Mabel wasn\u2019t surprised to discover that Mrs. Pilderjack\u2019s car was just as pink on the inside as it was on the out. Mrs. Pilderjack climbed into the driver\u2019s seat, picked up a small pink spray canister and pumped a squirt into the air.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMmmmm…fresh!\u201d she said, turning around to smile cloyingly at Van and Mabel. Van winced. Mabel tried not to gag. She felt almost overcome by the nauseatingly artificial cherry odor permeating the car\u2019s interior.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAnd now children,\u201d said Mrs. Pilderjack, \u201cwe\u2019ll go to a special place to spend the night, and you\u2019ll have some nice dinner!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe ride seemed interminable. Neither Mabel nor Van felt much like talking. They\u2019d crossed the bridge and traveled a good half-hour from East Logjam. It was nearly dark when Mrs. Pilderjack pulled into the drive of a somewhat dingy white ranch house, badly in need of a paint job. Mabel could just make out that the sign in the yard said \u201cAlgonguin County Protective Services.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe children followed Mrs. Pilderjack into the house. A hulking man with a crewcut sat doing paperwork in what used to be the kitchen, but now seemed to be all office equipment with one plug-in hot plate.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cGotchoo some Peppy Meals,\u201d said the man, grunting as if he were lifting heavy barbells. Without looking up, he reached under the counter and pulled out two colorfully decorated bags, extending them toward Van and Mabel.<\/p>\n
\n\tMrs. Pilderjack smiled a squinty smile and nodded at the children.<\/p>\n
\n\tVan shrugged at Mabel and took both bags, then handed her one.<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel ate a chewy, but otherwise unidentifiable, brown nugget, and drank a bit of watery soda, but even had her appetite been better, the odor of Mrs. Pilderjack\u2019s freshly applied pink nail polish wafting across the table would have made food unappealing. Even Van ate very little.<\/p>\n
\n\tMrs. Pilderjack stood and clapped her newly manicured hands twice.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cBedtime!\u201d she said, leading the children down a drab hallway.<\/p>\n
\n\tVan was ushered into a room to the left, then Mrs. Pilderjack opened a door on the right for Mabel. Two sets of metal bunk beds furnished an otherwise empty room. A bathroom, covered with moss green tiles in an undulating wave pattern adjoined the bedroom.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cNow then,\u201d said Mrs. Pilderjack. \u201cThere\u2019s a nighty on the bed, and a toothbrush in the bathroom. I\u2019ll see you in the morning!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel chose to ignore the nightgown and the toothbrush and stay in her clothes. She barely slept. When the first sign of sunrise crept through the bathroom window, she looked at her watch. 5:24 a.m. Probably Mrs. Pilderjack was still asleep, if she was even in the house at all. The bedroom door creaked only slightly as Mabel peered into the hallway. She stealthily crossed the hall and opened Van\u2019s door a crack. <\/p>\n
\n\tHe was sitting on a bed cross-legged with his chin propped on his hand.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWelcome to the Ritz Carlton,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel sat down next to him. \u201cWe\u2019ve gotta get out of here,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe will,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s wait and see if they\u2019re sending us home first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThey sat on the bed and played rock, paper, scissors, until the door popped open thirty minutes later.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOh, no, no, no!\u201d cried Mrs. Pilderjack. \u201cGirls in the girls\u2019 room, boys in the boys\u2019 room!\u201d She carefully removed a hairnet which was holding her beehive in place, and said, \u201cWell, nevermind. You can\u2019t help your upbringing.\u201d She sniffed, then assumed a tone one might use when speaking to a puppy. \u201cMr. Higglesworth has some breakfast for you in the kitchen!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tVan and Mabel followed Mrs. Pilderjack, who marched purposefully toward the former kitchen. Mabel wondered how Mr. Higglesworth could have obtained breakfast when he appeared not to have moved from his position at the counter. Nevertheless, he grunted as before, and held out a wax paper bag containing two donuts with colored sprinkles, and two cartons of orange fruit drink. <\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThanks,\u201d said Mabel.<\/p>\n
\n\tMrs. Pilderjack beamed, then began to reapply her makeup at the table, using a small handheld mirror. <\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI do have some news,\u201d said Mrs. Pilderjack. She sighed slightly and continued working on her lipstick. \u201cThough I must say I question the wisdom of this decision, it seems your parents have signed paperwork releasing both of you to the custody of Ramon Somebody-or-other, at the restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tVan breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs. Pilderjack glared at him. <\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI must say, though,\u201d she continued, \u201cto turn children over to someone who wears tribal clothing and doesn\u2019t even have a last name…well…it\u2019s not my decision to make…but, dearie me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMrs. Pilderjack took a swig from a coffee mug which was heavily marked with pink lipstick. \u201cWell, then,\u201d she said, standing up, \u201cshall we?\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel expected dismal weather, to match the dismal events of the previous day, but the sun was bright, and surprisingly warm for Fall. She and Van climbed into the back seat of the pink car, as Mrs. Pilderjack took the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThere is one stop I must make before I take you children to school,\u201d said Mrs. Pilderjack, sighing again. \u201cI must get that Ramon fellow\u2019s signature agreeing to accept temporary guardianship. So, our first stop is the restaurant, or commune, or whatever it is.\u201d She muttered to herself for several minutes as she drove down the road to Logjam.<\/p>\n
\n\tThey began to pass the trimly manicured lawns of West Logjam. Mrs. Pilderjack managed to stay on the road and reapply lipstick at the same time. Suddenly she straightened up and looked positively perky.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAnd oh yes, I almost forgot! The paperwork came last night allowing me to remove that poor little sick child from the custody of the senile old man.\u201d She patted her beehive into place. \u201cSo…we can all feel better about that. I understand she needs some serious medical attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel sunk into her seat and looked at Van in horror. He returned the look but raised his hands in helplessness and shook his head. Mabel dropped her napkin onto the car\u2019s floor, made an \u201coops\u201d face, and bent down below Mrs. Pilderjack\u2019s line of vision.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cDropped something, huh?\u201d said Van audibly, as he too bent down below the top of the front seat.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe have to get Ivy,\u201d Mabel mouthed silently to Van.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cHow?\u201d he noiselessly replied.<\/p>\n
\n\tShe shrugged and whispered, \u201cNo doctors!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWhat was that?\u201d said Mrs. Pilderjack sharply, attempting to see them in her rear view mirror.<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel sat up. \u201cI was just saying, there are no doctors in East Logjam,\u201d she said in an earnest voice.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAnd so there aren\u2019t,\u201d replied Mrs. Pilderjack. \u201cI\u2019ll be taking the child to the clinic in West Logjam where she can get proper treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel turned her head so that only Van could see her near-panic expression. The car began to cross the Willibunk River bridge. <\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cExcuse me, Mrs. Pilderjack?\u201d said Van.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cYes?\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cYou have lipstick on your teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe pink car screeched to a jarring halt, throwing Mabel and Van against their shoulder belts. Right in the middle of the Willibunk River bridge, Mrs. Pilderjack flipped down the driver\u2019s side sun visor and began to make toothy faces, examining herself in the mirror.<\/p>\n
\n\tWith surprising agility, Van kicked his door open, pushed the buttons holding both their seatbelts in place, grabbed Mabel by the arm and scrambled out of the car pulling her along with him. They did not stop to talk or think. They tore across the remainder of the bridge on foot and dashed across the front porch of Franklin\u2019s Guest House. There was no time to look, but Mabel felt, as they passed a certain window, that something ancient and decayed was watching them pass.<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel and Van stopped to catch their breath behind Jackman\u2019s Drugstore. <\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOkay,\u201d Van panted, \u201cwe ditched…Pilderjack…now what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe…get Ivy,\u201d Mabel panted back. \u201cThen…I don\u2019t know what.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWhat if someone sees us?\u201d <\/p>\n
\n\tMabel looked around. \u201cWe\u2019ve gotta make sure they don\u2019t. We\u2019ll cross the street in front of here, then stick to the woods.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tMabel peered out from the alley between Jackman\u2019s and The Village Grocer. River Street business wouldn\u2019t really get going for another hour or so, and the street seemed clear. \u201cNow,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMabel Crockett!\u201d barked an indignant voice, startling them into freezing just as they reached the opposite curb. Holly Bumper stood at the bus stop in front of O\u2019Boyle\u2019s Soda & Sweets, her hands on her hips. \u201cYou\u2019re about to miss the bus, get over here right now!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tVan looked at her momentarily. \u201cThanks for the warning, Holly!\u201d he shouted before running for the woods behind Minnie Filo\u2019s hair salon. Mabel was right behind him, and they could hear Holly\u2019s voice as they reached the tree line screaming, \u201cMabel Crockett and Van Peale! You can\u2019t skip school! I\u2019m telling!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOkay Holly, whatever,\u201d said Van as they jogged through the woods alongside Rocky Creek Road. <\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cSchool\u2019s going to know we\u2019re not there anyway,\u201d observed Mabel.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cMabel,\u201d said Van, pushing his way through the trees, \u201cwhat are we going to do once we get Ivy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe\u2019ll just have to think of something,\u201d she replied. \u201cI don\u2019t know, hide out somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tA gentle wind rippled through the canopy of leaves above their heads. Gradually, the rippling moved downward, until it seemed the noise was coming from the tree trunks themselves.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWeird,\u201d said Van, glancing around.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cYeah,\u201d said Mabel, \u201cthe trees…\u201d She stopped. \u201cNo, wait Van…listen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tA tiny, tiny voice, almost right in Mabel\u2019s ear seemed to say, \u201cthey\u2019ll help you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWhat?\u201d exclaimed Van.<\/p>\n \n\tMabel shushed him. Very quietly she said, \u201cwho will help?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThey\u2019re ready for you. At the spring,\u201d<\/em> came the barely audible reply.<\/p>\n \n\tThe breeze dwindled to nothing. The woods were silent, except for a chirping bird.<\/p>\n \n\tVan looked at Mabel quizzically. \u201cThe spring?\u201d he said. \u201cWhat spring? And who was that?\u201d Van looked around, slightly frustrated. \u201cWho Was That?\u201d he said louder, as if to the woods.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThat\u2019s all,\u201d said Mabel. \u201cThey won\u2019t say anything else. I\u2019ve talked to dryads before. That\u2019s all they\u2019ll say.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMabel,\u201d said Van, shaking his head. \u201cYou know the weirdest people.\u201d<\/p>\n \tVan and Mabel crossed Rocky Creek Road without encountering any cars at all. Even so, they kept to the woods as they climbed the hill to Halfslips\u2019, half expecting that at any moment a chunky pink vehicle would screech up beside them. <\/p>\n \n\tBut they spotted no vehicles, and entered the house to find Ivy curled up on the living room sofa with something resembling a green milkshake.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cPop-pop made it with tofu,\u201d Ivy said, managing a small smile. \u201cIt tastes pretty good, but I don\u2019t have my appetite yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIt\u2019ll come back,\u201d said Mabel, trying hard to sound confident, but actually thinking that Ivy looked positively wilted.<\/p>\n \n\tNorton shuffled into the room. He leaned heavily on a wooden cane, and in the other hand carried a glass of something resembling the concoction Ivy was working on. He smiled at the children, and lowered himself, painstakingly, into a rocking chair.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIvy,\u201d said Mabel, sitting down at the other end of the sofa, \u201cwe have to get you away from here. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIvy read the concern on Mabel\u2019s face. \u201cWhy,\u201d she said, \u201cwhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThere\u2019s this lady,\u201d said Van, \u201ca real nut-case. Mabel and I just ran away from her.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cShe\u2019s coming here to take you to a doctor, Ivy,\u201d continued Mabel. \u201cProbably the only reason she\u2019s not here already is she\u2019s looking for me and Van.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIvy pulled herself, with obvious effort, into a sitting position. \u201cWhere will we go?\u201d she asked, \u201cPop-pop can\u2019t walk much, you know…and I\u2019m not sure I can either.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tMabel suddenly began to feel quite clear about where they would go. She looked around the Halfslips\u2019 living room. The decor was largely botanical prints and a poster from Norton Halfslip\u2019s old job with Billy Limpit\u2019s Flying Circus. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe\u2019re going to a spring,\u201d said Mabel confidently, \u201cto find my…relatives.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe Flying Circus poster was large and colorful, a painting of exciting images from the airshow. <\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAnd we\u2019ll get there,\u201d Mabel continued, focusing on an illustration of Norton Halfslip waving from the cockpit of a bi-wing, \u201cin the Shooting Star.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mabel wasn\u2019t surprised to discover that Mrs. Pilderjack\u2019s car was just as pink on the inside as it was on the out. Mrs. Pilderjack climbed into the driver\u2019s seat, picked up a small pink spray canister and pumped a squirt into the air. \u201cMmmmm…fresh!\u201d she said, turning around to smile cloyingly at Van and Mabel. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=290"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":291,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/290\/revisions\/291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.emilygillespieclement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}