CHAPTER 9: MEETING THE ABOTTS

       Robert McAdams was an annoying chatterbox! At least, that's what Fred's opinion was, about him, since he kept on blabbering about philosophical things. Molly, however, was simply starstruck by the man's wit, and his wise words. Alice and George were very much confused about him. They didn't know, whether to admire him for his witty sayings, or, annoyed due to his immature behaviour.

       Right now, Lily and the quartet were sitting on the floor, sipping the hot chocolate Lily made for everyone. Mr. McAdams was lazily lying on a rug, his feet propped up on the windowsill. He was reading a book, while sipping on the hot chocolate from its mug, through a long straw. 

       Outside, the moon shone brightly. 

       "Mr. McAdams, do you know the way out of this world?", Molly asked Robert. 

       "No. I only know the process that transports you back to your world. I don't know the way", he replied. 

       "So, just tell us, then! We want to go back. Please, McAdams, just tell us the way out", Fred said, gritting his teeth, in irritation.

       "Why so impatient, my boy?," he chuckled, and continued, "You see, this is the time of the year, when most visitors flock to Tinworth Highland. It's because a special day is approaching. The city's Foundation Day. We celebrate that day joyously. And I just want that you would stay till that day. Grace the celebratory carnival with your presence. Only few days are left. Why don't you stay till then? Lily must have explained to you, the time system. There's no harm in staying for a few days", Robert tried to convince them. 

       The teens thought long and hard. If, whatever Lily explained them about the time system was true, then they there was no harm in staying here for a few days. Until now, they hadn't particularly ever met any danger. Whomever they had met, were trustworthy people.

       No one replied to Robert's proposal that night. But they knew, that they had a strong intention of staying till the carnival.

       "Here, these are some clothes for you to wear for the night. You haven't changed since morning. Tomorrow, we'll go shopping", Lily said, offering them some clothes. 

       "Well, I shall probably take my leave. Thank you Lily, for tolerating me. Oh! And yes, I will come to receive these old people tomorrow. Their magic tutorial is going to start from tomorrow afternoon", McAdams said and without a word, went out of the door, closing it, without even touching. 

       "I don't see the need why we should learn all this stuff, Lily. I mean...", Fred started. 

       "You should learn. There's no harm in learning something new, is there? And, in the magical world, as visitors, you need magic, to cope well. So, no arguments, please. And now, SLEEP AND LET ME SLEEP", Lily said, cutting him off, and in an instant, turned over, pulled the bedsheet over her head, and went to sleep. The others followed.

       Early in the morning, just after half an hour of waking up, the quartet, and Lily, heard a sharp rap on the door. Knock. Knock. Knock. Lily opened the door, and squealed excitedly. "Look, who's here!", she beckoned the youngsters. 

       "Lily! We are not planning to stay at the door. We are coming in", said a female voice, and then they saw two people, entering the house. A man, and a woman.

       They noticed that the man resembled John. He even had similar scars across his face. Only, the colour of his hair and eyes was darker than John's. His countenance reflected kindness and generosity. The woman, had short hair, which was dyed in a light pink colour. There was a light smatter of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her eyes, were not only ocean blue in colour, but also held depth, like an ocean, and were a mirror that showed her cheerful, joyous nature.

       "Good morning, new visitors! You know, I am always so excited to meet new visitors", said the woman excitedly, clapping her hands in enthusiasm.

       "Is there something that you are not excited to do, Jen?", the man asked her, chuckling. 

       "Good morning everyone. As you all may not know us, we are..."

       "John's brother and sister-in-law", Molly completed the man's sentence.

       "Yeah, we are. I'm Chris Abott and this is,"

       "I'm Jennifer Abott. But you can call me Jenny", Jennifer said, cutting him off.

       Groaning, Chris said, "Oh, just let me complete my sentences"

       "You just completed one", George quietly commented.

       "Ok, so get ready everyone! We are going shopping and I am so excited!", Jenny exclaimed. "Hold in your excitement for a while, Jen. Sit here, first. We've walked a long distance", Chris said. 

       "Thanks Wolfie"

       "Wolfie?!", the quartet exclaimed.

       "Oh! I call him Wolfie, because he is chivalrous and a great leader, like wolves. And also, when he is hungry, he just wolfs down his food", Jenny answered, grinning cheekily.

       And soon enough, they were off! Their first destination being, The Black Swan, a clothing and accessories shop. They were shown around the shop, by a saleswoman. At first, the teens had thought, that everything about this world would be very different. Including its shops and markets. But, all of this was very common and normal. There were very less things that seemed extraordinary.

       And after shopping clothes, for which, the Abotts paid insistently, the teens refused to buy anything else. 

       "No. Absolutely not. We took these clothes, because it was necessary. We don't need anything else", George said firmly.

       "Yes. We don't need anything else. We are already indebted to you", Molly affirmed George's statement. 

       Chris and Jenny sighed, looking at each other. "Okay. But this is not a debt. You are visiting our city for the very first time. So, think of it as a welcoming present", Jenny sternly told, pointing her finger at them.

       "Fine", the quartet chorused.

       Their next stop was, a stationary shop 'Scribbling and Noting', where Lily bought a few pens and two notebooks for herself. And she insistently handed all the four teens, a pen each, as a welcoming gift from her. 

       They spent some time at the Orient Town Library, sifting through a few books. And that was where, they met Mr. McAdams. He was wearing a light pink suit and a deep, bright, glazing pink robe. Molly was ecstatic to meet him, while Fred groaned. 

       McAdams approached them, a huge book in one one hand and the other one, holding a pinwheel, on which he was occasionally blowing wind. "Good morning! Shopping done? Ready for shipping these old people to me, now?".

       "We are not some goods packed up in a carton, that we would be 'shipped' to you", Fred snapped. Robert only smiled.

       "Yes, sir, you can come to our home, to train them", Jenny offered. 

       "Okay. As you wish, Madame", Robert said, bowing to her mockingly.

       And after that, Robert tagged along with them, for the rest of the journey. 

       "I want ice-creams!", Jenny suddenly piped up. "Now? It's winter, and it's snowing, Jen. You'll catch a cold", Chris said to her, soothingly, as if trying to subdue a five-year old's tantrums.

       But it seemed Jenny was hell-bent on getting ice-creams. And Chris merely smiled and complied to her wishes, making Jenny squeal in happiness And thus, all of them made their way to an unplanned ice-cream feast, thanks to Jenny's sudden fascination with it.

       After a walk of about five to six minutes, they reached 'The Icicles'. In the ice cream parlour, Fred deliberately chose a table surrounded with seven chairs, with an intent to make McAdams choose a different table. But perhaps Fred underestimated the magical abilities of a magical man, which he realised soon enough, when McAdams dragged an extra chair, from another table, with a mere hand movement.

       And now, Fred was controlling the urge to pull out his hair in frustration, since he had to put up with the weird knowing looks that Robert was giving him from across the table, and he had a feeling that he would have to tolerate that for the entire time, that they were on the table.

       "Jen, don't you have your own bowl? Why are you sneakily scooping up ice-cream from mine?", Chris asked, looking at Jenny, who gave him a guilty smile, making Chris smile back in return. Chris then proceeded to take a large scoop of ice cream, out from his bowl and put it in Jennifer's bowl. This made Jennifer grin widely, and take out a scoop of her own ice-cream and offer it to Chris.

       Meanwhile, Robert had brought three different flavoured ice-cream bowls: blueberry, pistachio and vanilla, and a large empty bowl. He then, put the contents of the three bowls into the empty one and mixed them up, magically, simply by wiggling his index finger. Fred gave a disgusted look to his bowl of ice-cream, but Robert only raised his eyebrows, as if challenging him to say something. Fred looked away exasperatedly.

       Alice was repeatedly swirling the spoon in the ice-cream bowl, intent on melting it.

       "Are there no decent ice-cream eaters left in this world?", George asked, shaking his head in displeasure.

       All in all, this trip had been fun...........

TO BE CONTINUED... 

Author's Notes (A/N): Hello lovely readers! This update was unplanned 😁. I didn't think I would be able to upload today. But I did ☺️... So.... Did you like the chapter? Comment and let me know 😇. Give your priceless advices, ideas, and suggestions 😃...

How is Robert McAdams?😉... Do you like Chris and Jennifer's pair? Aren't they a lovely couple? 😍😇... So, what do you think, is going to happen next?😉😉😉... Many twists and turns are going to come up 😎...

Love you loads 💙💛...