The realisation of a dream!

Taylor Timbertop gave a subdued sigh, and thought, 'This is going to be tougher than I though!' It was his turn to put 3-year old Burl to bed for his afternoon nap.

His other son, Buddy, was elsewhere in the Commune visiting Lester Thistlethorn, hopefully behaving. "No, no, no Buddy, don't jump form there!" Prissy Thistlethorn squealed.

While his wife was taking a well deserved break, having coffee and cake with her friends in the kitchen of the Commune.

After what felt like ages, Burl finally started to dose of. Taylor was quite relieved, even though his coffee was too cold to drink and he has completely lost his appetite for the biscuits.

Just as Burl closed his eyes completely, there was a knock on the door. "NO!" Taylor wanted to scream, but managed to swallow it back.

He quickly looked down at Burl, who was sleeping peacefully!

Taylor walked to the door, where Tilly Dappledawn and Grizabella Macavity were waiting patiently. "Good afternoon uncle Taylor, sorry for disturbing you, but my dad asked me to deliver a message to you." The little girl rambled off. "Apparently someone called to his office, something about a boat." Taylor looked perplexed.

"What could it be about" he wondered out loud. "I'm not sure," Tilly replied, "but the man told my father he would phone back at three."

"Oh, really? Thank you, by that time Burl should be awake, so I will be there." Taylor thanked Tilly for delivering the message and the girls said goodbye.

While waiting for Burl to wake up, Taylor tried to read the local newspaper. It was hard to concentrate on it though, as his thoughts constantly drifted off to the strange caller. 

Finally at 2:30 Burl awoke from his nap, and at that precise moment Rose appeared in the doorway of their room too. "Oh my little Burly is awake, did you have a good nap?" she asked sweetly. "Thank you Taylor for watching over him, I had a good time with my friends." 

"That is no problem Rosie, do you mind if I take him for a walk?" Taylor asked, trying very hard not to look guilty. "Yes, Burl wants to ride his trike." Burl yelled. "I was just about to suggest that I take him, but if you don't mind, I can go look for Buddy and get him to do his homework." Rose replied.

Father and son set off, making their way to the office of Herbage Dappledawn. 

"Daddy," Burl began, "thanks for bike ride." he finished. Taylor looked at his youngest and smiled. "It is nice, yes." he replied.

As they turned the corner to the office, he could see Sorrel Cottontail approaching, he tried to walk even slower to avoid a conversation with her. He was so worried that he would miss the telephone call again.

But he had no such luck, as Sorrel actually stopped and waited form him in front of the shop. "Hey Taylor, how are you?" She asked. Taylor sighed, he liked Sorrel very much, and could never ignore her, "Very good, Sorrel, and with you? How is Aaron doing?"

The two old friends chatted for awhile before they were interrupted by Herbage. "There you are Taylor, I was wondering if you would make it."

Taylor was glad to see that Theodora occupied Sorrel, otherwise she surely would've asked about what business Taylor had with Herbage. He wanted to keep this call quiet, until he himself knew what it was all about.

"So do you have any idea about this call for me?" Taylor asked Herbage. "Not really, it was someone from Slydale Hollow, I think Wade." Herbage said. "That is strange I have an uncle living in Slydale Hollow, you know the Mayor of the village, but he usually writes to me." As the two were still wondering about the strange call, the phone started ringing.

"Well, now we will finally find out what it is all about, why don't you go answer it." Herbage prodded Taylor. Reluctantly Taylor answered the phone, he didn't like telephones at all.

"Hello? - Yes it is him!"   

"Oh, yes, my uncle has mentioned you previously in his letters. - Wait, what? Repeat that? - Wow, really? - Thank you, but I'll first have to discuss it wit Rose, that is my wife."

"Certainly. - Can I call you tomorrow? - Ok, fantastic. Thank you. - Goodbye." A bewildered looking Taylor put down the phone. Herbage rushed inside, he was really curious about this call.

"So, what was that all about?" Herbage probed carefully. "Oh Herbage, I can't say yet, I must talk to Rose first, but I promise I will tell you first thing tomorrow, when I return to make the call, that is if you don't mind, me using your phone again." Taylor said apologetically. 

"Oh that is fine, I understand, well sort of. And of course you may use my telephone again." Herbage smiled and shook Taylor's hand.

That evening, when both boys where asleep, Taylor approached Rose.

"Darling, can we have a talk?" He began reluctantly. "Taylor, what is going on?" Rose was not used to Taylor spoiling her with hot chocolate and wanting to make serious conversations.

"Maybe you should sit down, I have some news." Taylor said. "Ok Taylor, now you are scaring me, what is going on?" Rose insisted."Don't worry, Rosie, it is nothing bad. I had a call this afternoon, from Wade Waters. My Uncle, the Mayor of Slydale Hollow, directed him to give me a call." Taylor explained. 

"Oh, okay," Rose said, visibly relieved, "and what was the call about?" Taylor took a photo from his pocket, "Well you know how we have been dreaming about a own home, and expanding our little business. Can you remember how we dreamed about a boat, one that we can live on and that we can use to take tourists on?" Rose's eyes widen. "Y E E E ES?!"

"Well, I have once shared this in a letter to my Uncle, he has always been such an inspiration to me, especially after my father died, and now it turned out that there is an old boat moored at Slydale Hollow, and he thought we might be interested in restoring it. Are we interested?" Taylor asked carefully. Rose took the photo from her husband...

... pasted it against the wall just above the night stand, and replied, "Yes of course we are!"

Taylor turned her to him, "Thank you my Love, I can't wait to start this new life with you!"