The Land of Make Believe

The Land of Make Believe

By Michael Arnold

Copyright 2014 Michael Arnold

Smashwords Edition

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Epilogue

Chapter 1

She heard her name yelled out and not just her name but the most irritating words to come after someone yelling a name, especially her name when she’s in the middle of not playing as most her age usually do in the front yard, every evening in that other world, after school, homework and a snack. But she was practicing her aim with a sling shot and several sooty rocks.

Alright, Whisk-pey wherever you are playing, come on time to wash up for supper and make sure Ento washes his hands, too. He is just as dirty as you or probably more! I don’t have any hands. I am a frog and last I checked we frogs have four legs and no hands. That’s my dad and that’s been my dad for a long time now.

Whisk-pey heard his voice in her head and the exchange between her and Ento as loud and compelling as if her dad said it standing right beside her. But he wasn’t and she wasn’t going to end what she came to the forest that evening to do, even if it meant going hungry, she had business, important business in that forest, and before she was going to eat any dinner that business would be taken care of.

Whisk-pey, I was just thinking your father was talking to us. And another thing; it’s getting late, Ento said. I think we better get back home. I want to get washed up for dinner. White gravy and rice sound pretty tasty to me and I don’t see any of that out here, nothing but forest!

Disappointment was written on her face when she aimed her sling shot at a red mark in the tree. Just one more try and I think I may be able to hit the target, Ento! Whisk-pey said her voice soft and her bright yellow eyes focusing on the red spot in the tree.

I think you done a lot of trying this evening. Maybe it’s not your day to hit the target. Have you taken time to think about that, Whisk-pey?

Wow, you sure know the words to say to encourage someone, Ento, Whisk-pey said.

Well, I’m hungry and my stomach is growling. So blame it on that. My words and ideas don’t seem to come out as they should, Whisk-pey. Besides, I think we are really deep in the forest and I don’t think we been out here this far before!

Ento’s words were fading to the point that all that could be heard was the words that were spoken in Whisk-pey’s mind: I’m going to hit that red target before we leave here today. I must, and I will do it. Then as she pulled back on the elastic, the red target moved.

Hum, where did it go, Whisk-pey wondered. She had been hankering down and now she stood up. She glared at the tree, in which she could no longer see any red dot. As she stood in a trance, trying to figure out what was going on she heard: Awwwh, help!

It’s a Devour. We have to get out of here! Ento yelled.

Whisk-pey didn’t budge. She held her gaze onto this Devour that Ento spoke of.

In her world, Whisk-pey was a light two-tone orange and yellow young Lady-Canine of fourteen. She wore a furry green shirt with matching pants. A dark green satchel with a green strap around her neck hung mid-way down her slender body. The five feet, pie-faced Whisk-pey stood on her legs like a human, glaring at this black fur-face wolfish creature, who also stood like a human in front of her. He had very small, black, furry ears that sat on the top of its head. He wore these black and grimy clothes that made him look dirty, disgusting and evil.

She kept her finger round the elastic band but shoved the sling shot in her satchel and ran in the opposite direction of the tree and away from this Devour, such as Ento had described him. Whisk-pey was ready to fire her sling shot again at the first opportunity. This time I got you in my grasp and this time I will not allow you to get away!

Ento, with his elongated feet, moved from sitting on Whisk-pey’s shoulder to latching onto her back and peaking around her shoulder with big, wide, green eyes.

Whisk-pey, I don’t know what you have in mind other than running but I can’t watch, I can’t watch! Ento whispered, and then placed his front legs–like hands over his eyes.

Your kind and my kind have no dealing these days, so since you are here, I guess I will make an example and a statement when I capture you! the wolf creature yelled.

Oh my gobbly goo, this is going to be real bad! Ento blurted.

Yes, bad for him and good for us, Whisk-pey replied.

The Devour’s arms covered of spiky-looking hair, extended in a grasping gesture with the intent of capturing Whisk-pey and Ento. But when Whisk-pey pulled her sling shot out of her satchel, finger on the trigger, and fired, the black rock reached its target. The Devour, tall and lean in the waist, warred back and stumbled as the black rock landed on the ridge of his forehead, dead center with the red mark.

Ento’s eyes were the only things wide open before his mouth joined in. Whisk-pey peered on suspiciously. She walked forward slowly.

Did I get him or do you think I need to get another rock out and try again? Whisk-pey asked. But not expecting an answer, she watched the Devour stumble into a tree and fall down on his bottom. The black rock broke, crumpled and dropped to the ground. Then from where he sat, a rotten, black and smelly kind of smoke went up the nostrils of his blue nose. He suddenly woke up. The Devour began to scratch at his nose rapidly.

What have you done? That smell!

What about it, Devour? Whisk-pey asked.

It is horrendous! I will get you for this, you little pooch! the Devour screamed, before running back deeper into the forest with the stench of Wisk-pey’s rocks following him.

Yea, I think it is safe to say you got him, Wisk-pey! Ento said. The two of them made it out the forest safely, first through the thistles of the woods then through shallow, clear blue waters that separated the forest from the meadow beyond – they made it. Pink stones were the steps onto green solid grass and assorted flowers that lined a pathway from the dead zone of the forest to the bright green grass of the meadow.

Although the skies were vacant of sun and the cool air of that world whistled a song that sent down comfort and peace, Whisk-pey, the strong and brave young girl who stood her ground against the Devour, could hear her father scornful and hard words above the heavenly song and outside of anything else that evening. The thought of his words brought fear to her heart.

There was an orange passageway leading into Whisk-pey’s city. Outside that city were shiny, tall steel boulders that encircled its entire perimeter. The boulders stood around as far as eyes could see, on each side of where Whisk-pey and Ento stood.

May I help you? the hollow face within the steel boulders said to Whisk-pey and Ento.

It’s us, Whisk-pey and Ento. Geez, do we have to go through this every time we leave the city and come back? Whisk-pey would have been irritated if what happened in the forest had not happened but since her thoughts continued to revert to the moment of victory against a Devour, she smiled. She looked up at the face inside that steel boulder and waited for a response.

Oh, Whisk-pey, you look a little different! Yeah, you always say that whenever I get back to the city. Come right in; enter into the city with great tidings of joy, my daughter. The face stopped talking for a moment. By the way, a little heads up, the face then added as it came sliding down inside the boulder until it was even with Whisk-pey’s face. Your dad asked me if I let you out of the city, and I did as you asked; I lied. I told him I didn’t let you out of the city and I haven’t seen you, but still he walked halfway out into the meadow and yelled out for you. I guess he didn’t believe me!

Whisk-pey frowned. Yeah, I know I figured that, but I was in the middle of something, something pretty cool.

Yeah, you should have seen her; she took one of her… Before Ento was able to spill the beans, Whisk-pey took both of her small hands and not only covered Ento’s mouth but his entire head.

If you can please let us in, I think we need to go and see my dad now, especially if he is as angry as you said he looked.

Very well, the mouth in the steel boulder said.

Ento you have to learn to keep things a secret.

What do you mean? You were awesome back there. You took out a Devour. That is unheard of by a youngster like you in this city. I just wanted someone to know that, that’s all, Whisk-pey, Ento replied.

Yeah, I know and thank you, Ento. But if what I done gets back to my dad, he probably would ground me, or better yet, ground me with no food forever!

Well, that sounds good for me because that means your helpings of food would then go to me, Ento said with a giggle. Then when Ento didn’t even see a smile crack Whisk-pey’s lips, he stopped tittering.

The point is Dad or no one can find out that I was in the dark forest messing around with the Devours. According to Dad they have been cast out of the city for many, many years. We have no dealings with them and they don’t have any dealings with us. I went into their territory. They didn’t come into ours!

Do you feel bad about it or something, Whisk-pey? Ento leaned over her shoulder asking her.

That was an answer that should have not taken the time that it did, considering how badly Whisk-pey wanted to prove something in the forest. No, I don’t feel bad for what I done. I feel strong and powerful. If I had to take on two, three, four, five, even all of them in the dark forest, Ento, that’s what I would have done and I would have defeated them all, Whisk-pey said arrogantly.

Wow, two, three, four, five even all of them, that is really a lot to take on, Whisk-pey, but I believe in you. I believe you would have defeated them all!

Whisk-pey’s lips found a smile; her yellow eyes scanning the horizon. The city, her city was populated with green mountains, valleys, and trees that were the foundation of houses. Mountain houses, valley houses, and where her and her family lived, in a tree house.

Whisk-pey didn’t move. She gazed upon the busy city with all the interactions between her people that where similar to her – they were dogs-canine people. She watched as if she never saw the hustle-bustle amongst her people before, as if that was her first time there.

Are we going to run home this time, Whisk-pey? I hope we do. It was really fun last time and we actually made it home pretty quickly, well kinda of sort is what I thought until we did get home and your Dad punished you, Ento said.

Yeah, do you have to remind me, Ento?

Ento laughed. I don’t have to remind you but since you are my friend I don’t see any harm in it, I don’t think.

I don’t think so either, Ento, and I don’t think we will be walking today.

Ya, I’m glad about that. Walking gets old and it makes your feet hurt. Walking is no good, Ento replied.

Very funny, Ento. What do you know about walking? What have you ever known about walking? I carry you most of the time and when I’m not carrying you somewhere on my shoulders or back you are somewhere sleeping in my bed or wherever you find a place to sleep.

Ento, quite embarrassed now, tucked his head as best he could underneath Wisk-pey’s thick, hairy shoulder.

Well, I was speaking for you on your behalf, Whisk-pey.

Thank you. I may need someone to speak on my behalf once I see my dad, Whisk-pey replied.

Don’t say that. I think your dad will be reasonable even if he did find out in some kind of way that you were in the dark forest, I have confidence. I am optimistic. I believe in the unbelievable, Whisk-pey, Ento yelled then tossed up his left foot which looked more like a hand than a foot in a triumphant gesture. Seconds later, after all of Ento’s talk of optimism had subsided and Wisk-pey was done with the examination of her city’s activities, she placed her thumb and her index finger under her pink tongue and blew as hard as she could.

No-no, Whisk-pey, please don’t do this, Ento yelled then jumped down from Whisk-pey’s shoulder and looked for the closest tree he could find.

Oh, come on, Ento, we’ve been through this a thousand times. I told you before; as long as you hold on tight everything will be alright. Can’t you trust me?

You say that every time and then…, and then when we go up in the air on that crazy bird then it’s a different story! It’s like you are different. It’s like you a different girl, a mad girl that don’t have it all together in that head of yours, Ento said, hiding behind a tree until the tree spoke out.

Awh, come on, are you a man or a mouse? the tree asked.

Startled, Ento ran from behind the tree. When he heard laughter from Whiskey-pey and from the tree, Ento became very upset.

If I wasn’t so little and you wasn’t so tall I would… Ento stopped talking to the tree when it pointed with a branch arm at the extremely large multicolored bird. This exquisitely beautiful creature was a cross between an eagle from its facial structure and an owl from the neck down. It was coming in for a landing at great speed.

Ento felt some sort of warmth enveloping his entire undersized body. He closed his eyes and placed a hand over his face. Without warning, Whisk-pey grabbed Ento by his rugged skin and walked over to the bird which had landed by now.

No, I don’t want to go and you can’t make me, Ento blurted.

The bird and Whisk-pey exchanged a glance. I have no idea how you deal with what seem to be such a cry baby. When is he going to grow up? the bird asked.

Whisk-pey laughed then said, Your guess is as good as mine, Gilma. But if he was to grow up; I don’t know if he would be the same Ento.

Well I guess you are making good sense. If you accept the cry baby, I accept the cry baby, Gilma said.

Ento replied with only a snarling grimace.

All aboard, guys. I take it that you are going home, Dad is expecting you, right? Glima asked. Her deep but mature feminine voice elevated as Whisk-pey got onto Gilma’s back.

Whisk-pey held Ento close to her chest with both of her arm as close as she could without squeezing his little body.

I’m scared, Whisk-pey. Gilma seems to be such a reckless flyer. I think she does it for sport or maybe she does it to scare me, Ento whispered into Whisk-pey’s ear.

Weather she fly recklessly or not it doesn’t matter. I am your friend and I have been your friend as long as I can remember. I won’t ever let anything happen to you, Ento; nothing as long as I am alive. I haven’t yet and I won’t. Now, let’s go home, Ento, Whisk-pey told him. There was a piece of feathery skin that Whisk-pey held onto when they took flight. Ento, who held a tight and firm hugging grip on Whisk-pey, buried his face into her furry chest. When he heard the wosh, wosh of Gilma’s large wings flapping he literally flatten himself into Whisk-pey’s chest.

Is it over yet? Are we home? Ento asked ignorantly. His head only popped up long enough for him to get a suitable answer to his question. Whisk-pey smiled then caressed the top of her hairless friend’s head before giving him the answer that he didn’t want to hear. No, we are not home yet, Ento. We just got in the air. It will be a few more minutes. Don’t worry you are going to be okay, Whisk-pey assured him but he wasn’t convinced.

Awh, I just want to go home. This is too much for my heart, Whisk-pey, Ento replied.

This time Whisk-pey didn’t respond, instead she grabbed his head gently and pushed it back in the comfort of her little chest. As the air flow increased so did Gilma’s wing flap. She began to elevate as her gigantic wing span took on the increasing airflow.

I think there is a rain storm coming. I can see it up ahead. Are you all okay? Gilma asked.

I’m fine, of course, Whisk-pey answered, But Ento here…, well Ento is Ento. That is all I can say about that!

Gilma giggled to herself. Ento didn’t hear the giggling but he felt the bird’s body shake somewhat. He knew it wasn’t because of a bump in the air. His heart was skipping every second beat and with his body pressed against Whisk-pey’s chest, both heartbeats sounded a little wacky – much like a drum.

Will we be home before the storm? Whisk-pey asked. Her voice was low, filled with concern.

Don’t tell me the old and outdated Ento is rubbing off on you, my friend.

Of course not, Whisk-pey replied, rubbing his head again and glancing down at him. If we are going to meet up with this storm, I want to be ready for it.

She then pulled two synthetic shawls, one for her and one for Ento, out of her satchel. Ento didn’t bother to look up this time when he heard his friend’s words. He kept his face buried in Whisk-pey’s chest and his legs in a wraparound.

The wind was a roaring, blistering kind of gale that pulled away at Whisk-pey. She leaned down into Gilma without squashing Ento.

I think we’re heading into the storm. The winds have never been this strong. I don’t know if I can avoid the storm and get you home before dinner, Whisk-pey, Gilma told her.

Ento are you alright down there? He poked his small head up out of Whisk-pey’s chest to say, Yes, I just want to go home. That’s all, Whisk-pey. She rubbed the top of Ento’s head again. We will get home real soon, Ento, I promise you. I think the best thing is to face the storm head on. I can’t afford to be late for dinner and have to explain myself why I am so late when I had more than enough time to get home, Gilma.

Suits me, Whisk-pey, you are the boss!

Chapter 2

It didn’t take long for the gray clouds and the darken skies to relay the message of the great storm approaching to the people in the city in which Whisk-pey lived. People ran from their everyday duties outdoors to the trees which held their respective homes. With houses of various sizes, shapes and colors came the type of residences in which these dog-like human creatures lived.

There were the wooden, stone, brick, porcelain and concrete tree-houses, to name only a few. But regardless of the type of houses, the Canine People built them effortlessly and lived in them freely. One particular canine-person didn’t take for granted the words of Whisk-pey’s father, Amose told them when Whisk-pey was a little baby.

We, the people of Land Make Believe, where we make believe what we want with a little hard work and a little luck…, well, a lot of luck. We feel and understand the nature of the world, our world. To be perfectly specific, it comes with the trial and tribulations and for my little people here, not referring to my five foot and a half self, but referring to the kiddies! There is a storm that more than a time or two thinks it can come and invade our land and what we built. To be pretty truthful about it, the storm can do that – it’s nature. But one thing we don’t have to put up with, is allowing this storm to come in and take us as if we are some type of weaklings! We are no weaklings nor are we ignorant. For safety we shelter ourselves inside our protective homes until it is all over!

The thought was over and the winds that appeared to move through the city from the North were building quickly. Kalite’s thoughts of her husband’s words of comfort didn’t mean anything when her daughter Whisk-pey was out traveling in the coming storm. Come on, Kalite, we have to get shelter!

What do you mean shelter, when our daughter is out there in this storm? I’m going to wait for her and I’m not leaving until I see her pretty little, yellow head, Amose, Kalite yelled.

He smiled as if what was about to happen in their city and the uncertainties of Whisk-pey’s location wasn’t something serious, and Kalite’s words were part of a joke. Kalite not only saw the frenzy in the city, its residents getting to their homes as quickly as possible, but she saw the large mass of what looked to be thick, white clouds and out of them the pouring of rain.

We have to go, Kalite. Whisk-pey is strong and she is very, very smart. She will make it home. I’m sure she sees the storm clouds just as we do. She knows about the danger of the storm. She is more knowledgeable than most of the adults here in Make Believe. Amose turned his head away from Kalite, when her eyes turned from a look of concern to an angry glare as if she thought he was referring to her as another of these adults he was talking about.

Look, Kalite, just because she is fourteen years old and just a child doesn’t mean we have to treat her like one!

For heaven’s sakes, Amose, she is out there in heaven knows where and we don’t have a clue where she is. It has nothing to do with her being fourteen and we treating her like a child, Kalite yelled.

While there verbal dispute went on, the heart of the storm began