Storytime at the Fluffer-Nutter Shop

If you missed Monday’s story, here is the link.  Untangling the Web Enjoy the conclusion, or it might be more accurate for me just to say, the next part of the story. I have found that certain stories seem to never end! 

Where were they? Lisette wondered. They were standing in the middle of a dirt road with lovely Oak trees lining it. She started walking down it, not knowing what else to do. Betsy followed behind her, not saying a word. Not that Lisette expected her too, but she sensed something very different about Betsy, besides the fact that she had an enchanted bell hanging around her neck. 

“There you are! I figured I would find you out here just dilly dallying around, when there is work to be done!” An older woman carrying a bucket was shouting at her as she came towards Lisette, not looking very happy at all! 

“The cows need milked, and there are eggs to be gathered, and … ” the older woman paused in mid sentence, taking notice of Betsy. “Where did you get that cow? Is she the one who trampled my flowers this morning? They are all ruined!” She glared at Betsy, and noticed the cow bell. “What’s that?”, she reached out to touch it and Lisette stopped her.

“I wouldn’t touch that if I was you?”  she told her. 

The lady frowned, “Why not, its just an old cow bell.”  Suddenly Betsy let out a loud “MOOOOO!” and pawed at the ground, scaring the older woman so much that she dropped the bucket she was carrying. 

“I will see you back at the barn! Hurry it up!” she spouted out at Lisette, while she quickly headed down the road, back to the barn. 

Lisette started laughing as she watched the older woman hustle down the road while Betsy kept Moooooing. 

Betsy stopped once the lady was out of sight. Lisette looked at Betsy and if she wouldn’t know better, she would say that Betsy had a glint of mischief in her eyes and was smiling! 

Lisette knew that she didn’t want to go back to that older lady’s farm, so there was only one thing to do. She tugged on Betsy’s bell 3x. POOF! The brilliant purple and pink smoke was all around, and once more Lisette had to pick herself up off the ground once the smoke settled. 

They were smack dab in the middle of a town and it seemed to be in an uproar. People were shouting and cops were around. Lisette was confused at first, and then she saw Miss. Libby and Miss. Jill. She was back in their town and they were being escorted out of Miss. Jill’s store by the police! 

Lisette felt sick to her stomach. She had really liked Miss. Jill and she had thought that Miss. Libby was a sweet old lady, but oh, what she hadn’t known! She watched them get into the police car and figured that was probably the last time she would ever see them. They were likely to be in prison for quite awhile. But maybe Miss. Jill was innocent, like she had tried to tell Lisette. If so, she hoped that they would be more lenient on her. 

Soon the police cars were gone and the sirens faded in the distance. The townspeople were still gathered in little groups talking. Lisette overheard one lady say how she didn’t know what the town was coming too. First Anna and the Chicken Man, and now this! 

The Chicken Man! Lisette remembered how Miss. Libby had never shared that story with her, like she had said she would. She figured now she would never know. 

Lisette’s stomach was rumbling, she thought she could really use some coffee with some tasty donuts from the Fluffer Nutter Shop. Then she remembered Betsy, but she didn’t see her anywhere! How did a cow just disappear from the center of a crowded town? There was definitely something strange about that cow. She shook her head and walked across the street to the Fluffer Nutter Shop. 

Opening the door she saw that others had the same idea, there was a long line at the counter. That was okay with Lisette, for she had no idea what she was going to do next so she didn’t mind waiting. Finally it was her turn, everyone else had left. 

“Hi Lisette! Are you okay? Quite the excitement today, eh? Were you in the shop when the police came?” 

Lisette didn’t know how to explain where she had been, so she just said that she hadn’t been working at the time. 

She ordered a peanut butter filled donut with sprinkles on top and some French Vanilla coffee. Then she took a seat up at the counter to enjoy it and visit with Mr. Fluff and Mr. Nutter some. 

“I suspect they will take Miss. Libby and Miss. Jill to the same prison that Anna is in.” Mr. Fluff said. 

“Who is Anna?” asked Lisette. “I have heard her name mentioned quite a few times around town, and I heard Tanya mentioned too. Miss. Libby also told me that it was really sad what happened to the Chicken Man, but she never explained.” 

Mr. Fluff and Mr. Nutter sighed when they heard Lisette mention the Chicken Man, they did still miss their crazy friend. 

“Well if you have time, we can tell you the whole story.” Mr. Nutter said. “But be aware, it can get quite confusing!” 

“I have plenty of time.” said Lisette, with her curiosity piqued now.

“Just give me a minute to put away this Battleship game.” said Mr. Fluff. 

“Battleship? I thought you guys played checkers?” 

Mr. Fluff laughed, “Well we did, but someone got tired of losing all the time, so he decided to try and beat me at Battleship. No more checkers for him.” 

Lisette laughed and remembered some of the games she played as a child. “Have you ever played CandyLand, Mr.Nutter? Perhaps you could win at that.” 

Mr. Fluff and Lisette laughed at Mr. Nutter’s face. He then poured himself some coffee and sat down. “I do believe there is a story you would like to hear?” 

“Yes, please! I am all ears.” said Lisette and Mr. Nutter began.