Chapter 30
It was mid-day on Friday and Alfie re-entered the kitchen after his fifth visit to the garage. Braddle had not yet returned and he was anxious to know whether the plan had been successful; whether Mr Nicholls had actually returned the tiny people and whether Braddle and his friends had defeated General Stoo. Surely he would have let him know by now…if it had been successful, that is? He would have asked Mr Nicholls if he had been in his garden but Mr Nicholls was nowhere to be seen. His house seemed silent and empty; as if he had suddenly disappeared and become, perhaps, the startled and frightened prisoner himself of an even bigger giant. If most of the tiny people could not see us then, maybe, we cannot see them. Because we couldn’t see them, it did not mean that they were not there! Another possibility, conceded Alfie, after redirecting his imagination to less dramatic options, was that Mr Nicholls could have simply gone to the shops.
“What do you want for lunch?” asked his mum.
“Oh, just a sandwich mum” he replied.
“Ham?”
He nodded.
“Good, because that’s all I’ve got. No more shopping until after the holiday.”
During lunch he sat quietly nibbling his sandwich as his mother, Francis and Lou talked excitedly about the coming holiday. What if Mr Nicholls hadn’t done what he said he would? What if Braddle had been captured? He had to find out. But how? He had to speak to Mr Nicholls. There was no other way. A foot kicked him under the table. It was Lou and she had a mischievous look on her face.
“No Lou, don’t do that” he told her, calmly.
She gave him a puzzled look. Where was the furious response she usually managed to provoke? She was about to kick his other leg but then decided against it.
“What did she do?” his mother asked.
“Nothing” he said. “Don’t worry about it.”
“This afternoon we’ll have to get the packing finished” she said “and you will all have to help. Francis, that includes you.”
“Me? I don’t mind” he said. “You should be telling Alfie. He might find it too strenuous.”
He gave Alfie a sneering look. Alfie held his gaze for a moment then returned to his sandwich.
“I can’t wait” Francis continued. “This time tomorrow I hope to be doing the tree assault course after a bit of quad-biking. Alfie, you might like to try skipping. The web site says they have a good skipping track.”
“Enough of that” his mother said.
Alfie waited until his brother had stopped laughing.
“Nothing wrong with skipping” he said, “but I’ll give the other activities a go though. I’ll enjoy myself however I want. You do it your way and I’ll do it mine. Just relax. Ok?”
His mother laughed.
“Well said Alfie” she said. “Francis, follow your younger brother’s advice and we’ll have a great time.”
Mr Nicholls’ house was just as quiet after lunch as it was before. Alfie scrutinised the back of it from his backdoor step then walked to the garage shutter to get a better look. He could see two bedroom windows, the bathroom window with frosted glass and, if he stood on his tiptoes, the top of the kitchen window. One of the bedroom windows, he noticed, had its curtains drawn. Maybe Mr Nicholls is still in bed, he thought. It did not seem right that he could be though. Mr Nicholls was one of those strange people who got up really early, even though they were not forced to, and did things that normal people did during the day, like washing cars, pruning plants, cleaning windows. If he was still in bed then…then he was either sick or… he may have been up all night with the tiny people and hadn’t gotten to bed until very, very late. Well, there was nothing else for it. Alfie had to wake him up. He had to find out what had happened to the tiny people; whether Braddle and his mother were safe or whether they were now prisoners of a crazy general. How could he go on holiday not knowing? If Mr Nicholls was in bed then he had to ask him now while his mother was packing. Mr Nicholls would just have to wake up. The simplest way would be for him to climb over the fence and knock on his backdoor. Mr Nicholls would obviously be surprised to see him in his back garden but if he explained his predicament he would understand. Before he did so, however, he would check the garage one more time. Just in case.
“Hello Braddle. Are you there?” he called. “Braddle, are you there?”
The garage was silent and lifeless. It did not answer him back and its clutter did not move. He crouched down by the bottom shelf and searched for any minute movement but there was nothing. He stood up.
“Braddle, I’ll try and come back later” he said, as he headed for the door.
“Alfie! Alfie!”
“Braddle. Is that you?”
“Yes” he said, breathless. “Who do you think it is?”
“Are you alright? Who’s chasing you? Can I help?” He ran back to the shelf and dropped to his knees, ready to make use of his giant-hand, once again.
“Who’s chasing me? Oh, it’s only Grenta. Here she is now.”
“So, you are alright?”
“Of course” said Braddle.
“Hello Alfie” said Grenta. “How are you?”
“Worried. I’ve been in and out of this garage all morning trying to speak to you but you were nowhere to be seen. I thought the plan had failed.”
“No, the plan didn’t fail Alfie” said Braddle. “We won!”
“We won!” shouted Alfie.
“Yes, we won” shouted Grenta.
“We Won! We Won! We Won” they all shouted together.
“What happened?” asked Alfie after they had all calmed down.
“We stormed the Council Chamber when General Stoo was having a party and waited for the prisoners to return in the morning” said Braddle.
“It looked at first that they might not come but they eventually did” said Grenta.
“When they had returned General Stoo was caught out. He couldn’t pretend that he wasn’t to blame for their disappearance” said Braddle. “I’m pleased to announce that he is now a prisoner along with his horrible family and friends.”
“What about your parents?” asked Alfie.
“Mother is back” said Braddle “but father is still missing.”
“I’m sorry to hear that” said Alfie.
“Don’t be” said Braddle. “He is still alive. I am certain of it. He wasn’t eaten by a spronger. He was a prisoner of the giant Nicholls but he escaped. I’m going to find him if it is the last thing I do.”
“And I’m going to help” said Grenta.
“I will help too” said Alfie.
“Thank you giant Alfie” said Braddle. “We have to go back now. There is a big celebration this evening and we are guests of honour.”
“Yes. We can't be late. My mother wouldn't forgive me” said Grenta.
“Drostfur has asked me to tell you that the Ruling Council wants to give you a medal. I told them that you are going on an adventure holiday and that they’ll have to do it when you get back.”
“Wow” said Alfie. “I’ve never had a medal before.”
“What’s an adventure holiday?” asked Grenta.
Braddle did not wait for Alfie to answer. He jumped in and told Grenta that an adventure holiday is when you leave home and stay somewhere else and do exciting things like climbing rocks and riding on water.
“Sounds good” said Grenta. But she didn’t sound convinced.
Alfie laughed.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds” he said. “Climbing rocks can be quiet relaxing or so my dad says. Besides, for you two every day seems to be an adventure holiday. I’m jealous.”
“Yes. It does” said Braddle. “It does.”
They made their farewells and agreed to meet again on the Sunday morning after Alfie’s return from his holiday. He told them to tell Drostfur that he would gladly accept the medal they wanted to give him…even if he had to use a microscope to see it!
Alfie left the garage and stepped out in to the bright, warm su
nlight. The plan had worked! He had helped to save Carporoo from a tyrant. That is some achievement he told himself. Mr Nicholls had done what he said he would. His bedroom curtains were still drawn. Alfie decided to tell him the good news after he had awoken. He deserves a rest, Alfie told himself.
He was about to enter the house when he noticed his bike standing abandoned in the carport. That bike is mine, he said to himself, and it wants me to ride it. He walked over to it and stopped. How hard can it be? With a little practice I should be able to ride it. Why not? Other people can do it and what’s so special about them. If I do it now I could be riding it by the time dad gets home. He gripped the handle bars and sat down on the saddle. It felt good. He rolled the bike back and forth a few times. Yes. It definitely felt good. He pushed forward and lifted his feet off the ground.
“Let’s ride” he said.
Acknowledgements & Requests
I would like to thank my wife, Beverley, and both Marion Smyth and Amanda Scarborough for their invaluable help and support at crucial moments in the creation of Braddle and the Giant.
I would also like to give special thanks to my daughter, Holly, who enjoyed listening to the story of Alfie and Braddle during that special time between wakefulness and dreams.
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favourite retailer?
Also, look out for the sequel to Braddle and the Giant during the summer 2014. 'Braddle and the Giant: The Escape' continues the adventures of Alfie and Braddle who haven't heard the last of General Stoo.
Thanks!
John Mallon
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