Lonely Little Me

* Chapter 7 * — The Portal —

— The Portal —

Quite frankly, Judy never thought there would come a day she would be sent flying into a portal to be able to go back home. Honestly, who ever thought they would do such a thing in their lifetime when they used to live such a boring life as did the ginger haired girl. And at this exact time, she was feeling a mixture of both anger and confusion.

“ catapult technique he said, the only way is up he said. He made it sound so easy! Heck I didn’t even agree to be thrown in the air like that! I’m sure we could have found another way! ” Judy was going on and on about the whole thing and complaining. she mimicked the wolf as she was now trying to move along the wall in hope of reaching the second portal. She had indeed managed to make it through the first one seconds after the wolf had thrown her into the ceiling but she was not expecting for gravity to change direction so suddenly and that she had to grab a rough surface to be able to hold on otherwise she would fall back in the first portal and back to the start and she did not want to be thrown into thin air like that! Once she had grabbed the rock it was hard for her to climb up not only because she had never learned how to climb and therefore had never done it but also because the wall was very steep and sturdy. She had guessed it was the inside the wall but still it was too narrow, she was even surprised she managed to climb up this far… Even if it was nearly two steps from were she grabbed hold.

After what seemed like forever she finally succeeded into coming closer to the portal, but she was having a hard time holding on.

“almost there Judy” she had encouraged herself.

“now what do I do, how do I get it to bring me to old Mcrell’s house” she knew Clay didn’t mention this part of the portal and she was also out of strength to hold any longer so she had to think fast.

Finding no answer and feeling desperate with tears threatening to pour she whispered “please I just want to go home I can’t hold on any longer”

As if it was able to hear her inaudible plead, the portal reacted to her emotions and swallowed her whole.

Not feeling more pain in her fingers nor them being more stretched, no more wind or pressure around her, Judy then tried opening her eyes that she had kept shut from the blinding light of the portal.

The shock in her face was quickly replaced with a wide, bright smile.

She had never been so happy of being home, like the saying goes “home sweet home”

Judy was lying starfish style on the ground of her kitchen. With both her arms and legs stretched out she started agitating them “thank you” she giggled, relief apparent on her face.

Getting up she glanced through the window on her left “almost dawn” she said stretching her body to remove fatigue. She walked to her calendar hanging on the left side of the kitchen wall and removed the page of the previous day. Judy realized that unlike what she had thought, she had barely spent the night in the well since it was now that the sun was rising.

“but it felt like I spent a lot of time there thought.” “Humm... Weird” she whispered to herself.

She decided to pack her things, freshen up and fix herself something to eat before taking the road. Judy wanted to leave early, before people woke up because she didn’t want anyone to see her and ask questions. For one she didn’t want to give explanations to anyone and she doubted they would not call her crazy if she had told anyone of this town that they lived on top of a wolf! Just like they did to poor Mcrell.

Thinking of the old lady, Judy wondered if she was still sleeping and thought about paying her a visit after she came back to reassure her about what she saw.

After bathing, with a towel wrapped around her body, Judy got out her backpack that she started filling. She didn’t own much, but it did help her live. After the fire that destroyed her house had died down, it took mostly everything the family had possessed and it was only a couple of things that Judy was able to get back or save.

Once she was done taking everything she needed in the room she proceeded to dress herself. She thought since she was to travel, it would be inappropriate to wear a dress because she wouldn’t be able to move freely into them. That’s why, Judy searched through her things for pants, she didn’t have a lot either, 3 to be exact with 2 that are already in the bag. They were black trousers, with which she decided to wear a blue laced corset top to go with her eyes. She didn’t want Clay’s pack to think she was a country bumpkin! She would even be less credible for a fact!

Moving on to the kitchen, she took some bread to eat on the road, some biscuits and some fruits she had left. She also took a water bottle to fill along the way. She also took some of her picture books to read if she ever got bored, but she was far from imagining that she wouldn’t even have the time to touch them!

She took some clothes, some food, some water and a little distraction, she was ready to leave. Putting on her boots and taking her backpack she locked her front door and set for the outskirts of the town.

She was afraid as much as she was excited but she would soon realize that what her parents were always right when forbidding something to their children.

“are you sure it’s this house?” Lady Mcrell bickering more than asking the driver “are you telling me how to do my job ma’am? Cos I sure don’t tell you how to do yours!” the man retorted back. “just get out and knock would ya!” he added.

“humphf! You are such a rude driver!”

“right back at ‘ya!

On his word, Mcrell got out of the yellow car with hesitant steps.

It was not until early in the afternoon that Lady Mcrell got out of the cab to the supposed house of the supposed weird one the driver was talking about.

To come there was a difficult thing to do because first of all the driver had brought her to the Humpers, who answered when she knocked the door and directed her a mile away west when she asked for Judy’s house.

During the ride he would not stop slowing the car and even stopping it afraid the tires would pop because of the road.

Now he brought her in front of a run down house, although quite clean for its old age. Nevertheless Mcrell could not believe someone lived in it. She knocked but nobody came to open.

When she decided to go back she was surprised to see the driver still there

“I already paid you! What do you want?” she questioned him.

“it’s getting dark already and you won’t find any cab here.” The lady was starting to have second thoughts about him before he added “plus, I don’t want to feel guilty when tomorrow I’ll read in the papers that an old lady disappeared”

“you and your nasty mouth! And I was starting to consider you” she just moved her head in disapproval.

“then wait for me, I will look around for any other house”

“what do you think I am doing here! Having a tea party?” the man had said rolling his eyes.

“don’t go too far though, remember the papers!” he teased her.

Mumbling some insanities the grey haired lady stomped off farther from the house.

After a good 20 minutes walk, she noticed a figure in the distance and upon coming closer, she recognised it more and more.

“ I’ve been running into him more then usual today” she thought to herself.

“don’t tell me that you are following me now lady, sorry but I am not into grannies”

“Henry” Mcrell spat out “I could say the same to you, what are you doing here?” she asked him with a tone of resentment. She could not believe the oh so amiable gentleman that helped her the other day could turn into this ill-mannered boy. What could have hit him!

“need I remind you that it is none of your business what I do and where I go?” he said as he was approaching her “but if you must know, I... Dropped off Amelia” he added with a smirk before passing her.

“wait! Have you seen Judy?” the old lady tried to stop him but at the mention of Judy, he just halted for a second before regaining his composure and emotionlessly replied

“I thought I had already answered you, read on my lips” he said pointing his lips “I. Am. Not. Her. Babysitter.” “now if you’ll excuse me, I have other things to take care of then that girl of yours.” He then turned his back on the lady and went his way.

Left standing there with nowhere to look now, she resigned herself to go home and think this true. Her recent behaviour had her worrying.

“ take me home please” she told the driver when she walked back to Judy’s supposed house. Without a word, the driver got her safely home and even if he didn’t know much about her and let alone appreciate her, Lady Mcrell was so out of it that he was worried about her and felt compassionate towards her. So much that he told her while grinning with all his yellow teeth showing “ring me up if you ever need a cab to go there again! The number’s on the change!”

Mcrell just nodded and continued her way down the pavement to her house.

She seriously needed to think and clear her mind and she was less than ready for what was coming her way!

----------##############----------