Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Lyla-Mae ran as fast as her little legs could carry her, she ran straight past mommy in the doorway – she didn’t seem pleased – but Lyla didn’t care right then. She threw on her coat over her pyjama’s, reached inside her pocket for the powder  Volbert had given her, and clomped across the living room in her little boots to where Esther and Teddy Radson sat.  Hoping that this worked how she hoped it would, she sprinkled the powder over the two of them . . . and there she waited, with mommy shouting about Lyla knowing better than to walk on her carpets with muddy boots – definitely a smacked bottom now, but it would have to wait.

Esther the hippo yawned and shook her head, making her ears give off the soothing crinkly sound, and Teddy Radson stretched.

It worked!

“Hello Esther, hello Teddy Radson,” she said, smiling broadly at the two sleepy teddies.

“Lyla!  This is no time for silly games!” Mommy yelled!

The two teddies gave a nervous smile to Lyla-Mae.  With a happy tear in her eye, she leaned in close to both of them and gave them a big cuddle.  “Esther, it is lovely to meet you.  Mommy always talks about you.  Will you please stay with mommy?  You and her will have a lot to talk about”

Esther smiled at Lyla.  “Of course I will.  I haven’t spoke to your mommy in such a long time, and I miss her.” Lyla smiled back and gave her an extra big cuddle.

“And Teddy Radson, it is really nice to meet you too.  I’m afraid that we have something we need to do.  Do your jacket up, it’s cold outside.”  With that, Teddy Radson buttoned his blue jacket up, and Lyla gently picked up the two teddies and slowly walked to where mommy stood, hands on hips.

“Um, mommy, sorry for walking on the carpet with my muddy boats, but I have someone here who you will love to talk to, and someone who misses talking to you.”  Lyla held out Esther towards mommy.

“Hello,” Esther said in a small but friendly voice, and waved a purple paw merrily.

Mommy’s face went from a big frown to a big smile instantly.  She had never looked happier.  She gave Esther a big cuddle – just like Lyla had done only seconds before, and mommy and Esther were instantly chatting and laughing like old friends do. 

With mommy distracted, Lyla-Mae darted back outside and, through the cold wind and snow, she creeped around the empty streets of Daisyfield holding Teddy Radson close to her chest; she could feel the teddy shivering against her.

After shuffling from building to building, keeping her back against the wall and avoiding windows, she wondered quite why everyone went looking to find Volbert, and capture him.  No one knew of Volbert except her . . . and she told Toby . . .  she stopped still.  Oh no!  It’s because I was showing off how brave I was to Toby! Toby must have told his dad, the mayor of Daisyfield, and that must be why they went to catch Volbert the ‘scary monster’.  Lyla felt that cold pit of guilt in her stomach at how foolish she had been, but she didn’t have time to wallow in it, because that wouldn’t solve anything.

Onwards she went, through the deep snow covering the cobbled streets, towards the little square at the centre of the village, towards the prison cell, and towards Volbert.