The Memoirs Of A Reteep. Part 2

Here's part 2! I struggled a bit writing this one because of not really knowing how to write about Oskar as a kid, that's also why it took a few days! 😅

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

A young boy of about ten years of age jiggled along on the roof of a carriage down the busy main street of the Glipwood township. He was a plump little lad, with round glasses perched on a sweaty nose and a bulging satchel of books under his left arm. He wore a neatly buttoned dark brown waistcoat and slightly baggy dark tan trousers.

He chortled to himself, he had finally managed to convince the caretakers of the orphanage where he lived in Torborro that he was old enough to come to Glipwood. For years he had dreamt of coming to Glipwood on Dragon day. The caretakers at the orphanage took good care of him and the other children, but they were never over enthusiastic about taking them on outings, especially ones that required an overnight stay.

It had taken a lot of effort to convince his housemother that he was old enough to go, and it was only after months of hard work to show how responsible he was (and convincing arguments from his favorite authors) that she finally conceded and agreed that he could go. On the one condition, that he travel with the Floppyfins. A family that lived next door to the orphanage.

Oskar didn't particularly like the Floppyfins, they were rather pompous and stingy in his opinion, but because his housemother helped take care of old deaf Mrs Floppyfin (Mr Floppyfin’s mother) she was able to ask this favor of the Floppyfins and they reluctantly agreed to take little Oskar along with them to the festival.

The journey from Torborro down to Glipwood was not a very long one in the Floppyfin’s six steed carrage, but for Oskar it was rather dusty and uncomfortable, riding on the roof among the luggage. His handkerchief fought a loosing battle agains sweat and dust as they clattered along the road to Glipwood, but despite all of this Oskar was still smiling, he was going to see the Sea Dragons!

Quivering with excitement once they arrived he got down off the carriage in front of an inn, Glipwood’s only inn. Looked up at the sign he saw that it read, “Glipwood’s Only Inn.”

“In the words of Roffo Soompy, ‘What a witty idea that was!’” He said aloud to himself.

“Shut a wispy fuzz?? What are you chattering about young Reteep!?” A creaky old voice asked.

Oskar turned and saw Old Mrs Floppyfin standing behind him, wobbling a little as she leaned on her ornately carved cane. The head of the cane was shaped like a toothy cow with an elongated tongue sticking out that reached all the way to the ground, forming the cane. Oskar found it comical, But Old Mrs Floppyfin treasured it for it was a family heirloom.

“I was just commenting on the sign Ma’am!” Oskar shouted, trying not to laugh at the toothy cow cane.

“Sidestepping the pine? I don’t see any pine trees boy, you must be hallucinating from the heat!”

But before Oskar could respond, Mr Floppyfin walked up and lead her into the inn.

As they walked away, a single word on a sign across the road caught Oskar’s eye, “Books!”

“Good Gravy!” He exclaimed aloud in an excited voice, causing many nearby festival goers to pause and turn to look at the sweaty little boy. He didn't notice any of the stares but ran as fast as his short legs could carry him to the building that held the sign. As he neared the building he noticed that under the word “books” were the words, “and Crannies”

“Well, In the words of dear Nanny Chumpy, “What a delightful sight!” He giggled to himself.

Trembling with excitement he pushed open the front door of the shop and walked in. He was stopped dead in his tracks at a sight that almost caused him to faint from delight!

Books everywhere! On shelves that reached up to the ceiling, stacked on tables, shoved into towers against the walls, old and new, large and small.

Oskar N. Reteep’s little face was so bright with joy and tears it could have lit up the inside of a toothy cows belly!

"In the words of…” he hesitated, unsure of himself, then quickly pulling out a small notebook from his satchel he flipped through a few pages before he found what he was looking for, “Aha!” He declared, straightening his little glasses and lifting a finger in the air. “In the words of Sumpy Furrows, ‘I’m so happy, but I could use a hug!’”

His literary contemplations were interrupted however by a husky old voice coming from behind a bookshelf, “What are ye looking for lad?”

I'm not sure how long it will take for me to write the next part, but I definitely hope to!