Joey's Great Adventure

[hooly]

Joey's Great Adventure

by Lila May Guptill (Lunaria)



Chapter one

The beginning

It was near Thanksgiving when he was born. His mother didn't name him Tom Turkey or anything silly like that. She named him Joseph Guy. For short they called him Joey. He was a very fat baby. Cute as a bugs ear. His cheeks were so round it looked like he was storing food in them in case he got hungry during the night. He sure did like to eat. When he was old enough to walk he would climb up on the counter to get into the cupboard where the food was kept. The refrigerator was on his level so it was very easy to get food out of it. He did this very early in the morning while his mother and sister were asleep. His sister's name was Holly Hock. Holly Hock is the name of a pretty flower that grows very tall. His sister was also very tall. Joey made some very wonderful concoctions.

It was thought by his mother and his sister that he might grow up to be a chef. He was a very handsome boy with dark eyes and dark hair. He grew taller and more handsome each year. Soon it was time for him to go to school. He liked to walk to school instead of taking the bus like the other kids. The path that took him to school ran alongside of a high hedge. The hedge was much higher than Joey. It was at least six feet high. No one could see over it and it was covered with wonderful red berries.

[hooly]

Chapter Two

The Enchanted Forest.

One morning as Joey was walking to school and looking at the hedge he thought he saw what looked like a door. He stopped and looked very closely. Then he thought he saw what looked like a handle. He put his hand on it and the door opened and Joey stepped through it. The door closed tightly after him. "Wow, he said, wait til I tell Mariah about this." Mariah was his other sister. She was little and cute and looked like a small elf. "Wow, he said again, what is this place?" "It's an enchanted forest," said a voice. "And who are you?" "My name is Joey, and hey where are you?" "I'm up here,." "Where did you think I was?" "Up where?" "Up here in the tree". Joey looked up and there in the tallest tree he had ever seen was a large green and yellow bird with gold tipped feathers. " What's your name, Mr. bird," Joey asked. "Why I am called Peperkin Pie and I'm not just a bird, I am a parrot." "And a mighty fine looking parrot at that." " Yes you are," Joey agreed. " But I.......And his words were interrupted by a thump, thump, thump coming from the forest. Joey stood very still as the thumps got louder and louder. Suddenly out from among the trees comes a tall man with a peg leg and a patch over one eye. "Who are you," Joey whispered. " Aye, Ya must know who I be" " Oh sure, I know," Joey said , now feeling braver. "You are Long John Silver" "That not be me," said the stranger. "Oh then you're Peg Leg Pete, aren't you?" " That not be me either". "Aye landlubber, I be the Pirate Don Dirk Of Dowdee" "And I be as handsome as handsome can be." " And I'm perfectly wonderful to see". "Me, The Pirate Don Dirk Of Dowdee." " And I have a parrot called Peperkin Pie," "Watch out for him cause he'll spit in your eye". "Aye, laddy, have you spied my parrot?' "I be lookin' fer him." " Yes sir, Mr. Dowdee, he's in that tall tree". " Aye there ye be matey." "Come down off your perch Now." "We got to be shovin' off". Away the two of them went. One on a wooden leg, the other on the wing. And so Joey walks deeper into the forest.

[hooly]

Chapter Three

Harmony Jane

Presently he hears a funny noise. As it gets louder and closer it sort of sounds like sneezing. "MeowChew," "MeowChew". "Is there a boy around here?" " I'm allergic to boys. MeowChew". There in front of Joey was a large grey cat. "Hello kitty," said Joey. "MeowChew. It IS a boy". "Who ,meowchew, are you and what are you doing, meowchew, in my forest?, meowchew." " My name is Joey and I'm exploring this magic place." " What's your name, kitty?" "My name is Harmony Jane Marie FluffButt and I don't want to stand next to you because you make me sneeze." "Oh, I'm sorry ButtFluff". "It's FluffButt, MeowChew". The big cat swaggered away, her furry bloomers ruffling in the breeze and sneezing all the way, "meowchew, meowchew." Off in the distance Joey hears another sound in the forest. CLOP, CLOP, CLOP, CLOP. By now it's getting dark and the forest is getting denser. I'm afraid Joey has gotten lost. The CLOP, CLOP sound is coming his way and then he sees it. A horse. A big horse. "Well," says the horse, if it isn't a boy" " What are you doing in this forest so late boy?" "I'm lost. My name is Joey and I want to go home." " Can you help me, horse?" "Well," said Bre, for that was his first name. His whole name is Bre He Hiny Briny Hooey Ha. He loved to say his name over and over again, which he did for Joey. "Hop on my back, Joey, and I'll take you to the gate". Joey did. They clop, clopped along for a long time before they saw the gate up ahead. Before they even reached the gate Joey heard his mother calling him. "Joey, Joey" "Will you get up? You'll be late for school". Joey's eyes popped open and he sat up. "Why I'm in my bed, he said, it was just a dream" OR WAS IT?

[hooly]

Chapter Four

The Secret Garden

And so it was morning. Joey rose up from his nice warm bed, the memory of his strange dream still with him. After washing he went downstairs to breakfast. His mom had made him cooked prunes and waffles. His favorite food. He wolfed down his breakfast and rushed upstairs to get dressed for school. He put on the school clothes his mom had laid out for him. Then he opened the closet for coat, hat, scarf, boots and mittens. But they weren't there and neither were any of his clothes. In fact the whole closet had disappeared. He found himself standing outside. Winter had disappeared too. It was a warm, sunny, summer day, and standing before him was a lion. "Hello, Joey, my boy, my name is Beyondananda. A very original name, don't you think so?" "Why yes, Said Joey, Am I dreaming again, Mr. Lion?" " I mean Beyondananda". "well, now, I don't think so, Joey." "Hey do you want to go for a walk."? "I know a neat place." "Well, okay, Mr. Beyondananda". " Jump on my back then, Joey, we'll get there faster". "okay," said Joey. Off they went across a field of wild flowers. They walked and walked and walked. Finally they came to the foot of a large mountain. Joey jumped down off Beyondananda's back and rubbed his backside. He was a little numb after riding on the lion's back for so long. "Are we at the neat place yet"?, asked Joey. "Oh, no, my boy," said Beyondananda. " Follow me". Joey followed the large lion into a cave cut in the mountain. They walk a way in the darkness 'til they came to a golden door with beautiful carvings on it. Beyondananda took a large golden key out of his mane and unlocked the heavy, golden door. Inside there were two torches on each side of the wall. Beyondananda took one and handed the other one to Joey. Now Joey could see a long, winding, golden staircase that went far down into the earth. "Wow, exclaimed Joey, That's a long way down". "Don't you think I should be getting home now?" "I'll be late for school". " We have plenty of time," said Beyondananda. Down, down they went. Deeper and deeper into the earth. After what seemed like hours they reached the bottom of the stairs, and right there in front of them was another golden door. It was just as beautiful as the first one. "Now," said the lion. "Joey, place your torch on the wall". Joey did as he was instructed. Beyondananda took another key out of his mane and unlocked this door also. Then he placed his torch on the other side of the wall. The huge, heavy door swung open to reveal the most beautiful garden. In the center of the garden was a silver space craft. "wow, cried Joey, a star ship". "Yes indeed, said the lion, want to go for a ride?" "I sure do," said Joey.

[hooly]

Chapter Five

Another World

"Joey stepped into the craft. A voice spoke out of the walls. "You must put on the silver jump suit before we can take off." Joey saw the suit lying on a table in the middle of the room. He put it on and found that it fit him perfectly. He saw his reflection in the port hole glass. "I look like a real astronaut," he thought to himself. "Now you must sit in the chair and strap yourself in," the wall voice spoke. Joey saw a chair with straps over by the far wall. He sat in it and strapped himself in. "We wouldn't want you to be bouncing off the walls now would we?" said the voice in the wall. "No, said Joey, but who are you, and where are you, and where are we going?" " I am the ship". "I am all around you, and we are going to visit a planet far away," the ship replied. Joey settled down in his chair and fell asleep. He dreamed a wonderful dream.

He dreamed he was on the planet of cats. Here all cats walked upright on two feet. They could also speak. He was walking along a road with catnip plants on each side. The catnip smelled good and made him sort of sleepy. Coming down the road was 'Big Tom', a large scruffy tom cat. He met Joey in the middle of the road and stopped and stared at him. Joey stared back. "What are you?" said Big Tom. "I'm a boy," said Joey. "Well Joey boy, don't you know it's not polite to stare?" " Well, you were staring at me," said Joey. "Sooooo, cats can stare, but you're not suppose to stare back. "It just isn't done," said Big Tom. "Well, I'm sorry then," said Joey. "Hey, said Big Tom, would you like to come to my house and have a bowl of milk and some treats?" "Sure," said Joey. They walked for a while and Big Tom said, "My house is just over that hill". So they climbed the hill and went down the other side. "Here's my house, said Big Tom, come on in". They went into a hole in the side of the hill. It was really cozy too. Big Tom poured himself and Joey a bowl of milk. They drank it and Joey said he should be getting on and that he wasn't hungry for cat treats. So Big Tom said, "goodbye" and Joey was on his way. He went back over the hill and came to a forest. "This looks mighty interesting," said Joey. Inside the forest he could hear a strange music. It sort of pulled him farther into the forest. The trees were very large and tall. There was a cobblestone walkway that he began to follow. He wasn't walking very long when he met a little elfin fellow all dressed in green. "Hi there," said the little fellow. "Hello yourself," said Joey. "Where ya goin'," asked the little green fellow. "Oh, I'm just taking a walk. I don't know where I'm going," said Joey. "Well where ya from," asked the elf. " I'm from the earth," said Joey. "Earth, said the elf, I never heard of it, but if you want to keep livin' there you'd better get goin'because this planet is going into the fifth dimension in about five minutes," said the elf. "Oh gosh, I better hurry," said Joey. He began to run as fast as he could through the forest 'til he saw the space ship. He climbed aboard and woke up. "Wow, said Joey, that was some dream. At least I think it was a dream". "Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't', said the ship. The ship took off and then landed. "Thanks for the ride," joey said to the ship. The ship replied, "You are welcome," and Joey got off. He found himself back in the garden and waiting for him was Beyondananda lion. "Hi there, Joey, how was your trip?" "Oh fine," said Joey. "Well come along, let's get you home". Beyondananda opened the big, golden door with the golden key and they went uo the golden stairs that seemed almost endless, that took them up out of the earth and away from the secret garden. They walked back through the cave in the darkness 'til they came to the road. Walking for a very long time they finally came to Joey's house. Joey said goodbye to Beyondananda and thanked him. Joey opened his door and found himself in his closet. All of his clothes were there and Beyondananda had disappeared, and it was winter again. "Well I'll be switched, said Joey, what's going on here"? Joey put on his hat, boots, coat, scarf and mittens and walked to the corner to catch the school bus. Once on the bus everything seemed normal again. But was it really? We shall soon see.

[hooly]

Chapter Six

The Kingdom Of Nigh

The bus took off at a fast pace, the wheels gripping into the pavement like it was being chased by something. It really wasn't. It just liked to go fast. The children loved it when the bus did that. They rode like that for quite a while and Joey was wondering if they would be at school soon. It never took this long before. Suddenly up ahead was a large vortex. Joey had never seen a vortex before and stared in fascination as they came closer and closer. "Isn't the bus going to stop"?, thought Joey. But the bus didn't stop. It went right through that vortex. Then it came out the other side and landed on it's wheels. "Great Gatsburg, cried Joey, where are we"? Said a voice out of nowhere, "This is the Kingdom Of Nigh". "The Kingdom Of Nigh," repeated Joey. "Does this mean I'm in dreamland again"? Then he heard a bell ringing. "Over here, Joey," said the bell. "I've been trying to get your attention. Joey went over to the bell. "Hello, Joey, let me introduce myself". "I'm Art," said the bell. "hello Art," said Joey. " Can I ask you something Mr. Bell?" " Sure Joey". " Am I in dreamland again?' "Well Joey, said the bell, you'll find out before the story ends". "Just wait and see". Joey would have continued talking to Art, the bell, but just then a large, white dog with black spots came walking by. "Hi Joey, said the dog, will you help me find my bone?" " I buried it somewhere by that tree, but I can't find it. Help me sniff it out, will ya, Joey?" "You must be a Delmation dog," said Joey. "Yes I am a Delmation," the dog said. "My name is Spud". "Your name should be Spot," said Joey. "Yes, but my mother named me Spud after my great grandfather." "So will you help me sniff out my bone?" " Well, I don't know what your bone smells like," Joey said. " What does it smell like?" "Well, it smells like a bone," said Spud. "I have an idea, said Joey, You smell for it and I'll help you dig it up". "Okay then," Spud agreed. So Spud sniffed here and he sniffed there and finally he called to Joey. "I think I found it, Joey, come and help me dig". Joey came running and they both dug for all they were worth. They dug up the largest, dirtiest bone Joey ever saw. "Yuck, said Joey, where did you find that?" "Oh, I found it on that hill over there," said Spud. "Isn't it wonderful?" "oh sure," said Joey, because he didn't want to hurt Spud's feelings. But he thought that was a real ugly bone. "Since you helped me dig it up ,Joey, you can help me chew on it," offered Spud. " Oh no thank you, said Joey, I have to be getting along". But to himself he thought, "that is the yuckiest thing I ever saw, and he is going to chew on it. I sure hope it doesn't make him sick." "Well goodbye, Spud," said Joey. "By Joey," called back Spud. Joey continued walking through the Kingdom Of Nigh. On and on he walked through the tall trees and wild flowers. Above the trees the sky was a beautiful lavender color with pink and green billowy clouds. Behind the clouds a blue sun tried to peek out. He finally came to a pond of water with orange lily pads floating on the surface. Something else was floating on the water too. A beautiful white duck with an orange duck bill, out of which came the noise, "quack, quack". "My name is Qagmire, who are you?, quacked the duck coming out of the water and wagging the water off his duck tail. His webbed feet were orange to match his bill. "I am Joey," answered Joey. "Well ,said Qagmire, where the heck are you from? I never saw you here before." "Well, said Joey, I'm from earth. I don't know though if I'm still on earth". "Earth?, questioned Qagmire, I never heard of it. Now this is the place. Don't you think so, Joey?" "Yes it is nice, but I think I'm lost again," said Joey. Qagmire sighed a long sigh and said, "yes, I think we're all a little lost at one time or another". And with that he jumped back into the water and paddled off. Joey continued down the purple pebbled path and wondered if he really was in dream land. Then he heard someone singing way off in the distance. It was getting louder as he walked. He could almost make out the words.

"I'm Bubba the big brown bear
I'm big, and beautiful and fair
I like to go swimmin'
With big hairy bear wimmin
I'm Bubba the big brown bear....ya"

And then Joey saw it, a great, huge bear. The bear saw Joey and came running down the path. "Hi boy, I'm Bubba," said Bubba. "Hi," said Joey. "Hey, said Bubba, I got a joke for ya. Want to hear it?" "Sure," said Joey. "Well, what does an elephant, a tree and a car all have in common?" Joey thought for a long time. "I give up. What?" Joey said.

"The answer is.....A Trunk," said the bear. "That was really funny," Joey said, not wanting to hurt the bears feelings, but thinking nothing is funny about now. He just wanted to go home. That was all. He was convinced he was in dreamland. He was sure of it. And so when he saw the vortex a few feet up ahead if him, he took a running jump right into it. He woke up in his bed to his mother calling him. "Joey, Joey". " I knew it, said Joey, I knew I was in dreamland".

THE END.

Copyright © 2004 Lila May Guptill (Lunaria)