Hide the Keys

  Cathy closed the door of her yellow Volkswagen convertible Beetle. She smiled as she took in the view of their beautifully kept country home. Cathy had grown up here as a child with her three sisters. Her parents, Gabrielle and John Carrington, had sold the house to Brian York several years ago. It had been too hard for them to maintain the property in their ageing years. Cathy loved the smell of this place. A part of her heart was here.

  Today, Cathy was wearing new blue jeans, white sand-shoes and a comfortable light yellow jumper to match the colour of her new car. She held a black guitar case in one hand, a small brown suitcase in the other, and her small sunflower Gucci handbag rested over her shoulder. She smiled with joy as Jezebel ran up and wrapped her arms around her.

  ‘Hi Jezebel!’ greeted Cathy happily. ‘You’re looking… scared. What’s wrong?’ she asked with concern.

  ‘Did you go to Fariddion too?’ asked Jezebel.

  ‘Sorry Jez. Where?’ asked Aunt Cathy.

  ‘Oh… maybe not. I’ll explain what I mean soon enough,’ sighed Jezebel.

  ‘I see you’ve brought your rabbit out to greet me,’ smiled Cathy, noticing the toy in her hand. Jezebel looked intensely again at Cathy. She desperately needed to know about Tibbar.

  ‘Is it the same rabbit you had?’ whispered Jezebel hopefully.

  ‘I don’t know. We’re talking a very long time ago now.’ Aunt Cathy smiled at Jezebel, then looked closer. Her eyes narrowed. The smile left her face. She could feel a presence coming from the toy. Her mouth opened in recognition.

  ‘Yes. It’s him alright,’ whispered Aunt Cathy, studying the toy rabbit thoughtfully. Jezebel sighed with relief.

  ‘Hi Cathy!’ announced Pamela, coming out to greet her. Pam blew her nose with her handkerchief. ‘New car! I like it! Funny, I saw one exactly like this the other week go past here. It wasn’t you was it? It looked like you.’ Cathy concentrated and smiled naturally at her sister’s questions.

  ‘Hardly,’ laughed Aunt Cathy with a reassuring smile. She stepped forward and hugged her sister.

  ‘Nice drive down?’ asked Pam.

  Cathy replied with the sweep of an outstretched arm. ‘Just gliding along the motorway listening to some new CDs I bought recently.’

  ‘CDs?’ questioned Jezebel happily. ‘I love your CDs.’

  ‘Downloaded onto a memory stick I’m afraid, Jezebel,’ shrugged Cathy.

  ‘Your hair looks a good deal longer,’ remarked Pamela thoughtfully.

  ‘Hair is getting to be a luxury for me to maintain these days. You look fabulous as always, Pam!’ Cathy admitted, though she did think Pamela looked slightly pale today. Pamela was twelve years older than Cathy and not overly confident in her own looks.

  ‘I’ll shout you a trip to the hairdresser while you’re here,’ smiled Pam. ‘Come in. I’ve got some scrambled eggs warm in the oven. I just finished making them for Brian. I’ll make him a fresh batch later. The chickens are producing more than we need. He’s getting very busy with his herbs now. It’s really taking off,’ explained Pamela, taking two steps up to the front door.

  ‘That’s fantastic news,’ smiled Cathy.

  ‘It’s been a very eventful morning here. But that’s an ongoing story,’ confided Pamela.

  Aunt Cathy looked puzzled before saying, ‘Okay… I would love some scrambled eggs. I’m starving.’

  Aunt Cathy followed her off the crunching pebbles, while slightly averting any contact with the scary vines that grew up and around the outside of the house. Last time Cathy was here her high heel shoes had sunk down into the white pebbles and broken off. The time before that a large beetle had dropped off the vines and landed on her shoulder, which caused her an awful fright. Jezebel brought up the rear and closed the door behind them.

  Dropping her bag and guitar gently down inside the doorway, Cathy made her way into the kitchen.

  ‘Sorry I’m a little early,’ said Cathy, looking at the grandfather clock. ‘Just wanted to beat the mid-morning traffic. I’ll take these up shortly,’ she explained, walking over to the magazine rack in the corner and noting that the magazine which inspired her to buy her new car was still there.

  ‘Let’s go upstairs,’ suggested Jezebel.

  ‘I’m sure Aunt Cathy would love a cup of tea first,’ advised Pamela, still watching Jezebel with concern.

  ‘You’re right, Sis. I would love one. We’ll go up shortly, Jez, okay?’

  Cathy could see that Jezebel was very impatient to tell her about the rabbit in private. So she’d try to keep the conversation short. Cathy really wanted to chat with Pamela longer, but that would have to wait.

  Pamela filled up the large silver kettle from the kitchen tap pumped in from the rainwater tanks.

  ‘Still white and two?’ asked Pamela.

  ‘Half a sugar now. I’m on a diet,’ replied Cathy. Pamela poured Cathy’s tea from the teapot into the Meakin cup on the saucer. Cathy came over and took a seat at the kitchen table. She happily added her own milk and sugar.

  ‘Before you go upstairs, Cathy, I have to tell you what happened this morning. I’m sorry Jezebel but your aunt needs to know in case it happens again.’

  Aunt Cathy was taken aback by her sister’s dramatic story. She listened intensely. But by all the facial gestures Jezebel was conveying to her without Pamela’s knowledge, she knew there was more to the story than met the eye.

  ‘Anyway…’ finished Pamela, looking a little exhausted.

  Brian walked into the room and sat down at the kitchen table and greeted Cathy with a smile and a wave.

  ‘Time for some scrambled eggs, I hear, Cath,’ smiled Brian, bringing the salt and pepper over and pouring some tea.

  ‘You enjoy, Brian,’ smiled Cathy.

  ‘I’ll make you some later, Cath,’ smiled Pamela, serving up the piping hot plate straight out of the warm oven.

  ‘Okay. Well I’ll head up for a while with Jez and be back down for your brilliant scrambled eggs soon. Is that alright with you, Sis?’

  ‘True. They are brilliant,’ smiled Brian, happily munching away.

  ‘No problem, take your time,’ replied Pamela, thinking about the horrid start to the day. She prayed that Dr Hooper would find a cure.

  They hurried upstairs and into Jezebel’s room.

  ‘Okay… what’s going on?’ asked Aunt Cathy, closing Jezebel’s bedroom door behind her and leaning on it with her hands behind her back.

  ‘Wow… where do I start? Okay. From the beginning. Last night Tibbar took me to Fariddion.’

  ‘Who? Where? What is this Fariddion?’ asked Cathy, looking perplexed.

  Jezebel sat down onto the toy box, cuddling the toy rabbit, and told Aunt Cathy everything. At times while Jezebel explained this sensational tale, Cathy thought that maybe Jezebel was losing her mind. Was her being unable to wake up this morning some kind of mental condition? However, one part of the story made Aunt Cathy recall her own dream.

  ‘Stop!’ said Cathy.

  ‘What?’ asked Jezebel.

  ‘I woke up this morning to a terrible dream. You were in the snow crying.’

  ‘Exactly,’ smiled Jezebel. ‘You knew I was in trouble. You know about Tibbar. You can help me!’ She continued.

  It was true that Aunt Cathy had had many unexplained situations with Tibbar when she was young, but nothing of the sort that Jezebel was experiencing.

  ‘And so I told Mother that I have a sleepwalking problem,’ continued Jezebel dramatically.

  ‘Oh my…’ laughed Cathy. ‘Oh my,’ frowned Cathy. ‘Doctor Hooper might start doing tests on you to try and find a problem that doesn’t even exist?’ Aunt Cathy was feeling confused. She so wanted to believe, but it was all so fanciful.

  ‘And then—’

  ‘Wait,’ demanded Aunt Cathy. ‘One minute, please.’ Jezebel nodded.

  Cathy walked forward and sat on the ground. Jezebel watched Cathy close her eyes, fold her legs, take in a deep breath and slowly release it. Then Cathy repeated her deep breathing several more times.

  ‘Right!’ Cathy jumped up, marched over to the toy rabbit and picked it up.

  ‘No joking. I want to hear you, Tibbar!’ demanded Cathy. Cathy was determined to hear something. She closed her eyes, wishing to hear anything.

  Cathy gave a muffled scream as she opened her eyes to see she was holding a real live rabbit in her hands.

  ‘Oh my…’ gushed Cathy. ‘How on earth?’ Cathy walked quickly to Jezebel and dumped the rabbit on her.

  ‘Come and sit next to me, Cathy. He won’t bite.’

  Cathy, with her hands still over her mouth, ran into the ensuite and closed the door.

  ‘Oh my… I heard him. I swear I heard him say my name,’ complained Cathy.

  Jezebel nodded thoughtfully to herself. ‘Yep. She can hear you now alright, Tibbar,’ said Jezebel, now sitting and waiting for Cathy to come back out.

  The door slowly opened and Cathy stuck her head out and stared at Tibbar.

  ‘I wasn’t expecting that!’ complained Cathy, frowning.

  ‘I need answers, Aunty.’ Jezebel looked at Tibbar then back at Cath. ‘Will you help?’ Jezebel looked vulnerable.

  ‘Of course I will,’ half smiled Cathy, walking over and taking her hand. ‘I do remember he never hurt me. And he definitely talked to me. It’s ten years ago now. That really just shocked me, Jezebel.’ A frown turned into a smile. The years fell away.

  ‘It’s the same voice!’ explained Cathy. ‘Called me Cath. You know, later when I looked back at my time with him—I was about sixteen—I questioned everything. I thought I must have been imagining it all. I definitely believe you now.’

  ‘I didn’t realise you didn’t believe me,’ admitted Jezebel, fondling the cord of her light blue dressing gown.

  ‘Well, you didn’t tell Pamela or Brian about Fariddion, did you?’ explained Cathy.

  ‘God no,’ replied Jezebel, looking alarmed.

  ‘So you can’t just expect me to get it all straight away after all this time, can you?’ explained Cathy, her arms folded.

  ‘No. I suppose not,’ agreed Jezebel.

  Suddenly Tibbar jumped down and sat up. He clapped his paws together.

  ‘Did you hear that?’ said Cathy. ‘He wants us to hide your dad’s key cards!’

  ‘Not key cards. Car keys,’ explained Jezebel with a smile. ‘And he’s not a boy.’

  ‘He’s not? I mean, are you sure?’ asked Cathy.

  Jezebel looked confident. ‘Yes, car keys,’ she affirmed. ‘But I guess I don’t really know if he’s a boy or not.’

  ‘You must have very strong psychic ability to hear Tibbar as clearly as you do,’ smiled Cathy.

  Then Jezebel added, with building alarm in her voice, ‘Maybe that’s why Tibbar and Astar need me? It’s because I have to hide Dad’s keys? Did you hear that? We’ve got to delay Dad from taking James to the airport today! Gosh. Is there a chance of an accident?’ asked Jezebel.

  Tibbar didn’t reply.

  ‘Let’s just tell Brian,’ said Cathy.

  ‘We can’t,’ disagreed Jezebel.

  ‘Yeah… you’re right. What are we going to do?’ wondered Cathy.

  ‘We’re going to hide his keys, that’s what,’ said Jezebel.

  ‘I’m starting to get the feeling this weekend is going to get a bit more complicated than I expected,’ said Cathy. ‘Where does he leave his keys?’ she schemed.

  Tibbar sat up straight and lifted his ears to listen to their plan.

  +

  ‘Have you seen my keys, Pam?’ asked Brian, as he walked into the kitchen to find Pamela, Jezebel and Aunt Cathy seated at the wooden kitchen table having breakfast together. He noticed that Pamela was halfway through eating hers, but Cathy hadn’t touched her plate yet. Jezebel had finished and was wearing her favourite light blue and red-coloured dress with black shoes.

  ‘You’ll love those eggs, Cath,’ smiled Brian.

  ‘You never lose your keys, Brian,’ said Pamela.

  ‘True. They’re not on my bedside table,’ he continued. ‘I’ve looked everywhere I would usually place them.’ Brian looked sadly at his Seiko chronograph wristwatch. ‘Do you have any ideas?’ He scratched his head.

  ‘You’ll just have to take my keys, darling,’ said Pamela patiently. ‘They’re in the ignition. I left them there when I went shopping yesterday afternoon.’

  ‘Right,’ smiled Brian, checking that he had the spare garage door key in his pocket. He also wished Pam would stop leaving the keys in the ignition. An easy target for thieves, reasoned Brian.

  ‘Alright! I’ll see you back here once I’ve dropped the boys off at the airport,’ waved Brian, and he walked briskly out the front door.

  ‘Thanks for taking the boys, darling!’ called out Pamela. ‘He’s so helpful.’

  Pamela looked surprised as Jezebel and Cathy stood up at the same time and walked quickly after Brian.

  ‘Come to see me off, have we?’ grinned Brian. ‘What a fabulous day. Not a cloud in the sky.’

  ‘Mm,’ agreed Jezebel uneasily, marching alongside her unsuspecting target.

  In a funny French accent Brian said, ‘I shall see the boys off. Then your mother and I are going away for the night.’

  Brian hurried over to the garage and unlocked the side door quickly. The wooden door swung back with a bang to reveal the modern Land Rover. Jezebel tried to pass by her dad, who was having none of it in his eager state to leave.

  ‘Sorry baby, but I don’t want to be late!’

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Jezebel walked up to the passenger side window of the Land Rover and saw the keys in the ignition.

  ‘They’re in the ignition!’ whispered Jezebel.

  Brian made an amused face to his daughter on hearing some whispering. He had a funny little laugh to himself as he pushed the button for the garage door to open. Brian swung about and walked casually back to the Land Rover, whistling.

  Jezebel looked pleadingly at Cathy, hoping she would get the keys, but Cathy couldn’t do it.

  As Brian opened the vehicle door, he paused a moment to say goodbye. He was delighted to see Jezebel run around to him demanding a hug before he left. But instead of receiving a sweet hug, Jezebel squeezed past her dad, climbed into the driver’s seat, yanked the door out of Brian’s hand and locked him out.

  ‘I… she’s doing acting classes at school this week,’ said Brian.

  Aunt Cathy pretended not to know what was going on and laughed awkwardly with apparent delayed awareness.

  Brian stood looking with amusement for a moment. ‘Jezebel, would you please unlock the door,’ said Brian firmly.

  Jezebel looked straight ahead, breathing deeply, not knowing what to do next.

  Brian now laughed with surprise at Jezebel’s stubbornness. ‘I have to take James to the airport, baby. We can act later. Unlock the door now… please.’

  Brian turned about to face Aunt Cathy with a strained attempt at a smile vanishing from his face.

  ‘Oh I love acting, Brian,’ explained Cathy helpfully, and squeezed past Brian to block the window next to Jezebel.

  ‘Oh Jezebel. Wherefore art thou, Jezebel? Wherefore art thou keys to heaven? My kingdom for success!’ acted Aunt Cathy dramatically.

  But as she said this, she was secretly pointing for Jezebel to get the keys from the ignition.

  ‘Open the path, ye spirits. Take it from the stone of Merlin. Pull them out and find your goal in your grasp! Grasp them now! As the angels have demanded of you!’ shouted Cathy, a little too loudly.

  She needn’t have bothered, for Jezebel had every intention of grasping the keys from the column.

  ‘Take them! Take them in your hand and open the door to thou kingdom come!’

  Aunt Cathy smiled at Brian, knowing Jezebel—who was quite enjoying Cathy’s performance—had taken the keys out of the ignition and held them tightly within her hand.

  ‘Come out from behind the curtain. All is done,’ Cathy continued, as Jezebel opened the door slowly.

  Cathy turned around to face Brian and smiled broadly as Jezebel placed the keys into Cathy’s open hand behind her back. Cathy closed her hand tightly, then folded her arms in a relaxed way right in front of Brian.

  ‘The task we were set to accomplish is complete!’ smiled Jezebel. ‘All will now be safe in your world, oh dearest father,’ concluded Jezebel, and she stood grinning at Brian like she was about to have her school picture taken.

  ‘Wow Brian… she is a great actor,’ agreed Aunt Cathy, thrusting her hands into her pockets.

  Brian nodded with relief they were finished and quickly made his way into the driver’s seat.

  ‘Well, better be off then,’ said Brian.

  Fumbling for the keys in the ignition that he couldn’t seem to grasp, Brian stopped and looked down by the steering wheel to see that there weren’t any keys. He opened the door.

  ‘Didn’t you say you saw the keys in the ignition?’ asked Brian, mystified by the whole situation.

  Jezebel shrugged her shoulders. ‘Just acting,’ replied Jezebel.

  Brian looked dejectedly at his wristwatch.

  ‘I didn’t see them in the ignition when I was at the window,’ explained Cathy unhelpfully.

  Brian sank down towards his knees. ‘Goodness me. The boys are in a huge game tomorrow,’ said Brian. ‘They only need to draw though.’

  He rubbed his eyes. Slowly, he raised himself up with a pleading smile now plastered to his worried face.

  ‘Hey! I’ve got an idea. You can drive me over to pick up the boys, Cath. It would mean a lot to Pamela and I.’

  Aunt Cathy looked perplexed and could say nothing except, ‘Alright.’

  Brian leapt towards the garage door and sprinted for the house.

  ‘What do we do now?’ asked Jezebel.

  ‘We’ll just have to do a little more acting,’ said Aunt Cathy reassuringly.

  ‘That should be fun,’ giggled Jezebel.

  ‘Hmm. I don’t know about that. I knew this wouldn’t be easy. Come on!’ said Cathy, taking Jezebel by the hand back to the house.

  Brian and Pamela ran frantically through the house searching everywhere for the keys, while Cathy and Jezebel sat in the kitchen. With Brian and Pamela’s keys safely in her pants pockets, Cathy felt terrible. She sadly started to make herself a fresh cup of tea to go with her topped up scrambled eggs.

  'Don't look so sad Aunty. You'll be keeping them safe. Alright?' said Jezebel, reassuringly. After five more minutes, Brian and Pamela entered the kitchen apologizing continually as they explained to Cathy over and over again how sorry they were to put her through so much trouble. Their last desperate rummage around the kitchen was to no avail. Cathy continued to slowly eat her breakfast saying it was no trouble at all. The more she ate her breakfast, the more they seemed to apologize to her for having to drive the boys to the airport. Brian looked again at his wrist watch, then at the Grandfather clock. Another minute went by before Pamela couldn’t take it any longer and sat down at the table beside her sister and held her hand.

  ‘Cathy. Brian needs to leave now. Now! Or he'll have to take your car. James and Andrew will miss the plane!' Aunt Cathy tried with all her might not to give in, as she ate another mouthful of food.

  ‘We better get going then,’ said Aunt Cathy. ‘Just so delicious Pamela.’

  'She must be starving,' whispered Brian, to Pamela.

  ‘Anyway, if James misses the plane, there is always another one. Can Jezebel come for the drive too?’ asked Cathy, sweetly.

  ‘Of course,’ agreed Brian, picking up Jezebel with one arm and carrying her towards the front door.

  'No Dad. Put me down! What are you doing? I’m not ten anymore!'

  ‘Sorry Jez. You know how frantic I get when I’m stressed sometimes,’ said Brian, sweating heavily.

  Pamela's mobile phone rang.

  ‘Yes, Brian's leaving right now,’ calmly explained Pamela, to Andrew’s grandmother, who was minding the boys until Brian’s arrival. ‘He’s getting in the car right now. Yes I know he's very late…’

  Brian jumped in the front, while Jezebel sat in the back seat wondering if she should have brought Tibbar. She kept looking up to her bedroom window. She had no idea if they were going to be successful or not. Slowly Cathy started her car and headed along the driveway and out onto the road. Brian checked his wrist watch constantly. The CD player played a vibrant song as the clean yellow car cruised along towards its destination. But poor Brian’s eyes could only manage to ping pong between his watch and the speedometer.

  Soon they came into Bearing village. The main street was bustling with people at this time of the morning. Cathy admired the colourful flower boxes still vibrant in the cool sunlight, that adorned many shop and terrace windows. They left the shops behind turning right onto Becket Street, which would lead them to Andrew's house.

  Aunt Cathy brought the car to a sudden stop. A rabbit sat in the middle of the crossing.

  ‘Sorry about that,' apologised Cathy.

  As they looked closer, Cathy and Jezebel were not too surprised to see it was Tibbar. He was controlling the show now.

  ‘Get out of the way you silly rabbit!’ called out Brian, unable to control his frustration any longer. To Brian’s astonishment, another rabbit jumped slowly out onto the crossing. Brian leapt from the car and chased the rabbits around. Then another and another one appeared. Soon there were at least a dozen rabbits of several shapes and sizes, sitting and hopping in front of and on top of the car. Brian placed the white rabbit back down and shook his head. Dejectedly he strolled back to the car.

  A scrawny looking boy came out of the alley that led to the crossing and was speechless at the sight of so many rabbits as he walked around them. Jezebel and Cathy laughed. Unable to resist their happiness, Brian also began to lighten-up and laugh. He took several photographs with his phone, as rabbits thumped and bumped all over the roof of the car. Then the rabbits all seemed to stop at once, as they heard the sound of a large truck approaching. One by one they hopped away until only Tibbar remained. Brian shook his head in disbelief as it too finally left the crossing before the truck rolled past.

  ‘In all my years of growing up in this area, I have never seen so many rabbits in Bearing village. Or anywhere else for that matter,’ frowned Brian, with a chuckle. ‘Luckily I’ve taken a few photos of them on my phone. Pamela never would have believed me that rabbits stopped us from getting to the airport on time. I guess I’ll just have to book the boys onto a later flight if I can.’ He turned to Cathy. 'I've never had to do that before.'

  Cathy looked over her shoulder and smiled with Jezebel, who sat back into her seat and let out a deep breath of relief. Tibbar watched the yellow Volkswagen drive away and scratched his ear.

  They soon pulled into the driveway of Andrew’s home, where they could see the boys kicking a football back and forth in the front yard. Both boys stopped and studied the strange unknown car.

  ‘It’s Dad!’ said James, seeing Brian in the front seat waving. James ran over. ‘What happened?’ he asked, coming to the window.

  ‘Sorry boys. I’ll explain on the way,’ said Brian, leaning out the window.

  The boys hurried inside and came out almost immediately with their bags stacked up all over their bodies. Brian jumped out and helped the boys with their luggage and waited as they both stepped in through the rear door to sit beside Jezebel.

  ‘Hi Jezebel,’ said James, and Andrew, snapping shut their safety belts, their faces vibrant and flushed with the excitement of going away.

  ‘Hi,’ smiled Jezebel.

  ‘Hi James!’ said Aunt Cathy, turning about to see James.

  ‘Aunt Cathy! I didn’t see you there. Haven’t seen you for ages. How are you? I thought Dad had ordered a Taxi.’

  ‘I’ve been great thanks James. Do you like my new car?’ asked Cathy.

  ‘I was just about to say you’ve got yourself some new wheels,’ smiled James. 'But I'll always miss that old mini of yours.'

  Andrew’s Grandmother waved goodbye from the kitchen window, as the car drove away.

  ‘I’ve had the yellow beetle for nearly two months now,’ explained Aunt Cathy turning the car towards Bearing village.

  ‘Do you like the three tenors James?’ asked Cathy.

  ‘Is that what your Dad plays sometimes Andy?’ asked James.

  ‘Yeah, he likes them,’ he quickly answered. James whispered to Andrew that Cathy always plays music wherever she goes. He nodded. Aunt Cathy pushed a button on the dash and the car was filled with Music. At the speed limit, they cruised along towards the airport.

  ‘Dad, did you hear Andy Knight’s been passed fit to play tomorrow?’ smiled James. ‘It’s brilliant news.’

  ‘That’s good news for Southampton. Well, the reason we’re late is because I couldn’t find my car keys,’ began Brian.

  The boys leaned in closer, as the three tenors reached the high note of the chorus.

  ‘To cut a very long and painful story short,’ said Brian. ‘Aunt Cathy was kind enough to drive me over here to get you to the airport.’

  ‘Thanks Aunty,’ smiled James.

  ‘The strangest thing just happened on the way down by Bearing Village,’ continued Brian, happily. ‘We were stopped at the street crossing waiting for a bunch of rabbits to move off the road!’ Both boys looked at each other quizzically.

  ‘Rabbits?’ laughed James. 'Surely not.'

  ‘I kid you not. They were all over the car. One sat right there looking straight at me,’ said Brian, pointing to a spot on the bonnet where the rabbit had been. The boys began to laugh hysterically while Brian talked.

  ‘You’re making this up,’ laughed Andrew.

  ‘Really Sis?’ asked James, sounding very skeptical.

  ‘Afraid so,’ nodded Jezebel, apprehensively.

  ‘I knew you boys would not believe me,’ laughed Brian. ‘I swear they were trying to stop us from getting to you on time. That’s why I took these photos!’ The photos caused the boys to laugh even louder.

  'Are you sure this wasn't photo shopped?' laughed Andrew. Brian continued with more snaps.

  'No time for that,' said Brian.

  Aunt Cathy was feeling very relieved about the boys safety as she drove along. Brian on the other hand chatted with the boys tirelessly about their upcoming football game, which they would both be playing in around lunch time tomorrow. Jezebel sat listening to the music and giggled at her Dad's instructions and suggestions to the boys. Fifteen minutes later, they turned into the airport and found a park right in front of the main entrance.

  ‘Well done Cath!’ said Brian. ‘I never find a park this close.’

  Everyone helped the boys carry their bags from the car towards the airports main entrance. A departures announcement greeted them as the automatic doors slid back to reveal Andy Knight, one the most successful players in the Premier league. Southampton's finest. He was just exiting. It was perfect timing.

  ‘Andy Knight!’ said James, with great surprise stepping back.

  'Hey up!' laughed Andy. 'Sorry boys. Just looking for my lift. Na, it's not here yet. Anyway how’s it going? Keeping out of trouble?’ he asked politely.

  ‘Trying too Andy,’ agreed Andrew.

  Brian stood back enjoying the boys chance to meet their football idol.

  ‘We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game,’ said James, happily.

  ‘Yeah…,’ nodded Andy. ‘Should be interesting. I’m keen to be back. Top of the table clash hey boys?’

  ‘We’ll be hoping for another win,’ smiled Andrew.

  ‘For my team I hope,’ insisted Andy. The boys cracked up laughing.

  Aunt Cathy told Brian, she would go with Jezebel to check on departure times. She held Jezebel’s hand tightly and moved quickly through the entrance doors.

  ‘That’s why Tibbar wanted us to arrive late,’ explained Jezebel to Aunt Cathy. ‘Gosh...It makes sense to me now.’

  ‘I think so?’ said Aunt Cathy, still unsure.

  ‘They’re both huge fans of his,’ smiled Jezebel. ‘Hmm. It’s amazing really isn’t it?’ smiled Jezebel, navigating their way around loads of people.

  ‘It's nothing about a plane crash?’ asked Cathy.

  ‘No. It's all James ever talks about is Andy Knight this, Andy Knight that,’ smiled Jezebel, happily. ‘What a wonderful gift from Tibbar.’

  ‘Where are you boys off to today? Are those under seventeen national pullovers you’re wearing?’ asked Andy Knight.

  ‘Well spotted. They’re off to play the USA in a school boy under-seventeen international,’ interrupted Brian, unable to contain himself any longer.

  ‘Yeah? Wow that's terrific boys. I’m seriously impressed…and, you are?’ asked Andy, respectfully.

  ‘Brian York. This is my son James and his friend and fellow teammate Andrew Castlehead. I’m also a big man, I mean, fan of yours,’ stuttered Brian, offering his hand to the most awarded footballer of the last two seasons.

  ‘Pleasure, Brian,’ smiled Andy, amused by Brian’s clumsy introduction.

  ‘The pleasure’s all mine,’ continued Brian, overly aware of how he misspoke.

  Andy then chatted with the boys about their on-field positions and asked them if he could give them any helpful pointers. He also signed their shirts and had his photo taken with Brian and the boys. He was a great player on and off the field, given the chance.

  ‘Excuse me Andy,’ smiled Aunt Cathy, stepping into the conversation.

  ‘Sure, no problem Miss,’ smiled Andy, answering his phone.

  ‘Brian!’ said Cathy.

  ‘Cathy?’ said Brian.

  ‘The boys can still make their plane. It’s been delayed for nearly twenty-five minutes. If we hurry they can still make it!’

  ‘Right, that’s another stroke of luck,’ said Brian, excitedly helping the boys with their bags. They waved goodbye to Andy Knight, whose limousine pulled up just as the entrance doors shut behind them.

  Brian led the way to the check-in, then they hurried to their departure gate.

  ‘You boys go on ahead, we’ll catch up,’ suggested Aunt Cathy.

  The boys had no time left and were asked to go straight through onto the plane. They only caught a glimpse of Aunt Cathy and Jezebel, but managed to share a wave goodbye before they were out of sight.

  ‘Sorry you won’t get to see James play Daddy,’ smiled Jezebel, taking his hand.

  ‘Thanks baby,’ nodded Brian, lifting his special little girl up into his arms.

  'Dad,' said Jezebel.

  'Yes Jez?'

  'I’m nearly thirteen now. I’m too old for carrying,’ said Jezebel, frowning.

  ‘Sorry,’ said Brian. ‘Right. I’ll try to remember.’

  ‘That was so embarrassing,’ cringed Jezebel.

  +

  ‘Did you get them there on time Brian?’ came the concerned motherly interest as Pamela came out to greet them on their return.

  ‘No need to worry Pam,’ replied Brian, stepping triumphantly away from the passenger door. ‘They made the plane!’ beamed Brian. ‘And look at this!’

  Brian moved to Pamela and showed her his mobile phone with two photographs of himself, James, Andrew and Andy Knight.

  ‘Oh my goodness,' gasped Pamela, hand on mouth. 'That’s Andy Knight! Andy Knight! The boys would have been beside themselves!' She tapped Brian's arm. 'You would have been beside yourself.’

  ‘Yes…so much so, that I said I was a big man of his, instead of a big fan of his.’

  Pamela, Cathy and Jezebel burst out laughing.

  ‘Oh Brian, really? laughed Pamela, giving Brian a soft tap on the arm for his efforts, followed by a side hug. Brian and Pamela turned and looked at Aunt Cathy and Jezebel with relief.

  ‘Thanks again Cathy,’ smiled Pamela.

  ‘And Tibbar,' whispered Jezebel, a little too loudly for Cathy's comfort.

  ‘Happy to help,’ said Aunt Cathy, waving away any more need to thank her out of her feelings of guilt. Their keys were so uncomfortable against her legs. At least it was over. Cathy now thought what was the best way to return the keys hidden under her long yellow jumper.

  ‘And how are you feeling Jezebel?’ asked Pamela, still concerned about Jezebel’s sleep walking problem.

  ‘I feel great. Really I am,’ smiled Jezebel.

  ‘She looks good. Don’t forget Cathy. Doctor Hooper’s coming at three o’clock. Well, shall we go in then?’ suggested Brian, now feeling closure.

  'Soon,’ smiled Pamela. ‘Here you are coming all the way down here for us and straight away you're back behind the wheel and off to the airport. There's a tip in this somewhere I'm sure.’

  ‘Thanks,’ said Cathy.

  ‘I remember when you didn’t like Andy Knight?’ recollected Pamela, to Brian, as he opened the front door.

  ‘That was my buddy Wentworth's doing. He wouldn’t stop complaining about how little talent Andy had. Anyway, what would he know about young talent, the silly-old-goose.’ Brian held the door open for Pamela and the girls.

  ‘Are these your keys Brian?’ asked Aunt Cathy, standing up in front of Brian with his keys dangling right in front of his face.

  ‘My keys!’ said Brian, with immense gratitude. He let the security door bang to. ‘Well done Cath. Did you find them just there somewhere?’ he asked, looking at the flower bed.

  ‘Right there hiding in the astertian's,’ fibbed Cathy.

  ‘No wonder I couldn’t find them in the house. I must have dropped them when I was doing the gardening yesterday afternoon. Funny, I’m sure I had put them back upstairs. Anyway…'

  Brian gladly accepted them and checked they were all there. Pamela came back outside.

  ‘Ah thank you Cathy,’ smiled Pamela, quickly hugging her younger sister. ‘I was starting to wonder if we’d have to take a black taxi to get to the holiday house.’

  They both grinned with fondness at Aunt Cathy, who began to laugh some tension away. This caused Jezebel to laugh also. Brian stood there with a big smile on his face and pulled in Pamela towards him for another squeeze. He had not a care in the world. It was indeed a good month.

  They all went inside and closed the door. Pamela put the kettle on, while Brian went upstairs to finish off getting ready to go away.

  Aunty Cathy lifted up her jumper and brought Pamela's uncomfortable keys out of her jeans pocket. While Pamela had her back to her, Cathy went to place them just under the refrigerator but slipped on some sweet potato. The keys crashed in a noisy rattle onto the kitchen table and continued over the edge to the tiled floor below. Aunt Cathy and Jezebel froze. Pamela turned to see her keys. Cathy and Jezebel looked at each other and knew they were in trouble.

  ‘My keys!! Brian!’ called out Pamela, into the intercom. ‘You found my keys as well Cath. All in the space of, a minute!’

  Brian soon entered the room with shaving cream all over his face.

  ‘Did you say your keys darling?’ smiled Brian.

  ‘Pamela’s keys,’ announced Aunt Cathy trying to sound confident.

  ‘Oh, sorted, both sets of keys. Excellent!’ smiled Brian York coming over and inspecting them with a nod of appreciation.

  ‘Where were they?’ frowned Pamela, dismayed.

  ‘They were behind the magazine rack,’ explained Aunt Cathy, poorly.

  ‘I looked there ten times!’ stated Pamela, perplexed.

  ‘Ah… they were more underneath,’ explained Jezebel, moving over towards it.

  ‘I looked there two, no, five or six times.’

  Cathy continued. 'No... down in the rack, underneath...'

  ‘Underneath, a magazine,’ continued Jezebel, running out of convincing options.

  ‘Oh, I looked on top but didn’t go through the magazines. Is that where you found them Cathy?’

  Aunt Cathy nodded. She clutched at her last straw, hoping so much Pamela would not ask any more questions of her. She would have to stick to that story like glue now.

  ‘I don’t know how they would have gotten there?’ said Pamela. For a moment she didn’t believe Cathy and Jezebel. If there was more to the story, she would discover it later, she thought. She always did.

  ‘Right. That solves the mystery of the missing keys then,’ smiled Brian, shaking his head.

  Both Cathy and Jezebel looked at each other, their unsound reasoning accepted.

  ‘But it doesn’t solve the mystery of how a few dozen rabbits came to be jumping all over the roof of your car Cathy,’ grinned Brian.

  'Hardly a dozen,' added Jezebel.

  ‘Hardly a dozen nothing. Here Pam, look at these!’ Brian passed Pamela his phone. 'Not to mention how we managed to walk straight into Andy Knight.’

  The kettle clicked off with steam erupting up to the kitchen ceiling.

  ‘A dozen rabbits on the roof of your car? Oh really Brian?’ scoffed Pamela.

  Astonished, Pamela now looked at the images of rabbits in different poses on and around Cathy’s car. Brian looked on with an, I told you so, expression. Pamela’s mouth fell open as she turned to look at Cathy.

  ‘Afraid so,’ nodded Aunt Cathy, with pursed lips.

  Distracted, Pamela was having trouble making the pot of tea.

  ‘Whereabouts is this again?’ stared Pamela.

  ‘Becket Street. They jumped all over the car. It was like a dream. But it was the funniest thing you ever saw,’ chuckled Brian.

  Pamela lifted her hand up to her mouth and laughed.

  ‘There’s something that doesn’t happen every day,’ added Aunt Cathy, placing her hand on her hip, starting to enjoy their amazement.

  ‘Good thing they did. Or the boys would have missed hopping into Andy Knight,’ smiled Brian, leaving the room to continue his shave, the shaving cream starting to run onto his dark blue shirt. ‘Not to mention losing our keys. There’s always a reason for these things,’ came his distant comments on approaching the top of the stairs.

  ‘There’s a fresh pot of tea there for you Cath,’ smiled Pamela.

  ‘Oh thanks,’ said Cathy.

  ‘I'm going to get dressed now,’ said Pamela.

  Pamela went upstairs muttering to herself about rabbits, keys, Andy Knight and sleepwalking, while Aunt Cathy and Jezebel drank tea.