The fantastical adventure...chapter 3

Chapter 3

"And so, Theseus killed the Minotaur, by chopping his head off with a sword," said Ms.Murphy "And led the Athenians back out of the labyrinth." There were a couple of gasps and a few whispered cheers from around the classroom. "That's how the story ends - what did you think?"

The children raised their hands. Edward waved his hand so hard, that he almost fell out of his seat.

"Yes, Edward?"

"I thought it was a great story," replied Edward, "I especially liked the end, because the Minotaur gets his head chopped off!"

 The whole class agreed with Edward - everyone except Alice, of course.

She raised her hand. Ms.Murphy reluctantly called out "Yes, Alice?"

Alice stood up.

"There's no need to stand up, Miss Kinderfoot."

"I know," replied Alice "I just like to stand, Miss - Mum says everyone can hear you better that way."

Ms.Murphy sighed,  "What is your question?"

"It's not really a question, Miss," replied Alice. "More like a statement. You see, I know for a fact that the Minotaur wouldn't eat humans - they don't even like meat! If anything, he was probably cross that all these humans kept disturbing his home. You would be upset, too, if I kept coming into your home with out permission, wouldn't you, Miss?"

Laughter erupted around the classroom.

"Miss Kinderfoot, the Minotaur isn't real," replied Ms.Murphy. "It's just a myth, like all the other ancient Greek tales."

"But, Miss..." said Alice.

"That's all for now, Miss Kinderfoot," interrupted Ms.Murphy. "Now, moving on."

Alice sat back down and stared out the window. She felt something tug at her leg. Alice looked down and saw it was Marigold.

"What are you doing?" whispered Alice.

"I'm really sorry, Miss," said Marigold "We haven't much time - you need to leave the school right away!"

"You know I can't do that!" whispered Alice, in a much sterner voice. "I'll be kicked out of school!"

"I know, Miss," replied Marigold "But you are in danger!"

"Danger?" asked Alice, this time a bit too loud.

"Miss Kinderfoot!" cried Ms.Murphy "Can you please stop talking!"

"Sorry, Miss," replied Alice.

Alice looked at Marigold and gestured to the windows.

"You need to leave now!"

"I can't, Miss," pleaded Marigold "Your mum's in trouble - she's been kidnapped!"

"She's been what!" cried Alice.

"That's it!" shouted Ms.Murphy. "You will spend your break in here, Miss Kinderfoot!"

"Yes, Miss" replied Alice.
-
The school bell rang and the classroom emptied for break. Ms.Murphy sat at her desk with her arms folded and eyes glued to the clock. "I'm really disappointed, Miss Kinderfoot," she said. "I thought we had passed this silly phase of talking to yourself in class."

"I wasn't, Miss," replied Alice.  "It was..."

"You know, Miss Kinderfoot," interrupted Ms.Murphy "I really don't want to know."

Ms.Murphy stood up and walked over to Alice. "I don't care if it was a unicorn or the Minotaur - this sort of pathological lying needs to stop! You must take responsibility for your actions and NOT blame imaginary friends!"

Alice could see Ms.Murphy's eye twitching - she was very cross. At that moment, Marigold appeared from behind Ms.Murphy.

She began pointing towards the window and mouthing something that Alice couldn't understand.

"What are you saying?" she asked.

"Are you not paying attention to me?" said Ms.Murphy.

"No, Miss," replied Alice. "It was Marigold, the sprite."

"Oh come now, Miss Kinderfoot," said Ms.Murphy. "You don't really think I'm going to believe you?"

She started to laugh - when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Ms.Murphy froze at the site of Marigold.

"Marigold!" cried Alice. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, Miss," replied Marigold. "We needed to wrap things up."

Alice grabbed Miss.Murphy's arm. "Miss?...Miss?" Miss.Murphy didn't budge. Her eyes were fixed on Marigold.

"What did you do, Marigold?" asked Alice.

"Don't worry, Miss," replied Marigold. "It's a common reaction with most people when they see a sprite for the first time. Now, we have to run."

"Why?" asked Alice.

"Because of that," said Marigold, pointing towards the window.

Alice turned to see a menacing green figure approaching the window at full pelt.

"What is that, Marigold?" she asked.

"That, Miss, is a Harpy," replied Marigold. "Now run!"

"I think you're right," said Alice, retreating backwards.

But before they could reach the door, the Harpy came CRASHING through the window, and landed right in front of Ms.Murphy.

"Ahhh!" screamed Ms.Murphy and ran straight out of the classroom.

"That got her moving," quipped Marigold. "Now, follow me!"

Alice and Marigold dashed down the hall, with the Harpy not far behind.

"Why are we running from a Harpy?" asked Alice. "And WHO has my mum?"

"It's very complicated, Miss," replied Marigold.

"Good, we lost her. Let's hide in the storage room."

They rushed into the storage room and locked the door.

"Now, what happened to my mum?" asked Alice.

"You see, Miss, these two very bad men took her," began Marigold "Well, they're really not men at all, but that's besides that point. We just need to meet the others at Dr.Cordova's hideout. Then we can make a plan to get your mum back."

"Shush," whispered Alice. " I hear something!"

"Don't say a word!"
-
"Miss Kinderfoot!" said a male voice.

Alice knew that voice. It was Mr.Cameron, the headteacher.

"Open this door right now!" he cried.

"Yes,Sir,"replied Alice. She opened the door. Alice could see that Mr.Cameron was rather cross.

"What on earth are you doing?" scolded Mr.Cameron. "I have a broken window and Ms.Murphy in floods of tears- saying something about a a fairy and a monster!"

"Sir!" warned Alice, but it was too late.

-THUMP!-

The Harpy shrieked so loud, that Alice thought her ears would burst. It readied it's razor like claws and was about to pounce, when Marigold swooped down and began pulling at the creature's hair.

"Run, Miss!" cried Marigold, as she was tossed around like a rag doll.

Alice didn't hesitate and made her way to the front of the school, where she was stopped in her tracks by Faun and Mormo.

"You must be Alice," said Faun.

"Who are you?" asked Alice.

But Faun said nothing. Instead, he began to play the pan pipe. Alice felt her knees begin to go weak. Her eyes soon followed...

 and in a matter seconds, she was asleep on the floor.

-
Alice awoke in a small park in the city centre. The air was cold and the grass, very damp.

Alice jumped to her feet and rubbed her arms to get warm. She could see no sign of the two men or the Harpy.

"Marigold?" she called out. "Marigold, are you here?"

Alice felt very alone.

As she continued searching for Marigold, Alice noticed a note on the grass by where she was lying. She picked up the note and it read

-We have your mum.We have Hope. Return what is rightfully his, and we will free your mum. You have 48hrs...or you will never see your mum again!-

Alice hadn't a clue what was going on, but she knew she hadn't much time to save her mum.

"Right, Marigold said to meet the others at Dr.Cordova's hideout," Alice thought. "They will have the answers."  She left the park and made her through the city.
-
Dr. Minotaur Cordova lived underneath an old tower near the river. He was in charge of keeping the more dangerous Kinderfoot creatures, like Nero and Medusa, from escaping and causing havoc.

Alice came up to the tower and pushed on the iron gate. It was locked.

"Are you guys there?"  she called out.

At first, there was nothing. Then she saw two very large horns rise up from the ground. It was Dr.Cordova. He gave Alice a smile and unlocked the gate.

"Good to see you again, Alice," he said. "The others are downstairs."

Alice followed Dr.Cordova downstairs and through the labyrinth he had built.

"I love what you've done with the place," said Alice.

"Thank you," replied Dr.Cordova. "Though, it's been a nightmare getting rid of the damp."

They came to the middle of the labyrinth, where they found the others.

"Alice!" they cried.

Alice held up the note.

"What is this?"

Abner grabbed the note and showed it to the others.

"This is bad," said Gretchen. "They have Alice's mum!"

"They have Marigold, too!" cried Miguel.

"Where does it say that?" asked Alice.

The creatures all looked at each other and nodded. They knew the time had come to tell the truth.

"You tell her," said Miguel.

"No, you do it!" snapped Gretchen.

"Stop it you two!" scolded Abner. "I'll tell her."

"What is it?" asked Alice.

"You see, Alice," began Abner "My real name is Envy. Miguel's name is Disease, Gretchen's name is Crime and Marigold's real name is Hope."

"I don't get it?" asked Alice, confused.

"Don't you see, Alice," said Abner "The three of us are the world's first evils.We are the spirits from Pandora's box."

Chapter 4...

The Fantastical Miss Kinderfoot book is in the works! (Book news will appear on this site)

Other work by Antonio Papaleo:

'The kite who was scared of heights'

"A great story about overcoming your fears" Coldplay's Chris Martin.

Out NOW on fierce panda books...

Buy it on Amazon.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406538549&sr=8-1&keywords=The+kite+who+was+scared+of+heights

or

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The fantastical adventure...chapter 2

Chapter 2

"I'm coming!" called out Mrs. Kinderfoot. She quickly gazed into the hallway mirror, made her self presentable and opened the door. There, on the doorstep, stood two sharply dressed men, complete with black fedora hats and sunglasses.

"Can I help you?"

"I hope so, Mrs.Kinderfoot," said one of the men, brandishing a detective's badge.

He was short and had a long face with facial hair like a goat. The other man, tall and thin as a stick.

"We need to speak about your daughter, Alice."

"Is she in trouble?" asked Mrs.Kinderfoot. She folded her arms and leaned into the door frame.

"Is this about the Halloween incident again? I spoke to the police two months ago about it. No one's pressing charges detective..."

"Detective Faun," he replied, "And no, this is not about THAT incident. May we come in please? It will only take a few minutes."

Mrs.Kinderfoot nodded and escorted the detectives to the sitting room.

"Please have a seat detectives," she said, "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No, thank you," replied Detective Faun, before taking his seat. The other detective stood by the arm of the sofa.  This made Mrs.Kinderfoot nervous.

"You'll have to excuse Detective Mormo for not sitting - he can never sit still."

Mrs.Kinderfoot politely smiled. For a few seconds, there was uncomfortable silence.

 "What is this about?" she asked.

"Alice has built up quite a reputation for herself, with that imagination of hers" began Detective Faun, stroking the hair on his chin.

"My Alice, a reputation with the police?" interrupted Mrs.Kinderfoot.

"Yes," Detective Faun continued, "And this imagination has led to several complaints from Alice's school, your neighbours...even government officials - which is most impressive."

"Yes, well, it was never proven Alice did any of those things," replied Mrs.Kinderfoot, annoyed. "And no one has pressed charges!"

"Of course, we can't prove that," said Detective Faun. "But one thing that intrigues me, is the mention of her imaginary friends causing havoc at every incident." He leaned in over the coffee table. "Her imaginary friends who live in a red bag? Is that right, Mrs.Kinderfoot?"

She began to laugh. "Oh please detective," she said, waving her hands in the air. "Don't tell me you've come here to talk about my daughter's imaginary creatures!"

Detective Faun smirked and snapped his fingers. Detective Mormo pulled out a picture from his coat pocket

and placed it on the coffee table in front of Mrs.Kinderfoot. He tapped it with one of his pencil like fingers.

"I need to know if Alice is in possession of this item."

Mrs.Kinderfoot picked up the picture and studied it. The image was an illustration of a terracotta jar with various ancient looking symbols on it.

"This looks like it should belong in a museum, not in my house!" quipped Mrs.Kinderfoot.

"We believe Alice may have come up with stories about her imaginary friends from this most precious of items," replied Detective Faun.

"Sorry, gentlemen," said Mrs.Kinderfoot, "You are wasting your time. She doesn't have it. And this whole imaginary friends business, it started after a trip to our local charity shop last year, when Alice found this old Victorian tea box - according to Alice, it's where they came from."

The detectives glanced at each other. "A tea box, you say?" replied Detective Faun, raising his eyebrows.

"Thank you, Mrs.Kinderfoot. That was most helpful. I just have one more question before we go." He pulled out a wooden panpipe from his left jacket pocket.

"Did Alice steal one of those, too ?" asked Mrs.Kinderfoot, trying to lighten the mood.

But Detective Faun didn't laugh.

"The tea box," began detective Faun "Was it walnut coloured with the initials TBW on the front?"

"How on earth did you know that?" replied Mrs.Kinderfoot, shocked.

Detective Faun said nothing. Instead, he pursed his lips and began to play the wooden instrument.

The music echoed all around the house. It was the most beautiful sound Mrs.Kinderfoot had ever heard. She felt her eyes begin to get heavy. Her body swayed back and forth, like a baby being rocked to sleep.

"That's...that's so..so beautiful," she said, before slumping into her chair.

-

Marigold, who was peering through the keyhole of the dining room door, watched helplessly as Mrs.Kinderfoot lost consciousness. She knew these nasty men. They were not detectives. They were also not human.

 Detective Mormo walked over to  Mrs.Kinderfoot and gave her face a hard pinch.

"Fast asleep, Faun," he said.

"Good," replied Faun.

He then removed his hat and shoes. "I'm tired of wearing these - my hoofs are killing me!" As he stood up, his knees clicked backwards, making the most awful noise.

"I just don't know how humans can walk like that - so uncomfortable!"

Faun then jumped onto the coffee table. He cocked his head and sniffed the air. "They're here. Search the girl's room, Mormo. I'll bag up Mrs.Kinderfoot."

"Yes, Faun," replied Mormo and glided his way to up Alice's room.

For a moment, Marigold panicked at the thought of Mormo discovering the others upsatirs.

Mormo called down from Alice's room, "Nothing there!"

Marigold relaxed. She knew the others had followed her escape plan to the tee.

"Hope they liked the disguise," she thought.

"I did manage to find that old tea box," said Mormo. "I knew I should have checked it all those decades ago."

"Not to worry Mormo," said Faun, pulling out a large sack from his hat. It was moving. "We won't lose their scent this time!"

Faun emptied out the sack and a rather hideousness creature tumbled to the floor.

"Oh dear...a harpy!" thought Marigold, terrified.

Mormo handed Faun the tea box. He placed it on the floor in front of the harpy.

"Find them for me, old girl," said Faun.

The harpy lent forward and sniffed the small wooden box.

"Surely she won't smell me," thought Marigold.

The harpy tensed up. It ruffled it's feathers and slowly lifted it's neck, sniffing the air.

"Not good," Marigold thought.

The harpy's eyes became fixed on the dinning room door. It puffed out it's chest and released the most horrible shriek.

"Yes, not good at all," said Marigold and turned to flee when the dinning room door flung open.

"I found you!" cried Mormo.

Quick as a flash, Marigold found herself evading the razor sharp fingertips of Mormo and flying out the
window to safety.

"I must warn Alice," she thought.
-
Mormo began to climb out the window.

"Patience, Mormo," said Faun calmly.

"I know exactly where to find her."

Chapter 3.

The Fantastical Miss Kinderfoot book is in the works! (Book news will appear on this site)

Other work by Antonio Papaleo:

'The kite who was scared of heights'

"A great story about overcoming your fears" Coldplay's Chris Martin.

Out NOW on fierce panda books...

Buy it on Amazon.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406538549&sr=8-1&keywords=The+kite+who+was+scared+of+heights

or

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The fantastical adventure...

Chapter 1

It was a cold February morning, around half past seven. Alice awoke to the buzzing of the blender from downstairs.

"Mum's Friday smoothie," she thought.

Alice rubbed the sand from of her eyes and jumped out of bed. The floorboards were freezing. She jumped right back into bed.This was a slipper morning.

"Alice, are you awake?" called out Mrs.Kinderfoot from the kitchen.

"I am," replied Alice.

"Good, now hurry yourself up or you'll be late for school!" said Mrs.Kinderfoot.

It took Alice no time at all to get herself ready and downstairs for breakfast. Mum had laid out Friday breakfast on the dinning room table - Alice's favourite.

"Chocolate Puffs and strawberry jam!" she cried.

"And a banana smoothie for health," said Mum, plopping down the drink in front of Alice.

"Thanks, mum," replied Alice.

With breakfast eaten, Alice excused herself from the table and made her way for the stairs.

"Alice," Mum called out "You're not going to get the red bag, are you?"

Alice pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose.

"Of course not," replied Alice. It was a lie. Four months had past since Alice was allowed to take her beloved red bag out of the house.

"Good," said Mrs.Kinderfoot "Your imaginary friends have caused this family enough strife!"

It was true that her friends, the Kinderfoot creatures, may have been a disturbance to some, but in Alice's eyes, that was no reason to ban them from leaving the house!

"I'm just grabbing my other school bag," said Alice.

"Be quick," replied Mrs.Kinderfoot.

Alice rushed into her room and grabbed her red bag.

"Time to wake up," whispered Alice. "I'm off to school - please behave!"

 She dropped the bag, grabbed her coat and rushed to the front door.

"Bye, Mum!"

"Bye, Alice," replied Mum "and don't..."

"...slam the door." Mrs.Kinderfoot shook her head and smirked "That little monkey."

-

The sound of the door slamming stirred the Kinderfoot creatures. The red bag began to dance around the room as the creatures struggled to get free.

 "Move out of the way, Miguel!" ordered Gretchen.

"You're standing on my tail!" cried Miguel.

"I can't concentrate with you two squabbling!" scolded Abner.

"Please!" snapped Marigold "Let me handle this!"

Marigold unzipped the bag causing the creatures to tumble out, knocking over Alice's art drawers in the process.

"Just the start I needed," said Marigold, less then impressed.

She was in charge of maintaining order while Alice was away. Sprites, magical as they are, were not known for keeping things under control, yet this special job was a source of great pride for Marigold.

Miguel eyes became wide like saucers at the site of scattered paper on the floor. "Breakfast!" he cried.

"Please, Miguel," she ordered. "Pick up all of the drawing paper and put it away."

"I can't help it!" sobbed Miguel. "It's what we griffins love to eat! Just one nibble?"

Marigold rolled her eyes. "Look," she said, "Paper is not for breakfast! In fact, paper is not even a food group! It's..." -KNOCK KNOCK...KNOCK- went the front door. "What was that?" She turned her head sharply and listened. The noise she heard next was the most terrifying noise the Kinderfoot creatures could ever hear...

Marigold felt her heart sink. "Quiet please!"

"What now?" said Grecthen.

"I..I think I heard...them!" whispered Marigold. The creatures froze. They stayed absolutely still, their bodies tense.

"Th...them?" stammered Miguel.

"Are you sure?" queried Abner. "It's been, what, a century?"

"Quick, look out the window!" cried Gretchen.

The creatures crowded around the window and glanced out across the road. Sat out in front of Mr.Terry's house was a long black Cadillac with tinted windows. "Could be the CIA?" said Miguel.

"What? They got those sort of cars."

KNOCK! KNOCK!...KNOCK!- again went the front door. "No, I think it's them," replied Marigold. "It sounds like HIS knock."

"If it is them, then Mrs.Kinderfoot is in some serious danger!" cried Miguel, nervously gathering up wads of paper.

Gretchen slapped the paper out of Miguel's hands. "We don't even know if it's really them," she said.

"You're both right," replied Marigold, removing a sheet of paper off her head. "Which is why I'll go downstairs for a closer inspection."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" said Abner.

"I'm the smallest and can stay hidden," replied Marigold. "Now, if I'm not back in 10 minutes, head to the rendezvous point."

"Hopefully it won't get to that," said Abner.

"I hope so," replied Marigold "Otherwise, we'll have to tell Alice what we really are."

Chapter 2.

The Fantastical Miss Kinderfoot book is in the works! (Book news will appear on this site)

Other work by Antonio Papaleo:

'The kite who was scared of heights'

"A great story about overcoming your fears" Coldplay's Chris Martin.

Out NOW on fierce panda books...

Buy it on Amazon.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406538549&sr=8-1&keywords=The+kite+who+was+scared+of+heights

or

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

The fantastical prologue...

London, England, 1882

"Take it and hide this evil away..."

"Fantastic!"
-
Norwich, England, 1900

"Quick, hide in here!"

-
Norwich, England, present day.

"Wow! Mum, can we buy this old tea box?"



The adventure continues here...


The Fantastical Miss Kinderfoot book is in the works! (Book news will appear on this site)

Other work by Antonio Papaleo:

'The kite who was scared of heights'

"A great story about overcoming your fears" Coldplay's Chris Martin.

Out NOW on fierce panda books...

Buy it on Amazon.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406538549&sr=8-1&keywords=The+kite+who+was+scared+of+heights

or

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Kite-Who-Scared-Heights/dp/1910053368/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top