A bit more of Buzzz Off (Mr. B’s Busy-Bea)
(1) The end of October is always a funny time. I suppose it’s the beginning of...
… Autumn already. Hallie’s dad said, unknowingly finishing off the sentence Hallie’s mom was thinking.
“I was thinking exactly that.” She said.
“Great minds think alike.” he replied, looking through their kitchen window. He noticed the soft spiralling wind and small yellow leaves following the swirls like little ballet dancers swaying and falling around invisible wires. “Nature’s getting ready to go to bed for a few months.” He said.
(2) “Good morning Mom and Dad.” Hallie walked in through the kitchen door rather slowly with a sombre look on her face, her voice was dull and quiet and her words dragged out in a drool. Hallie’s parents could tell straight away that something worried her. She held Busy-Bea in her right hand, dangling down by her side and bumping softly against her knee.
“Good morning Hallie.” Her mom and dad said almost together, purposely using a jolly tone in their voices to try and lift Hallie’s spirits.
“What’s up then?” Hallie’s mom asked gently lifting up her chin and giving her a mother’s knowing look.
“Nothing really… well, it’s just that I have to write a story in Mr. B’s yellow and black diary, or an adventure that happens to me over the holiday and I can’t think of anything to write. I just keep looking at what Elin Heath wrote – Queen Cloud Bee, and I can’t do anything better than that!”
(3) “It’s only Saturday darling,” Hallie’s dad said, laughing lightly and smiling, “anything can happen yet.”
“We’re going shopping today Hallie to buy our new Halloween costumes for the party tomorrow. That’ll cheer you up.” Her mom added. The family spent a long time shopping – especially for their Halloween costumes. They ate lunch in a cafe in town and their tea at home. Hallie took her new witch’s costume up to her bedroom to think again about something to write in Mr. B’s yellow and black diary. She was still worried, she hadn’t been able to think of anything to write all day – and time was passing by.
(4) Hmm, that does look good. Hallie thought, looking excitedly at her reflection in the mirror, when she tried on her new witches costume her mom had bought for the Halloween party. She thought it might help to give her some ideas for a story to write in Mr. B’s diary, but it didn’t. She sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, rested the cheeks of her face in her hands and put her elbows on her knees, it was something she always did to help her concentration. The toll of the day and long walks in the fresh air soon made her feel drowsy, she closed her eyes to rest them for a while and drifted into a light snooze.
“Zzzzzzz – Zzzzzzz – Zzzzzzz.” The calming buzz coming from somewhere around her Halloween costume, gradually getting louder then quieter, made Hallie feel even more tired. “ZZZZZZZ!” A sudden extremely loud buzz in Hallie’s left ear woke her with a start, making her jump to her feet and rub her ear hard at the same time.