Arrival - The Umberhounds

I've mentioned before how many of the dog families gravitate towards the grassland in Mellowdene County. Running about seems to be a common joy for them, the open plains providing them with the ideal place to do this whilst allowing the youngest family members to remain in sight of their elders. 

 

At the same time, all appreciate the convenience and social/employment attractions of the nearby village, the facilities of Mellowdene having grown over the years. I was reminded of this when I was trawling through back issues of the Mellowdene Examiner. I found something that inspired me to write this tale.

Within the People column Antonia Petite had been chatting with Monika Umberhound and again I was able to use Antonia's notes as additional source material. The following is based upon Monika's words. She tells an unusual story.

o 0 O 0 o

I enjoy living at the edge of the grasslands, but I'm glad we're fortunate to be so close to the village. The children love the school, and both Berndt and his brother like their work there. As do Candice and I, of course. I can confidently say we're all happy.

Berndt wonders if it's a reaction to our early life but I don't know. It's not that I'm dithering or uncertain. None of us know. We don't have much memory before finding ourselves on the north shore. I'm being vague. Let me explain.

There were four of us. My sister Candice and I plus two dogs we now know as Berndt and Rory Umberhound. My earliest memory is of us being rowed ashore by two robed figures; I don't know who they were as they wore hoods. I can only say we felt incredibly safe, and when we landed, when we queried where we were, one of them said, "Sylvania. You'll find a road if you follow the coastline with the mountains to your left. Once there, turn left and follow the road to the nearest village."

 Rory tried to find out more but they all they would say was, "The villagers will attend you."

They returned to their boat and rowed back into the sea mist.

It seems so long ago now, but it was only a few years. There we were, on an unfamiliar shore, but it felt right somehow. Once the boat had disappeared from our sight, Berndt took my arm and suggested we go where the robed figure had suggested.

I don't know if I knew Berndt in our earlier life but there was an emotional connection between us. Similarly, Candice and Rory seemed to be a couple. I think we knew at some level that we'd eventually marry. Maybe we already had.

When the four of us started walking we didn't dwell on our mysterious past. The countryside overwhelmed us with its beauty and we spent our journey enjoying the colours of flowers, the scents of nature, the songs of the birds, and our own company. I've since wondered, by allowing us to make our own way to the village, was it the robed ones' intent to have us soak in the joy of the Sylvanian countryside? To this day I still recall that feeling of contentment.

We found the road as indicated, and walked alongside through woodland until we approached a narrow river. 

There was a bridge and we could see houses and other buildings beyond. That was our first sight of Mellowdene.

o 0 O 0 o

The first people we met were Edwin and Ella Elwood. They were out taking a leisurely stroll when they saw us. 

They smiled as we started to pass then they paused. Somehow they realised that we were effectively lost.

"Hello," said Ella, "here are some lovely new faces. Are you here to meet someone? No, that's not it, is it? Oh goodness me - are you newcomers?"

I looked at Berndt and Candice looked at Rory. Candice was the first to speak.

"I think we might be. Where are we?"

"This is Mellowdene, dear, and you are all most welcome. We've not seen newcomers for a long time. As you may be disorientated you'll need someone to help you to get you sorted. First of all, are you hungry? Edwin has a bag of some fresh provisions from the bakery. Oh, what am I like? I am Ella Elwood and this is my husband Edwin."

From that moment - and I now know it was the same for the others - I knew I was in the right place.

o 0 O 0 o

There was a time when Berndt pondered if we came from the outer world but that didn't last long. We had other priorities and our lives were expanding. We were introduced to other villagers, and Harley and Penny Farthing took us into their care. 

There were two small houses near their place and they helped us settle. This was before they had their children, of course. They didn't appear until we'd married and our children were on the way.

It's hard to believe that we don't know how we came to be here. I guess it doesn't matter. Our lives effectively started when we turned up in Mellowdene. That's good enough for us.

o 0 O 0 o

I'd not heard the term newcomer for a while - at least not in that context. Monika Umberhound's story reminded me of aspects of the so-called Ring of Sylvania separating us from the realm of humankind. Was Berndt correct in his pondering? Was the memory issue a symptom of their transformation from beasts to Sylvanians? Or maybe it's a symptom of the snakeweed gas that Horatio told me about once*.Who knows? And who were those mysterious figures? Oh, never mind; it's just as well that I've come to terms with the strangeness of the world, isn't it? Besides, Mellowdene has its own resident investigator - Mulder Honey-Fox -  if we needed anyone to look into paranormal stuff! 

*see The Seabreeze at Mellowdene

o 0 O 0 o

Moonflowers

A phone call from my chum and working partner Chris Snow-Warren prompted me to move my bones and call around to his house for a chat. He'd said he'd been contacted by the famous baritone Corbert Mulligan with regard to us writing him a new song. This was the first time we'd heard anything from Corbert personally, although we'd heard he'd expressed an interest in our work for the musical last year. We'd all but discarded any thoughts of work from that quarter, but now? I was interested in what additional details Chris could supply.

When I arrived at his home he already had a visitor, and his daughters had just ushered this visitor into another room. Chris called after them.

"Susan and Hope will deal with you, Lincoln. Maybe when my business meeting's over we can chat further," he said and I thought I detected an air of relief in his expression.

"Lincoln. Your nephew?" I queried.

"Yes," Chris sighed, "my nephew."

"Ah. Problem?"

My friend's face relaxed into a sort of grin. "Not really. But sometimes the lad's enthusiasm can be a touch... wearing."

"I see. And what is he enthusiastic about this time?"

"His grandparents have agreed to supplement his pocket money if he helps in their shop."

"Moonflowers?"

"Yeah. Bianca's allowed him to work in the stock room, limited to an afternoon at weekends. Trouble is, he's independently taken it upon himself to seek out new stock."

"He's on commission?"

"Don't think so. I think he just wants to impress his grandparents, and as we're family, we're early on his list for potential donations."

"Ah."

Perhaps some explanation is in order.

o 0 O 0 o

I've introduced you to two of Chris's siblings in previous tales. His elder brother Clarence was my schoolmate and it was through him Chris and I met - the little brother who has a gift with words. A second brother Nigel lives in an apartment attached to Chris's house and he shares this with his daughter Lisa. You may remember he is romantically attached to Tara Lapine-Frost, and she's staying with them whilst she recuperates from a leg injury.

I haven't mentioned that Chris also has a sister Bianca. She married Thomas Moonflower, son of Carlos and Naomi Moonflower, and they have one son - the aforementioned Lincoln.

Carlos and Naomi run the shop that takes their name - Moonflowers - and it is a remarkable place. It is a 'used goods' store. Maybe you have similar places in your human world. Maybe not. I'll tell you where it is and endeavour to explain its purpose.

Before one reaches Mellowdene High Street there is a small cul-de-sac that runs towards a patch of woodland. It is called Emerald Leaf Lane. There are a few small shops down there but we are interested in one particular establishment. Moonflowers. From the lane it looks no bigger than the other small shops, but that is deceptive. It is deep and widens out beyond its neighbours.

If you enter, you will find the customer-facing area. There is a shop counter, often staffed by Naomi but other family members share the role. There are shelves, rails and boxes of assorted goods, vaguely organised into categories but regularly circulated. This allows a visitor to learn roughly where to look on subsequent visits, but there's always an air of "what shall I find today?"

The term 'used goods' is appropriate because you won't find brand new products here. The philosophy behind Moonflowers is, "if you don't need something any more, then someone might." Sylvanians don't like to throw items away, abhoring waste. Rather than discard an unwanted item, we like to extend its life as much as possible. Moonflowers provides that service.

If an item is damaged beyond repair, then it is passed on to the Mice & Clean company where the raw materials are recycled. However, sometimes an item can be repaired or refurbished. Some may need specialist attention, and Carlos Moonflower has contacts should this be the way to go. If such expert intervention is unnecessary then the item will be taken to the second area of Moonflowers - the repair shop. Carlos and Thomas do a lot of the work in here, crafting and fixing damaged items until they are suitable for selling on.

 

On the question of cost, Moonflowers don't like to charge too much, probably reflecting that their stock is maintained through donations.  They will charge enough for the family to make a living, provide resources to run the shop, and maybe save a little money for unexpected expenses. I'm aware that they also donate some goods to needy villagers. Of course, no Sylvanian likes to think of anyone being needy.

There is a further area of Moonflowers - the largest area out at the back - the stock room used for storage. It is effectively a warehouse and the goods inside are extensive. I suspect there are items within there that most Mellowdenians would not believe still existed. Some villagers joke that one could get lost in there! I understand that there is a host of objects that never makes their way to the front of the shop, but reputedly Carlos has a thick book that holds a detailed inventory.

Yes, it's a marvellous place. And now young Lincoln Moonflower wants to make his contribution.

o 0 O 0 o

I doubt Bianca would condone the fact that Lincoln is out searching - perhaps pestering - for extra stock, but one has to admire his diligence. I said as much to Chris.

"Admire?" he said. "Not the word I'd use. I might have a word with Bianca."

"Is he that persistent?"

Chris raised his brows then attempted to mimic the lad.

"Do you need that table, Uncle Chris? Dad can touch up the varnish. You need it? Are you sure? Okay. What about that vase? That bookshelf? No? Some of the books then? Those you've read? Uncle Chris? Aw, that's a shame. Oh! I know. The pram. It will help Connor to walk if he isn't lazing in that pram..."

 

I laughed. "Is he really that bad?"

"Well maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. Only a bit though. I know it's early days and his over enthusiasm is probably due to that. With Susan and Hope giving me a little respite maybe I can think of something to give the lad."

The door opened and the two girls entered without Lincoln.

Chris looked at them. "Susan? Hope? Where's your cousin?"

Hope smiled innocently at her father. "Gone, Daddy."

"I thought you were just keeping him occupied whilst I chatted with Uncle Jack?"

"He was a pain, Dad," said Susan. "He was going through our dolls, and for each one he was asking if we really needed them."

"It's true, Daddy," said Hope.

"And then he opened a wardrobe and started pointing at our dresses," said Susan.

"It's true, Daddy," said Hope.

"I shut the wardrobe but he hadn't done. He pulled out our toy box and was about to ask about each one inside."

"It's true, Daddy," said Hope. "and I saw that Susan might get angry."

Chris glanced at me before returning attention to his daughters. "So what did you do, Hope? I take it you did something."

"Of course I did, Daddy. I love Susan. I don't want her angry."

"What did you do?" repeated Chris.

"Well, I told Link that there was something in the garden that he could take."

"What was that?"

"That's what he asked, Daddy, so I told him that I could show him better if he went outside."

"And?"

"He went outside, looked around and said 'Okay, Hope - what can I take?'"

 

Chris gestured for her to continue.

Hope smiled sweetly. "I said 'The air' and then I shut the door."

o 0 O 0 o

Perhaps I shouldn't have laughed. But I did. Then Chris did. The girls did, of course. Apparently Lincoln realised he'd gone too far by delving into the girls' toy box and he left without further comment.

"Bianca will see the funny side," said Chris. "I'll definitely have to have a word with her now."

It was a while before I remembered the reason I'd called. I didn't learn much more about Corbert Mulligan and his requirements than I had in the phone call. That didn't mean it was a wasted journey, though.

If nothing else it was an opportunity to take the air. 

 o 0 O 0 o

(Thank you to Sylvanako for the use of his map of Sylvania on the wall of Moonflowers)