The Longest Story Ever by Andrew Wooding - Day #9

(You can join this epic story at any time, but have fun browsing the archives if you want to dip into past instalments or even start from the beginning. Feel free to leave your comments as well. Cartoons by Mychailo Kazybrid.)


‘When are we going to get to the tree centre, sir?’

This question came from Charlie the Dog’s maid, Ethel, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Poodlemobile, Charlie's very special car.

Charlie didn’t answer her.

‘Did you hear me, sir?’ said Ethel. ‘I said, when are we going to get to the tree centre?’

Charlie still didn't answer her.

'Oi, sir. This is annoying!' she snapped. 'Why are you ignoring me?'

There was a very simple answer to this question: Charlie hadn't heard her.

Why hadn't Charlie heard her? Here's another simple answer: Charlie wasn't in the car any more.

'Wow. Charlie's not in the car any more!'

Ethel had finally figured it out. It was the empty driving seat that gave it away. Clever Ethel, eh?

Ethel climbed out of the car and very soon realised that they were parked in the tree centre.

'Owch. By dose.'

She rubbed her aching nose. Poor Ethel had marched straight into a tree and that's what made her realise that she was now in the tree centre.

As for Charlie, he was so excited to be here that he had left Ethel behind and wandered off into the heart of the tree centre: a really large field with lots and lots of trees of all types and sizes. There were so many to choose from: small trees; tall trees; fat trees; thin trees. There was even a tree that had two staring eyes in its trunk.

''Ere, sir,' said Ethel when she'd finally caught up with Charlie. 'That tree's got two eyes.'

'Don't be silly, Ethel,' said Charlie. 'Trees don't have eyes.'

'But that one does, sir,' insisted Ethel. 'Look. It's blinking.'

'Rubbish,' snorted Charlie.

Yes, Ethel normally talks rubbish, but could she actually be right for once? I know it's hard to believe, but you might just be surprised at the outcome in tomorrow's blinking instalment of this record-breaking story.


Today’s total: 323 words (Total so far: 2,928 words)