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

not like to feel that way. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. Guiensenbach was nearby chewing on some grass and the baby geese were swimming in the pond. Aunt Matt was curled in a ball next to his leg. Wisps of smoke rose from the remains of last night's camp fire. The grass was wet with morning dew, which suggested that fall and the coldness of winter was not far off. For the first time, Horace felt the pangs of homesickness and realized he had never been away from home before, much less for this long. He wondered if his mother missed him, if anyone missed him. "Dang old green bug," he thought, "it must be it's fault."
Horace was still sitting on the ground when he heard the ringing of little bells approaching from the field. Donkey was leading the way for Evangeline. As they drew near, Horace yelled out a Good Morning to them both. He wondered how Donkey knew how to lead her to where they were, but he was too embarrassed to ask. He did not want to appear simple or uneducated, but he still wondered. "Have a good evening?" she asked. "It could not have been better", he replied. "Well, you and your friends are the talk of the camp this morning", said Evangeline. "I told them about all of your friends and the man you are in search of." Horace sat still for a moment and then asked, "Did you tell them about Aunt Matt?" "Yes, and I also told them not to scare her or make any sudden unexpected moves when they meet her". Good thought Horace but he just said "thank you."
Evangeline told Horace she had spent some time the previous evening with several people on the gypsy counsel. They had listened to her inquires about the man named Ulee but before they could provide any information, they would need to know why Horace was looking for him. She told him this was only the proper thing to do before providing information to any stranger. Horace said he understood and would like to accommodate their inquires. Evangeline indicated this was the right thing to do but suggested Horace share the information with her first. Horace crossed his legs, took a deep breath, and began the story his parents had told him. It took some time to relate all the details and when he stopped, Evangeline thought for a moment and said, “You mean there are two of you?” “Yip”, said Aunt Matt, “hard to believe ain't it?”
It was late in the afternoon when Evangeline suggested they should be returning to camp. Horace climbed upon Guiensenbach, fell in behind Aunt Matt, who was following Donkey with Evangeline in tow. The baby geese brought up the rear. It was a rather strange group that made up their little parade thought Horace but he did not say so.


CHAPTER SEVEN - NEW WONDERS
As Evangeline and her entourage entered the camp they could hear music, the clapping of hands, the stomping of feet and a loud commotion. Horace had never seen a tambourine but, when told what it was, he knew he liked it. There were guitars and another instrument he had never seen before. It had lots of keys and the gypsy who played it held it in both hands and squeezed it back and forth. It made a sound Horace had never heard before. But the thing that really caught his attention was the girl who danced around the camp fire to the music. She wore a skirt with blue ribbons attached to its bottom. She had long black hair and a beautiful smile. As she whirled round and round, Horace thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He was transfixed, he was at a loss for words. Aunt Matt looked at Horace then looked at the girl. She muttered, “shut your mouth, you look stupid.” Horace dropped his eyes to the ground as his face turned bright red. “Sorry, I've just never saw anything so beautiful,” he said in a whisper. The girl held small wooden things in both hands that she clicked to the sound of the music. It was a moment in his life that Horace knew he would never forget.
Evangeline was speaking to a group of men off to the side of the gathering and Horace could not hear what was said. They spoke for a few more minutes and then she turned and asked Horace to join her. One of the men waved to the dancing girl and motioned her over to the group. Evangeline said, “Horace, I want to introduce you to Ulee’s baby sister, Marguerite.” She looked at Horace for a long moment and then said, “I cannot believe it.” When I saw you yesterday, I wanted to know why you were here and not at school. I knew my brother would be very upset that you were at the gathering and not in Budapest where you were suppose to be. After I saw you enter the camp this evening, I knew you are not Morris, but it is still hard to believe. However, I welcome you and your friends. I feel like I have known you since you were a baby and yet I know I have not. Horace shuffled his feet and stammered a “thank you”. Evangeline dropped Donkey’s tail, took hold of Horace’s hand, tapped her walking stick to the ground and said “come on, we have a meeting to attend.”
Horace and Evangeline walked to the center of the large group of men and were offered a place to sit on rugs that covered the ground. The same tall gray headed man that had spoken to them the day before motioned for them to sit next to him. He spoke in a very slow and deliberate voice. At first Horace thought he was upset with him. He said his name was Noah and he spoke for all the tribes gathered today at this meeting. He said that the council had met, and after much discussion had decided that his was a just cause and no harm was meant by his inquiries. He said that they felt it was in the best interest of those concerned that Ulee’s family know of your inquiries. He also stated that Ulee was an honorable man as was all of his family, and if monies were due for a debt of this nature, he was sure there was a valid reason it had not been paid. Horace sat still for a moment and then said in a small but stern voice, “Sir, please know that this is not about an unpaid debt. it is about my brother.” Noah looked at Horace and said, “I know son, that is why we have decided to help you.”
Noah stated that Ulee and his family had not attended this gathering of the tribes. He also stated that it was unusual for them to not be here but, they were said to be in good health and surely would be in attendance next year. He stated that they were last seen far to the West across the big water. Horace sat there a minute, looked at Evangeline and said, “What is the big water?” It’s the sea, haven’t you ever seen the sea?” I’ve never even heard of a sea. Is it a large pond?” Evangeline replied, “a very, very large pond.” You cannot see around it or the other side of it.” Horace looked first at Noah and then at Evangeline and finally at Aunt Matt. He thought they must be making a joke but no one was laughing. Aunt Matt whispered “I’ll tell you about it later.” Horace thought, “I’ve got to get me a book!”
The music and dancing lasted well into the night. The food was the best Horace had eaten since leaving home. Aunt Matt and Donkey had sat by the fire until almost daylight, drinking homemade mustang grape wine, laughing, rolling on the ground and giggling a lot. Horace finally laid down and shut his eyes about sun up. He knew when he woke, there were plans to make and miles to go before they would be in such good company again.


CHAPTER EIGHT - THE ETHIOPIAN

Horace awoke late the next morning. The rest of the camp was moving rather slowly and was not in any rush to be moving about. Horace found Noah and again expressed his gratitude for all the hospitality that his people had shown to Horace and his friends. Evangeline and Donkey had both agreed to go as far as the big water with the travelers so they would not get lost. This kind of miffed Aunt Matt as she thought, I've never been lost in my life but she did not say so. Marguerite had fixed a large basket of food for the travelers. Rex, T-Rex and the twins were sure glad because they were real tired of pickle sandwiches. Aunt Matt and Donkey both had real bad headaches and did not want to move very fast as it made them dizzy.
Evangeline said she did not feel sorry for either one of them, and that they would have to just get over it. Horace was glad they had not offered to share any of the homemade mustang grape wine with him, even if his mother had made it. He just did not like the way it smelled. He told them they were lucky she had not packed some of her homemade onion wine. He said that was the real strong stuff and smelled worse than the grape. It was at this point that both Aunt Matt and Donkey turned a pale green and rushed for the bushes. Horace thought he heard Evangeline laugh but she said nothing more about the matter.
After all goodbyes were said and the basket that Marguerite prepared tied firmly behind Guiensenbach’s saddle, the group set out with Donkey in the lead. Horace was not quite sure how Donkey knew where to go but he did. Horace was still thinking about the girl with the long black hair even though she was miles and miles behind him, back down the trail. He hoped he would see her again but he could not imagine how or when.
The hills became larger and turned into mountains, the trees became more scarce and the air colder and thinner. Aunt Matt told Horace that there were many seas and even oceans. She tried to explain these things to Horace but finally decided it was best to just let him discover such things for himself. She thought it was like trying to describe an elephant to a blind man who could only touch its leg, impossible!
The group had spent well over six weeks on the trail when Horace noticed the land became less hard to traverse and the trees turned into bushes. The soil became sandy and finally just turned to plain sand. Then after a while there were no longer any bushes, just sand and more sand. Horace lost all sense of direction and he thought they were helplessly lost.