Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Squinting through the falling snow, she could make out the jail, and the sizeable shape of Volbert inside, cutting a forlorn figure slumped against the bars.  Surprisingly, there appeared to be only one guard in the square – probably because of the bad weather, she assumed – but she needed to get closer to be sure before she could make a plan. 

She walked forward slowly, hoping the swirling flakes would keep her concealed.  Closer, closer.  The man by the cell stopped, looking straight at her.  She stopped too, hoping that – somehow – he hadn’t noticed a little girl walking the pavements alone in the dark when it is snowing.  He waved at her.  Oh buttons! Lyla thought darkly to herself.  But suddenly, an idea occurred.  With there being only one guard, she mused, it must mean that he has the key!

“Okay Teddy Radson, I need you to help me free Volbert.  The man won’t realise that you are alive, so try and get the key off of him.”  Lyla whispered as she looked down at the brown bear in her arms.  Teddy Radson nodded – or shivered – and said “you can count on me!”

Putting on as innocent a smile as she possibly could, Lyla-Mae skipped merrily across the square towards the man, arms outstretched, and twirling Teddy Radson in the falling snow. 

“Lyla-Mae,” the man called.  “What are you doing out on your own so late?  You’ll make yourself unwell.”

Lyla giggled loudly to herself.  “I love playing in the snow,” she announced loudly, and as the man got closer to where she stood, she began to dance with Teddy Radson, twirling faster and faster.  Through the strands of hair, she could see the man getting very close now.  Just a bit more . . .

Suddenly, Lyla fell over dramatically . . . almost too dramatically, and it just so happens that Teddy Radson skidded across the soft snow behind the man, who stood there looking rather concerned.  There was a bit of a silence, and then . . . “WAAAAAHHHH!” bellowed Lyla, holding her knee and kicking her feet violently.

“Oh Lyla.  Um, are you okay?  Shall I get your mommy?”  quizzed the man.

“WAAAAHHHHH!” came Lyla’s reply.

“Can you stand up?” the man asked in a gentle voice.  He bent down next to her; she could now see Teddy Radson stood there looking worried, and noticed that Volbert had stood up in the jail.  Lyla-Mae flashed an exaggerated wink at Teddy Radson and, adjusting his collar, he sneaked up on the man, and discreetly put his hand in his pocket and . . . there!  He had pulled out a big black key, and began running towards the cell.

The man noticed that Lyla was looking for something.  “Oh!  Do you want your teddy?” he asked, once more.

“WAAAAAAHHHHH!” shrieked Lyla, louder this time.  She didn’t want him turning round.  Unfortunately, the silly man took this for her responding in the positive, and turned around, looking for Teddy Radson.  All he saw was some little footprints in the white carpet, and a small teddy bear releasing a gigantic mole from prison (now there’s a sentence you never thought you’d encounter!)

“HEY!” yelled the man.  Lyla tried one more time to divert his attention; she grabbed him firmly by the lapels, and WAAAAAAHHHHH’ed in his face.  It didn’t quite work as how she intended; the blanket of snow was etched with orange rectangles as front doors all around the village opened to survey the commotion. 

The man shrugged Lyla off, and ran towards Teddy Radson and Volbert, who had now climbed out of the prison and picked Teddy Radson up.  Volbert looked like he was trying to run . . . . but wasn’t getting very far.

Lyla-Mae uncoiled herself like a spring, and crashed into the man’s legs, sending him toppling into the snow with a satisfying crump.  She ran as fast as she could – her legs ached from the activities of her strange day – but as she ran towards Volbert, she was aware of other people running and shouting.  Luckily, Volbert had seen her, and was running (or a very close approximation) towards her. 

They made it to one another, but there was no time for talk or apologies.  The other people in the village were right there, circling the three of them, shouting and grabbing – some grabbing Lyla, other grabbing Volbert.

“STOP!” shrieked Lyla-Mae at the top of her little lungs.  Everyone went quiet and still.  She breathed heavily.

“Everyone, I . . . I lied.  Volbert isn’t a scary monster, and he didn’t chase me, I” – she looked at Volbert, he looked hurt – “me and Toby were having a race to see who was the bravest child in all of Daisyfield, and I  . . . . . . . I lost.  I fell into a hole, which was Volbert’s home.  I would have been trapped and alone and frightened, but Volbert and his friends made me feel welcome, and walked me back to my house.  I told Toby Volbert was a scary monster because I wanted to be brave, but I am not, I told a lie and got my best friend in trouble.”  And with that, Lyla sobbed to herself, until Volbert outstretched a massive soft pink hand and cuddled her gently.

She felt a hand rest on her shoulder, and pulled her tear-streaked face away from Volbert’s comforting fur.  It was the mayor, Toby’s dad.  He smiled warmly at her.  “Lyla-Mae,” he said, “when we went to catch this – your friend, a lot of the men were scared, terrified even.  You were all alone when you met him, a lot of men twice as tall, twice as old and twice as strong would have screamed.” She laughed quietly, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “Not only that, but it takes courage to talk to everyone in the village, who are angry, frightened and confused, and admit the full truth.  Lyla-Mae, you are the bravest child in all Daisyfield.” She smiled broadly, and clung onto Volbert.

The mayor stood up and looked at Volbert.  “Volbert.  I am sorry that we treated you so badly when you took such good care of not only the bravest child, but also the most popular child in all of Daisyfield.  We cannot apologise enough, but please, we would like to throw a big party to celebrate the wonderful deed you did for us.” 

Volbert looked down at Lyla.  Lyla looked up at Volbert.  The two best friends smiled to one another, and Volbert turned back to the mayor and, nervously adjusting his goggles, he said, “I would really like that.  Thankyou”