Walkin� in the dark can be a bit scary, especially when the only company you have is your bear. Oh well, Bert was nice and he listened to everything I said without complaint. Which was good, because I talked to him a lot.
I had been walkin� for what seemed like forever, when I finally came to the end of the street that Uncle Billy lived on. Looking both ways, I saw only houses and more houses on both sides. This was goin� to be harder then I thought.
I decided the only way I would know what way to go was by simple logic.
�Okay. Eenie, meenie, minee, moe. Catch a tiger by the toe�� I said to myself, looking up and down the street in order to make my decision. It turned out that I chose to head to my left� or was it right? I think it was left� yeah, left.
I turned on my heel and began my march down the street. Ahead of me, I saw more houses, but besides that, I saw a sign with a picture of a bus on it. A bus! Maybe the bus would take me to Uncle Billy.
I decided that the bus would be the most efficient way of getting� to the pub, �cause busses can travel very fast� well, faster than walking anyway.
A wooden bench had been placed by the sign, so I sat down Bert, makin� sure he was comfortable, and then I sat down myself. Here is where I sat for a long time, a very long time. Almost as long as I had been in the sink cabinet.
I scowled at the thought of home and how it had been taken over by the evil, devil-fan-girl. Uncle Billy wouldn�t be too pleased with Kaylee, I was certain of that. I didn�t care if I was tellin� on her, she deserved it for being so mean! What had I ever done to her?
�Well Bert? What would you have done? I think going to find Uncle Billy is a good idea� maybe I can even get Orlie mad at Kaylee! Or� or even Viggo!� I told Bert, who remained quiet. See? I told you he was a good listener.
I nodded happily to myself. If Viggo scared ME so much, then he could definitely scare Kaylee. Then, Orlie and me could even play a prank on her!
I was deep in thought of different things that I would like to do to Kaylee, when the loud noise of a bus stopping woke me up. Oh goody, it was here!
�Come on Bert.� I said, grabbing his paw and walking over to the open doors. The steps were kinda big, so I struggled with all my might to climb up to where the driver was seated.
�Fee.� She mumbled in a low voice. The lady sounded tired and did she ever look it! She had gray hair and I wondered how it got like that. My gramma had gray hair and she said it was from being nice. This bus driver didn�t seem very nice at all.
�Fee.� She repeated, a little more harshly this time. I decided she needed to be cheered up, so I pulled out my package of cookies and gave her one.
The lady stared at me for a moment, blinked, then took the cookie. �Go ahead.� She mumbled, stuffing the cookie in her mouth. See? Everyone likes chocolate chip cookies!
I smiled at her and took the seat at the very front, just so I could ask the bus driver later where I was going. Looking around, I noticed a couple of other people on the bus too. There was an old woman that looked like my gramma� only older. Then, there were two teenage boys that were dressed in very strange clothes. I decided that they needed smaller pants, �cause the ones that they were wearin� were huge! I bet Orlie, Merry, AND Bobo could fit in one of those pants. Oh well, that�s their choice.
I sat Bert on my lap so he had a nice view of outside. The sun was just settin� now, so I figured it was almost my bedtime. I grinned as I realized somethin�. I get to stay up again tonight! Two nights in a row! I was proud of myself.
�Well now little girl, where you be headin�?� a voice asked.
I whirled my head around and found some weird guy sittin� beside me. He had long white hair, but he didn�t seem much older then Uncle Billy.
I shrugged at him. �I dunno. I�m lookin� for my Uncle Billy, have you seen him?� I asked.
The man shook his head. �No, sorry.�
I nodded. ��s okay. Do you know where I am?�
The man smiled at me. �You�re in Auckland.� He replied.
Wasn�t that the place where Orlie said the pub was? Wasn�t it?
�Is there a pub here?� I asked him innocently.
He laughed at me then, and he kept laughing very hard. So hard, that he couldn�t answer my question. I decided he was strange, so I stood up and walked over to the seat behind the bus driver. That crazy man sure wasn�t getting� a cookie now.
After what seemed forever, the bus pulled to a stop and the two boys and the crazy man got off. I wondered if I should get off too.
�Excuse me?� I asked the bus driver. She turned her head slightly towards me, indicating that she was listening. �Where is the pub with the pop for treasure?� I asked.
�You must be talking about the Empire.� The bus driver replied.
�Why?� I asked, wonderin� how she knew� unless she had magic powers too!
�Because they�re havin� some big thing tonight. I don�t know; don�t bug me. Look, you get off on the next stop and walk up Victoria Street. You�ll find it, no worries. It�s right on the corner.� She told me.
I grinned widely. �Thanks!� I dug back into my pocket and pulled out another cookie. Waiting for what seemed like another forever, we finally got to Victoria Street� I think. I can�t really read that well and it was too dark to read the sign.
�Here�s your stop miss.� The bus driver said.
I hopped off my seat and grabbed Bert by the hand. I handed the cookie to the bus driver, who took it and gobbled it up in two seconds flat. I wished I could learn to eat a cookie that fast.
I hopped off the bus and turned around, waving good-bye at the bus driver. She nodded and the bus doors closed shut. I watched the bus begin to head down the street then held Bert up to look at him in the eyes.
�Don�t be scared Bert. We�ll find Uncle Billy soon. Then we can go home an� get Kaylee in trouble!� I grinned.
Bert just stared at me, which is fine, you NEVER want to get a bear talkin�. They just go on and on and on�
Now where was I?
Oh yeah.
I looked both ways down the street. She said go UP Victoria Street� I looked up into the air. Nope, no road. I guess I would just have to choose.
There were loud noises coming from my right and I could see bright lights off in the distance. Maybe that was it? I decided the only way to find out was to go check it out.
I started my walk down the street, lookin� around me as I went. There were different stores all along the street, each with neat stuff in the windows. I stopped at the toy store and peered inside the window. I gasped at what I saw.
There, sittin� on a little book, sat a rag doll that looked exactly like my Uncle Billy when he was dressed up like a hobbit. Haw-bit. HAH-Bit. I like that word.
The doll had brown curly hair an� was wearin� old style clothes like Uncle Billy wears when on the set. I wanted the doll!
I quickly ran to the store door and yanked on the door. It took a bit of effort, but I finally managed to pull it open wide enough so that I could squeeze through.
Whew! That was hard work!
I looked around the toy store. It was very quiet. Too quiet if you ask me. I decided that it was probably haunted, so I turned to leave when I heard a soft voice. I turned to find a young woman standin� behind the counter, smiling warmly at me.
�Well �ello there.� She spoke. I liked her voice, it reminded me of summer time. I don�t know why, it just did.
�Hi.� I replied, walkin� over to the counter. �My name�s Alex.� I greeted, stickin� out my hand. This was fun!
She shook my hand. �Nice to meet you Alex, my name is Riley. Now, what can I help you with?� she asked.
�There�s a doll in your window that looks like my uncle. I was wonderin� if I could have it.� I told her.
She looked puzzled. �Well,� she began, walking to the window and picking up the doll, �This doll here was made a couple years ago. It�s supposed to be Frodo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings.� She said.
Why did that name sound so familiar?
�Well, it looks like my uncle when he�s in costume.� I replied.
�Your uncle? Really?� Riley asked. She seemed deep in thought for a moment, �They are currently shooting the Lord of the Rings movie here in New Zealand.�
I nodded, rememberin� that Mr. Bean had called Elijah �Frodo� once. �Yes.� I grinned at the lady, �My uncle plays a hobbit.�
I don�t think she believed me because she just kinda smiled and nodded, placing the doll back in the window.
�But, wait! The doll, I would like to buy it.� I pleaded.
Riley thought for a moment. She did a lot of thinking. �All right Alex, do you have any money?�
I shook my head and Riley frowned.
�Well. Let�s see. If you bring in your uncle to pay for the doll and he really is a hobbit, then you can have the doll. Okay? I�ll save it for you.�
I grinned widely. "Yeah! �o course! My uncle�s name is Billy Boyd. I�ll just go get him now.� I told her, running towards the door. I didn�t notice the shocked look on her face when I said my Uncle�s name. I guess she finally believed me then.
I left the store and began my long walk down the street to the pub with the treasure. Luckily, I still had Bert to keep me company... and from gettin� scared.
Stupid babysitters.