An unexpected delivery!

So time for a new story, sorry for the delay, but I was just too busy Monday to do it and then the work got more and spilled over to Tuesday. Once again a BIG, no HUGE thank you to Sigrun for helping with the photos of the Chestnut campsite. I'm planning to get the small vintage caravan for the Chestnuts in the future, and she was kind enough to help me out for now. Also thanks Sigrun for letting me use your Village in my story.  I hope you enjoy it too!

So here we go! Enjoy it!

Amy: Mommy, mommy Ricky took Amy's doll.
Ricky: Mommy, mommy Amy is playing with my rings.
Pansy: Oh stop it you two rascals, are you bored?

It was a sunny, but cool Spring day in the Valley and ideal for playing outside, without worrying about sunburn and heat exhaustion. Pansy was busying herself with her morning chores, but with the kids constantly bickering it was difficult to get anything done!

Pansy loved the peacefulness of their campsite. At first she and Durwood were just passing through the small village, but something unexpected happened and a short stay turned into a year and six months, and though Pansy is not particularly content with living in the village, she is not entirely unhappy too.

Some of the villagers like Hatty Huckleberry and Nelson Puddleford can be a handful and a bit of a nuisance, but Pansy has learned that if she doesn't venture into the village, she will have the peace she has always longed for. She came from a large family, four sisters and three brothers, and she never knew what silence was, until Durwood saved her and took her on this wonderful adventure they are having.

She loves the fact that her time is her own and that she doesn't have to work. The main reason for this is that they are happy with what they have. They love their old vintage caravan. It is clean and in immaculate condition. Inside it is comfortably furnished with all they will ever need. Durwood basically has to earn money to provide food and pay the monthly rent for the stand in the Sugarbush Valley caravan park, which to say the least is actually laughable so little is it. Besides that they plant a tree around their campsite every month, which decreases their rent even more.

Pansy looked over to Durwood where he was chomping wood for the evening fire. He was such a strong man, but with the kindest of hearts. She loved him dearly and will do anything to keep him happy. And he is happy, that is why she is also more than happy to stay in this Village, but also live the way they are.

Pansy: Honey, I think I'm going to take a walk with the children, they are getting bored.
Durwood: That is a good idea, I'm also worried that a stray piece of wood will hit them on the head.
Pansy: Oh yes. I don't want that. Can I get you anything before I go?
Durwood: I would love a cup of coffee
Ricky and Amy (in unison): We want coolies, we want coolies.
Pansy sighed and got up. The two rascals are at their best today. One moment fighting, the next moment teaming up to aggravate her. She went into the caravan, and minutes later emerge again with a cup of coffee and two sippy cups.

Pansy: Ok, we are off, see you a little later.
Durwood: Enjoy the walk. Look for some mushrooms. And kids, be good for mommy!
Ricky and Amy (in unison): Ok daddy.

The change in the kids behavior, as soon as they left the camp site, was palpable. It became obvious to Pansy that they just needed a change of scenery. All of a sudden, they were communicating like a brother and sister who actually loved one another and everything they were seeing were just amazing. They literally stopped and smelled the flowers.

They were lucky enough to cross paths with some turtles, and Ricky lied down beside them just to get a better view of them.

Unlike many children, Ricky and Amy loved radishes, and they were beyond themselves when they came across a row of wild radishes, growing along the foot path. They had great fun pulling them of the ground and gobbling it up.

Their fun was however interrupted by a stranger, who was announced by Amy's shrill shriek. Amy disliked strangers and all strangers are received or announced in this manner.

Stranger (hesitantly): Good afternoon Ma'am. I am truly sorry for interrupting y'all, but I'm looking for a one Mrs Heidi Mcburrows.

Pansy: And your name, sir?

Stranger: Oh, yeah, of course, truly sorry, Ma'am. I'm Devon Dale.

Pansy: Please to meet you Devon. To answer your question, Heidi actually lives close by, but I'm almost certain that she will not be home. But why would you be looking for her?

Devon: You see, Ma'am, I have this delivery for her, from her cousin Mrs Mizu who lives in Mystique Valley, but due to the fragility of the package, it couldn't be mailed, so as I favor to Mrs Mizu I'm delivering it personally.

Pansy: Ok, I see. Do you want me to help you look for her. She might be in town somewhere?

Devon: Oh sure, please and thank you Ma'am, I would really appreciate that.

Pansy: But the only problem is I don't think my two babies will be able to walk that far, will you lift them in the basket, then I'll carry the plant.

Devon: Oh golly, I'm not too sure about that, Ma'am. You see that is a very rare kind of plant, indigenous to the woods of Mystique Valley, will you be careful with it.

Pansy: I don't know much about plants and gardening, but I do know that you should handle gifts with care, so don't worry, the plant will be safe in my hands.

And with that cleared, the odd looking foursome made their way along the footpath towards the Village.

As they turned the corner into Sugarbush Drive, they almost knocked over Andy and Bethanie Woodbrook.

Devon: Oh so sorry, Sir, Ma'am, are you alright?

Bethanie: Sure, sure. Don't worry we just got a bit of a fright, we didn't expect you. Hello Pansy.

Pansy: Hi Bethanie and Andy. 

Andy: Strange to see you in town Pansy, you don't usually venture in here.

Pansy: I know, but Devon here needed my help, and I needed to get the kids away from the campsite, they were getting bored.

Andy: Please to meet you Devon. Anything we can help you with. Pansy are you okay?

Devon: Likewise Mister Andy. No, Pansy is being a great help.

Pansy: I think I will be fine, thank you Andy. But you haven't by any chance see Heidi Mcburrows?

Bethanie: Yes, in fact we did. We just dropped the kids off at the Redwoods, so that we can enjoy a peaceful lunch at the Hamburger Restaurant, and I noticed Digger and Heidi were working in their Garden.

Devon: Oh joy, thank you so much.

Pansy: You have been a great help, thanks Bethanie and Andy. Enjoy your lunch!

Pansy and Devon rounded the corner and Devon was relieved to notice that Pansy stopped at the first house, as he was extremely tired from all the cycling. Just as Pansy knocked on the door, loud giggles could be heard from the side of the house. It was indeed Frances Redwood and her younger friend Molly Mcburrows.
Pansy: Good afternoon Frances and Molly, are your parents home.
Frances: Yes my mommy and daddy is inside and Molly's parents are doing our ... uhm ... scapelanding.
Pansy: You mean landscaping, sweetie pie? It is a big and hard word, but it is good that you try.
Frances (blushing): Yes, it is. Come with us.

Meantime in the Redwood garden ...

Digger Mcburrows were feeling extremely happy and content. He was pruning the bushes in the Redwood garden. He stopped a minute to take a breath. Landscaping and maintaining other's gardens were hard work, but he loved it. He was even happier that Heidi supported him and even helped him, as she was the one with the actual green fingers.

Digger (at Cali and Monty): Be careful you two.

Little Cali and Monty climbed onto a wooden table and was now considering jumping off again. He was glad too see that the children were enjoying themselves, even though it was somewhat disturbing at times.

Even little shy Molly was happy to be around the year older Frances, and it actually looked as if they enjoyed each others company. It was just Muddy who was not visible, but Digger just shrugged, he was probably getting mud all over his clothes somewhere. Digger heard the knock on the door, but didn't pay much attention to it, as he noticed that Wilbur got up to get it.

It turned out to be the Woodbrook family who just dropped off Abigail and Marcus for their play-date with Frances and Cali.
Fliss: Heidi, sorry to disturb you while you are so busy, but have you seen Frances.
Heidi (looking up): Sorry, unfortunately not. They have just been here.
Frances: The little rascal, she has been looking forward to Abigail's visit the whole morning, constantly asking me when she will be here, and now that Abigail is finally here, she has disappeared.

The mystery was however quickly solved as Frances and Molly, accompanied by Pansy and a stranger, appeared at the corner of the garden.

As expected Frances was glad to see her best friend and together with Molly they immediately went into the house. Pansy quickly introduced Devon to the Mcburrows and Redwoods and then gave him a chance to explain the reason for his visit.

Heidi: What? Mizu send me a Mystique flower. How on earth did she manage that? I'm sure that Mayor Bill Waddlington is unaware of this. As he did almost get a fit when he saw that Mizu has one her garden.

Devon: Uhm, I'm not too sure what to answer to that Ma'am. I don't really know anything about it, please I don't want to get into trouble or have my family kicked out of Mystique Valley because I did something wrong.

Digger: No, no, no Devon don't worry. I'm sure Heidi didn't mean it like that. And you know what Heidi, I'm sure Mizu got it from Graber that grew the flowers in Mystique Valley, so we need not worry.

Heidi (winking at Digger): I'm sure you are right Digger. All those Mcburrows up there are somehow connected and always owe one another favors so I'm sure that is how Mizu got her hand on this.

Heidi clutched the plant and almost hugged it, she was overjoyed with the prospect of finally having her own Mystique Flower.

Digger thanked Devon for his trouble of delivering this rare flower safely. Everyone was in awe of the magnificent flower and Molly had to tell the story of how she saw it for the first time in Mystique Valley while she was visiting her cousin, Mizu and her husband there.

Fliss refilled the lemonade for the adults and spoiled the younger kids with a big sundae. Their were many questions flying around and Pansy patiently relayed the events of earlier to everyone.

After a refreshing drink and nice chat, Devon was ready to continue his journey. Heidi once again thanked Devon for the wonderful gift and the Redwoods invited Pansy and her family for dinner one evening.
Pansy: Thank you for the invitation Fliss, I will speak to Durwood and will let you know what evening suits us.
Digger: Go well Devon and our love and greetings to the Critters in Mystique Valley.

And just like that everything was quiet again and the Mcburrows could continue their work. Heidi couldn't keep her eyes of her new plant and was dreaming of where to put it in her house, already making plans of how she could regrow it here in Sugarbush Valley.

After a hard day's work, Digger and Heidi felt content with what they accomplished and Wilbur and Fliss were very happy with the neat and perfect state of their garden.  

Wilbur: Thanks for the hard work Digger and Heidi, I will make an appointment when we need you again.

Digger: No problem, you know we are always available for your.

Fliss: You do magic, I never thought our garden will look this perfect.

Heidi: It is our pleasure, and do bring the children round for a playdate, if you and Wilbur need some quiet time.

Frances: Yes, please mommy I would love to visit Molly down at the Burrow.

Fliss: Well, then that is settled, I will be in touch Heidi, thank you!

Meanwhile Pansy also arrived back home safely. Durwood was nowhere to be seen. He was probably taking a nap, hopefully preparing dinner, which Pansy doubt. As she climbed the stairs into the caravan, she thought back on her day, smiled and realised that she does like living in Sugarbush Valley, and that she will tell Durwood tonight that she will be happy to stay here forever.