The Adventures of Fishkins and Pepperjacket

I have dedicated this book to my dear Dad, who put up the bravest fight I have ever seen. We love and miss you Dad, enjoy the gardens and the summer sky….

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© 2011 Clare Theresa Nightingale. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4520-8803-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-8684-3 (ebk)

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First published by AuthorHouse: 07/26/2011

THE ADVENTURES OF

FISHKINS AND PEPPERJACKET

Clare Theresa Nightingale

Contents

1.   A big sleep

2.   The Adventures of Fishkins

3.   Mr Pepperjacket

4.   Pepperjacket and the Dragonfly Fishers

5.   Pepperjacket and the Nut Crackers!!

6.   Pepperjacket and The Great Goose Robbery!

7.   Pepperjacket meets Joppy Clickfoot

8.   Swinebern in ‘The Appleyard’

9.   Pepperjacket and the Magic Scooter!

10. Peppajacket meets Pandora Perkins

11. Kitty Whigpenns saves the boiler

12. Pepperjacket gets Hare Pox!

13. Peppejacket visits Fang Island

14. Pepperjacket goes to Gable Trough

15. Pepperjacket and the Tra la las

16. Pepperjacket and Pirate Raids

17. Gilbert Hollows

18. Pepperjacket meets Skam Hattie

1. A big sleep

This story was written loosely on paper when my children were four and seven; it has never been typed until now, March 2008, ten years later. Grace is my daughter and Micheal my son. We live in ‘The Appleyard’. Grace speaks:

My Mum told us, that the great-embroidered quilt she gave us for warmth in the wintertime, made us sleep tightly, as it was stuffed with the feathers from angels wings. I am now of the belief, that she told us the truth. For it was divided into patterns of beautiful squares, all of which we would stare at and make up stories around as quiet children with bright minds do. All the fine embroidery remembered with love. It was very old and belonged to my Gt Gt Grandmother from old Norfolk, she was a kind but small lady by the name of Emma Sizeland. Each square had a story all of its own, making it a very special quilt indeed. We loved our special quilt and visited places in our dreams, entranced by the patterns, never knowing where we would float off to next. As the quilt was wonderfully cosy and warm, both my brother Micheal and I snuggled underneath and fell off into a deep sleep straight away!

Always feeling protected by the company of our many pets, who slept alongside us and who came with us on our many distant travels. Our dear pets must also have loved the quilt of squares, as it was a safe cosy nest for them to curl up in, even when we went to school during the daytime.

Our first great flight of fancy was on October the 24th, which is my birthday! Micheal was afraid of the dark and asked to sleep under our angel quilt. He clambered into bed, there appeared to be a lot of room to spread out underneath the material. Off, we both went into a deep, deep sleep, where beautiful, peaceful ‘white lights’ welcomed us and made us feel very safe. For the first time we chose a blue square to fly into. This is very easy to achieve when you are asleep. Children often fly in their dreams, sometimes I can fly down the stairs. At the very same time in our sleep, we both opened our eyes to see a kind blonde man who was dressed as a knight standing in front of us, with his trusty horse behind him. He spoke.

My name is Jack and this is my horse Jester, I bid you good day.

With a ‘degree’ of amusement, he scratched his chin and told us that, we could bring our pets and go for a ride on the big bay horse. We felt safe and in no danger. Jack told us that he had a very bad toothache, Jasper licked his face but alas, the pain stayed. The pain was visible in the knight’s expression: he had a deep-set scar to the right side of his pale soft face. In a way, his face seemed very sad. His eyes were the bluest lapis that I had ever seen or have done ever since. Jack looked very much like my Nanny Pat’s brave brother Eric, but how could that be as he had passed on to a special place many years since that time?

"To take away this toothache pain we need to visit Green Lady Wood. She is a fine lady in charge of all the birds, butterflies, hares, foxes, snakes, badgers, boars, tiny bugs, teasels, weasels, stoats, dears and

I do not want to fly on my own as it is better with others by my side for good company. It gets rather lonely riding by yourself you know. Do you think you would like to fly with me and visit this fine lady? said Jack. Of course, we agreed and followed the knight named Jack closely behind.

There appeared to be blue skies holding swirling mists all about us, the air felt very peaceful.

One at a time we patiently jumped on to Jester the big bay horse who stood still before us, our two cats: Meg, Pyewacket and Bekki our trusted dog sat on our laps, cosily fitting into spare spaces for protection. Jack explained that time and space is relative so we nodded in great agreement. He climbed up behind us and seemed also to fit on Jester with no trouble at all! There was a huge saddle placed on the back of the horse, which could seat all of us easily with great comfort and no squeezing. Jester began to walk steadily along a bright vivid green country lane, which seemed to be welcoming us to it, with the strong rich smells of wild bluebells and soft yellow primroses growing from the damp mossy banks close by. We could hear clicking of crickets and woodpeckers cackling high up above in the tall oak trees. Jasper merrily started to pick up speed in the breeze and we began to trot. He swished his tail with happiness. The wind rushed past us and the big horse started to take off in the sky and fly! He walked fast through the air around us, appearing very happy, as were our dear pets. Both Micheal and I clung on to the horse’s thick mane but he did not seem to mind much as he was having a conversation all of his own with our intelligent dog Bekki! She said that she had a happy life with our family and that she now liked to fly! The big horse said that he did not mind dogs and cats and that he was happy to carry them in the air! Pyewacket and Meg agreed that they also enjoyed flying. Micheal and I looked at each other in complete amazement.

Onwards our party flew, past wild flowers of vibrant pinks and yellows and large bees humming through the sparkling dew to their next nectar parcel. The soft lilting wind lifted us higher still, so that the white fluffy clouds were not too far above, what a wonderful view of the land we had from high up there in the blue beyond. All the fields laid out in a colourful patchwork of many creatures and soft greens, happy and content to live next to each other in complete harmony. A large wild herd of horses rushed beneath in a race to the green meadows and the river that was running along next to it. We could hear their crashing hooves thrashing through the deep countryside beneath their heaving bodies. Jack started to sing.

Down in the pasture where a cantankerous cockerel crows.

There are small snails and butterflies and a sweet red rose.

She calls me always in my sleep,

And tames my heart with a single scarlet beat.

Foxes and squirrels nesting their young,

iny cherry buds wrapped up, all shining in the sun.

All that is good makes me smile.

Happiness is the healer all the while.

We flew onwards and upwards still, Jasper whinnied and swished his tail happily against the tugging of the whirling breeze. The great big horse began to set downwards steadily after a time.

Oh, do you think we will stop? said Micheal.

Don’t be afraid, Jasper is an expert at landing! replied Jack.

Thud, thud and splashing clop, we landed on a lush patch of grass next to deep green woodland that teemed with life. From within its realms came a jingling tingling magical song, which carried to them on the breeze, it was completely mesmerising.

Poem:

Green Lady Wood.

This curtained apron of the lady field.

Sitting sweet daisies of open yield.

Hair burnt orange, falling to green grass mosses.

She cries the song to the butterfly herders.

With strange thick carols to imparting dense finch flocks.

Tapering tall towers of trees, nursing natures charming melodies.

Countless nodding bluebell blankets to pull me through blue.

Charming quiet frivolities for the blinded shrew.

She is who whips those delicate pink berries from elder bushes.

And takes small, fine feathers for nesting nellies and tart dandelion jellies.

Corn crust fields next to her blanketed dress.

Cutting off clear betwixt the ‘RoyalEmpress’ and her falling hair tresses. Beneath her delicate petticoats are waking babies of giant oaks, Pressing to push the leaves from nesting lily white stoats Sleeping in the frosts from the winters slumber deeds.

And waking with budded dew drops from rawling small hedges and blankets of knotted reeds.

Closing herself at night and waking eyes fever at dawn.

Rich supper thick mists lay at her bays and vanish into the morn.

One by one, we dismounted the big horse and followed the sound, interested to find out its origin. Jasper brought up the rear with Jack on his back, tugging his reins carefully in the correct direction. Micheal noticed Jester’s harness, which had been cut and fashioned from fine leather, then adorned with rich buckles made of shiny metal. Colourful pictures painted all around the leather of running horses and old knights in battle made the harness look alive. Micheal asked who had made it. Jack replied that a young man called James Sizeland had constructed it many years ago and had himself once flown on this very horse with his dear sister Emma! We looked at each other and both remembered that our Gt Gt Grandmother’s name had been Emma Sizeland: she had a brother called James, who was a harness maker! We wondered what quest she had gone on and whether we would be lucky enough to meet her some time.

Bekki and the cats followed closely behind, all the time looking about them, sniffing at interesting smells and listening intently to the different noises of the forest creeping from all around us. The singing became louder but more peaceful. It was like hundreds of different creatures chattering and greeting each other politely in sweet song. ‘Pitta patta, chitta chatta’ it secretly called. Many wonderful creatures of the forest glen gathered beneath a huge great qeurcus tree, around their truest friend. She sat still and quite stoutly in the centre of the gathering, respected and watched intently from every corner. The chatter stopped and she sang from her heart the most beautiful song we had ever heard, it told of her family of loyal animals, of everything that ever was, and will be to come in the natures of the wilderness: the beauty of ‘Our Mother Earth’. Micheal had tears in his eyes so I put my arm around his small shoulders to show him I cared. The lady had long chestnut orange hair and a green dress covered in daisies, she matched perfectly with the tones and hues of the woodland and bluebells that grew behind her in great-knotted carpets. Her fine dress mingled into the grass as if it were one with the Earth. The lady looked up serenely and opened her eyes.

How may I help you? she spoke in a soft kind voice. Jack piped up quietly and spoke clearly to the lady.

I have a dreadful toothache and cannot eat a thing. Should I have made an appointment my lady? No Sir, I was told that you were on your way to see us here. Who told you? asked Jack with interest.

Why, my friends here, all the creatures you see before you. They sang their chorus and I understood them perfectly. You should always listen to what animals have to tell you, as they just cannot lie. Now your bad tooth, do you think that it is aching for a reason Jack?

Why yes, I have been eating too many sweets!

No, because you have been neglecting yourself, you will feel poorly deep inside unless you learn to love yourself as well as all others. You can only bring happiness to others if you feel it from inside.

The lady smiled and out of a pocket in her green crushed velvet dress, she produced a lovely deep red rose then handed it delicately to Jack. Jack took it slowly and smelt it. He gazed in wonder at its beauty and felt better inside.

Eat a petal, she said in delight.

Jack did as she asked, as he trusted this beautiful lady before him. He picked the smallest petal, feeling sorry for it. Jack put it into his mouth and started to chew slowly. His bad tooth became numb and his toothache slowly vanished, making him smile happily at the lady, who smiled back in return. A warm glow spread around the confines of the meeting place and the sky seemed to light up. The light stretched over the woodlands and through breaks in the trees, then far over green fields for many miles.

Thank you very much indeed lady, how will I ever repay you?

I would like you to help me with a special favour Jack. A naughty black cat is upsetting everybody throughout this good land; his name is Albert Fishkins. This bad creature has just last week stolen fish from Lady Lobelia’s table. He knocked her flying from her velvet chair, into a large blackberry pie; she cannot remove the purple from her clothing. Lady Lobelia has never worn purple! He has now joined a circus and is squirting mud at all the visitors and performers. The list of his naughty foul deeds is endless. Please can you find him and sort him out, he is tipping the scales all in the wrong direction; bad things may come of this if he is not controlled. Mark my words young knight: he is indeed a tricky one to catch: he may slip through your fingers!

Where can I find him lady and can I bring my friends along with me? Jack motioned to us.

Why yes, you are all protected by a bright white light, nothing can hurt you. You are good kind children and your pets are very funny, I have been watching you! Now be on your way and good luck to you as this naughty cat is a very tricky creature indeed, not evil but tricky, so take care. Goodbye Jack, she smiled, once more creating the light about them. Jack bowed to the lady and returned her smile in a language of his own, that we were too young yet to understand. We bid the lady goodbye along with her little wise friends and each in turn jumped onto Jester’s great back. The horse started to trot and we waved goodbye to Green Lady Wood. We were sad to leave her, as she was so happy and warm. Micheal said that he thought she was very beautiful and that she had reminded him of someone. Up and up we flew again, not worrying how high we were climbing into the warm air.

We held on tight to Jester’s reins and his mane. The horse’s heart was beating very fast in his chest; each of us could feel it pounding beneath our legs. The pastures below were full of hillocks and coloured every green you can imagine, with dense woodland swarming with life. I felt that this must surely be a place quite like heaven.

A large dark jackdaw came alongside our proud party and greeted us. Where is the great circus Mr Jackdaw? asked Jack politely.

Why it be just over yonder hill there sir, just keep going and you will spot the signpost below at the big old crossroads, you can’t miss it sir, even if you tried.

Why, thank you good bird! Jack called, as we overtook him with ease.

The signpost came into view, so we slowed down to read it beneath us.

The circus is dead ahead, said Jack. Would you all like to visit the circus?

Yes, we would all really like to visit, as long as it is not a bad circus where animals are badly treated! Where is that bad cat, we want to make him behave! Even Bekki nodded in agreement along with our two cats. Jack told us that it was a colourful and kind circus and that all of the animals were well looked after and fed with lovely food of their choice.

Beneath us, a great circus tent stood proud against the strong breeze. It billowed against the gusting grip of the wind and was bright red and blue in stripy panels, which glowed brightly in the daylight.

Hold on tightly everyone, Jester is going to land now! The horse started to drop slowly, making sure that we were level and not tipped off his back, he safely landed behind the circus tent, out of sight of any onlookers.

I am very tired! spoke a loud mumble.

Who said that? asked Micheal.

I’m not sure but I think it was Jester! replied Jack.

Yes, it was I who spoke; please can I rest now as horses are not meant to fly for very long distances you know. We are designed to eat straw and run along with other horses! Jester stuck his nose in the air with a snobbish fashion.

Everyone looked at each other in shock, we were not used to talking horses, especially those with turned up noses. Jack explained that Jester was missing his friend ‘Jumper’ and that he needed to sleep for a while to recover his full strength. Meg and Pyewacket jumped down from my arms and started to dart around in search of strong scents and food.

That’s better, we can all stretch our legs now! they chattered.

Oh, do stop complaining, said Bekki sharply! Cats are so vain, always pampering themselves and purring too loudly, licking their paws: silly, preening pompadoos!

Shut up or I will bite your nose! meowed Meg.

That’s enough of all that! growled our good sensible Pyewacket.

Micheal, Jack and I watched and listened in amazement as the animals organised themselves into correct order. They explained that they always spoke to each other in that manner but we had never heard them, humans do not normally understand their special language.

Now, have you all quite finished, this is serious business you know, we cannot make any mistakes as this character is a particularly crafty fishy one! snapped Jack.

How can our animals talk? Micheal asked Jack.

In this World we can all understand each other, they can have a voice and be heard as all animals should be, especially those who nobody listens to. Jack looked very sad at this. I swear that I saw a painful tear about to fall from his left eye. He lowered his face and hid from us for a moment. I did not understand why but now I am older I do, sadly. After a while he looked up and said that we just needed to make sure that they all behaved and did not get up to anything naughty.

Unlike naughty Albert, I wonder if he is in the tent, it is very large isn’t it! shouted Micheal in excitement.

There were many different noises coming from inside the tent. It seemed to be a thriving village all of its own. Indeed, many of its occupants had trained in their circus families for generations now and could mastermind magical moves and wondrous acts, which might seem impossible to some onlookers. I peaked in with my brother, through a break in a loose tent flap. A lady was tied in a knot in front of us, wearing a purple dress. A tall serious man came to speak to her and called her the ‘Incredible Shrinking Violet’! She unravelled herself, taking a steaming cup of tea from him and crossed her legs all back to front, which seemed very painful, yet still she smiled up at him with violet eyes. The man talking to her wore a tall, black velvet top hat with a red suit, the same colour as old Victorian soldiers wore long ago when marching into battle. Much like red roses that mum gives nanny on ‘Mother’s Day’. He looked like my dad with his black hair and a silky moustache, all clean and neatly cut. His voice was soft but strict; his black boots brightly polished to reflect the great lights shining on the players. From behind came a loud chuckle, as a clown chased a tiny white dog on a bicycle. The dog told the clown that he would not be able to catch him, as he was far too slow! Other dogs had paper hats on with pie-frilled collars; they ran around in all directions creating a funny act. If only I had bought my camera, nobody would believe us if we told them this!

I know what you are thinking, said Jack, cameras do not work here! You should not think out loud, be careful!

We all quietly followed Jack because we trusted him and he was our leader. He peered into the entrance of the tent; sitting bolt upright, juggling many brightly coloured balls was a large black cat, with great big green beady eyes and a sharp toothy grin!

Don’t let him see you all, whispered Jack quickly. He will run off if he sees us. I think it might be Albert, said Micheal. He has got a fishy grin!

We all laughed at the sight of this juggling cat, he was so