 Matty, Annie, Anna, Buddy,Brad,Christine,Mary,Sun Fun,Just Me,Sarah, Andra It was a hot day in Krumble. The Sun decided it would chase all the clouds away and concentrate on simply seeing how many people he could encourage to lie out and sunbathe, or take a drive to the beach, or make large jugs of lemonade to quench their thirst, or most anything that folk like doing when it is a Public Holiday and there's no school, no work, and all day to enjoy themselves. Nobody was just so glad there was no homework to catch up on and she was thinking of going over to Layton's where her friend Porky lived and seeing what he was doing on this Holiday day. As she started towards the front door from the dining room, she felt a soft furry paw touch her hand and there was Bamboo, her small Panda friend wanting to know where she was going and if he could go with her. " I want to see if Porky's doing anything fun today, Bamboo, and of course you can come with me. I'll just tell Mom where I'm going and then we'll go." Nobody's mother was very agreeable to their going to Layton's. Most everyone in town knew Pigmus Senior, and Pigmus Junior, aka Porky, and noone in Krumble had a problem with their children playing with the Laytons. Nobody was very happy when her mother gave her a ten dollar bill and said, "I don't know where you'll go but you might need to eat something, so here's some pocket money to take along". "THANKS, Mom," said Nobody, " I promise I'll be careful with it. I don't know if Porky will be able to play or what we will do, but we will probably want to eat!" Bamboo agreed by nodding his head vigorously. They found Porky and his brothers and sister finishing up doing some house chores, like emptying the garbage, cleaning up their rooms etc. Mrs Layton greeted Nobody and Bamboo with a big warm smile. " Come in, come in. The children are just about finished doing their work and I told Porky he could catch the 10.15a.m. bus to Sunnyvale,(that was a large city south of Krumble), and go to the Mall there. Maybe you'd like to go along with him? I believe Snorkel and Dress are meeting him at the bus stop" Bamboo jumped up and down as high as a little Panda CAN jump up and down and Nobody replied, "We'd LOVE that, Mrs Layton. Bamboo has never been to a Mall before". "Well," said Mrs Layton,"I heard the Sunnyvale Mall is supposed to be a good one and one of the larger ones in the State. I heard they have four levels of shops and a Food Center on the third Floor with all sorts of food from different Countries. You'd probably like that, huh, Bamboo?" She turned to Bamboo who was so excited at the thought he could only clap his paws together, nod his head and squeak his excitement. Porky came rushing into the living room and waved a friendly hoof at the visitors. " Hi you two. I'm going to Sunnyvale Mall today, you want to come?" So all three headed for the bus terminal where they found Dress and Snorkel already there with their bus tickets in their hands. It was one of those places where you could put in your money and get a ticket from a machine instead of having to buy it on the bus. " I don't have any change" said Nobody, " My Mom gave me a ten dollar bill and the machine won't give change" "Don't worry", said Snorkel, "I've got change in my pocket and I can lend it to you till you get some". He went to the machine and got two tickets and Porky got his and then they waited for the bus to arrive. "Looks like we're not the only one going shopping today, unless people have family in Sunnyvale and are going to spend the Holiday with them." remarked Dress. Indeed, there was quite a crowd of adults and children lined up waiting for Bus No.32. In fact it was so crowded the friends got seperated and Nobody sat Bamboo on her lap so he wouldn't get stepped on. Porky found himself sitting by a thin, bony lady dressed in a beautiful green silk sari. She must have come from India because the women over there wear saris. He was rather nervous and hoped she wouldn't start talking to him. What a hope! "Do you live here?" the lady asked. She had a different accent and Porky wasn't sure at first what she had said. "Oh, er- oh er, yes," he stammered. "I've lived in Krumble all my life". "I recently moved to Krumble", continued the lady, and Porky had to strain to hear her because she spoke very softly and he wasn't used to her way of speaking. "My new home is 42 Trickle Lane. Do you know where that is?" " Oh YES," replied Porky right away,"my friend Holly lives there but her number is 15. Do you like Krumble? How long have you lived here?" As the bus wound its way through the country roads and out onto the main highway, Porky and the lady from India whose name was Mrs Das, had a great visit. He was facsinated as she told him stories about her childhood in Bombay in South India. Such things he'd never heard about before and he was very interested in hearing how the people over there worshipped the Cow. Cows could wander wherever they liked in the streets and no one would touch them or make them go away because they were thought to be holy. Nobdy and Bamboo were squashed rather tightly by a very fat lady who had a double chin, and when she spoke it wobbled so much that Bamboo tucked his face into Nobody's shoulder so she wouldn't see him trying not to laugh. Nobody looked anywhere but at the lady's chin so she too, wouldn't burst out laughing. The fat lady's name was Martha Fellows, and she informed them she was going shopping in Sunny- vale to buy birthday presents for her twin nieces who would be celebrating in two days' time. "How old will they be?" asked Nobdoy politely. "Let me see," Mrs fellows thought a moment."I think they will be ten. But they act like they're fourteen the way they behave and I really don't know what to buy them. So much for being what they think of as an old fogy" She laughed loudly and her chins wobbled so much Nobody watched mesmorized as they jiggled and shook and she couldn't see any neck at all and wondered if the lady had to lift her chins to wash her neck. But of course, if she didn't HAVE any neck there wouldn't be one to wash. Nobody and Bamboo were glad they wouldn't be too long on the bus because it was hot and they were already feeling stifled sitting next to Mrs fellows and being squished against the side of the bus. They wished they had had the aisle seat. Snorkel and Dress had managed to get two seats together and were talking about where they wanted to go when they reached the Mall and which stores to see first. When the bus reached Sunnyvale there was a rush for the door and everyone tried to get off first, which didn't work and created a huge squash of bodies getting entangled and making things slower in the long run. Eventually the three friends all got together and set off up the road towards the Mall. There was a LARGE sign saying, SUNNYVALE MALL Entrance, with a big BLUE arrow pointing in the direction to go. Porky and his friends related their experiences on the bus as they headed through the Parking Lots towards the Main entrance. Nobody tried to demonstrate Mrs Fellow's chins shaking and the others rolled in laughter as they watched her trying to imitate it. She wasn't being unkind or making fun of Mrs Fellows, it was just so funny and it was funnier still to her friends because she didn't have what it took. TWO chins. Because it was a Public Holiday there were One Day Sales going on in most of the stores and there were CROWDS of people. Nobody held Bamboo's paw very tightly so he wouldn't get lost as they pushed their way through a group of little kids who looked like they were on an outing with four or five adults to look after them. They were so glad for the cool air that hit them as soon as they went through the Mall doors, and people thinned out as they scattered in all directions. "Well," said Porky, "where do we go first? How about a little something to eat?" The others laughed. "Porky," chuckled Nobody, " I don't think you could last through one morning without having to eat something, but I think we should look at the Directory Board and see where everything is". They found a long Board standing in an aisle with all the stores listed by number and a map of where they were and on what level. Each level was a different color. Porky immediately noticed the Food Center on the third Floor because he looked under Restaurants before anything else. "How about we wander along one side of this ground floor and if we see anything we like we can go inside and look around,and then come back along the other side?" suggested Snorkel. They thought that was a good idea and started off down the left side of the wide aisle that also had stands and booths in the center of it. " Look!" cried Dress, " I think there's a skating rink further down there. I can see people leaning over the sides. I want to watch them skate. I wonder if there are any kids allowed but I bet it's really expensive." As they madde their way along they looked at the booths and stands in the center with all sorts of goodies to examine. Some were selling paintings, some stuffed animals and others showed weird objects from other countries like Africa, South America, Tibet and so on. There was one booth where a man was making key chains and carving names on a colored piece of hard plastic all shaped differently, and a person could choose what they liked. Another stand sold incense sticks that smelled like musty attics or wild flowers or exotic perfume. Babmboo tugged at Nobody's arm and pointed to a booth where a man was sitting on a stool opposite a little boy who was trying to sit without moving while the man drew his head on a large pad of paper set up on an easel. They went over to watch and were spellbound as the man made quick sure strokes that brought the boy's face, life-like on the paper. His mother stood nearby, smiling approvingly. "Do you think he'd draw me?" whispered Bamboo. Nobody looked at the sign by the man's stool. $2.00 for children and $3.50 for adults. "We'll ask when he's finished this one," she replied." I don't see why he wouldn't, and you'd sit still better than that little boy. I know the man would like that". The artist was perfectly happy to draw Bamboo and as he sat on the stool Porky and the others came up. Porky clapped his hooves together and said, " Wow, we get to see a Portrait of Bamboo!". Bamboo squirmed a little in embarrassment, then remembered he was not supposed to move so sat up straight. They didn't notice how many people had gathered round to watch. They had never seen an artist draw a Panda before and Nobody looked in amazement as Bamboo's head and face became clearer and clearer. Even better than a photograph! She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked around. A lady in a simple but formal blue dress and shiny black shoes, holding a rather expensive looking handbag, was smiling at her and asking, " Is that little Panda your friend?" Nobody nodded, she didn't know what the lady wanted but she didn't seem a mean person so she thought it was alright to talk to her. Snorkel had noticed the stranger too and moved nearer Nobody in a protective manner, just in case. However, it wasn't a dangerous situation. " I know this is very presumptious of me," said the lady, and Nobody was glad she knew what the long word "Presumptious" meant,( like the lady thought it would be alright to ask), "but I have never seen a LIVE Panda before. I saw a giant Panda in a zoo once when I was in China but this little one is so sweet and charming. I have an offer to make if I might. I have a little girl at home, she's about your age and is crippled so has to stay indoors most of the time except when she goes to the Hospital or if her Nurse can drive her for a little ride in the car. You see she was born with something wrong inside and cannot do very much without hurting and getting very tired. She would LOVE to meet your friend if he would be willing to come home with me? It wouldn't be for very long because Jennifer, my daughter, tires so easily but this would lift her spirits and give her something to remember for a LONG LONG time". The lady's eyes looked almost like she had a tear in them but she smiled and waited to see what Nobody would say. The artist had nearly done drawing Bamboo who had no idea what was going on. He was concentrating on sitting very still and trying not to sneeze, which was VERY hard because a speck of dust had landed right on his nose. " I would be happy to call your parents and tell them my address and give them my phone number", the lady continued hurriedly, " I know you don't know me but I promise I wouldn't kidnap you!" Nobody believed her and she turned to Snorkel and said, "What do you think Snorkel? The lady raised her eyebrows slightly when she heard the name Snorkel but she was far too polite to say anything. In fact, she looked like a RICH lady who would always say and do the proper thing. " My name is Lady Beamont and I live at Beaumont Hall about two miles from here. It only takes about five minutes to drive". Snorkel thought a minute then said to Lady Beaumont, " There are five of us here. We live in Krumble,that's a village about thirty miles away. Would there be room for all of us in your car?" By this time, Bamboo was getting off the stool and Nodboy had paid the artist who rolled up the picture and put it in a cardboard tube so it wouldn't get creased, and both Nobody and Bamboo thanked him for such a good picture he had drawn. It looked EXACTLY like Bamboo. When they went to join their friends Lady Beaumont wasn't there. "She went to call your Mom," Dress explained and at that moment Lady B. walked up, smiling, " Your mother said it would be fine for you all to come with me," she told them, "she also said she would call your parents and give them my phone number and address". She looked at Porky, Snorkel and Dress. "Your mother remembers who I am, Nobody. Apparently I was giving away prizes one year at the County fair and she won first Prize for homemade Apple Pie" The little group wended their way back through the milling crowd to the parking lot. Porky whispered to Nobdoy as they walked behind the lady, " Now we won't get to go to the Food Center and I had my tummy set on a LARGE icecream with hot fudge topping on it." Lady Beaumont turned round when she heard what Porky had said, " I wonder how a long a large hot fudge SUNDAE would last in this weather?" she asked, "we could take Jennifer one and you could each have one too, if you wish. Perhaps if you were kind enough to see where my car is parked then two of you could get the sundaes while I put on the air conditioning and cool off the car ? That way the sundaes won't melt and we'll be home as quick as a wink". They all went to the car which was a large Lincoln Continental and there, Lady Beaumont gave Snorkel a ten dollor bill and asked him if he'd kindly get the sundaes for them all. Porky and Dress went with him to help carry the treats and Nobody and Bamboo stayed in the car which soon cooled down with the air conditioner on. Lady Beaumont told them about her home and her only daughter. Her husband had died in the war overseas and she and Jennifer had been left with this huge estate that had been in the Beaumont family for generations. Lady B. said that after they had all met Jennifer and she was getting tired, the friends could go play in the grounds if they liked. Lady B. had told Nobody's mother she would drive them home in the evening. Nobody really liked her, she was such a nice person but seemed so sad which was probably because the Doctors couldn't do anything for Jennifer. Jennifer would always be an invalid and unable to run and play like other children. Bamboo felt special and important though he didn't SAY so because he was the reason they were all going to this grand place with this rich lady, and to meet Jennifer. Also, they were going to have a hot fudge sundae and that sounded just RIGHT on a hot day. Beaumont Hall was a vast estate with acres of woods, fields, old houses dotted through the trees and there was a LONG winding driveway that curved round to end in front of a VERY big house that had pillars on the front porch. There was a huge wooden door with a massive brass knocker on it in the shape of a monkey. To knock you had to lift the monkey's tail and Snorkel wanted SO badly to try that but since they were with the lady of the home it wasn't really necessary. However, after a maid in a neat black and white uniform came and took the sundaes to put them on dishes in the dining room, Lady B. had noticed Snorkel eyeing the brass monkey ( she didn't miss much) and told him, " If you want to try out the knocker, Snorkel, go ahead". So he lifted the monkey's tail and let it fall against the small brass plate underneath and it made a LOUD clanging sound that echoed through the house. He knocked it twice more and then the others wanted a turn so they all knocked once. " My, well, Jennifer will know we have company that's certain." Lady B. smiled. They followed Lady Beaumont into the dining room which was a large sunny room with light streaming in through four big windows three of which looked out onto a beautifully kept garden full of flowers and green lawns. On the long table their sundaes had been put onto glass dishes with a teaspoon and napkin beside each one. Of more interest to the guests was the sight of a fair haired young girl sitting in a wheelchair looking expectantly towards the door as they came in. She looked fragile and a little pale but she had a big smile on her face and her blue eyes lit up with happiness when she saw them. " Hi!", she cried, "I'm Jennifer. Mom called and said you were coming and I couldn't WAIT to meet you all. You can call me Jen, and what are your names?" Each one introduced themselves and Jen seemed to hold on a little longer to Bamboo's paw. he,in turn, just loved the little girl and wanted to sit on her lap. "How about after we eat our sundaes, Bamboo ?" said Nobody, and they all tucked into their treats before they could melt away. They chatted for quite a while but even Bamboo could see that Jennifer was getting very tired so they promised to come back and see her another day if that was alright with Lady Beaumont, and as the Nurse came to wheel Jennifer back to her bedroom for a rest, Nobody did a very kind thing. She held out the cardboard tube with Bamboo's picture in it and said, "This is a present for you, Jen. It was just done today and I think you'll like it". Jennifer had no idea what it was and they all watched in anticipation as she took the little plastic cap off the tube and gently pulled out the picture. When she saw Bamboo's portrait she could hardly speak she was so happy. She held out her thin arms and gave Nobody a hug. " Oh THANK YOU. THANK YOU!", she cried, "oh this is SOOO lovely and I can have it in my bedroom where I can look at Bamboo whenever I wish, and wait for the next time when you can all visit me again". There was a great BIG smile on her face as Nurse wheeled her away and Nobody felt really good about giving up her precious picture. She thought perhaps they could go back to the Mall one day and have another one drawn. "If you'd like to go out and look around the grounds for a while, you are welcome to do so" Lady Beaumont told them. " don't get lost. If you remember where the main path is it leads back to the driveway and you will reach the house". Porky and his friends thought it would be fun to explore what they could of the estate and they set off towards the woods at the back of the house beyond a green lawn that stretched far off to the trees. The wood had large oak and pine trees and lots of undergrowth. It didn't seem as though anyone had been there for a long time and they played pretend cowboys and indians with plenty of places to hide and jump from ambush. Nobody was hiding in the middle of a big leafy bush when she felt something hard and cold under her knees where she was crouching. She reached down with her right hand, keeping her left one free to cover herself with the leaves so she wouldn't be seen because Porky and Dress were hunting for her. When she picked up the object it kind of came up with a jerk that made the bush rattle and immediately Porky, who was padding softly along the path, rushed up and cried, " Come on out or I'll drag you!". Nobody crawled out but called excitedly, "Look, get the others Porky, I've found something under this bush". While he rounded up his friends she looked at what she had been kneeling on. It was a large, oddly shaped key made of what looked like dirty silver. It was grey so might not be silver, but when the others came running to her thay all wondered what it was a key TO ? "We should look and see if we can find a box or a chest or something the key would unlock ". Nobody said, and Bamboo wanted to hold the key but it was too big and heavy for his little paw so he tried to use two paws instead and that worked. Then the friends looked high and low under bushes, in hollow tree trunks, dug in the earth and raked leaves but didn't come up with anything a key would fit. They found old cans, bits of rags, part of a very old doll, a coin or two but nothing like a chest or a box. "Maybe we could take the key to Lady Beaumont". Nobody said. They were getting tired and dirty from all the scrambling around through the undergrowth. So they made their way back to the Hall and Lady B. insisted they clean themselves up before going home so they got to take a bath in a HUGE bathtub big enough for Bamboo and Porky to swim in. Well, one at a time, of course, and when they were all clean and dressed again they were invited to have a bite to eat and while eating they showed the key to their hostess. She had no idea WHAT it might belong to but invited them to come back whenever they would like and search some more, and gave them permission to dig with a spade another time if they wished to. "You can search all day if you like" she told them, " and Jen would love to hear all about it so if you can, come and have lunch and dinner with us and I can drive you home afterwards if your parents give permission". So this is what they did. Jen put up Bamboo's portrait on her bedroom wall where she could look at him often, and the five of them returned one day and searched for what the key would unlock. I am going to leave YOU to think of the end of this story and what they found and what the key unlocked. How about you drawing a picture of what you think they found - and Littles in any one community - don't show eachother your picture till all have finished and see if anyone has the SAME idea ! Have fun. ***************************** Goessoftly Retired Therapist www.goessoftlyishere.com (No Copies Allowed) | PIGMUS STORY 1. Heather | PIGMUS STORY 2 Nancy | PIGMUS STORY 3. Drew | PIGMUS STORY 4 Holly | PIGMUS STORY 5 Nobody | PIGMUS STORY 6 Mollie | PIGMUS STORY 7 Heidi | PIGMUS STORY 8 . Veronica | PIGMUS STORY 9. Nichole | PIGMUS STORY 10. Stephanie | Sunny | Merry Flipper | | THE HEALING PROCESS | DISSOCIATIVE IDENTITY DISORDER | POETRY | Biographical Entries | THE OTHER SIDE OF LIFE | STORIES FOR LITTLES (Pigmus and friends) | |
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