knees. A precarious sight seeing they are all wrapped like little cocoons in the bubble wrap. They begin to crawl along on their bellies, accompanied by a rhythm of pops as thorns stab the tiny bubbles.
'At last!' whispers Felix, a note of triumph in his voice. Nicholas huffing, puffing and popping behind makes his exit, followed by Jack.
'Help!'
'Oh dear God and Mother of Mary what on earth is up now man?' Felix bobs down, peering through the brambles he spots Edward who is well and truly stuck. Every bubble, it seems, has been pierced and now lodged with thorns.
'The man's too blinkin' large' cries Felix.
Laurence is behind Edward and he is trying with all his might to release Edward from the brambles.
'Come on Edward push for your life mate.'
'I'm bleedin' stuck! Can't move an inch!' Edward hisses.
'Well you're going to have to try Edward we can't stay here all night, you'll freeze your billy balls off and so will Bob if we don't find him, now come on, on a count of three I want you to use all the strength you can muster and get free, one, two, three.'
Edward heaves, pulling and struggling with the bubble wrap he manages to move a knee, an arm and his belly slides a fraction only to come to a sudden halt. An overhanging bramble has now become embedded in the bubble wrap.
'Its no bleedin' good, I'm completely and utterly stuck!'
Laurence manages to back out of the brambles. He is as nimble as they come. 'Right, Edward stay where you are, I'm going back to fetch some gardening tools, don't panic, we'll have you out of there for sure.'
'Stay right here? Stay right here? are you barkin', where the bleedin' heck do you think I'm going for God sakes!' Edward curses.
'Its alright Ed, Laurence will have you out in no time, I'll stay here, you two go on we'll catch up with you.' Nicholas looks towards Jack and Felix, and they reluctantly head off toward the footpath parallel to the orchard.
Laurence is fast and nimble on his feet, heading off toward the village. He runs with new sense of purpose busying himself with thoughts of what tools would be best suited to untangling poor Edward; but no sooner is he clambering over the remains of the rickety old bridge something brushes his arm, losing his footing he stumbles and falls into a dip below a large old Oak before stopping short of possibly the most exquisite sight he has ever seen. He gasps. His heart momentarily stops. Eyes wide, jaw loose and tongue slightly protruding, he is slumped in wonderment, drinking in the sheer beauty before him.
Jack and Felix stay close. There is an intensity now their party has reduced in numbers and the silence offers time for reflection. Felix thinks about Bob and what could have happened. He thinks about the Smashers and how when Clive Crookshank came home he didn't mutter a single word for months, not even to Felix his closest friend. It had shocked and saddened Felix to see how much Clive had changed. Clive had become a recluse for those few months, not answering the door to anyone. Only Granny P was allowed access to him and it was Granny P who was responsible for slowly integrating Clive back into the community. It was a slow process Clive would help dig the allotment at the back of Granny P's cottage. He would take walks with her as the sun came up and again just as the sun went down. If anyone tried to talk to him it was Granny P who would gently request that Clive be left in peace. Eventually Clive made contact with Felix and piece by piece he shared his story and Felix would listen for hours, not saying much, after all what could he have said. But as his story unfolded Clive came slowly out of the shell he had built around himself and today his spirit is almost restored. It is only his eyes that will tell you that something very precious was taken away from him ,as it is his eyes that will let one know that he is deeply appreciative of the wonders of each day, each moment. 'Clive is a stronger man for it' thinks Felix with a stirring of pride and humbleness. However, Felix, now trembling cannot remove the image that taunts him daily. The image of Clive bound to a large wooden post in the centre of the Orchard clearing. The image of his dear friend being fed beetles and worms each day for what seemed like a lifetime was almost too much to bare. Clive had spoken of a women Smasher named Augustine Agarthorpe, she was the only sect member to have shown him any decency and care, and it was Augustine Agarthorpe who had clambered up to Clive one morning before day broke and set him free. 'She was my saviour' Clive had told Felix and Felix was touched by his friends kind words, even if they were directed toward a Smasher.
As the foliage thins out it is possible to see glimmers of activity within the orchard. An orange glow caresses the spaces beneath the dark silhouettes of the apple trees. What sounds like chanting, echos around the two men. Jack begins to feel a calm aura surrounding the orchard. Felix, trapped in his own pessimism is edgy with uncertainty. He is contemplating using physical force if the need arises. Just then a rustling sound erupts and the branches to their right suddenly shake wildly before they they part reveiling the open sky, and before they can say or do anything the most remarkable thing happens. Jack and Felix are gently lifted just above the ground and then slowly higher and higher until they are in full view of the orchard and its new inhabitants. Apart from the sounds of their own hearts furiously beating, there is a silence. A soft, yet exhilarating silence.
'Look!' he whispers, his voice tight with tension, but it turns out to be only shadows.
'What , where!' Felix stops in his tracks Laurence slams into him, followed by Jack and the three of them fall clumsily to the mud soaked ground. Nicholas and Edward stop before joining the human dominoes and Edward lets out a guffaw.
'Thank lord for the bubble wrap.' flusters Felix, clearly annoyed. They pick themselves up and look in the direction of the perceived shape.
'Can't see a damned thing.' whispers Felix, in a rather bothered way. They move on quietly making for the rickety bridge. The bridge is slippery wet and they must tread carefully. The men proceed to cross, the bridge creaking underfoot, but as Edward crosses, the bridge gives way, and he crashes into the stream with an almighty splash, a branch besides him cracks and pebbles spread with gravel like crunch beneath his almighty weight.
'Good God Edward man! Cries Felix.
'Blinkin' heck Ed, you alright?
Nicholas, Laurence and Jack quick into action attempt to pull Edward, arms stretched above his head, expression contort with shock and bewilderment. In any other setting, an afternoon picnic perhaps, this would be a highly amusing event, but Edward's falling has only heightens the potential hazards which lay before them. Laurence and Jack continue to pull Edward whilst Nicholas gets around the back end of him down by the side of the stream and vigorously pushes him up toward the bank. He is indeed a rather heavy man and it takes a lot of pulling and pushing before he is finally up safely on the bank.
'Good men,' says Felix humbly realising with shame that he did not act in the heroic way he would have imagined, instead he became rooted to the spot. Edward felt remarkably heavy. The bubbles which he had unwittingly popped earlier along the walk were now brimming with water. He was cold and hungry and in desperate need of more cake.
'Come on,' Jack clearly eager to continue with the search, looks at Edward 'Do you feel OK Edward?'
Edward nods in reply, but in truth he wants nothing more than to return back to his cottage, to his cakes and his king sized bed.
The men approach the footpath ahead, eyeing the thick dark brambles, they hesitate, anxious they may not get through. Felix gets out the map, 'Mmm this is definitely the way, anyone know of an alternative route to avoid these ghastly brambles?'
'We could take the path to the left but its a fair trek, and even then I'm not sure it will take us straight to the Orchard.' says Laurence.
'Come on,' say Nicholas 'if we get down low we should just about get through without too many problems, time isn't really on our side chaps.'
Without further ado they fall to their knees. A precarious sight seeing they are all wrapped like little cocoons in the bubble wrap. They begin to crawl along on their bellies, accompanied by a rhythm of pops as thorns stab the tiny bubbles.
'At last!' whispers Felix, a note of triumph in his voice. Nicholas huffing, puffing and popping behind makes his exit, followed by Jack.
'Help!'
'Oh dear God and Mother of Mary what on earth is up now man?' Felix bobs down, peering through the brambles he spots Edward who is well and truly stuck. Every bubble, it seems, has been pierced and now lodged with thorns.
'The man's too blinkin' large' cries Felix.
Laurence is behind Edward and he is trying with all his might to release Edward from the brambles.
'Come on Edward push for your life mate.'
'I'm bleedin' stuck! Can't move an inch!' Edward hisses.
'Well you're going to have to try Edward we can't stay here all night, you'll freeze your billy balls off and so will Bob if we don't find him, now come on, on a count of three I want you to use all the strength you can muster and get free, one, two, three.'
Edward heaves, pulling and struggling with the bubble wrap he manages to move a knee, an arm and his belly slides a fraction only to come to a sudden halt. An overhanging bramble has now become embedded in the bubble wrap.
'Its no bleedin' good, I'm completely and utterly stuck!'
Laurence manages to back out of the brambles. He is as nimble as they come. 'Right, Edward stay where you are, I'm going back to fetch some gardening tools, don't panic, we'll have you out of there for sure.'
'Stay right here? Stay right here? are you barkin', where the bleedin' heck do you think I'm going for God sakes!' Edward curses.
'Its alright Ed, Laurence will have you out in no time, I'll stay here, you two go on we'll catch up with you.' Nicholas looks towards Jack and Felix, and they reluctantly head off toward the footpath parallel to the orchard.
Laurence is fast and nimble on his feet, heading off toward the village. He runs with new sense of purpose busying himself with thoughts of what tools would be best suited to untangling poor Edward; but no sooner is he clambering over the remains of the rickety old bridge something brushes his arm, losing his footing he stumbles and falls into a dip below a large old Oak before stopping short of possibly the most exquisite sight he has ever seen. He gasps. His heart momentarily stops. Eyes wide, jaw loose and tongue slightly protruding, he is slumped in wonderment, drinking in the sheer beauty before him.
Jack and Felix stay close. There is an intensity now their party has reduced in numbers and the silence offers time for reflection. Felix thinks about Bob and what could have happened. He thinks about the Smashers and how when Clive Crookshank came home he didn't mutter a single word for months, not even to Felix his closest friend. It had shocked and saddened Felix to see how much Clive had changed. Clive had become a recluse for those few months, not answering the door to anyone. Only Granny P was allowed access to him and it was Granny P who was responsible for slowly integrating Clive back into the community. It was a slow process Clive would help dig the allotment at the back of Granny P's cottage. He would take walks with her as the sun came up and again just as the sun went down. If anyone tried to talk to him it was Granny P who would gently request that Clive be left in peace. Eventually Clive made contact with Felix and piece by piece he shared his story and Felix would listen for hours, not saying much, after all what could he have said. But as his story unfolded Clive came slowly out of the shell he had built around himself and today his spirit is almost restored. It is only his eyes that will tell you that something very precious was taken away from him ,as it is his eyes that will let one know that he is deeply appreciative of the wonders of each day, each moment. 'Clive is a stronger man for it' thinks Felix with a stirring of pride and humbleness. However, Felix, now trembling cannot remove the image that taunts him daily. The image of Clive bound to a large wooden post in the centre of the Orchard clearing. The image of his dear friend being fed beetles and worms each day for what seemed like a lifetime was almost too much to bare. Clive had spoken of a women Smasher named Augustine Agarthorpe, she was the only sect member to have shown him any decency and care, and it was Augustine Agarthorpe who had clambered up to Clive one morning before day broke and set him free. 'She was my saviour' Clive had told Felix and Felix was touched by his friends kind words, even if they were directed toward a Smasher.
As the foliage thins out it is possible to see glimmers of activity within the orchard. An orange glow caresses the spaces beneath the dark silhouettes of the apple trees. What sounds like chanting, echos around the two men. Jack begins to feel a calm aura surrounding the orchard. Felix, trapped in his own pessimism is edgy with uncertainty. He is contemplating using physical force if the need arises. Just then a rustling sound erupts and the branches to their right suddenly shake wildly before they they part reveiling the open sky, and before they can say or do anything the most remarkable thing happens. Jack and Felix are gently lifted just above the ground and then slowly higher and higher until they are in full view of the orchard and its new inhabitants. Apart from the sounds of their own hearts furiously beating, there is a silence. A soft, yet exhilarating silence.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Chapter Seven. Party Plans
Having listened to Daisy and Lucinda's garbled and dramatic story about the goings on at the orchard, Amelia at once sets to work on organising a search party. Amelia is secretly rather excited, her life has been somewhat dull during the past few months 'there's nothing quite like a good old drama to keep one balancing with thrill on the edge of life itself,' she thinks gleefully. During the 'Clive Crookshank abduction', or the CCA as Felix Goodhugh referred, Amelia was the scaffolding that kept the community from crumbling. 'What a fine woman that Amelia is!' Daisy would often hear them cry, but Daisy was not entirely without awareness, she knew how her mother thrived on the suffering of other's.
'She's a twisted old witch.' Daisy confessed to Lucinda one afternoon. Lucinda thought Daisy a shocker for saying such a dreadful thing, but of course she kept the thought very much to herself. However, as Lucinda's eyes follow Amelia's fussing and sorting, she notices the sparkle in her step and the glossiness of her aura and remembers Daisy's little outburst with an uncomfortable sensation that maybe, just maybe Daisy was right after all.
'Yes, yes get on to it right away....yes very well....fine...rightyho.......that will be most kind of you yes....cakes?...of course we shall dear Phoebe...ta ta for now then.' Amelia puts the receiver down with such force that it is apparent a rush of activity is to commence.
'Right everyone, listen up,' Amelia bellows at the top of her voice rendering everyone completely still and silenced.
'I have spoken to Phoebe who is enlisting a search party as we speak. Now we need a batch of cakes, plenty of bubble wrap, torches, compass and Daisy and Lucinda we will need a map from you girls indicating the exact spot where Bob was last seen. Felicity be a darling and fetch your wonderful fruit loaf recipe and Florence, Granny P has the torches would you mind going over to help her carry them across. Now remember we will not let them beat us we shall stand strong and united. Bob WILL be found, Bob will be FOUND.' Her voice trails off as if she were merely playing with the words. She always did like the sound of drama in her voice. It struck her as a strong and rather masterful sound.
Daisy rolls her eyes 'Did I really come from that womb?' she thinks eyeing her mother with a look of sheer exasperation.
Felicity, still in a state of shock and despair, slowly heads towards the door, but realises she has forgotten what has been asked of her. She turns toward Amelia hoping for a recap but Amelia has disappeared into the kitchen, pots and pans ringing with purpose. She stands for a few seconds gazing at the girls who are gathering up their pens and paper talking quickly, again with purpose. 'Where is my purpose?' she thinks and with that, body numb, mind empty she leaves the Dipple household.
'Won't be long my darling.' says Florence giving Lucinda a kiss on the top of her glistening head before she leaves for Granny P's cottage. Daisy thinks Florence rather pathetic.
'Won't be long my darling...' mimics Daisy, her face screwed into an annoyingly childlike ball of scorn.
'Don't be so nasty Daisy! She's upset, we all are,' Lucinda whispers to Daisy giving her a sideways scowl before getting back to the map. They are detailing the route to the orchard from Daisy's house and have every single colour felt tip pen scattered about them. Lucinda is methodical in her approach, detailing the twists and turns with as much accuracy as possible. Daisy follows Lucinda with her pen adding colour to the houses, trees, the old hut down by the lake, and to Lucinda's irritation she adds two Drakes to the lake, as she colours in the plumage Lucinda has a desire to stab the back of Daisy's hand with her pencil, but refrains telling herself that Daisy is merely jealous.
Over the next 2 hours the arrival of the volunteer search party begins with Felix Goodhugh
'Hello chaps!' he cries with a mixture of purpose and sheer joy to, once again, be involved in a mission of adventure and heroism.
'He's as bad as her,' Daisy whispers to Lucinda eyeing her mother still.
'Shh!'
'Oh don't be such a goody goody Luce, she is an embarrassment of all embarrassments, can't anyone see just how ridiculously excited she is by this, today of all days? My mother is a freak!'
'Yes maybe so, but you do want Bob back don't you Daisy? She's doing her best'
'Doing her best running a freak show you mean, she'll be getting everyone wearing name tags and luminous hats with crucifixes strapped to their backs next.' sighs Daisy with eyes screwed just enough to show contempt.
'BBB' cries Felix so spontaneously Lucinda lets out a shriek.
'What....'
'Bring Back Bob!' Felix is looking delighted with himself.
'Good God I've heard it all now.' Daisy looks totally aghast.
The door opens and in walks the upright Nicholas Saddleback clutching a pedometer, hip flask and a stash of bubble wrap. Daisy is momentarily delighted by his presence, quickly altering her expression to a more serious tone, not wanting to emulate her god forsaken mother.
'Ah Nicholas so kind of you to come,' soothes Amelia.
'Not at all, we will find him don't you worry' Nicholas looks around him searching for cakes that were usually prepared for such occasions. This was, after all, the reason Nicholas had agreed to join the party, Bob's so called abduction had secretly pleased Nicholas due to, well lets just say he didn't much like Bob, not really.
Finally Laurence and Jack the paramedics arrive accompanied by Edward Cloppit, who most certainly came for the cakes. Granny P and Florence, seconds behind, carry the torches and a bundle of bubble wrap. Everything is going according to plan except, that is, for the unknown whereabouts of Felicity and her fruit loaf recipe.
'Has anyone seen Felicity? She should be here now with her fruit load recipe, she's taken rather long time!' Amelia shouts from the kitchen.
'We need to get going soon.' Felix replies, I don't think fruit loaf will be all that missed, we have important business to attend to.'
'But....' Edward Cloppit cuts himself short, silently cursing Felix.
'Blinkin' old Fool!' he whispers under his breath.
'Girls, map?' Amelia calls.
'All ready Mrs Dipple.' Lucinda carries the map towards the kitchen. A feeling of importance takes hold and she blushes.
'Right it is now exactly 23 hours and 56 minutes. Men, we know what we are doing, we must stick together and remain united. Bob Bluffel must be found. Bubble wrap?'
'Check'
'Compass?'
'Check'
'Torches?'
'Check'
'Fluids?'
'Check'
'Map?'
'Yeah....I mean check' sighs Daisy who is rather sleepy now.
'Cakes?'
'Almost,' Amelia chuckles with pride 'another 3 minutes and they will be as golden as you like.'
'Right, men, any questions?'
'Err... do you think we should look at the map over a bit of cake maybe?' Nicholas keen to get his teeth into the soft hot sponge shrugs hopefully, shoulders remaining hunched for a touch too long.
'Ah, go on then,' preens Amelia carrying through the most delightful batch of fairy cakes still steaming tenderly. The party stands still, breathing in the sweet deep aroma looking lovingly all the while at Amelia who is simply glowing with pride.
'God she really is sick!' whispers Daisy, quite disgusted.
'She's a twisted old witch.' Daisy confessed to Lucinda one afternoon. Lucinda thought Daisy a shocker for saying such a dreadful thing, but of course she kept the thought very much to herself. However, as Lucinda's eyes follow Amelia's fussing and sorting, she notices the sparkle in her step and the glossiness of her aura and remembers Daisy's little outburst with an uncomfortable sensation that maybe, just maybe Daisy was right after all.
'Yes, yes get on to it right away....yes very well....fine...rightyho.......that will be most kind of you yes....cakes?...of course we shall dear Phoebe...ta ta for now then.' Amelia puts the receiver down with such force that it is apparent a rush of activity is to commence.
'Right everyone, listen up,' Amelia bellows at the top of her voice rendering everyone completely still and silenced.
'I have spoken to Phoebe who is enlisting a search party as we speak. Now we need a batch of cakes, plenty of bubble wrap, torches, compass and Daisy and Lucinda we will need a map from you girls indicating the exact spot where Bob was last seen. Felicity be a darling and fetch your wonderful fruit loaf recipe and Florence, Granny P has the torches would you mind going over to help her carry them across. Now remember we will not let them beat us we shall stand strong and united. Bob WILL be found, Bob will be FOUND.' Her voice trails off as if she were merely playing with the words. She always did like the sound of drama in her voice. It struck her as a strong and rather masterful sound.
Daisy rolls her eyes 'Did I really come from that womb?' she thinks eyeing her mother with a look of sheer exasperation.
Felicity, still in a state of shock and despair, slowly heads towards the door, but realises she has forgotten what has been asked of her. She turns toward Amelia hoping for a recap but Amelia has disappeared into the kitchen, pots and pans ringing with purpose. She stands for a few seconds gazing at the girls who are gathering up their pens and paper talking quickly, again with purpose. 'Where is my purpose?' she thinks and with that, body numb, mind empty she leaves the Dipple household.
'Won't be long my darling.' says Florence giving Lucinda a kiss on the top of her glistening head before she leaves for Granny P's cottage. Daisy thinks Florence rather pathetic.
'Won't be long my darling...' mimics Daisy, her face screwed into an annoyingly childlike ball of scorn.
'Don't be so nasty Daisy! She's upset, we all are,' Lucinda whispers to Daisy giving her a sideways scowl before getting back to the map. They are detailing the route to the orchard from Daisy's house and have every single colour felt tip pen scattered about them. Lucinda is methodical in her approach, detailing the twists and turns with as much accuracy as possible. Daisy follows Lucinda with her pen adding colour to the houses, trees, the old hut down by the lake, and to Lucinda's irritation she adds two Drakes to the lake, as she colours in the plumage Lucinda has a desire to stab the back of Daisy's hand with her pencil, but refrains telling herself that Daisy is merely jealous.
Over the next 2 hours the arrival of the volunteer search party begins with Felix Goodhugh
'Hello chaps!' he cries with a mixture of purpose and sheer joy to, once again, be involved in a mission of adventure and heroism.
'He's as bad as her,' Daisy whispers to Lucinda eyeing her mother still.
'Shh!'
'Oh don't be such a goody goody Luce, she is an embarrassment of all embarrassments, can't anyone see just how ridiculously excited she is by this, today of all days? My mother is a freak!'
'Yes maybe so, but you do want Bob back don't you Daisy? She's doing her best'
'Doing her best running a freak show you mean, she'll be getting everyone wearing name tags and luminous hats with crucifixes strapped to their backs next.' sighs Daisy with eyes screwed just enough to show contempt.
'BBB' cries Felix so spontaneously Lucinda lets out a shriek.
'What....'
'Bring Back Bob!' Felix is looking delighted with himself.
'Good God I've heard it all now.' Daisy looks totally aghast.
The door opens and in walks the upright Nicholas Saddleback clutching a pedometer, hip flask and a stash of bubble wrap. Daisy is momentarily delighted by his presence, quickly altering her expression to a more serious tone, not wanting to emulate her god forsaken mother.
'Ah Nicholas so kind of you to come,' soothes Amelia.
'Not at all, we will find him don't you worry' Nicholas looks around him searching for cakes that were usually prepared for such occasions. This was, after all, the reason Nicholas had agreed to join the party, Bob's so called abduction had secretly pleased Nicholas due to, well lets just say he didn't much like Bob, not really.
Finally Laurence and Jack the paramedics arrive accompanied by Edward Cloppit, who most certainly came for the cakes. Granny P and Florence, seconds behind, carry the torches and a bundle of bubble wrap. Everything is going according to plan except, that is, for the unknown whereabouts of Felicity and her fruit loaf recipe.
'Has anyone seen Felicity? She should be here now with her fruit load recipe, she's taken rather long time!' Amelia shouts from the kitchen.
'We need to get going soon.' Felix replies, I don't think fruit loaf will be all that missed, we have important business to attend to.'
'But....' Edward Cloppit cuts himself short, silently cursing Felix.
'Blinkin' old Fool!' he whispers under his breath.
'Girls, map?' Amelia calls.
'All ready Mrs Dipple.' Lucinda carries the map towards the kitchen. A feeling of importance takes hold and she blushes.
'Right it is now exactly 23 hours and 56 minutes. Men, we know what we are doing, we must stick together and remain united. Bob Bluffel must be found. Bubble wrap?'
'Check'
'Compass?'
'Check'
'Torches?'
'Check'
'Fluids?'
'Check'
'Map?'
'Yeah....I mean check' sighs Daisy who is rather sleepy now.
'Cakes?'
'Almost,' Amelia chuckles with pride 'another 3 minutes and they will be as golden as you like.'
'Right, men, any questions?'
'Err... do you think we should look at the map over a bit of cake maybe?' Nicholas keen to get his teeth into the soft hot sponge shrugs hopefully, shoulders remaining hunched for a touch too long.
'Ah, go on then,' preens Amelia carrying through the most delightful batch of fairy cakes still steaming tenderly. The party stands still, breathing in the sweet deep aroma looking lovingly all the while at Amelia who is simply glowing with pride.
'God she really is sick!' whispers Daisy, quite disgusted.
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