Molly and Anaru's Great Massey Adventure: Chapter 6
Yesterday’s Poll Results
Which portal should Molly and Anaru use?
The tree portal: 60%
The ground portal: 40%
Chapter 6
Molly and Anaru tripped over each other as they emerged from the portal and landed on the ground of a large apple orchard. They grabbed each other to steady themselves as the portal shrunk until it disappeared.
“Are you alright?” Anaru asked Molly.
“Yes, I just feel a little bit diz-” Molly was interrupted by a faint barking sound that was growing loud very quickly.
Anaru turned his head as he saw Molly look over his shoulder. They both stood as a shaggy brown dog bounded between the trees towards them, stopping at their feet.
They both leapt back, startled at how quickly it had moved. A man jogged from the same direction following the dog, surprised to see two children in his field. He was decked out in a red-and-black check patterned coat (Molly recognised it as a Swandri - her grandfather who lived in Taranaki had one), brown work pants tucked into gumboots and a dirty grey flat cap.
“Hey, Buddy, come here”. The man called, making the dog return to his owner. “How did you two get into my field?” He asked Molly and Anaru.
They glanced at each other, not knowing what to say. This farmer would never believe them if they told him. Anaru opened his mouth to answer, but before he could get the words out, the man shook his head.
“Nevermind, you children need to stop trespassing on my property. This is the second time this month that I’ve caught you and your friends here stealing my fruit.”
“We’re sorry, it won’t happen again” replied Anaru, relieved that he didn’t have to explain who they actually were.
“That’s alright. Looks like you’ve hurt yourself there young girl.” The farmer pointed his chin in Molly’s direction. There was a cut on her left knee and blood dripping down her shin.
“Oh my gosh Molly, you're hurt!” Exclaimed Anaru. “You must have scraped it on something coming through the por- I mean… climbing the tree!”
“Why don’t you come inside and let my wife patch you up?”, asked the farmer, nodding his head towards a modest townhouse at the other side of the apple tree rows.
The kids turned to each other, not sure whether to go into a strangers house. The farmer insisted he wanted to help them. “It’s alright. How about you wait outside and we can give you some things to clean it up yourselves?”
Molly slowly nodded in agreement. The children walked slowly, Molly leaning a little on Anaru for support. They went through the trees, where they saw the farmer’s house. He led them through a gate at the side of the house, and around to the front where his wife came and met them.
Molly sat down on the front steps as the wife brought out a brown cloth box filled with some first aid items that she recognised. Within minutes, the wife had cleaned and patched Molly’s knee up. The farmer returned to his work.
“Now, before you head off, I would like to make a couple of requests,” she said as she packed up her first aid box.
Before Molly or Anaru could respond, she continued “First, you must not trespass on our field again. Is that understood?”
“Yes”, the children both replied.
“Secondly, I need you to buy some stamps and post some letters for me on your way home, up at the Massey Post Office. You can buy yourselves a snack on your way home too.” She winked and smiled.
