Read Online We Were Only Strawberry Picking by Henrietta Defreitas - Free Book Online
Authors: Henrietta Defreitas
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and just had to say something: ‘I demand you show us the way out of here. We mean you no harm and it was a pure accident that we ended up down here.’
‘A pure accident?’ Nora taunted. ‘Surely you can all read … did you not see the sign about trespassing and what happens to trespassers: they are prosecuted and I am your prosecutor!’ Lyndi Lou started to weep.
‘Oh, look what you’ve done to my sister, you evil thing,’ barked Henratty forgetting where she was for a second. ‘Look I’m sorry, that came out all wrong; we just want to get out of here, so please let us go.’
‘Maybe later but as I said there is no way out of this mine so you can forget that idea,’ replied Nora. ‘For now, you are all staying here.’
‘Er – look here bat, we’re not scared of you and be warned that the rest of Meerville Town have been alerted, it is only a matter of time before they come down here,’ refuted Jack.
Nora was inches away from Jack’s face as she glared at him.
‘And how so, when I know you did not call for help before entering the mineshaft – a very foolish move, Jack, wouldn’t you say?’ as she poked him in the head as if to say, What were you thinking?
‘Will you, please, all get out of the tram and follow me,’ Nora reiterated and reluctantly they descended. Nora’s intimidation had worked … they were scared that was for sure but Jack was the most determined not to show it, although he was a little scared inside.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Meet The Neighbours
As they walked past the giant wooden doors, they noticed there was another hedgehog who had opened the door as she shook her head acknowledging their arrival. It was Nancy of course, Jasper’s sister, who was wearing her apron as per usual; she was never seen without it. They entered what seemed a much wider tunnel with alcoves leading off from it on either side, like dormitories. There were six in total, three on each side, from what they could make out.
Nora led them to the third dormitory on the right. The plaque on the door said “Master Cooper” and as the door swung open, they were greeted by all the other inhabitants they had not seen yet. They noticed a fire place straight ahead at the back of the dormitory that was being stoked by a rather hunched over creature who immediately turned around upon hearing them enter. It was Cooper the rat who said, ‘Ah, Nora! At last … so these are our little bears?’ as the other inhabitants all burst out laughing.
‘Okay, guys, so I made a mistake, bears – meerkats, what’s the difference?’ Enoch cowered.
‘What was that about?’ whispered Oscar.
‘I think they were having a joke at Enoch’s expense as he told them we were bears after Jack growled at him with his foghorn.’ If only that were true, how different the scenario would be right now, thought Henratty.
To the right, near the fireplace there was a large bed in a small alcove. More or less in the centre of the room was a large wooden table with seating for ten. Some of the seats were already occupied by Enoch, Jasper and Alfonso. They also noted directly in front of the two seats nearest to them was a snail (or rather the shell of a snail), as well as the cutest looking worm they had ever seen. These two species were much larger than the average size one would expect, but what they were was undeniable.
Nora decided to rest her poor weary legs and sat down at the head of the table with Nancy sat to the right of her next to Cooper.
‘Now little ones,’ said Nora referring to the meerkats, ‘I’m going to ask you a couple of questions so I suggest that you pay particular attention and give me the right answers.’
‘You’ve got to be joking, this feels like we are being interrogated but we’ve not done anything wrong!’
‘Can you ever keep quiet boy or will I have to make you keep quiet,’ as Nora turned and looked at Alfonso subliminally insinuating that Alfonso could perhaps wrap himself around Jack to
‘A pure accident?’ Nora taunted. ‘Surely you can all read … did you not see the sign about trespassing and what happens to trespassers: they are prosecuted and I am your prosecutor!’ Lyndi Lou started to weep.
‘Oh, look what you’ve done to my sister, you evil thing,’ barked Henratty forgetting where she was for a second. ‘Look I’m sorry, that came out all wrong; we just want to get out of here, so please let us go.’
‘Maybe later but as I said there is no way out of this mine so you can forget that idea,’ replied Nora. ‘For now, you are all staying here.’
‘Er – look here bat, we’re not scared of you and be warned that the rest of Meerville Town have been alerted, it is only a matter of time before they come down here,’ refuted Jack.
Nora was inches away from Jack’s face as she glared at him.
‘And how so, when I know you did not call for help before entering the mineshaft – a very foolish move, Jack, wouldn’t you say?’ as she poked him in the head as if to say, What were you thinking?
‘Will you, please, all get out of the tram and follow me,’ Nora reiterated and reluctantly they descended. Nora’s intimidation had worked … they were scared that was for sure but Jack was the most determined not to show it, although he was a little scared inside.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Meet The Neighbours
As they walked past the giant wooden doors, they noticed there was another hedgehog who had opened the door as she shook her head acknowledging their arrival. It was Nancy of course, Jasper’s sister, who was wearing her apron as per usual; she was never seen without it. They entered what seemed a much wider tunnel with alcoves leading off from it on either side, like dormitories. There were six in total, three on each side, from what they could make out.
Nora led them to the third dormitory on the right. The plaque on the door said “Master Cooper” and as the door swung open, they were greeted by all the other inhabitants they had not seen yet. They noticed a fire place straight ahead at the back of the dormitory that was being stoked by a rather hunched over creature who immediately turned around upon hearing them enter. It was Cooper the rat who said, ‘Ah, Nora! At last … so these are our little bears?’ as the other inhabitants all burst out laughing.
‘Okay, guys, so I made a mistake, bears – meerkats, what’s the difference?’ Enoch cowered.
‘What was that about?’ whispered Oscar.
‘I think they were having a joke at Enoch’s expense as he told them we were bears after Jack growled at him with his foghorn.’ If only that were true, how different the scenario would be right now, thought Henratty.
To the right, near the fireplace there was a large bed in a small alcove. More or less in the centre of the room was a large wooden table with seating for ten. Some of the seats were already occupied by Enoch, Jasper and Alfonso. They also noted directly in front of the two seats nearest to them was a snail (or rather the shell of a snail), as well as the cutest looking worm they had ever seen. These two species were much larger than the average size one would expect, but what they were was undeniable.
Nora decided to rest her poor weary legs and sat down at the head of the table with Nancy sat to the right of her next to Cooper.
‘Now little ones,’ said Nora referring to the meerkats, ‘I’m going to ask you a couple of questions so I suggest that you pay particular attention and give me the right answers.’
‘You’ve got to be joking, this feels like we are being interrogated but we’ve not done anything wrong!’
‘Can you ever keep quiet boy or will I have to make you keep quiet,’ as Nora turned and looked at Alfonso subliminally insinuating that Alfonso could perhaps wrap himself around Jack to
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