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.