The Adventures of Horace Tidwiddler by jlee smith (book suggestions txt) 📕

some were crying. He could not get anyone to tell him what was wrong, what had happened. Finally someone looked at Horace and said “Sir Dalton is dead, Sir Dalton is dead.”
Horace could not believe Sir Dalton was gone, he had been the King’s representative in the village all of Horace’s life, He had always been the authority, the one in charge. This was a very serious matter. The next morning the King’s men came and removed the body for burial at the castle where all the King's family were buried. It was a very somber time in Placidshire.


CHAPTER FOUR - A NEW BEGINNING

Seven days after Sir Dalton’s funeral, Horace still found it hard to fathom that he was gone. Everyone in the village moved around like they were sleepwalking, like they were not suppose to laugh or speak in a voice over a whisper. It was like no one was sure what to do or say, it was just very sad.
Fourteen days after the funeral, the King’s new Representative arrived with a proclamation which he was to read at midday in the Village Square. All the villagers gathered and stood with hats in hand as the document was read. First, the new King’s Agent in the village was to be Prince Doyal, the King’s brother. Second, the Last Will and Testament of the late Sir Dalton directed the following distribution of his estate: The old broom factory and all the equipment therein was to pass to his loyal ex-employee P. Tidwiddler. The ownership of his beloved horse, Guiensenbach, with all equipment, including his armor and long silver spear, was to pass to Horace Tidwiddler. You could have heard a pin drop in the dust it was so quiet.
Both Tidwiddlers were so shocked, they were speechless. Horace looked over at his Father just in time to see big old tears begin to well in his Father’s eyes. He had never seen tears in his Fathers eyes, and for a moment forgot his own good fortune and rushed to his Father’s side. The villagers were even more shocked. The crowd began to yell
Tidwiddler, Tidwiddler, Tidwiddler. Horace was so proud to be a Tidwiddler. That afternoon and into the night, there was singing dancing, roasted pig, pickles and beer. It was the best day of Horace’s life, or so he thought.
The next morning after all the celebrations were over, Horace sat at the kitchen table with his Mother and Father. They drank coffee from tin cups and just stared at nothing. No one knew what to do next. It was the first time in Horace’s life that he was required to make decisions about what he wanted to do, and to his surprise, it was an unusual feeling. Before, he had just gotten up every morning and messed around all day. Now he realized he had done nothing, and made no decisions about anything. He had really never made any hard decisions about anything in his entire life. This was something new and, to his surprise, he was very excited about the prospect of making decisions that would determine his future, who he would become, what adventures he would have.
Horace looked at both his parents and said, “I know what I want to do, I know what I have to do, I must find my brother.” Pappa Tidwiddler sipped coffee from his tin cup and said, “You will never find him. Gypsies are always on the move in their wagons and never stay in one place very long, How will you know where to start?” Horace thought for a minute and replied, “I have a very smart friend, I think she will know.” Mamma Tidwiddler said, “I hope you don’t mean that stinky.” Horace said, “Her name is Aunt Matt and she is no stinky. Besides that, she has read a book." His mother just shook her head and said, “just you wait, you just wait.”
Horace walked out to the barn and sat on a pile of hay. He had a lot of planning to do. Decisions needed to be made and Horace knew he was just the person who could make them. First, he would consult with Aunt Matt as to the direction they would take. This was the most important decision, the other decisions could follow, He yelled out, “Aunt Matt, are you here? Can you hear me?” At first there was no answer, then two small round black eyes poked from beneath the hay and a very upset voice said, “You are sitting on my tail!” Horace jumped about two feet straight up and let out a scream that caused Aunt Matt to let our several little puffs. She said, “I am sorry but it would be better for all if you would refrain from screaming, I sometimes lose control when people scream.” Horace did not understand what she meant but said, “I am sorry” anyway.
Horace told Aunt Matt he needed to know what she knew about gypsies. She thought for a few minutes and said, “not much. They read Tarot cards, tell fortunes, they are grifters, and they sometimes steal children. Also, I have read they always follow the sun.” Horace did not understand half of what she said, but he understood the stealing children and following the sun part.
Horace told Aunt Matt of the trek they were about to embark on and how important it was to him that he find his brother. She did not know his brother but thought it was nice to be asked to go somewhere. In fact, she had never been asked to go anywhere by anyone, It was a first for her. Her response was, “When do we start? I am ready now. Let’s go!” Horace said, “Tomorrow, tomorrow we start!”


CHAPTER FIVE - THE QUEST BEGINS


The sun was just touching the horizon the next morning, the sky was a light pink and it was still dark. The oak trees and grass were wet with morning dew. Guiensenbach knew she had never been up this early with a saddle on her back and a bridle in her teeth. Something must be afoot. Mamma Tidwiddler had baked ginger bread all night long and made pickle sandwiches. She put a jug of homemade mustang grape wine in a wicker basket with the provisions just in case of emergencies. Horace placed his extra shirt in the basket and tied it on behind the saddle, He put on his newly polished armor, hugged his father, kissed his mother, climbed on Guiensenbach, waved to them both, kicked Guiensenbach in her flanks and they were off. The long silver lance held in Horace’s hand still had the nightshirt with the large black “T” on a field of green attached to its tip. Horace had tied it there after the Worscheskies were "defeated". It fluttered in the morning breeze as they moved along the path. They made a very impressive parade with Aunt Matt leading the procession due West, following the sun.
After a long day in the saddle, the armor began to scratch his butt and the riding made his legs a little sore. Aunt Matt was a bit cranky and Horace thought it was about time to take a break. They stopped for the night by a little pond that was full of yellow water lilies and Horace thought for a moment he could smell something, But after a while he realized he was wrong. Horace could remember what things smelled like, he just could not smell anything now, it was frustrating! They both had pickle sandwiches
with a slice of ginger bread for desert. Guiensenbach had fresh grass and a pond full of water. They were set for the night.
The next morning, Horace woke with a crick in his neck. He thought this sleeping on the ground was not what it was cracked up to be. Aunt Matt was curled up by his side and Guiensenbach was at the pond getting a drink of water. Horace sat up and was rubbing his neck when he heard a sound from the other side of the pond. Peeze, Peeze, Peeze. Horace was not sure what was making these sounds but he was sure he had never heard it before. Then again, Peeze, Peeze, Peeze. Horace was looking at the pond when he saw the yellow water lilies move. They were moving across the pond toward him. He reached over and very carefully patted Aunt Matt. Horace said, “I think we have company, wake up.” Aunt Matt opened one eye and said, “It's some kind of bird, ducks I think.” Horace replied, “I don't think so, ducks quack and these things are not quacking.” As the yellow water lilies got closer, he realized there were two large ones and two smaller ones. They swam up to the waters edge and looked right at Horace then again, Peeze, Peeze, Peeze. Horace asked, “what kind of birds are you? You are not ducks are you?” “Gracious no, one replied, “we are not ducks, we are baby geese. We are a lot prettier than ducks.” Horace said, “I thought geese were white and you are yellow.” The larger one said, “baby geese are always yellow, we turn white when we are older. Every one knows that.” Well excuse me thought Horace, but he just said, “Oh.” The larger of the four said, “Let’s start this over, my name is Rex, this is T-Rex and the Twins.” Horace said, “Glad to make your acquaintance.” Horace introduced himself and Aunt Matt. Rex asked where they were going and if they had anything to eat. Horace thought this was a bit rude but replied, “we have a little gingerbread.” T-Rex waddled out of the pond and asked, “can we tag along with you for a while? We sure do like gingerbread.” Horace thought, “I bet these birds have never even had gingerbread”, but he just said “it’s okay with me but only if you want to go West.”
After they all enjoyed a gingerbread picnic, the group of adventurers set out on their trek. Later in the morning, Horace turned in the saddle, looked back at the new additions to the parade and asked, “Why do geese say Peeze?” Rex said “because our Mother taught us to be polite.” Horace said, “Oh” and turned back in the saddle. As he rode with the morning sun at his back, he could hear muffled snickering and giggling coming from the rear. Horace was not too sure about the new troops.
As the morning passed and the sun rose higher in the sky, Horace began to notice the trees became fewer and smaller. The land became more of a grassland than a forest. He had never seen this much grass in all his life. Also, in the distance, he could see the tops of a mountain range beginning to take shape. As they drew closer, he could see snow on their tops. It was late in the summer season so Horace knew they must be extremely high mountains to still have snow on them. How