BELLYACHE Read online

  “What about the ‘free’ part?”

  Annoyed because he could see some adoring fans and he wanted to give them his full attention, he said, “I guess it means that even though we didn’t do right in how we got here, we were forgiven and we get to roam around freely, instead of being thrown in the slammer or something.”

  “Oh, I suppose that is a possibility,” Lina replied, not impressed with his explanation.

  “Come on, Lina, wave at the good people,” Peter advised.

  Lina saw that everyone on the float was waving vigorously, and she didn’t want to disappoint. She joined in, forgetting about the medallions for now. The crowd was cheering them on. It was one of the best feelings the children had ever felt. Peter noticed a Candonite that looked a bit like Joe holding a peppermint cat. She was much older than Joe’s father. Her head was bowed, and she was stroking the peppermint cat. Perhaps it was the same peppermint cat that Peter had seen yesterday. What’s this? Was she crying? The float had passed her and she was out of his range of view. Peter tried to catch another glimpse in vain; she had vanished. He felt a little uneasy at what he had just seen and convinced himself she probably hadn’t been crying. He focused his attention back to enjoying the crowd.

  He hadn’t even pushed the woman out of his head when Lina said something disturbing. “I just saw a Candonite man crying. He was standing there crying.” She pointed back in the direction of where she had seen him, and Peter hurried to look but saw no one crying.

  Poke spoke up and shifted their attention to the sky. “Look up. That is for you two!”

  The mayor and the Mrs. looked back to make sure the children were paying attention. Little marshmallow birds were flying lightning fast through the sky.

  “What are they doing?” Lina asked, amazed.

  “You’ll see,” Poke answered.

  They gazed toward the sky and watched as the little birds made their first symbol. It was a human girl and a boy, symbolic of Lina and Peter. As fast as the symbol appeared, it was gone. Soon the elegant birds formed a massive heart pulsing in the sky. And they spread their wings in sync, in and out, with every heartbeat. One by one, the birds flew out of the heart shape and speedily created their next formation. The children couldn’t quite make out what they were forming; it didn’t really look like anything.

  “I think they are spelling something,” Peter observed.

  “I think you’re right,” Lina said.

  Soon the letters were complete and the birds had spelled “Free.” As swiftly as they spelled it, they flew off in different directions.

  “What does it mean?” Lina asked Poke.

  “I don’t know. The birds create as they feel led. It is different every time we have human visitors. Only you and Peter can figure out what it means,” Poke answered.

  Mayor Baker looked over his shoulder at the children, and with a straight face confirmed, “Peter and Lina, you have to figure out what it means on your own.”

  Peter and Lina looked at each other, dumbfounded. Then Lina spoke confidently, “I’m sure we can figure it out together, Peter.”

  “Of course we will, but first we get back to waving.”

  They continued through the candy wrapper streets, waving and taking in the splendid cheers. Peter and Lina were thoroughly enjoying themselves, when out of the crowd Carol Winston emerged. She was making such an awful scene. Her finger was pointing viciously in the direction of Peter and Lina. Her voice was strong and fierce and was becoming more audible as they neared.

  “They won’t help them! They’ll go home! Filthy, cowardly creatures!” she kept repeating, getting louder and louder as they approached.

  Peter and Lina were horrified. For that matter, so was everyone on the float. Poke felt somewhat responsible for her actions because she was his aunt.

  “Ignore my aunt; she doesn’t know any better,” Poke insisted.

  “Pay her no mind, children,” Judge Greg’s deep voice advised from behind.

  Officer O’Bryan suddenly appeared from the thick crowd. He took Carol Winston by the arm and escorted her away. Carol Winston didn’t go silently.

  “She doesn’t like us very much,” Lina stated.

  “She doesn’t understand humans at all,” Poke explained.

  The floats in front continued on. But Peter and Lina’s float had its own agenda. It veered to the right as the other floats followed the street left. It was hovering over the grass now and heading steadily up the blue-green hill.

  The Choice

  “Where are we going?” Lina asked.

  “It’s nearly time to say our farewells, dears,” Mrs. Baker said kindly. She looked very sad.

  “We’re on our way home,” Lina told Peter; her voice was bittersweet.

  Peter turned to Poke, who tried to look cheery even though Peter could tell he was a bit disappointed. They had become good friends in such a short time.

  “We knew this time was coming, but it still gets ya, you know?” Poke confessed to Peter.

  “I know,” Peter said empathetically. He felt the same way.

  Peter saw the same trees he had seen the day before, the pointing trees. There was something different about these trees, though. He was sure it was the same path he followed to get to Maple Town. These trees were pointing away from Maple Town, in the direction they were headed.

  “This looks like the path I took to get to Maple Town,” Lina stated.

  “I’m pretty sure it’s the same one I took, too,” Peter said.

  “Strange,” Lina replied.

  Shortly after they had gotten over the hill, they noticed three figures in the distance.

  “I wonder who they are,” Lina said softly.

  “Probably some Candonites to see us off,” Peter suggested.

  Just then, they noticed Mrs. Baker clasp her hand over her mouth and the mayor drop his head and shake it slowly. Peter looked at Lina and she shrugged.

  As they approached, Peter recognized one of the figures. It was Joe’s father. Peter looked around for Joe. Thank goodness he wasn’t there. He did not recognize the others. As they grew closer, Peter could see their faces were glum.

  “Those are Angela’s parents; Angela is the girl who brought me to the judge’s house,” Lina informed Peter.

  Peter studied Angela’s parents and determined that they were both Candonites of the cookie race. They looked similar except the wife had rainbow-colored chips.

  “Angela is as dreadful as can be,” Lina whispered to Peter.

  “That is Joe’s father; Joe is the boy who brought me to the mayor’s.” Peter lowered his voice, “and Joe has got to be worse than Angela.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “I wonder why they look so sad,” Peter inquired to everyone. No one answered.

  The float was right beside them now.

  “Look there,” Peter said as he spotted something familiar. “It’s the package!”

  The package was lying on the ground, slightly opened, marked with the same red “Special Delivery.”

  “I guess that’s how we get home,” Lina said.

  “You got it,” Mayor Baker confirmed.

  “Oh, I’m not ready to go home yet,” Lina whined.

  “Me neither,” Peter confessed.

  As the float came to a stop, Mayor Baker pressed a ruby button on the steering wheel, and the steps of the float lowered. Everyone exited the float. They approached the three Candonites huddled together, and Mayor Baker told the others to please gather around. They did as they were told. Peter gave a quick look at the package sitting off to the side. They could see the faces of the three closely now, and they looked terribly worried. This made Peter and Lina very nervous. Peter and Lina exchanged glances and could see the other’s concern. Joe’s dad and Angela’s dad each held up a gray pebble in the palm of their hands. The pebbles were lying on small charcoal mesh bags.

  Mayor Baker cleared his throat. “Peter and Lina, I have something important to tell you. Liste
n very carefully.” The tone of his voice was alarmingly serious. The children edged closer to be sure to not miss a word. Mayor Baker continued, “This is where your visit with us may end or where your new journey may begin. You have only to touch the special delivery package you came here in and speak these words: ‘Free to go home.’ Repeat it back to me, please; I want to be sure you know exactly what must be said.”

  Peter and Lina obeyed. “Free to go home.”

  The mayor went on, “There is something else I regret to inform you of…” There was an earsplitting screech, and Angela’s mother fell toward the ground, partially held up by her husband. She had fainted, and her husband and Joe’s father were tending to her as she came to.

  “She’ll be fine. Please go on, mayor.” Angela’s father’s voice was weak.

  “It’s Joe and Angela. They have vanished. And you, Peter and Lina, are the only ones who can save them. You see, we do not have the capability. Their behavior toward you was intolerable. You are the only ones who have the choice to save them.”

  The children’s feelings were mixed. Why should they care? Oh, that is terrible! Between the two of them, they honestly did not know how to respond.

  “What do you mean we have to save them?” Peter asked, concerned.

  Mayor Baker pointed over their heads. “They are there.”

  Everyone’s eyes followed in the direction the mayor was pointing.

  “Where? There’s nothing that way but a bunch of grass and more of those pointing trees,” Lina observed.

  Out of nowhere, the ground beneath them began to rumble and the trees shook violently, their pointing branches swaying up and down. Everyone was frightened.

  “I don’t know anything more. We must be going,” Mayor Baker urged, composing himself.

  “We must say our good-byes, dears,” Mrs. Baker said, rushed.

  Mayor and Mrs. Baker reached for Lina and Peter to give each of them a warm, quick embrace. Peter could see a tear in Mrs. Baker’s eye and it made him sad. The good-byes were happening so fast that Peter couldn’t think of what to say. Not to mention the fact that the Candonites were counting on him to be a superhero. The closest he ever came to being a hero was…well, never.

  “Be safe, children, and as I told you before, Peter, I have faith in you,” Mrs. Baker said.

  “It was grand to have met you both…such an honor,” Mayor Baker added sincerely.

  Mayor Baker began hurriedly escorting the parents toward the float. Angela’s mom had regained her strength and pleaded with Peter and Lina for a moment. “Please, please, help my child!” Her husband stopped her before she could say anymore and solemnly led her away.

  Poke lingered with Lina and Peter as the others boarded the float. He spoke from the heart. “Sorry I can’t help you out with your situation. I don’t really know anything. I want you to know that I really had a great time hanging out, and at risk of sounding corny, I’m gonna miss having you around.”

  Peter also risked sounding corny. “I’m gonna miss hanging out, too.”

  “Oh just hug already!” Lina shoved Peter forward.

  They gave each other a speedy guy hug, and then Poke was off to join the others, all of whom looked rather glum. Peter and Lina watched as the float descended toward Maple Town.

  Peter was genuinely going to miss them. Despite the fact he had met them only the day before, he felt as though he had known them much longer. Once the float was out of sight, Peter’s thoughts shifted back to the task before them.

  Lina’s voice sounded almost deafening in the gloomy silence. “What are you waiting for, Peter? Let’s get going.”

  Peter agreed with Lina. What was he waiting for?

  Peter turned around to walk in the direction which the mayor had pointed to earlier. He really couldn’t stand Joe, and from what Lina had said about Angela, she was no saint, but they were, after all, someone’s children, and Joe was Bella’s godson. And Mr. Baker had said Lina and Peter were their only hope.

  “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Lina called out.

  Peter was surprised her voice was distant. He figured she was right behind him. He swung around to see what was up.

  “Aren’t you coming?” Peter inquired.

  “Coming where? There isn’t anything that way for a far stretch. The only place I am going is home!” Lina said, moving toward the special package.

  Peter hurried after her. “Wait, what about Joe and Angela?”

  Lina spat back, “What about them?”

  “We can’t just leave them there.”

  “Leave them where? And yes we can.”

  Peter tried to talk some sense into her. “You heard Mayor Baker. We are their only chance!”

  “Angela is a wicked little girl, and from what I gather from you about Joe, he is no Mr. Nice Guy either. Besides, what could possibly be so bad? There isn’t anything unpleasant except for them in this whole magnificent place,” Lina spoke, irritated.

  “But…”

  “But nothing,” Lina said. “I want to go home. I bet my family is worried sick about me. My mom probably called the police, my dad is probably searching the neighborhood inch by inch, and my brother has probably moved his things into my room and is jumping for joy on my bed as we speak!” She put her hands on the red letters of the package. The letters began to faintly glow.

  Her voice was so demanding. Peter moved to put his hands on the package, too. When he touched it, the letters brightened.

  “Okay then, we only need to say the magic words together. Ready?” She stared, searching for an answer.

  “Ready,” Peter said reluctantly.

  “Say it with me now,” Lina commanded.

  Together they spoke aloud, “Free to go…”

  “Noooooo!” Peter cried with stunning force as he yanked his arms away from the package. He blinked long and hard, expecting Lina to be gone when his eyes opened. But she wasn’t, her face staring back at his with both hands on her hips.

  She spoke softly. “I couldn’t do it. I stopped speaking after saying, ‘Free.’ I wanted to say the whole thing, but my mouth wouldn’t do it. I guess I have to admit, I am a little scared. Saving others is a big responsibility, and it’s not like we got a lot of information on the situation.” Her face turned serious. “If you tell anyone I said I was scared, I’ll knock you for a loop!” She made a fist with her right hand.

  Peter had never known Lina to be afraid of anything. She wasn’t afraid of spiders, older menacing boys, not even scary movies. Under the circumstances, though, he understood. He nodded at her to let her know that it would be their secret.

  “I’m sure glad you stuck around,” Peter admitted.

  “Hey, I wouldn’t want you to get all the credit for saving those lugheads.” She smiled.

  “Besides,” Peter stated, looking at the shiny medallion, “these are pictures of the two of us.”

  “You’re right. Lead us on our quest, captain.”

  “I’m not leading us anywhere.” Peter took Lina’s hand; it was clammy, and he squeezed it tight. “We do it together…we do it as a team.”

  “Fine, but holding my hand does not change our relationship in any way. I’ll pound you into mud if you try anything else!” she warned. Peter knew she was serious. He wasn’t planning on it. He was plainly frightened of what might lie ahead; they both were.

  The Stench

  Peter and Lina took extremely deep breaths, gave each other a look of encouragement, and together they moved toward the unknown. The blue-green grass seemed a little grayer now, and the sun wasn’t shining as brightly.

  Peter started to comment on his observation when, alarmingly, he felt out of breath. He felt Lina squeeze his hand hard in a death grip. He shut his eyes and gasped for air. He reopened them and found gloom and a vast land of gray, nothing familiar. No blue-green grass, no chirping marshmallow birds, not even a gummy worm…only silence. He felt the life sucking out of him and gasped once more, filling his lungs trium
phantly with a thick breath…thick with stench. He started to gag and almost wished he still couldn’t breathe as his eyes watered in reaction to the pungent smell. It was one of the worst smells that had ever entered his nose, right up there with the time he had forgotten to take out the trash that contained tuna casserole before going on a two-week family vacation. He placed his right arm over his nose and remembered Lina, her grip much looser now. Was she all right? He hadn’t heard her gasp.

  Peter positioned himself in front of Lina, never letting her hand go. To Peter’s horror, she looked a shade of faint purple. She can’t breathe! he thought.

  “Disgusting, it smells like my brother’s sneakers here!” Lina gasped.

  “You’re all right!” Peter exclaimed, pulling his arm away from his nose and grabbing Lina’s available hand with his. He was pretty sure he looked like a cheerleader the way he jumped up and down, holding her hands. But he did not care. His best friend was all right, and he wouldn’t have to trek through this dreadful place without her. Best friend—Peter had never thought about it before, but it was true. His best friend was a girl…Lina.

  “You can let go of my hands now. I need them to cover my nose,” she said seriously yet playfully, squishing up her face with disgust. Peter let them go.

  “What do you think that smell is, Peter?”

  “I don’t know, and I’d rather not think about it. All I do know is the sooner we get to looking for Joe and Angela, the sooner we get out of here and back to some fresh, sweet-smelling air and sunshine,” Peter stated.

  “Yeah, I can’t wait to get…” Lina’s eyes fixed on something in the distance. She finished her sentence under her breath, “out of here.”

  Peter, curious and worried, turned around to see what she was staring at. There were three gigantic and eerie, grand, dark castles, each sitting atop its own enormous hill.

  “They look painfully far away,” Lina admitted.

  Peter and Lina both looked back the way they had come and saw that it looked no different from where they were; the same gray grass stretched as far as their eyes could see. They focused back on the castles.