2nd Napkin 5

“Tell me how you found Abernasty while we travel, Mezzo,” said Hedgie. “Well, amazingly, we discovered him in just about the same spot where we last saw him by the river where he buried Soot. He was badly beaten and … well … his right paw is cut off.”

2nd Napkin 4

So, Hedgie packed up some things that he thought he might need, and the two friends started off for the other side of the forest. “I’m in the mood for a good adventure,” said Hedgie. “We’ll see,” said Mezzo.

2nd Napkin 3

Suddenly, Mezzo’s report was interrupted when the staff that Hedgie had brought out that morning began to rattle and glow slightly. “Well, that’s a pretty sure sign that something is going on here,” said Hedgie. “We’d better go check it out.”

2nd Napkin 2

“Abernasty was discovered in the forest severely injured and near death,” Mezzo continued. “Chester reminded us about how good you are with the healing methods, so I came to get you.”

2nd Napkin 1

“Well, hello there Mezzo!” said Hedgie. “What a pleasant surprise! Please come in and join us for breakfast.” “Thank you,” said Mezzo. “But I can only stay briefly. I have some urgent news.”

Introduction to Adventure Number Two

Hedgie's second adventure begins about a year after the first one ended. If you look back at Napkin 79, you will see Mezzo in the window outside where the Phitch family is enjoying their breakfast biscuits. Hedgie kept Abernasty's scepter after trying to prevent Soot from plunging to the bottom of the cliff, and they wonder what ever happened after those fateful events. Quincy says he does love a good story and Hedgie is about to embark on adventure that centers around a mysterious yellow stone.

Thanks for reading.

KD

~j~

Mezzo Drawing

Occasionally, I would do a drawing on the napkin wherein a part of the drawing was hidden under a fold so my daughter would not see what it was until she opened it up at her lunch period. She saved this one. This is what it looked like folded up:

And this is what it looked like unfolded:

Book Seven

We have a couple of days before the next story, so here is another napkin that my daughter saved. It was given to her in honor of finishing Book Seven in the Harry Potter series. KD~j~

Abercrombee & Phitch

As you may have already surmised, this story marks the beginning of a lifelong friendship and collaborative partnership between Abernasty and Hedgie, a kind-hearted team that became better known in the forest as Abercrombee and Phitch. They shared many more adventures together, the second of which will start next week.


Thanks for reading.

KD
~j~

Napkin 79

It took about a year or so for the Phitch family to build a new home and get their life all back on track. Quincy was back in his workshop, Pearl was planting in the garden and warming up the home, and Hedgie was dreaming of more adventures. One morning, Hedgie came into the kitchen carrying the old scepter staff. “Would you care for a biscuit?” asked Pearl. “Thank you,” said Hedgie. “Remember this?” he asked, holding up the scepter. “I wonder what ever happened to old Abernasty.” “Well,” said Quincy “I sure would like to know. I do love a good story.”

Napkin 78

Abernasty just wandered sadly for days weeping and moaning and mourning the loss of his son and thinking about his entire miserable wretched life. He didn’t eat or sleep and finally collapsed at the riverside. “I just want my son back … I just want my life back … I just want to change it all!” he cried. “Some things can change and some things cannot,” said a gentle firm voice. Abernasty looked up slowly and saw an image in the water. “I am the Changemaster. From now on you shall be a Changeling for good, and you shall now be called Abercrombee.”

Napkin 77

“Soot, Soot, oh my son … I am so sorry for the evil that I brought upon your life,” Abernasty wept as he buried him there on the canyon floor. Then he gathered as many of the sharp shards of the scepter stone, cutting his paws on each as he picked them up, and dropped them in the grave. It was a joyous Phitch family reunion when Quincy and Hedgie arrived back to the forest with Pearl. The hummingbirds and sea otters were restored and there was gladness throughout the forest.

Napkin 76

After Quincy and Hedgie and the other friends finished greeting each other, they noticed Abernasty halfway down the cliff after his son. “Should we help him?” asked Hedgie. “No. This kind of task is best done privately,” answered Quincy. “Is that you, Blarney?” Chester asked the blackbird. “I knew you would still recognize me, little buddy. But my name is Blotter now. I met the real Changemaster and he said it was Ok for me to stay a blackbird since I have always wanted to fly.”

Napkin 75

Hedgie found that is was much easier rolling down a cliff than climbing back up. He was making slow progress with difficulty when something suddenly started pushing him from behind. “Just keep going. I got your back.” Chester and Mezzo had joined Quincy at the clearing and they were all surprised to see Hedgie come up over the edge of the cliff being pushed by a blackbird.

Napkin 74

A somber hush fell over the crowd at the top of the cliff as they watched Soot plunge to his death at the bottom of the canyon below. Hedgie was crushed over his inability to save him as he wept quietly on his paws and knees. In the clearing, one of the black jacket rats said, “Come on boys. Let’s bust outta here. There’s nothing left for us here.” And they all walked into the forest leaving Abernasty on his knees weeping with Quincy next to him.

Napkin 73

“Soot, please, stop pulling! You’re going to fall!” cried Hedgie. “You just want the scepter, but at last, it is mine! I will be the greatest Changeling of all!” cried Soot. “Now get away from me you pathetic pincushion!” “No! Soot! No!” cried Hedgie. “Give it to me! I said, ‘Give it to me!’” demanded Soot as he pulled against Hedgie. Then suddenly with a loud crack and a bright burst of light, the scepter stone snapped off the end of the staff and Soot was released off the edge of the cliff, clutching the stone in his paw.

Napkin 72

Meanwhile, Chester and Mezzo woke up and saw that Hedgie was gone. It didn’t take them long to discover the clearing and all the commotion at the edge of the cliff, so they found a place to hide where they could see what was going on down there. Soot wavered off-balance precariously at the edge of a long steep drop-off. The only thing preventing his fall was Hedgie at the other end of the scepter with his little hedgehog feet dug firmly in the dirt.

Napkin 71

Hedgie glanced quickly at his father and then, to everyone’s surprise, ran to the edge of the cliff, leapt out into the air, formed himself into a ball, and began to roll quickly down after Soot. Hedgie caught up with Soot just before the long drop to the bottom of the canyon. Then he dug his feet in, grabbed the scepter and said, “Hold on, Soot!”

Napkin 70

Finally, Soot over-powered his father and wrenched the scepter from his grip. “Now who’s the leader of the rats?!” he shouted victoriously. “Son, please, don’t …” pleaded Abernasty. But before he could finish speaking, Soot took a full swing with the scepter right to Abernasty’s head and knocked him down. Then Soot raised his arms in triumph and sounded an evil laugh. All the black jacket rats continued to jump and cheer. As Soot soaked in all the glory, he stepped back accidentally, lost his balance and started careening down the steep high cliff.

[The squiggly vertical lines are from the writing of the marker on the other side of the napkin. Sorry. KD ~j~]

Napkin 69

As morning dawned, the argument between Abernasty and Soot became increasingly heated. “The power of the Changeling is wasted on you, old rat!” yelled Soot. “You just don’t have what it takes to be truly great.” “You insolent brat rat!” yelled Abernasty. “How dare you speak to me that way?!” “I’ll show you what I dare to do!” yelled Soot as he charged at his father and grabbed the scepter. All the black jacket rats cheered and jumped up and down wildly as they watched the two fight over the scepter.