Chapter 53. Family Fun Times Two

  The previous day

  Getting back to Laketown in a crippled ship had taken a good twelve hours. The speed was the same but steering a 25 meter ship with a hand tiller was not easy. The crew took turns but it was mostly Will holding the twenty foot oar in the water and holding the ship on course. Minnie and Naomi had the strength but they had other duties. Minnie was constantly checking the course and shouting out corrections. Naomi spelled them both over the day, for head breaks and so on. If this had happened in stormy weather, Naomi asked what they would have done. “Stay anchored in that little bay probably, wait the weather out. Try to repair it on site, we could do it, we still could but it’s a big job out here. We’ve done it before at the dock in Laketown.”, Will answered. She looked down at the icy water speeding by and shivered. He laughed, “Me too, the docks nice and covered, not as deep and the bottoms sandy there, in case we drop anything.”. She handed him his tea mug, nice and hot. She checked her watch, “I love this, how did we get on without?”. Will shrugged “When I first got here my watch stopped working in a day, I got used to eyeballing the sun and guessing. But I sure missed knowing.”. She looked at him curiously “Why didn’t you just wind it, I do mine every other morning.”. Hmm, he thought, this will be fun. “My watch, wasn’t what you and I have now, it was part of my smartphone…. An hour later a thoroughly confused Naomi still couldn’t wrap her head around what a app was. And the idea of being in constant contact was awful, “But how can you miss someone if they never leave you alone?”, she asked. Will had thought that himself many times, “Just a different world sweetie, remember that map I made, of how big things were compared to here.”. “I hope that never happens here, in my lifetime anyway, I like the way things are.”, she stated and went below to make bread for dinner.

  Minnie yelled out from the wheelhouse “Starboard for a bit…good hold it, okay straighten out.”. She bobbed back inside then came out to visit for a bit, wheel tied in place. “Hey, doing all right?”, she asked. Will nodded “Yeah, it’s pretty easy actually. Maybe we won’t bother to repair and just steer like this now.”. She just glared for a second the laughed “Nah, you like sitting and drinking tea while steering.”. He held up his mug and took a sip. A worried look came over her face “Really?”. “Nope, too cold out here.”, and he rewrapped his long jacket tighter.

  It was a long day but eventually the familiar sights came in view. Minnie was blasting out the whistle and it looked as though the entire population of Laketown was gathering at the quay. Minnie slowed the boat and Naomi skipped off the deck, to let everyone know they were back, a bit broken but everyone was okay. The Rose continued off to the covered dock. It wasn’t far and the Rose was tied up outside while Will and Minnie went inside to open up the main doors. Minnie was talking about the log that damaged them, she was convinced it wasn’t an accident. Opening the doors Will stopped dead, Minnie walked into him with an ‘oof’ and heard “Hello father.”.

  Minnie peeked around dad’s immobile figure, to see a small person, no, two small persons. The closest was staring up at Will with a very determined look on his, her, it’s face. A face covered with long orange fur reminiscent of how Minnie had looked while transitioning into her now mostly human form. They were both quite short, just under three feet. Wearing identical blue shorts and white shirts. Long tails were waving behind them, twitching sharply, they seemed nervous. Seeing Will was a bit stunned, just looking down at the two people, Minnie took a step around him. “So who are you guys…wait a minute, don’t I know you from somewhere?”, she asked the closest one. He, and it was a he, sighed “We used to live together, you were different, just like we were different. Mother left, then we went to live with that person when you and father went away too. We didn’t like it, so we left and followed you. It took a long time but we found where you were. Then he came to us and asked if we wanted to meet you. He was nice, said he’d met you a few times, but you wouldn’t remember yet.”.

  Will shook his head at the impossibility standing in front of him. He knelt down to face them at their level. Getting close he could see the familiar details, one had a round face the other more pointed and defined. Both of a like height but one was a bit more rotund. Same soft orange fur he remembered.He reached out and out his hand tentatively on the small shoulder “Is that you Percy, and you too Ron? Are you real?”. The little person, Percy apparently, had been trying to stay calm but at the touch of Wills gentle hand he broke down into tears, “Why did you leave us, mother left and Minnie left with you and we never saw you again! Why?”. The other figure came forward and held his brother’s hand, “Let him talk”, the rough voice growled out. “And another thing,”, Percy continued, “He got hurt,”, pointing at his brother, “And now he can hardly talk without it hurting, a big scary went after us and he fought, I ran but he saved us.”. Running out of breath he looked at Will. Sighing Will sat on the wooden board floor, as he did he noticed how sparkling the place was, another time he thought. “I didn’t plan to leave, to leave you guys forever, mom loved you so. I was trying to get back into living and bought that boat. When it broke down…are you understanding all this, how long have you been like this?”, he gestured vaguely at them. “We understand, we started changing as soon as he brought us through, usually when sleeping, go on.”, Percy answered.

  “So I bought a trailer and parked it at the campground we always went to, then a boat. But it broke down and Minnie and I were walking back to the camp. I think I was dying , yeah, I’m pretty sure I was passing away under a tree, Minnie stayed with me.”. Minnie snorted beside him “Like I’d leave you.”. Percy leaned over and sniffed her, “You look different but I know it’s you.”. Ron finally scooted closer and did the same thing, it seemed to comfort him and he sat close to Minnie’s side. She looked down at him with a smile, “I remember you a little, we played.”. Will went on, “We met up with this little guy called Elaith. He gave us a choice to stay behind and take our chances or come to this world, I chose here.”. He looked down into Percy’s earnest golden eyes, “I thought you were all taken care of, happy at our daughters.”. “It was fine there, lots of food, she was nice but we wanted you.”, Percy said sadly. Will looked around, “Where’s the other guy, is he here too?”. This time Ron answered “No, he stayed.”.

  There was a flurry of footsteps outside and Naomi came rushing in, “Stephen and the others are so happy we’re back…oh my, what is this? You’re so cute and fuzzy, come here and let me squish you!”. She knelt down in front of the two new people and opened her arms. “Watch out sis, they talk.”, Minnie laughed. Percy had taken a couple of steps back and Ron jumped in front of him, “Don’t touch my brother!”. Naomi fell backwards with a squawk, “They sure do, where did you find these guys?”. Will sighed, “Hard to believe but these are our pets, our companions, mine and my wife’s cats from our other world. They were telling us…”, he trailed off. Minnie took over, “The same guy who brought us here, that tiny guy, they said he brought them too.”. “Oh, um okay, sorry I’m just trying to catch up, so now what?”, Naomi asked, “Are you staying with us?”. Percy looked at Will, “Are we, our home here is warm and comfy if you don’t want us?”. “This is theirs too Percy, if they say no, we have to leave.”, Ron rasped, holding his neck, it seemed to hurt more as he talked more. “Of course you can stay, right dad?” Minnie started, “We know them and they’ve changed like I did, so the lake won’t eat them, I hope anyways, but we still have those spare cabins across from the lounge, not too big, but neither are they,” she went on ignoring the glares from the boys, “ Maybe they can help around the boat too, lots of stuff to do.”, she ran down, patting Percy on his head, ignoring that glare too. Will had been sitting on the floor still, just looking at the two lads. Then standing up, shaking his clothes straight he looked down at the two. “Yes, you boys are welcome aboard, you’re family. I didn’t know you’d be coming but it’s wonderful that you are.”. He stepped forward and knelt again, in front of the two nervous fellows. Opening his arms and waited, the two looked at each other and then hurled themselves into his arms. “I knew you wouldn’t make us leave, I missed you and her so much, we’ll stay forever with you.” Percy said as he buried his face in Wills shoulder. Ron didn’t say anything but he did start to give out a rumbling purr.

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  Minnie was never one to miss out on hugs so she jumped in too, then Naomi as well. “I don’t know you both but welcome, you’re gonna love it here.”. “Well,” laughed Minnie “As long as you like fish, oh and don’t mind getting wet.”. The orange duo looked horrified at that. “What do you mean getting wet?”, Percy asked. “Well we do live and work on a boat, most of the time we’re at sea, it right now our boat is broke and we have to bring it in here to fix it.”, Will said, pointing to the big doors at the end of the dock. “Oh, I wondered what they were for, they’re sure big, when are you bringing it in?”, Percy was peering at the doors. “Umm right now? Then we’ll relax overnight, you two can pick a room, have dinner, then we’ll talk about everything.” Will answered. He was a bit rattled at these events and was sure going to have some sleepless nights over this, but the past months had given him a different perspective. Just roll on with it.

  Minnie and Naomi went back outside and Will started lifting the huge bars that kept the doors tight, there was a winch system so it was quite easy to crank first one up, then the other and then push the right door full open, rush around to the other side and repeat with the left. The stern of the Rose was only a few yards away and Naomi and Minnie waited til Will was ready and hurled two ropes to him. At the far end of the dock were enormous bollards and, passing a couple of loops around them, Will started hauling the Rose into dock. “Oh my, that’s big, very big, I didn’t realize what a boat was really, there’s none here, but yes that’s big one.”, Percy was saying. He and Ron were perched on a workbench beside Will as he pulled on the tow line. Minnie waited until the first few feet were in then jumped to the dock and took one rope and started hauling away. A few minutes later most of the boat was inside, just a few feet of the bow stuck out. “We’re gonna leave more clearance at the stern, need to build a rudder and fit it. We had a bit of an an accident .”, explained Will. “Yeah,”, Minnie called over “A sea serpent threw a log at us!”. Percy gasped. “Did not Minnie.”, Naomi called from the Rose, “Dad did it by fishing up that log.”. Gee thanks, Will thought, that’s so much better.

  Rose safely tied up, it was a relief after the last couple of days. Safe and snug for the next few nights. Minnie had pulled the stairs down on the rail and led Percy and Ron aboard. As they were walking along the deck beside Minnie, who was pointing out all the wonders, he could really see how small they were. Minnie was not a tall person but she was head and shoulders over the two boys, one on each side holding her hands. It was amazing how they had made it here, to this world and then to Laketown. The coming evenings meal was going to be interesting. But first “Hey guys, I gotta go see some people, want me to bring back dinner or want to cook tonight?”, he asked. “What’s that thing again, when you go out and get it?”, Minnie asked. “Take out”, Will said with a smile. “Let’s do that then, go get take out,”, Naomi added, “I loved saying that.”. Giving a wave Will left the dock and headed to town.

  As he walked the familiar path to town he saw several people coming towards him, Stephen, Regina, Boris, and an older man he didn’t recognize. “Captain, Will, you’re back, thank goodness your all safe.”, it was nice to see friends and for just a few minutes it was hand shakes and hugs. They had been gone for a few months and there was lots to talk about. Continuing to town they of course stopped at the tavern where Will sat by the fire with a sigh of contentment. Regina slipped behind the bar and made a pot of tea quickly, while she did so Stephen introduced Lorenzo, as the last councilman. Will nodded politely. Regina brought his tea over and, with a nod, he took a sip, “So, what’s new?”.

  Back on the boat

  “Is it fun living here, while it’s on the water?”, Percy asked. Minnie laughed “That’s what we do, we take youngsters to get stuff, we travel and explore. You’ll love it, especially when Naomi flings fish goo in your fur.”. They were sitting in the mess having a snack, biscuits and cheese. “So what do I call you,” asked Naomi, “do you like short names or your full name, dad likes Will but his full name is William.”. That made the little guy think, he absently dunked his biscuit in his warmed apple juice. “Percy is fine, my full names Percival, and brothers is Ronald, but he likes Ron.”. “Okay.”, she nodded. They had given the brothers a full tour of the boat and they had been fascinated by everything. There were so many places to see, store rooms and holds, the engine and boiler room, the Rose was a wonder. Minnie had also showed them the two empty cabins and the two had been quite overcome when she said they could pick one to share or one each. “Can we wait til fathers back, it’s a big decision for us. We were living in the dock for weeks.”. Minnie patted his shoulder “Of course, there’s no hurry.”. As they had been talking the kettle had boiled and Naomi made a pot of tea, Ron noticed and gestured to see if he could try a cup. Naomi poured him a small cup with one sugar, he sniffed it and took a sip. Minnies face was in awe as she watched him drink the horrible weed water and, even worse, enjoy it. “Do you, how could you like it, it’s awful , dad likes it, Naomi what did you do?”. Ron looked at her “That really made my throat feel better.”, he said in a very different voice, the rasp was mostly gone. “The power of tea has fixed him…haha Minnie.”, Naomi laughed. “Blah”, Minnie said disgustedly, “I’m going to meet dad.”.

  As she walked the path to the village she could hear dad coming near to her. He was singing a bit and when he got nearer and was at the part ‘What do you do with a drunken sailor’, she leaped out of the bushes, tackled him and joined in “Shave his belly with a rusty razor!”. Will gave a manly scream as he was knocked to the ground. “Oh you little monster, I think it’s dunking time for you my pretty”. Minnie darted back to the dock, Will tight on her heels, she was screaming for help, Naomi ran on deck to see what was going on, accompanied by Percy and Ron. They were amazed to see Minnie running around the deck followed by a laughing Will. She was yelling “Parlay, parlay”. Jumping from boat to dock and back again with no effort, at one point she launched from the bow to the stern. Unfortunately for her Will had anticipated and leaped up, snatched her in mid air and landed in a tumble. “Are they really fighting?”, Percy asked nervously. Naomi shook her head, “No, this is pretty normal, I don’t know what Minnie’s done but it was probably pretty funny.”. “Oh it was”, Minnie managed to squeak out, Will had a good grip and had edged closer to the bow, “Dunking time!”. And he jumped in, holding the laughing Minnie. A mighty splash showed he had his revenge. Naomi went to the side and helped the dripping duo up the stairs. “You screamed like a little one dad.” Minnie said and gave a shake and shared lake water with everyone.

  Percy shrieked in indignation and sprang to the roof of the walkway, glaring down at her. Ron just preened his wet fur back, “Feels nice, smells good to.”, he rasped out. “That’s the way.”, Minnie smiled at him. Will was on deck too, looking at his little family as he towelled water off. A thought struck him, he pulled his watch out of his vest pocket and was amazed if was still ticking away. “I thought I ruined it, in the water.”, he gasped. Minnie laughed “Nah, I used tree sap, hardened it and worked it around all the edges and the windings. I knew we’d be wet so, yeah, it’s fine. But I’ll check them over later too.”. Ron had come over to see what they were looking at and had been instantly fascinated. “What’s it for?” he asked. Minnie started telling him the concept of time, how this let them know how long to do something, when to quit and so on. Naomi tuned them out and asked Will how the meeting went.

  Will finished off drying with a head polish, “It was just a quick one, hey we’re back, still in one piece. We’re going to have a big dinner tomorrow, barbecue some ribs and steaks, they had some excitement too.”. That intrigued Naomi, “Excitement? Here? Only time that happens is when the Rose is around, otherwise the only fun is watching the apples grow.”. Will didn’t think that was much fun, but each to their own. “For the past couple of months some stuff went missing, they figured someone was in trouble and started leaving things for them. Food, clothes, things like that. Never saw them but one time. Lorenzo swears he saw an orange demon climbing the walls with a cheese in its mouth.”. Turning to look at Percy, who had climbed down off the roof, “You guys I assume.”. “We had to, we were starving and the bakery is so nice. They leave us cheese buns and cakes, the cheese place gives us so good cheese, and the tavern…the sausages are lovely.”, he said plaintively. Will held up a hand, “They’re not angry, at first a bit maybe. But then they were worried someone was in need and started helping more. Everyone wants to meet you and see if you need anything else.”. Will had one more thing to ask, he had just remembered something the boys said, “You said something earlier, when he brought you through, who’s he?”.