Babes In WENNLand, Part 2

They hurried down the hallway to Mr. Sherwood's office. He wasn't there. “Mr. Sherwood?” Lisa peered in. “Mr. Sherwood?”

Alan shrugged. “Well, if he's Amazon Andy, maybe he's out saving the world.”

“I only wish I was Amazon Andy.” Mr. Sherwood came in from behind them. “I just talked to Miss Roberts and Mr. Bloom, one of our actors. They're going to start taking down the Christmas decorations as soon as we finish the prime-time action shows.” He sighed. “Why don't I take you kids to see that show? It may be the last chance you get. I checked on your grandpa in the Green Room. He's still napping.”

“Mr. Sherwood?” Lisa tugged on his sleeve. “We have something important to tell you...”

“Tell me in the control room, ok gang?” Scott started moving them toward a door near the end of the hall.

“Oh!” Lisa finally handed him Miss Betty's brown shoe. “Could you give this to Miss Betty? She lost it in the Green Room.”

He grinned. “Thanks, kids. I'd love to have the chance to play Prince Charming for our own Cinderella.”

“You're welcome, Mr. Sherwood.” Lisa liked being able to help the adults. “Mr. Sherwood, if you'd just listen for a minute...”

Scott waved his hand as they entered a narrow room with a wide window on one side. “You can tell me later, after the show.” They could see Miss Booth, Mr. Jeffrey, Miss Maple, Mr. Gil, a small, slender man with a thin mustache like the private eye's, and a short, balding fellow with a thick mustache and round spectacles reading from papers.

“Oh boy!” Alan grinned at the small young man who sat behind a whole row of nothing but computer controls, like something out of the Flash Gordon serials. “Which guy is 'Amazon Andy?'”

The young man with the sad brown eyes and the cleft in his chin nodded. “Hi there, kids. I'm C.J, the station technician. I'm in charge of all the controls and making sure the transmitters are always working.” He gave them a sweet, wide grin. “Let me tell you a secret. 'Amazon Andy' is the day name for Mr. Mackie Bloom over there.” He pointed to the little man with the glasses. “Amazon Andy is his night name.”

Alan frowned. “He doesn't look like a superhero. He's the guy who played Santa when they all stopped arguin'.”

“'ArguinG, Alan.” Lisa sighed. “It doesn't matter what he looks like. Amazon Andy isn't real anyway.”

She liked “Amazon Andy” when she was younger, but now that she was almost grown-up, it seemed kind of silly. Real people didn't run all over the world, having adventures and finding treasures. That was kid stuff. Real people helped their mothers take care of the house and their brothers. They listened to their mom cry in the night because she might not be able to pay the rent.

Mr. Sherwood looked at his watch again. “Why don't I take you kids back to the Green Room and your grandfather? The show is just about over, and your mother should be here any minute.”

Lisa frowned. “Mr. Sherwood, Alan and I will be fine on our own. We take care of each other all the time. We're not babies.”

“Well, all right. Just don't touch anything, and don't go in any doors but the one to the Green Room.”

“Aw, we'll be great!” Alan grabbed Lisa's hand. “Come on! Let's go see if Grandpa Tom is up yet. I want to hear the rest of his story.”

They followed Mr. Sherwood out to the hallway. He went in his office. Lisa was about to follow him and try to tell him about the men again when she saw Alan dart down the hall. He stopped before a door. The sign said “Studio B.”

“Alan!” Lisa ran over to him. “We're not supposed to go anywhere but the Green Room! What are you doing? We could get into trouble!”

“Aw, we won't get into trouble.” Alan had his ear to the door. “I hear something. I think it's music, but I don't know what kind.”

“Alan, it's probably a show.” She tried to pull him away. “Let's go, before the adults see us. Mother should be here any minute!”

Alan pushed her away. “Ever since Mother started letting you help more with the chores n' stuff, you've been no fun. All you ever do is try to be Miss Proper and act like a grown up. I'm tired of you saying I'm a baby. I'm going to have an adventure like Amazon Andy, and I don't care if it's what kids do!” He opened the door and stomped in the room.

“Alan!” Lisa looked around fast. Seeing no one in the hall, she opened the door and darted in.

It was so dark in Studio B, she couldn't see anything. She couldn't see Alan. She couldn't see her hands in front of her face. “Alan? Alan, where are you?”

Suddenly, she felt something creep up behind her and grab her arm. “BOO!”

“Eeek!” She jumped a mile before she realized whose voice that was. “Alan, that wasn't funny!”

She couldn't see Alan, but she could hear his laughter. “You should have heard your voice! I wish I could have seen your face. I'll bet it was funny!”

“It isn't funny.” She sat down. “I wish Mother was here. I'm scared. I don't know the way out.”

Alan sat next to her. “Aw, come on, sis.” They leaned against what felt like two wooden chairs. “This is probably just another studio or a storage room. We'll get out soon.”

Lisa yawned. “Maybe we should just rest for a few minutes. They won't miss us. They're all on the air, or napping too. We'll be awake by the time Mother arrives.”

“I'm not tired.” Even as Alan said that, he broke into a huge yawn. “Besides, it's not...” He yawned again. “...bedtime yet.”

She put her arm around the outline of her brother. “Just a few minutes, ok?”

“Ok.” She could already feel his breathing soften. His mop of flyaway blond strands finally fell against her head. “Night, sis.”

“Night, Alan.” She leaned against him. It was a little chilly in Studio B. She thought she felt a draft coming from somewhere. She pulled her brother closer to her for warmth.

I wish Mother would come, she thought as she closed her eyes. I'm so worried about everything. Mother...Mr. Sherwood...Alan...Miss Betty...Miss Maple...the station...no more shows...mean Mr. Pruitt...Mr. Eldridge...Toyland...

Her eyes were only closed for a few minutes when she heard someone walk past them. The slow, shuffling steps were familiar. She heard something knock over, and the familiar voice of a somewhat befuddled old man. “How did that chair get there? They don't usually get up and walk on their own!”

She knew that voice. Her eyes flew open. “Grandpa Tom?” She looked around. She thought she saw his outline in the dark room. “Grandpa?”

“Child?” He shuffled over to them. “Why, what are you doing here?”

“Huh?” Alan raised his head. “What's goin' on?”

“GoinG on, Alan.” She looked up at what little she could see of the older man in the dark. The spectacles and white hair seemed to glow against the blackness. He still wore his same sweater, bow tie, and suspenders, but she could have sworn there was some kind of strange belt around his waist. “Grandpa? What are you doing here?”

“Why, I'm going to Toyland, little one. It's so busy at this time of year, and there's so much to do!” He nodded into the darkness.

Lisa helped Alan to his feet. “But there is no such place, Grandpa.” Sometimes, she thought Mother was right and Grandpa was getting a little senile in his old age.

“Of course there is!” Grandpa Tom took their hands. “Didn't I just tell you about it? And they're having a lot of trouble there, let me tell you! We have to get there in time to stop that mean old Barnaby from destroying the toy factory.”

“Barnaby?” Lisa frowned as they moved forward. “Who's Barnaby?”

“Mr. Barnaby is the Crooked Man who walks a crooked mile,” Grandpa Tom explained. “He's the richest man in Toyland, but he's so stingy and nasty, he won't share his money with anyone. He makes people pay rents that are too high and will throw them out of they don't pay ahead of time, or will throw people out of their jobs if he doesn't like what they're doing. He spies on everything and everyone from the tower in Crooked Manor, on top of Crooked Hill.”

“Can't wait to meet him,” Lisa muttered. This so-called Toyland didn't sound like it was much fun.

“Isn't there anyone who'll stop him?” Alan asked. “What about Amazon Andy?”

“I don't know about him,” Grandpa Tom admitted, “but there are people in Toyland who may be able to help. You'll meet them when we get there.”

“When ARE we going to get there?” Lisa had noticed as they walked that it was getting a bit lighter. It was much warmer, too. Her red velvet dress was starting to feel a little too sweaty. Alan was tugging at his good shirt and tie.

They stopped before a door in the wall. Lisa thought it was the door they came in before, but the handle had fancier carvings that looked like old-fashioned toys. A wreath made from pine branches and two toy soldiers hung in the center. “Here's the door to Toyland.” Grandpa Tom nodded. “Remember, when we go to Toyland, you will see some of the most magical people, places, and things in the world! But the magic can only truly work if you believe in them.”

“I believe!” said Alan, excited. He was bouncing up and down. “I can't wait to get to Toyland and fight that mean ol' Barnaby! This will be fun!”

Lisa played with her dress. “I don't know. They're just toys, and we're only kids. How can we stop a rich old man who owns half the town?”

Grandpa Tom just gave them a warm, kind smile. “Oh, you'd be surprised what toys can do, little one.”

Lisa made a face. “I'm not little, Grandpa. I'm almost an adult.”

The old man just shook his head. He finally twisted the knob and opened the door. There was a rush of air and light as they walked through the door and into the sun.