| Subject: Mission 2 |
Author:
Thomas Longtail
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Date Posted: 15:09:51 08/15/06 Tue
Mission: 2
You have been punished and are now in the Infirmary, sentenced to chores. Escape!
Name: Thomas Longtail
Dorm: Active Array
Mission: 2
“But, but, but Sister, why can’ts I go and have lotsa funs wiv my friends?” Thomas Longtail begged Sister Cicely.
“You know perfectly well, Thomas Longtail, now stop trying to wriggle out of this.” she replied primly. “I need some help in the Infirmary, and as you so kindly volunteered when you filched one of the Friar’s best nut scones, I’d like you to sweep the floor, make the beds, and start mending these old pillowcases and bedsheets.” Seeing Thomas’s head droop in despair, she added more kindly, “If you work well all morning I may let you go at lunchtime.”
Thomas sighed. There wasn’t much hope of that; he daydreamed far too much to get much work done. Still, he picked up the broom, and under Sister Cicely’s supervision, managed to sweep the Infirmary fairly quickly. He had just started to mend a pillowcase when, from through the window, he heard some Dibbuns shouting and laughing in glee. The Sister got up and put her work away, telling Thomas as she did that she was going to the orchard to help Mother Mellus keep the Dibbuns under control. Hopefully, Thomas watched Sister Cicely leave, but his hopes were squashed when she closed the window and locked the door as she left.
Nevertheless, he put down his work and ran to the window. He climbed onto the ledge and looked down at the Abbey grounds. Thomas recognised some of his Dibbun friends playing a game of ‘Tag’ on the grass and enviously wished he could join them, but when he tried opening the window, he found he wasn’t strong enough.
Just as he was stubbornly about to try a fourth time, Thomas heard pawsteps coming up the stairs outside the infirmary. In record time, he jumped off the window ledge, scooted back to his seat and picked up the pillowcase and needle. He heard a knock at the door, and relaxed; it couldn’t be Sister Cicely. Then came the jangle of keys, the sound of a key being fitted into a lock and the door opened. It was the Abbey Warror, Martin. Upon seeing little Thomas, dwarfed by the pillowcase he was attempting to mend, he smiled.
“In trouble again, eh, Thomas? Never mind, you’ll survive. I was just looking for Sister Cicely... do you know where she is?” he asked.
“Um, um, well… Sissy Cicely sayed to me dat she went to de orchid to help Muvva Mells wiv de ovva dibbuns. Dat were… ten minits ago.”
“Thank you, Thomas. I’ll see you at lunch, eh?” The Warrior winked at Thomas and left.
Thomas felt hope welling inside him again as the Abbot closed the door- and, sure enough, Martin forgot to lock it. Almost immediately, he ran to the door, opened it and peeked out. The Abbey was quiet; almost everybeast was outside, enjoying the sunshine. Quietly, not forgetting to close the door behind him, Thomas sneaked down the stairs and into the Great Hall, where he hid behind the tapestry of Martin the Warrior. Then, since obviously nobeast was coming, he made his escape into the warm sunshine of a spring morning.
Thomas knew he wasn’t safe yet, though. He had to hide so that Sister Cicely or another elder didn’t see him and take him back to the Infirmary. Running left around the main building, he ducked behind a bush: his special hiding place. He pulled a loose brick out of the wall and took a much deserved (and needed) candied chestnut from his secret stash.
Still hiding behind bushes and trees, Thomas snuck his way to the strawberry patch. Luckily, there were no grownups around at that minute, and he sat down in the middle of the patch to enjoy nature’s bounty. Some of his friends joined him soon after, and every time an adult appeared they were able to hide Thomas. As it neared midmorning, Thomas knew he had to get back to the infirmary. First, though, he had to go and wash the telltale stickiness off himself, and therefore he made his way to the abbey pond.
Thomas jumped into the pond and savoured the cool, sweet water all around him. As he was about to climb out, a pair of big, strong arms gathered him up from behind.
“Now, what have we here?” asked a voice much like Skipper of Otter’s. “A runaway dibbun? I seem to remember that a certain Thomas Longtail was supposed to be mendin’ pillowcases and the like in the ‘firmary this mornin’!”
“Um, er… no, Skippa! I means, I was, but I finished…” Thomas stammered, knowing that Skipper wouldn’t believe him.
Skipper laughed. “And now you’ve just evaded a bath by Ma Mellus, too, I suppose?” He put Thomas back on the ground. “Well, you look pretty clean to me, matey… Run along, now, find some o’your friends an’ go and get dirty again!”
“Fanks, Skippa, you da gweatest!” Thomas grinned at the mischievous otter before running off again, back to the main building.
Thomas snuck back inside and up the stairs to the infirmary. The door was still unlocked, so he was able to get back into the room. He sat down and picked up the pillowcase again, feeling very satisfied. Despite his daydreaming about strawberry fights in the strawberry patch, he was able to finish the pillowcase and start on a second before Sister Cicely returned. She was pleased with the work that Thomas had managed to finish.
“Well, Thomas, I see that you’ve applied yourself well, and have worked solidly through the morning. I’ll let you go now,” she said, smiling. “Just be careful not to get into mischief again!”
Thomas contained his giggles just long enough to get out of the room and down the stairs, before happily running out into the warm sunshine to join his friends.
Sorry about the length!!
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