BB In Toyland, Part 2

My eyes flew open. When I looked around, I didn't see the store, or even the city. We were nowhere near Philadelphia. The train was riding through a beautiful green countryside, with rolling hills and shining blue lakes. I could even see the ocean from where we were, glowing in the bright sunlight, with the tops of tall old boats peering over the hills.

When I peered around the other side, I noticed a thick, dark forest, filled with scary black trees. I shivered. I wouldn't want to go in there! Towering over the forest was a huge castle. It was ugly and crooked, with a jagged tower reaching into the blue sky. For a minute, I wondered if I was in Eternia and that was where Hordak and Catra lived. We went under a tunnel made of shiny silvery rock, and the black forest and castle and green hills vanished.

The train looked a lot bigger now, with four walls and a ceiling with pretty pictures of flowers and ladies in fancy gowns painted on it. There were other people with me, too. They wore outfits out of my storybooks, with long flowery skirts in bright spring colors and lots of lace. The ladies had their hair in curls or held back with ribbons. The men all had longish hair and wore darker colors, with tight pants and long tunics with flowing sleeves. They reminded me of the Robin Hood show on Showtime.

“Next stop, Toyland Town!” The conductor wore a stiff navy uniform with shiny brass buttons and carried a big gold pocket watch. He had silvery hair and a beard, and his blue eyes twinkled. He looked really familiar. “Are you getting off at the Sheep Meadow, young lady?”

“I...I guess.” I shrugged. “I don't know where I'm going. I just...sort of appeared here. Does this train go to Philadelphia, sir?”

“I'm afraid not. I don't think that city is on our line. Toyland Town is our last stop.” He pulled out a hole puncher. “I need to see your ticket, Miss.”

Now I really felt embarrassed. My face got all hot, and I know I turned red. “I don't have a ticket, sir. I don't even know how I got here.”

“Then you'll have to get out at the next stop.” At least the conductor didn't look angry. “Talk to the man at the ticket counter. He'll help you.”

He held my hand and helped me get off the train. I couldn't believe my eyes when I stepped onto the platform. Everything around me was made of candy. The platform was chocolate. The building was gingerbread, with a roof made of pastel Neccos. The trees looked like real trees, but their leaves were fluffy, like green cotton candy. The train tracks were gingerbread, too, and the metal lines were thick licorice ropes. It was all I could do to not break off a piece of the train station like Hansel and Gretel.

“Sir?” I went up to the ticket counter. “Can you tell me when the next train is to Philadelphia?”

I was really surprised when the old man popped up...and he looked just like the conductor! Same blue eyes, same gray beard. Only his hair was neatly clipped and under a shiny visor, and he wore a tight blue vest and pocket watch over a snow-white shirt instead of a jacket. “Philadelphia?” He opened up a map that was so long, it trailed on the floor. “Nope, never heard of that city.”

“But I have to get to Philadelphia!” My lips started to trembled. I really didn't want to cry right now, so I bit my lip to stop it. “My brother's in big trouble, and I have to tell somebody!”

His pink lips turned down, and he looked genuinely sad to me. “You seem like a good girl. Not many children would want to help their brother like that.” He pointed to the street. “Talk to Mother Leia Goose. She's helping everyone get ready for the Christmas Festival tonight. When you get there, take the left path. If Mother Goose can't help you, maybe one of her apprentices can.”

“Oh, thank you, sir!” I waved as I went off the platform. “Bye! Thanks again!” He was still waving at me as I stepped onto the street.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Everything around me was either made of candy, or was something out of a book of nursery rhymes or fairy tales, or both. The houses that were gingerbread or cake were little cottages with Necco roofs, or they were giant shoes or barns or made of straw or sticks or bricks. One shop was a giant pie, with a bored-looking young man leaning against a counter stacked with all kinds of pies. Another shop was a giant teapot. Several buildings were made to look like Spanish adobe homes; others had onion-shaped domes, like in Arabian Knights stories, or were triangular houses from Heidi. Everyone was dressed the same as the people in the train, in bright-colored costumes out of Fairie Tale Theatre. I expected Shelly Duvall to come out and introduce tonight's story any minute!

I followed the hard candy cobblestone road from the train station into town. There was a busy square that reminded me a lot of Market Street. The gingerbread buildings here were much bigger, and people walked to and fro, carrying bags and buying fruit and nuts from push-cart vendors in the street. Others sold pretty dresses or food or nuts or books at booths covered with brightly striped tents. I hoped one of those men sold soft pretzels. My tummy rumbled as I passed on.

The tallest Christmas tree I'd ever seen towered over everything. There were green garlands with pink ribbons and big wreaths made of gumdrops on all the street signs. People were putting up decorations or helping an older woman in a tall pointy hat and dark purple dress hang wreaths and holly on doors.

“Hello? May I help you?” I jumped and turned around. A pretty girl stood behind me, her brown hair pulled back into three buns held with ribbons and flowers. Her green dress had flowers on it, too, in reds and yellows. She wore it over a ruffly white blouse with puffy sleeves, tied in front with tight red ribbons, with a black fabric band around one arm. A wicker basket filled with pretty flowers dangled from one arm. Her apron was bright yellow with tiny red flowers on it. “Are you all right, little girl?”

“Uh, hi.” I gave her a smile. “I hope you don't mind me being here! I'm looking for Mother Goose. Are you Mother Goose? You don't look like the lady in my little sister's books.”

The girl laughed. She had a nice laugh, very sweet and warm. “No, I'm not Mother Goose. My name is Rey Quite Contrary. I take care of the Cockleshell Gardens around Goose Manor. What's yours, little miss?”

I put out my hand. “I'm Barbara Beatrix Dameron, but you can call me BB.” When she just stared at my hand, I grabbed it and shook it. “That's what we do when you meet someone new in Philadelphia.”

“All right, BB,” Rey gave my hand a firm shake. “Why do you wish to see Mother Goose?”

“I need to get home,” I began, “and the man at the ticket counter told me Mother Goose might be able to help.”

She smiled, a wide, warm smile...and one that was very familiar. I knew that smile. “Come on. I'll take you to see her.”

“Miss Rey,” I asked, “why do you have that black band? It doesn't go with your dress.”

Rey's sweet smile dropped into a sad frown. “We're wearing arm bands because Mother Leia Goose's husband, Han Shaftoe, was lost at sea a few weeks ago.”

“Oh!” I saw the tears in Rey's eyes. “I'm so sorry. Was he your Papa?”

“He wasn't my real father,” the girl said softly, “but he was like a father to me. He's the one who offered me this job. I used to work for a mean old man who owned a junk yard, but Han Shaftoe found me and took me away from that.” She pulled out a lacy white cloth and wiped her eyes. “I guess I'm not quite over it yet.” She smiled again, but it didn't look as real. “Mother Goose has been working so hard, trying to make everything perfect for our Christmas Festival and Santa's arrival. I think she could use the distraction.”

“Is she like the president?” I asked as I followed her down the chocolate brick path.

“I don't know what a 'president' is, but she and the Toymaker are in charge of Toyland Town.” Rey lead me to the front of the house. “They own the Toyland Toy Factory down the road, too. It used to belong to them and Han Shaftoe, but no one knows what will happen to Han's share now that he's gone.”

My eyes got big as Rey brought me to the lady in the tall hat. It was Miss Leia! She wore a dark purple velvet dress and had the black arm band and gold-rimmed glasses, and there were white frills under her tall purple hat and white roses and ribbons on the brim. Otherwise, it was the same lady who was my brother's boss! She even had the same gray hair in braids around her head and big brown eyes.

“All right, boys, that should be enough.” She was reading over a list that was so long, it stretched to the ground. “Hello there, Rey Quite Contrary!” She looked down at me and smiled. “Well there, what's your name?”

“I'm Barbara Beatrix Dameron,” I told her, standing up as straight as I could. After all, she was Mother Goose, and a very important grown-up. “But everyone calls me BB. I need to get home to Philadelphia. The ticket seller said you might know how.”

“Well, BB, why don't we talk to my brother, the Toymaker?” Mother Goose smiled. She had a nice, gentle smile, just like Miss Leia's. “He knows Santa personally. You might be able to get a ride home on his sleigh.”

“Santa?” I gasped. “You mean, he's really real? Some of the kids at school said there's no Santa. I knew they were just trying to be cool!”

“I don't know what Santa has to do with cooling off,” Mother Leia admitted, “but he's as real as you and me.”

“That should be it.” My eyes got even wider when Rey's friend Finn dropped down from a post. He was exactly the same, only he wore a white blouse with a long gold vest and tight brown trousers and high, soft black boots and the same black arm band. “I just tied the last bow, Mother Goose. I sure hope Santa appreciates what we're doing here.”

“I think he will, Finn!” I insisted. “I love your decorations! It's even prettier than my parents' house. They have lights on the windows and on the railing on our steps, and a big wreath on the door with a red bow. Did you do this all by yourself?”

“Nope!” He nodded at another young man in a striped suit with short pants and a white shirt with a bow. His black band could just be seen behind the wreath he was hanging. “Little Snap Horner helped me, before he has to deliver his Christmas Plum Pie.” The young, dark-skinned man looked down at me with a frown. “How do you know my name, miss?”

“You, uh, look like a friend of brother's,” I explained quickly.

“Actually, my name is Finn Be Nimble.” He grinned. “Watch this.” He ran hard...and jumped right over two big wooden candlesticks that were set up on either side of the entrance to a park. “Now you know why they call me that, miss.”

“I'm BB,” I told him. “It's nice to meet you.” I put out my hand. He caught on quicker than Rey and pumped it so hard, it was kind of sore when he let it go.

“Finn, don't hurt the poor child.” Mother Leia chuckled. “Don't mind him. He likes to show off.”

“Mother Goose!” The girl who hurried over looked like a real old-fashioned shepherdess from my sister's nursery rhyme books. A floppy pink flower-print bonnet was pulled over her golden ringlets. She wore a pink flowered dress over a frilly green skirt with lacy pantalettes peeking out and waved a long crook trimmed with pink and green ribbons. “My sheep are gone! I can't find them anywhere!”

Mother Goose just sighed. “Never mind, Kaydel Bo Peep. We'll find your sheep. This is the sixth time they've wandered off this week!”

Rey nodded. “You know how it goes. When they're ready to, they'll come home to you, wagging their tails behind them.”

“But that's just it!” Poor Kaydel wiped her hands at her teary brown eyes. “They're not in the hillside, or in the Mint Sugar Woods, or in the Cockleshell Gardens or the Sheep's Meadow. They're not in any of the usual places. If Mr. Barnaby finds out, I'll lose my job!”

Mother Leia rubbed her head. “I don't have time for this. There's still so much to do for the Festival, and I need to talk to my brother.”

Little Snap Horner had been giving Kaydel a kind of goofy, happy look. “I'd love to help Kaydel Bo Peep find her flock.” He kissed her hand, and she smiled and turned all red. “After all, I've helped her before.”

“Thank you, Snap.” Mother Goose rolled up her very long list and tucked it under her arm. “If they're still missing later, we'll help you look for them.” She took my hand. “For now, we're going to take this young lady to visit my brother at our toy factory.”

“I hope her sheep are all right.” We crossed the busy square and followed a long row of gingerbread houses down an increasingly worn hard candy cobblestone street. “She was awfully upset.”

“Oh, she's always losing her sheep. Can't keep track of them, really.” Rey Quite Contrary rolled her eyes. “She's just scared of Barnaby Snoke.”

There was something in Rey's voice that made me think he wasn't a nice man. “Who's he?”

“Barnaby Snoke owns most of the businesses in town, and many businesses elsewhere in Toyland.” Finn shivered. “I used to work for him, but I didn't like how he treats his employees like they belong to him, or how he'll let the Knights of Ren destroy any businesses that won't sell out to him.”

“Sounds like a fun guy,” I muttered. “The last name sounds familiar...and I didn't like that guy, either.”

Mother Leia's face fell when Finn mentioned the Knights of Ren. Rey elbowed him. “Finn, you know we're not supposed to talk about the Knights of Ren around Mother Goose, because of...him.”

“It's all right, children.” Leia gave me a shaky smile as we came up to a heavy old iron gate. “Come on, little one. Let's meet my brother.”

A tall man in a gold uniform stood on one side. He wore the black arm band on one sleeve and had dark hair. The other sleeve was dark red wool and totally didn't match the rest of his shiny outfit. “Hello, Mother Goose,” he said, saluting her. “Come to oversee operations?”

“She's probably visiting our Master.” The other guard at the door was short, even shorter than me, but he was much older, with gray hair and a lined face. I liked his big grin, though. His uniform was white and blue and not as fancy as his friend's. “He should be upstairs in his office. Poe the Piper Son's been wanting to talk to you, too. Something about a new type of toy soldier.”

“Thank you Arthur, Cecil. We'll talk to Poe first thing when we get in.” Mother Leia patted my shoulder. “This is BB. She needs to talk to Toymaster Luke.”

“Hi there!” I smiled at them. “It's nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too, kid,” said Arthur with his big grin.

“Isn't it most inappropriate to have children see the toys before Christmas?” Cecil complained.

“We won't let her see any of her gifts.” Mother Goose patted Cecil on the shoulder. “We'll be fine.” Arthur opened the gate for us, and we all went inside the heavy old chocolate doors.

The factory was the biggest place I'd ever seen. It didn't look at all like the old factories I'd seen in Philadelphia. It was all pink and blue, with lots of towers like what Rapunzel lives in, and peppermint drops lining the sides. Smoke puffed out of three different stacks. The roofs were outlined with fluffy pink ribbons like giant ropes of icing.

The machines inside were even bigger. They reached to the ceiling, towering over everybody. Pigs, bears, people, dolls, and tiny mice all worked on painting smiles on dolls, putting limbs on action figures, and playing catch with new bright red balls. Sparks flew from some of the bigger machines. Grinding noises and the chatter of people and animals talking as they worked filled the room.

“Mother Goose!” My jaw probably landed on the floor as my brother bounced over. At least, it looked like my brother. He was small and very good-looking, with shiny, curly black hair like mine, big brown eyes, and fuzz on his brown cheeks. “I'm so glad to see you!” He pulled a clipboard out of the pockets of his big blue apron. “We're just about done with the dolls and the tops, but we still need more Play Dough and teddy bears.” He looked more like a pirate than a toy maker, with long, loose black pants, a wide red belt around his waist, a loose white shirt, and an orange vest with big gold buttons under the apron.

I tugged at his sleeve. “Excuse me, sir, but is your name Poe?”

“Why yes, it is.” Even his smile was the same as my brother's. I noticed Rey blush the same color as the ribbons in her hair and dress behind me when he smiled. He bowed low before me. “Poe the Piper's Son, little one. How can I help you?”

“I need to find the Toymaker.” My voice sounded worried. I couldn't help myself. “He might know how to get me to Santa, so I can get home to Philadelphia.”

“Of course, he knows Santa! We all do!” Poe grinned. “Why, I know Santa personally! And the Toymaker is my dear friend.” He turned to Leia. “He's been asking for you, Mother Goose. Snoke is up there now.” He scrunched up his eyebrows like he does when my brother's wondering something. “Sir Kylo Ren isn't with him, though. I wonder where that scoundrel is? He's usually where Barnaby is.”

Rey made a face. “What does he want this time? Is he still after the Toy Factory?”

I frowned as we climbed the long white chocolate steps, surrounded by shiny wrought-iron railings. “Who's Barnaby Snoke, and what would he want the Toy Factory for?”

“Barnaby Snoke is the Crooked Man, who lives at the Crooked Castle on the end of Crooked Lane.” Mother Leia's face looked very sad. “Sir Kylo Ren is the black knight. He never takes off his helmet when anyone's around. No one has ever seen what he looks like.”

“Maybe he's ugly,” snorted Finn, “and he doesn't want anyone to know it.”

I didn't know if he was ugly, but Barnaby Snoke sure was. I thought he was even scarier than Mr. Snoke at Skwalker's. He wore an all black suit with a shiny top hat and a flowing cape. He really looked like Dracula from the old movies. I wanted to ask him to open his mouth so I could see his pointy teeth.

“Mother Goose, please talk some sense into this man,” Mr. Snoke complained loudly. “This place is no longer necessary in today's world. Children don't play with toy soldiers and tops and dolls. They want video games about war and violence. This building would do excellently as a training ground for the Knights of Ren and a manufacturing plant for their swords and guns.”

“No!” Poe shouted. “What about the people and animals who work here? They could lose their jobs! And who will help Santa and his elves with the Christmas rush? And what about those disappointed children who won't receive presents on Christmas morning?”

“Yeah!” I added. “Not everyone likes noisy video games. Mama won't let me play the really loud war ones, like Rambo. She says they're too violent and mean.”

Barnaby gave me that same “you are gross” look that Mr. Snoke gave me. “What is that little girl doing here?”

“She has every right to be here!” Rey put a hand on my shoulder. “She's with us.”

“Mr. Barnaby,” Mother Leia began, “we'll get through the inventory somehow. I know we can. We've almost finished our entire order. We just need a few more hours...”

“No! No more excuses.” Mr. Barnaby glared at her. “The rent on this factory is due tonight. If you can't meet it, the factory will close.”

“But sir...” The older man behind him finally jumped out of his chair. “We can't make that much money in one night!” He looked a lot like Mr. Luke Weston, only he wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and black arm bands around them, a big old blue striped apron, and blue pants that were covered in sawdust. His hair was much longer than Mr. Luke's, all the way down to his shoulders, and he had a thicker beard, too. Come to think of it, he looked a lot like the conductor and ticket man.

“Oh yes, we can!” My bro...Poe the Piper's Son whipped out a clipboard made of gingerbread and candy canes. “If we ask a few people without families to work overtime, maybe speed up production of the teddy bears, move some of the workers making the Lite Brites to the Little People, we might be able to pull it off.”

Mother Leia put her arms around Luke the Toymaker. “We'll make that deadline, Barnaby. We'll pay your rent. I wouldn't sell you this toy factory for all the video games in Japan.”

“Very well, Mother Goose.” I made a face as I saw Barnaby pull her aside. “My offer of marriage still stands. If you consider becoming my bride, I'll forget about that mortgage.”

“Never!” Leia pulled back. “I'd never marry you! Not even to save the factory.”

“I think you had better go.” Mr. Wes...the Toymaker sat back down again. “We have so much to do, and very little time to do it in.”

“Very well.” Barnaby looked at a big clock in the room. It was made out of cheese, the kind that has holes in it. “Midnight tonight, Mother Goose and Mr. Toymaker. Pay me, or out you go!”

I frowned from next to Rey as he stormed off. “They wouldn't really throw you out, would they, Mother Goose?”

“I'm afraid Barnaby might try something like that.” Mother Goose twisted a purple handkerchief with a goose sewn on it. “Maybe I ought to marry him. It'll get him off our backs, if nothing else.”

“Don't do that!” I made a face. “Why marry him if you don't like him?”

“She's right.” Mr. Toymaker squeezed her shoulder. “It'll be all right. We'll find a way.”

Rey put her arm around me. “Mr. Toymaker, this young lady has something she needs to ask you.”

“Uh, Mr. Toymaker, sir,” I began, standing up straighter. He was a really important grown-up, after all. “I don't know how I got here. I'm from Philadelphia. That's in the United States. I have to get home soon. My brother might get into trouble if I don't, and my mama and papa are having a party tonight and I don't want to miss it.”

“We'll get you home, little one.” Mr. Toymaker smiled at me. His smile was just as nice as Mr. Luke's. “But right now, I need to work on new toy ideas.”

“Do you make She-Ra toys?” I grinned. “I love She-Ra! And Jem and the Holograms. Oh, and Thundercats, too. I like Lion-O. He has eyes that light up when you push a thing into his back.”

He laughed. His laugh was sort of high, and almost kind of scary for someone so nice. He reminded me of the Joker on the funny old Batman show with all the “pows” and “zonks.” “You bet we make all those toys! We make toy soldiers, too, and tops, and dolls, and just about everything you can imagine.” He took a toy soldier in a bright red and gold uniform out of his desk. “But most of all, we make dreams. We help kids imagine a whole new world, and maybe forget their troubles for a while. Some grown-ups like our toys, too. Many adults have begun to collect toys, or have toys from when they were children that they still love.”

I went right over to him and gave him a hug. “Barnaby's an old meanie. You matter to me. Video games are fun, but so are my She-Ra and Barbie dolls. I can't make a video game pretend to sing along with a cassette or use them to turn our table in the living room into the Whispering Woods.”

Poe grinned. “I like the way you think, little one. That's what we've been telling him.”

“That's right.” Finn added. “Hey, why don't we show her the rest of the factory?”

“Really?” Now I was excited! “Can I see where they make the She-Ra dolls?”

“Sure!” Poe took my hand. “Stay with me, though. We may make toys, but the machines aren't to play with. They can really hurt you if you're not careful.”

Rey smiled up at him. “We'll work on new ideas together. I don't want the factory to close.” Poe gave her that same goofy look my brother gives Rey at home. He just sort of stared at her, smiling...and he wasn't moving.

I tugged at him. “Come on! Let's go see She-Ra!”

The grown-ups all laughed. Poe shook his head like he'd been dreaming. “Oh, well, yes. Let's go see the dolls.”

Poe and Mother Goose and Finn and Rey took me all over the factory. I got to see how they attached all the action figures' limbs so they stay on. I saw pigs stuff teddy bears with fluffy cotton and tie ribbons around their necks. Long conveyor belts and baskets over my head whisked finished toys to the wrapping room. People wrapped all the toys in fancy paper and lots of shiny ribbons and bows. I like presents with a lot of curly ribbon and bows on them. It's so much fancier than just paper.

We'd just gotten back to the front of the factory when the doors burst open. Everyone stepped back, and I put my hands over my ears as a bunch of people in black armor clanked in. They were really, really loud! If they were supposed to slay dragons, the noise they made would probably end up scaring it off before they could stick their swords in. They all carried swords and big guns with silvery handles.

“We are the Knights of Ren,” said the tallest. He kept his armor over his face, but I knew his voice. “We have come to make sure you keep up your end of the bargain, Mother Goose.” He put out his sword. “Either you pay what you owe, or we destroy this factory.”

Mother Goose put her hands on her hips. “You can't threaten us, Sir Kylo Ren.”

“Watch me.” The knights leaped onto all of the machines, trying to cut them with their swords. People screamed. Some ran away. Others hit them with their tools. Bears grabbed them and tossed them away. Bunnies ran under them, then leaped on their heads and knocked them over.

Rey grabbed a long pipe from a broken machine and held it up like a sword, just as Sir Kylo Ren came at her. But instead of attacking her, he pulled her into his arms. “You're beautiful.” His voice came out all raspy under the helmet. “I want you to come away with me. You could work for Barnaby in his bank or offices and be my lady knight forever.”

“No!” Rey shoved him away and held the pipe out. “I'll do no such thing, Kylo Ren. You're just a toady for Barnaby. I'll never join you!”

“You don't know what you're saying, Rey Quite Contrary.” He pulled out a long sword made of bright red metal. They dueled like He-Man and Skeletor, or Robin Hood and Prince John on Showtime.

“Psst!” Poe leaned over and grinned at me. “I know how to get rid of these guys.”

“You do?” I looked up hopefully at him. “Can I help?”

“Sure!” He grabbed my hand. “Come on!”

Finn hurried after us. “Where are you two going? The fight's in the main hall.”

“But our new security guards are in here.” Poe lead us through long, twisting hallways to the back of the factory. “Help me open these.” He and Finn shoved open the widest doors I'd ever seen. They were made of foil-wrapped chocolate, and took my bro...Poe and Finn a few minutes to open. I finally helped to, pushing on Poe's side. They were really heavy! Like moving a thousand pounds of chocolate.

The room was huge, bigger than Veteran's Stadium in South Philly. All the Philadelphia sports teams could have easily played at the same time. Every corner of the room was filled to the brim with boxes and crates of toys. I'd never seen so many toys! Even Skywalker's Department Store didn't have this many toys. Santa probably didn't have this many.

“Rosie Grumio!” A girl was leaning over the leg of a giant toy soldier who was twice as tall as she was. She was a cute little Asian girl in a yellow blouse with wide sleeves, a blue apron, and tight brown trousers. Her black boots were old and cracked and went up to her hip. Her hair was in a funny style that stuck out on either side of her face. “Rosie, we need your help! Are you finished with the new toy soldiers yet?”

“Just got the screws on the last one tightened.” She pulled her wrench one more time before moving away. “There! All done. What do you need them for, anyway?”

“We need security.” Poe ran around the back of the soldier and twisted a giant key. “Sir Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren are attacking the front entrance! The soldiers may be able to help.”

“How?” I asked. “They're just toys.”

“You'll see when they're moving.” Poe pulled me out of the way as the one he was winding up started marching out the door.

We all ran around, turning the keys to every giant toy soldier in the room. I had to stand on my tip-toes to reach them, but I did. Poe showed me how to turn on remote controlled airplanes and tanks that could shoot marbles. Finn set off boats that squirted water. I turned on the big remote control trucks, like the ones my brother gave me when he got to old for them.

“Here!” Rosie tossed wrenches and screwdrivers to Finn and Poe and took a wrench for herself. “They aren't swords, but they'll have to do.”

I poked through the tool box. “Can I have a sword, like She-Ra?”

“Sorry, miss. You're too young.” Poe pushed me behind him. “Stay here. I don't want you getting hurt.”

My lip got all trembly. “But I want to help!”

“You can help by making sure the toy soldiers stay wound,” Poe insisted. “If the keys wind down, they'll stop, and the Knights will be able to take them out.”

The soldiers crashed right into those knights! You should have seen them. The Knights weren't expecting to be attacked by huge toys as big as they were. The Knights were so surprised, all the workers were able to hit them with their tools and make them drop their swords.

I ran under legs and between people, watching out for sharp, pointy swords and knives. I tried to wind up all the toy soldiers, but I couldn't always reach them, and they kept moving around. Rosie, Finn, and Mother Leia Goose helped me.

I had just wound up one of the toy soldiers again when I saw Rey fighting with Sir Kylo Ren. He had her up against the conveyor belt and looked like he was going to slice her head off! “Oh no!” I yelled. “Rey, watch out!”

Kylo Ren wasn't expecting me to run under his legs and stomp on his toes. That allowed Rey to push him aside. She'd just gotten him on the floor when Poe ran over. I jumped up and down and cheered her on. Rey was almost as tough as She-Ra!

Mother Goose and the Toymaker followed. “Sir Kylo Ren,” Mother Goose snapped, “I thought you said you quit your job at the toy factory.”

“I got a better job.” Two of the toy soldiers dragged the tall, skinny man in black armor to his feet. “My men and I are working for Barnaby now. He has wonderful plans for this factory, Mother! We'll be the biggest military might in the entire world!”

“We're not a military power, Nephew.” Mr. Toymaker frowned. “We just make toys.”

Mother Goose glared up at Sir Kylo Ren. “Go back to Barnaby. Tell him he'll never get his hands on this place. Not as long as we're alive.”

“So there!” I added.

“You may think you've gotten rid of us,” Kylo Ren snarled as the toy soldiers shoved him out, “but this isn't the end. And you, Rey,” his voice got a little gentler, “my offer of marriage stands.”

Rey's glare was almost as cold as Mother Goose's. “I'd rather marry a piece of wood!”

“Good work, all of you.” Mother Goose leaned down. “Especially you, little miss. I think we all deserve a treat after that.”

“Can we get some ice cream?” I asked. “I'm really hungry!”

“You go on ahead.” The Toymaker, a bear, and an older lady with lavender hair in a soft pale yellow dress helped him set up one of the toy soldiers back up after it had wound down. Other workers were sweeping up broken parts, fixing machines, or returning to their jobs.

“Maybe I should help...” Rosie started.

Finn took her hand. “Why don't you come with us? Take a break. It could be fun.”

Poe took Rey's hand. “That's right. We'll get Sugar Plum Pie and eggnog ice cream from Simple Simon's pie stand downtown.”

Rey's smile was sort of gushy. Her eyes practically had hearts in them. “I'd like that.”

“I'll come, too. I need to see to the remaining decorations downtown.” She gave me her nice, warm smile. “Would you like to stay with me for a while? It's been so long since I've taken care of a child. I write rhymes for them, but I don't often get to be with them. I'm too busy.”

“Ok.” I took her hand. “But only until I can go home with Santa.”

We went back into the town square, which was busier than ever with people putting up wreaths on their houses or setting trash cans up that the Knights of Ren probably just knocked down. “Who were those men?” I asked Mother Goose. “Why did they want to hurt you?”

“They're evil black knights who work for whichever bad person will pay them more.” Mother Goose's pretty face looked very sad. “One of them is my son, or was. He decided we didn't listen to him at the factory enough and became a knight instead.”

“Why?” I didn't like the sound of that. “If he's your son, you must love him.”

“I do.” Mother Goose sighed. “But sometimes, I get so busy with work, and Luke with his toys, and Han...well, he used to be busy with his ship the Falcon. We didn't have the time to tell him we love him as often as we should have.”

“Then if you really love him,” I told her, “you should say it to him every day.”

“I try to, but he doesn't listen.” Mother Goose watched Poe and Rey as they walked hand in hand, and Finn and Rose as they chatted. “That's why I try to help the other young people in town. I know I went wrong with my son, but I can help others.”

“Maybe you can help you son, too.” I tried to smile for her. “If he's your son, he must still love you, too. My papa and Poe argue a lot. Poe wants to be a big businessman and not work in our book store. But they still love each other.”

Even as I said that, I leaned over a little, trying to hear what Rey and Poe were saying. It must have been pretty funny. Rey giggled, and Poe had that goofy grin again. They were both turning red as holly berries. Finn and Rose were even redder. They weren't holding hands like the other two, but they were talking a lot.

Simple Simon's pie stand was the giant pie right off the main square. The little man with the long mouse-like nose and greasy black hair from Skywalker's Department Store stood behind the counter, looking bored. Snap and Kaydel Bo Peep were there, too. Kaydel was still really upset. She dabbed at her big brown eyes with a bit of lacy fabric.

“It'll be all right, Kay,” Snap was saying as the little man gave them slices of pie. “Your sheep will come back.”

“Hi, everyone!” Poe waved to them as we all came up to the counter. “Still can't find those sheep?”

“We've looked everywhere!” wailed poor Kaydel. “They're not on the hillside, or in the woods, or in the Sheep's Meadow, or in town.”

“Asked around, too.” Snap shrugged between bites of crusty, soft purple pie. “No one has seen them.”

“We'll help you look for them as soon as we have lunch.” Leia went up to the counter. “Simon Mitaka, we'll have six slices of your best Sugar Plum Pie with eggnog ice cream for all of my friends here.”

My mouth dropped open. “Simple” Simon was Mitaka, the little accountant guy! He had the same twitchy nose and beady eyes. If anything, he looked even more like a mouse in his white apron smeared with purple juice and tall chef's hat. “Here you go, Mother Goose,” he said in a little squeaky voice. “This is the best Sugar Plum Pie I ever made, if I do say so myself.”

Snap got Kaydel calmed down, and we all sat at tables and had our snack. While we ate, the townspeople practiced singing for Santa when he arrived that night. I laughed as Poe pulled Rey out to join the dancers. They all sang “Hail to Christmas” and danced in unison, swirling around in their colorful stripes and and flowered dresses and flowing pirate shirts. Snap finally pulled Kaydel into the dance to cheer her up, and Finn tugged a blushing Rosie out.

“Why don't we dance?” Mother Goose laughed and pulled me out as I finished my yummy pie.

“Ooh, sure! I'd love to!” I bowed for Mother Goose the way the dancers did for their partners. We didn't quite swirl as well as they did, but we had fun.

I watched Poe and Rey out of the corner of my eye. They really did dance very well. Poe always was a good dancer. He loves taking his dates out to dance at clubs in Philadelphia. He's a good singer, too, and he's good at playing the guitar. I've told him a hundred times that he, Rey, and Finn should start a band, or at least sing in clubs.

The song ended with all of the dancers in each other's arms. Poe had dipped Rey down. They were both breathing hard, and their eyes were...kind of soft. Like they weren't seeing anyone else but them. I pushed away from Mother Goose as they got closer.

They were just about to kiss each other when two people rushed in, yelling at each other at the top of their lungs. One was Hux, the lawyer in the store. I'd know his orange hair anywhere, even if a lot of it was wrapped with brown paper. The girl next to him was that tall lady, Phasma. She was huge even without the big shoulders. They wore blue, white, and silver outfits, only Hux wore tight pants and high boots, and Phasma had the same ruffly, fluffy floral skirt with a flowery apron as the other girls.

“Mother Goose,” Phasma growled, “we found them!”

“And I wish we hadn't.” Hux rubbed his head. “What a headache! I think I broke my crown!”

Mother Goose rolled her eyes. “Jack and Jill, did you fall down Mint Chocolate Hill fetching water for the factory again? This is the third time this week!”

“It's not like we meant to!” Hux groaned. “That rock shouldn't have been there!”

Phasma somehow managed to look down at him, even though he was almost as tall as she was. “You're just a clumsy oaf!”

“Well, if you hadn't fallen over me,” the red-haired man grumbled, “we both wouldn't had gone down.”

Mother Goose got in between them. “You were just about to tell us something.”

Phasma coughed. “Oh yes. We saw Kaydel Bo Peep's lost sheep.”

Kaydel almost leaped up from the green-painted tables. “You did? Where are they? If Barnaby finds out they're gone, I'll be out of work!”

Phasma smirked. “They were stolen by Sir Kylo Ren and his men and taken to the Forest of No Return.”

“I knew it!” I made a face. “I knew he was a big bad guy! Just like Hordak and Mantenna!”

Rey narrowed her eyes. “That's enough for me. Let's go get that nasty Kylo Ren!”

“No!” Mother Leia got between the kids, waving her hands. “We have to be organized. We don't know if they were really the ones who stole the sheep.”

Rose made a face. “Who else would do it?”

Finn nodded. “I know Sir Kylo Ren. I worked for Barnaby for a few years, before I got tired of the way he treats people and quit. He'd steal the sheep and sell them to gypsies or something, just to cause trouble.”

“I don't know.” Poe shook his head. “Sir Kylo Ren used to be a nice man, once upon a time. He wasn't always this mean.”

“We saw them wandering around in one of the back roads when we fell down the hill.” Hux winced as he touched the back of his head. “We were going to go after them, but they ran off.”

“We have to find them,” wailed poor Kaydel. “My babies!”

“We need to form two search parties.” Mother Goose started. “Poe, you, Rey, Jack, Jill, and Kaydel search the area near the Parched Mountains. Snap, Finn, and Rose, stay closer to Mint Chocolate Hill and the Sheep's Meadow. They may try to find their way home. I'll stay here and await your news. I have work to do with Luke in the factory.”

“What about me?” I tugged at Mother Goose's sleeve. “Can I help?”

“As long as you stay here with us,” Poe said. “No wandering off. You don't know these woods well.”

“All right.” I took his hand. “And I'll only do it until Santa comes, because I have to go home then.”