Finally, she collapsed into an exhausted heap by the crossroads and, with Dodo cradled in her arms, she began to sob.
Time passed and no stranger journeyed past them. There came a point in the night when Polly gave up any hope of being found alive. “Perhaps I should just leave Dodo here and go. Otherwise both of us will die,” she reasoned to herself. “Maybe he will be found in time,” she falsely hoped. “At the end of the day, he is not my problem. It’s not as though I’ve known him for years and built up some special relationship. So, as far as I am aware, loyalty doesn’t come into the picture. I mean, I’ve done all that I can for him. Nobody will be any the wiser if I abandon him now, for, at the end of the day, no one will know that it was me, Polly Brown, that left him. I mean, it’s not like I’m doing this without a good reason.”
It seemed that for the next few hours, Polly was not only left to wrestle with the cold, but also her acute sense of conscience. Every time she allowed thoughts of abandoning him to rear up, she would find herself torn between justifying her actions and then dismissing them as heartless. More than once she found herself shouting out, “I hate my life, and I hate everything in my life!” But the only response came from the wind, howling back at her as though it personally wished to add to her inner torment. And as if all this was not enough for her to cope with, the heavens then cracked opened and unleashed the heaviest of downpours that had Polly soaked to the skin in a matter of minutes.
“I wish I’d never left the orphanage!” she bitterly yelled out into the thick blanket of darkness. “At least if I was back there, I’d have shelter from this storm as well as a bed and a blanket to cover myself up and keep warm,” she most piteously wept.
As she sat on the roadside lamenting her troubles, she suddenly saw two small lights coming in her direction. Polly watched as the beams of light got nearer, only slowing down as they passed her by. Suddenly the car stopped and then reversed, coming to a standstill right in front of where she sat on the curbside.
Polly could hear the whir of the passenger window being rolled down, and then she heard someone call her name.
“Why, if it isn’t none other than Miss Polly Perfect herself, or maybe I should call you Polly Putrid, for that has a much nicer ring to it. Or how about Polly Pernicious? Now that sounds just as good,” said a decidedly cheery but sarcastic voice. “Fancy bumping into you again, and so soon,” he laughed menacingly.
Polly looked up and through her mist of tears she could just see the outline of someone she recognized. It was Freddie Fruitless, along with his entourage.
Ignoring his insulting greetings, Polly jumped to her feet and raced over to the window.
“Freddie, I’m really glad to see you,” said Polly, “for I could really use your help.”
“Sure, what do you want, Polly? And do be quick, for I am late for tonight’s concert, of which I am the star attraction, but I’m sure you already knew that.” said Freddie airily, as though he was already very bored and had only stopped out of sheer amusement.
“Well, my friend Dodo is very sick, and I need to get him to a hospital, or if that is not possible, at least to the nearest house,” she earnestly said. “Please say you’ll help us, Freddie.”
“Hang on a minute, Polly, if I rightly remember it was only a matter of hours ago that I was begging for your help,” he rather angrily reminded her. “And, if my memory serves me correct, you turned down my offer and refused to help me out. Am I right?”
“Yes, you are,” Polly sighed. “But this is different, Freddie. This is not about you or me. This is about Dodo who is so sick he could well die if I don’t get him medical attention and fast.”
“Sorry, Polly, I don’t see the difference. When I needed your help, you flatly refused to give it to me. Unless you get down on bended knee and beg my forgiveness I am unable to offer my assistance,” he said, laughing out loud as he gave one of his friends a nudge, which was the signal for all in the car to start laughing. “So it’s entirely up to you.”
Polly instantly obeyed and got down on one knee in the mud.
“Not good enough, girl,” he snorted. “Now get down on both knees if you want me to entertain any thought of helping you out.”
Polly dutifully obeyed by getting down on both knees.
“Further down, Polly Parasite,” he ordered, patting her on the head with some rolled up song sheets he had in his hand. “There, that’s good. Now you finally know your place, for it’s down in the gutter where all beggars and misfits belong.”
Freddie then began to roar with laughter. His companions were also quite beside themselves with hysterical laughter as they watched the young girl with the shabby dress kneel in the mud, shivering from head to toe.
“Oh look,” observed one of the girls, as she pointed down at Polly, “her teeth are chattering and her lips are positively purple from the freezing cold,” she giggled as she coaxed her companions to join in the banter.
“Right, now bow lower still,” Freddie commanded.
Polly was forced to bend lower until her mouth was right in the mud.
“Perfect,” said a very delighted Freddie. “Right, now say after me, ‘Oh great and mighty star of the West.’ Go on, say it, and say it out loud so everyone present can bear witness to your pathetic groveling,” he sneered.
Polly started to repeat after him, stuttering and spluttering as she tried to speak, at the same time spitting out the mud that had passed her lips and entered her mouth. She felt like weeping, for she was feeling deeply humiliated as she followed Freddie’s ridiculous instructions to the letter. But what else could she do? For she knew she was prepared to do whatever it took to save poor Dodo.
“Good, now then, repeat after me, ‘Oh star-spangled jewel of the East, I bow to your supreme wisdom and humbly beg your forgiveness.’”
Polly swallowed hard and continued to repeat all that he commanded her to. Suddenly, with anger in her breast, she leapt up from the ground and, holding onto the car door for extra support, she leaned through the window to face him eyeball to eyeball.
“Freddie, you’ve had your fun. Now please forgive me for everything I’ve ever done to upset you,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I promise that I never intentionally meant to hurt you. Now tell me I have done enough to make things right, and help me before it becomes too late and he dies,” she cried as she then moved away and went back to where Dodo lay on the ground.
Still Freddie was unmoved.
“Please help us, I beg you!” she cried one final time as she stooped down to check Dodo’s pulse which was becoming fainter by the minute.
“Just listen to her,” said Freddie, turning towards his fellow passengers to make sure they too were witnessing Polly’s utter demise. “‘Please, Freddie, don’t leave us here, for we desperately need your help,’” he mockingly mimicked in a high-pitched whine.
He then threw his head backwards and roared out loud, for his day was getting better and more fun by the minute.
“God, you are pathetic, just look at you, soaked to the skin with nobody to come to your rescue. Well, I’m glad you have had the decency to make a public apology, but I’m afraid I’ve changed my mind,” he said, throwing his head back further still as he continued to laugh like a hyena. “So you are on your own, girl. Driver, start up the car and drive on,” he barked.
For some strange reason the car automatically went into reverse, going backwards a few meters. The driver realized his mistake and quickly changed the gear stick out of reverse, causing the car to cough and splutter before it then lurched forward. And as it drove off, the front tires hit a large puddle, causing the water to rise up into the air and then descend down on top of Polly and Dodo, who was once more cradled in her arms.
A thoroughly drenched Polly parted her dripping hair that was now entirely covering her face and watched on with pure disbelief as the car raced away at great speed until all she could see were its two small, red back lights in the distance.
&nb
sp; “Thanks a bunch, Freddie,” she whispered as she violently shook her head to shake off the excess rainwater.
Polly was left with little choice other than to make Dodo as warm and comfortable as she could. She still hoped that maybe by morning help would come, if by then it was not too late. As she sat cold, wet, and terribly alone, she felt nothing but numbness inside and out. Time passed and the cold, blustery wind blew and whipped up around them, and all Polly could do was hug Dodo tightly to her chest as she struggled to keep them both as warm as she possibly could.
Suddenly, she thought she heard a small noise, and as she looked up and surveyed the road ahead she thought she could see the headlights of another car coming in her direction. “I hope it’s not Freddie coming back to mock me further,” she thought resignedly as she continued to caress Dodo’s forehead.
The car slowed down as it approached her. Polly’s heart began to race as she wondered who it might be. And then she heard the passenger window slowly being rolled down. As she very cautiously lifted her head up, she saw a head peering out of the car window, followed by a voice that she instantly recognized.
“Hi there. Do you need any help?” said the friendly voice.
“Yes, please,” replied Polly as she laid Dodo gently on the ground and moved toward the window to talk further.
“Why, it’s Polly,” said the familiar voice.
“Justin, is that you?” cried a very delighted Polly.
“Yes, Polly, you’ve guessed right, and Justin Thyme is here with me as well, for you know as well as I do that we never go anywhere without each other, for we’re the inseparable twins,” he said as he leapt from the car and gave her a hug.
“Polly, you’re soaked through to the skin and shivering,” he said in a most concerned manner, beckoning Justin Thyme to grab the blanket from the boot of the car to wrap around her.
“What on earth are you doing out here all on your own?” Justine Kase asked.
“It’s a long story,” said Polly wearily. “But I’m not on my own. I have a friend who is in urgent need of help,” she sobbed, pointing down at Dodo, who lay motionless on the roadside.
“Enough said. Quickly let’s get him out of the rain and into the warmth of the car. Justin, come over here and help us. Polly you get in first,” he ordered in a very authoritarian manner.
Polly found herself feeling instantly lighter as someone else stronger was at last taking over all necessary decision making, allowing her the space to relax and release all her pent-up anxiety. She allowed Justin Thyme to help her into the backseat of the car, and then both boys lifted Dodo from the curbside and gently laid him down on the backseat with his head cradled in Polly’s lap. Justin Kase then placed a thick, warm blanket over Dodo in order to stabilize his body heat.
“Am I glad to see the two of you,” sighed Polly as they journeyed down the long, dark lane. “Anyway, what on earth brings you two to this neck of the woods?”
“Well, funnily enough, we are on our way to a concert,” replied Justin Thyme excitedly.
“Yes, Polly. Have you ever heard of a band called Freddie Fruitless and the Backsliders?” Polly remained unusually silent. “Well, they are apparently the main artists at this concert, and we think he is just the greatest musician on Earth. We just had to fork out the money for tickets to go and see them. I must be honest with you, we are running pretty late thanks to Justin here, who took all day to get ready,” he said with a small hint of frustration in his voice. “But I guess I should be used to his ways by now, for he always packs just about everything but the kitchen sink!” he said with a faint laugh, as though he was trying to cheer himself up.
“That’s not fair, Justin,” interrupted his friend. “I’ve only brought everything we need. You’ll be jolly glad you brought me with you if you end up requiring anything from a first-aid kit to pajamas or a sleeping bag,” he snorted as he pretended to be insulted by his friend’s decidedly unfavorable comments.
“Yes, that’s true,” Justin Thyme admitted. “But I do think that, as usual, you’ve overdone the preparations. I mean who in their right mind needs three different flavors of toothpaste when one will do, and I hardly think we will be needing the strawberry bubble bath either!” he said, shaking his head as he spoke.
“Well, you’ll never know what you need until you need it,” responded Justin Kase. “So stop complaining, or I’ll leave you to go to the concert on your ownsome lonesome,” he said with a slightly twisted smile.
Polly used this break in the conversation to ask Justin Kase if he happened to have a needle and thread. It came as no great surprise to Polly to hear that he had a full sewing kit in his glove compartment. He handed it over to Polly, who used the opportunity to sew up the ripped pocket in her dress.
“Wow, you’re amazing, Polly, for you’ve mended your pocket in no time at all. I’ve got lots of trousers that could do with a stitch or two,” he said with a grin as Polly handed him back the sewing kit.
“Now I can put my pebbles safely back into my pocket without fear of losing them,” she said on a triumphant note as she reached into her bag and collected up the pebbles before dropping them into her dress pocket for safekeeping.
“Why are you collecting stones, Polly? I hope you have no intention of throwing any of them at me?” asked Justin Kase with an impish grin.
“Don’t be silly, Justin. Of course I’d never throw them at you. But to answer your question, I’m not too sure what they mean,” replied Polly. “All I do know is that I need to keep them pretty close at hand, as they proved very useful during my imprisonment in the castle dungeon.”
“Dungeon! Oh come on, Polly, you’ve got to be kidding us. Did you really say dungeon?” Justin Kase asked, his eyes widening like saucers as he turned his head to make full eye contact.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I said,” replied Polly in a very matter-of-fact tone of voice. “How absolutely unbelievable! So tell me, Polly, how on earth did you end up in a dungeon in the first place?” he asked with a look of sheer horror written all over his face.
“Oh, it’s a very long story,” said Polly. “Maybe one day I will tell you, but for now I am much too tired and weary to tell you my tales of woe.”
Justin Thyme, who had been keeping an eye on the road, turned to see how Dodo was doing and began to talk to Polly. “On a more serious note, Polly, how is the little chap doing?”
“Not too good,” Polly sadly replied as she caressed Dodo’s forehead.
“Well, I don’t want to bring you further bad news, but there is no hospital in this area of the countryside, so help us out. What would you like us to do?”
“Is there any chance you could take us to the nearest house?” Polly politely asked. “And then I can get someone to ring for an ambulance.”
“That’s fine by us, Polly,” said Justin Thyme. “Then we really must rush, for if we miss this concert we will have wasted a considerable amount of money for nothing.”
Polly smiled and said she fully understood before adding that she was just really grateful they had stopped to help.
It was not too long before they saw lights in the distance and what appeared to be a large thatched cottage with farmhouse buildings. They took a left turn and drove up a long winding lane until they could go no further. There were lights on inside the house, but when they tried to open the farm-style gate to drive up to the door, it refused to open.
“Have you any tools that can break this heavy padlock and chain to open this gate, Justin?” asked his friend.
“Yes, I have, but I am more than reluctant to start breaking into someone else’s property without their permission,” said Justin Kase.
“I understand your concerns, but our need is of the utmost urgency, Justin,” wailed Polly. “So please just do it.”
“Sorry, Polly, but I am not prepared to find myself on the wrong side of the law on your behalf,” he said firmly. “I am prepared to leave you my hammer, but then it’s up to you to decide wh
ether or not you want to take such a risk.”
It was with the greatest reluctance that Polly found herself agreeing to his terms, for she felt she had little choice. The boys carefully and gently carried Dodo to a spot on the grass beside the gate, and then Justin Kase went to the trunk of his car. Soon he produced a hammer, which he then gave to Polly.
“Look, Polly, we’d stay and help if we had the time, but we are now well-and-truly late getting to our concert. We’ve done all we can, the rest is really up to you.”
Both boys gave Polly a hug and then got back into the car and raced off, leaving Polly alone to do the dastardly deed.
Polly wasted no time in breaking the chain off the gate, abandoning the hammer to the roadside as she struggled to drag Dodo across the open land until she reached the porch of the house.
Finally, and with great relief, she placed Dodo on the porch floor and rang the doorbell. Seconds later an old man in a nightshirt and cap opened the front door, holding a candle directly out in front of him so that he could have a better look at the uninvited guest.
“I say, miss, do you have any idea what time it is?” he asked in a most disgruntled manner.
“Yes,” replied Polly. “And for that I truly apologize.”
“Well, you know then that it’s awfully late at night to be waking folks up, isn’t it?” he gently rebuked.
“Look, I really am sorry,” said Polly, “but my friend Dodo needs urgent medical attention.”
“Who needs help?” asked the man with a crooked nose, peering over Polly’s right shoulder, then her left. “I can’t see anybody.”
“That’s because he’s down at your feet,” replied Polly, as she pointed to the bundle that lay in a heap on the floor of his porch.
“Oh dearie me, he does seem in a bad way,” acknowledged the old man.
“Well, sir, can you help us?” Polly pleaded.
“Of course, my dear, of course I will help. By the way, I haven’t introduced myself,” he said, switching his candle from his right hand to his left before holding out a hand to shake Polly’s. “My name is Tobias Mortimus, and what might your name be?” he politely asked.
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