Follow..if you dare..

About two ours ,and a lot to do about nothing later...our little troup was dressed to impress...!

-Look at you ,said Gustave to WHO...MR Creepiness himself...you are the most swampy swamp thing I ever did see...
-And how many DID you see dear Gustave,twittered Miss Moussie...did you...EVER..see a swamp thing in real life...
-No Miss...croaked Gustave,but I saw many in my imagination and that's what counts..
Well, this was an argument Miss Moussie didn't dare to argue so she started to rearrange her tentacles...and she straightened her waterlily hat..
Then.. WHO flapped his majestic wings..creating a whirl of slime and muddy water..
EEEEEUuWW...squeaked Miss MOussie....WHO ,go do this somewhere else...I all ready took a shower today...
-You certainly don't look like you did ..laughed WHO..and the others laughed with him..
-Not funny...twittered Miss MOussie...and she started to walk...I am going...
There she went...a little tiny swamp creature with a tail....disappearing in to the forest..leaving a slimy wet trail...
-lets follow her guys..croaked Gustave...
-Yes, lets..said Elvira...before she gets in trouble..

So now there were three swamp creatures running through the garden...green ghostly things in a hurry...
On Hilltop Hall all was still very peaceful and quiet....When you look up..to the window on the left...you can see someone is opening the curtains...This must be our Dutchess...yes,there she is ...looking out of the window...just in time to see these peculiar creatures dashing through the morning mist.....

-Lets just go immediately and straight to the haunted pumpkin...squeaked Miss Moussie while running...I think in daylight this creepy thing won't look so creepy...
-You are absolutely right Miss,croaked Gustave out of breath...lets do it...and scare to wits out of that great big orange balloon..
-YEEE,yelled Elvira...we are the Pumpkin busters....repeat after me...when there's something strange in your neighbourhood.... Who are you gonna call...PUMPKINBUSTERS..
And above the misty clouds they heard the mighty swamp wings of WHO swirling ...and a brave voice yelling...GERONIMO.......

Our little garden creatures were ever so brave and full of courage..determent to go and save there friend Sir Horatio Hog..and..also very important....to find out why Mr C Mole was acting so strange lately....digging holes in the middle of the night..

The fog was getting thicker and thicker...Soon our little garden friends couldn't see where they were going..
-Goodness,twittered Miss Moussie...Stay close together darlings...better grab each others tentacles..Gustave..dearest..that's my tail...well never mind ...just don't let go now...

Miss Moussie ,Gustave,and Elvira walked very slowly and very close together through the misty forest..
Above there heads they could hear WHO...calling..."Whoohoo where are you ...whoohoo,answer me...
-We are down here...down here my friend..croaked Gustave very loud..
-We should sing...said Elvira..then WHO can follow the sound..
-O what a great idea darling..twittered Miss Moussie..and she started singing...
Heigh ho, heigh ho..off to the pumpkin we go...heigh ho, heigh ho..
Gustave and Elvira joined her ..and a lovely little choir sang loudly whilst walking through the foggy forest..Who just had to follow the sound of music..

However...a few minutes later...Miss Moussie's singing came abruptly to an end...

BOINGGG..Miss Moussie bumped into something...what appeared to be a signpost..
-O.M.G..squeaked Miss Moussie...a bump..
-A What..asked Gustave..a bump..
-Yes on my head...look..I believe this is going to be a big bump..
-I believe its a signpost ..said Elvira surprised..but I can't read the sign because of the fog..
-A bump as big as a sing post..O.M.G..squeaked Miss Moussie..I have to get my mirror out of my purse..
Then WHO appeared out of the mist..he circled three times round the signpost ,and then came down with this message..listen..

This path to the Pumpkin leads
Follow if you dare..

-How dares this silly signpost...telling us what to dare or not to dare...said WHO..
-I don't like signposts twittered Miss Moussie ,I think they are very suspicious..you never know if they are telling the truth..
-We are going to follow that path..croaked Gustave...
-Yeeeh,yelled Elvira..watch out Pumpkin....here we come....

Dress rehearsal

This time they didn't have to wait...Gustave jumped out of the water not even a second after they called him..

-There you are,he croaked happily..right on time..everything is ready..the Dress rehearsal can begin....Just you wait and see what a wonderful creations I made last night...I think I would make a great designer of Haute Couture..
Step this way please...And before the eyes of Miss Moussie and WHO...Gustave,from under the water Lillie's, revealed his Swamp Line...
-O wait for me ..called a little voice from under the lilac bush...It was Elvira..
'Am I still on time to fit my Swamp dress..'
-Just showing the latest design...croaked Gustave proudly...then we can start the fitting..you can pick one my dear...see which one you like best..

Who and Miss Moussie where flabbergasted....so Gustave and Elvira were serious about this creepy swamp thingy plan...
Miss Moussie was the first to speak..
-Gustave,your swamp creations are amazing,but I am not going to try them on..they are ever so wet and slimy..so sorry but I will have to disappoint you this time..maybe WHO would like to give it a try..?
-Did you ever see a flying swamp thing ,I don't think so ,said WHO..a little nervous...
-That's just why this plan is going to work,croaked Gustave...nobody ever saw a flying swamp thing...dear WHO..you will scare the..bliep..out of that Haunted Pumpkin..you will be our hero..
-I will..well then ..I could always give it a try..said WHO..do you have anything with wings my friend Gustave..I do love all the magical shades of green you used,you truly are an artist..

While Elvira,WHO,and Gustave were very busy fitting and adjusting there swamp costumes....Miss Moussie was having her doubts..would this work..could they save Sir Hog by scaring The Haunted Pumpkin...and shouldn't she be a part of this rescuing swampthing team..was it even possible they could do it without her...somebody had to take charge..
-Oke darlings,she squeaked...I'm in...please Gustave..give me one of your marvelously wet and slimy creations..

Floating stars

For the second time this week WHO banged on Miss Moussie door...and again in the middle of the night...

-Who is it...Miss Moussie squeaked with a very sleepy voice...GO AWAY, I was dreaming the most beautiful dream about a horse from Nowhere..
-Its me ,WHO...so sorry to disturb you again..but what I just saw in the forest looked very suspicious and I had to come and tell you right away..
-Suspicious you say..o dear ..Just a sec..and Miss Moussie jumped out of bed into her robe..pink ,with bleu forget me nots..then,swiftly, she opened the door.
-I am so happy to see you ,said WHO,a few minutes ago I had a strange encounter with Mr C..as you know we haven't seen much of him lately..but there he was ...digging a hole..just a few feet away from the Haunted Pumpkin..!
-Goodness,twittered Miss Moussie,dousn't he know what has happened to Sir Hog...we have to warn him..
-I did, I did...but he wouldn't listen..he told me to let him be..sighed WHO and then crashed on the sofa....
-Lets wait until daylight twittered Miss Moussie,then you and I are going to visit Gustave at the Pond..maybe he knows why Mr C is acting so very strange..
And so they did..on the red sofa,sitting on cushions of violet blue,they drank some tea with honey and ate a piece of walnut bread with raspberry marmalade to ease there nerves.
Then, at the crack of dawn, they headed in the direction of the Pond.......WHO hoovered over the tree tops with Miss Moussie on his back...

-You can land now ,Miss Moussie twittered holding on to her new hat,green..with white Lillie's of the valley.."I can see the pond ..isn't it beautiful in this morning light..I see little floating stars..
-It's magical..said WHO..it looks like Gustave sprinkled some fairy dust on the water.... Who landed softly under a willow tree..
-Care full now..we mustn't fall into the pond..squeaked Miss Moussie ..whilst she stood close to the edge of the water ...and there they where...again..calling and waiting for Gustave to come out of the water...Lets hope this time he isn't emerging as the terrible swamp thing.. -

LOOK!......C

In the middle of the forest,in the moonlight,on the Hilltop,we see Mr C...what is he doing there..does he know that he is standing just a few feet away from the Haunted Pumpkin? Somebody should warn him...this could be dangerous..Mr C is acting very strange...running around with a shovel and digging a hole in the ground..Maybe he is making a new entrance to his labyrinth...or maybe he is burying something..or.....someone...!

Under a full moon Who hoovered high over the tree tops..he was searching the grounds..he felt a great responsibility for the safety of all the little Hilltop Creatures..and he made a promise to himself to watch the Haunted Pumpkin 24/7..
What was that..a dark shadow moving under the bushes...Who made a dive..gliding on his brown feathered wings...he landed ever so quiet on a branch of the big Chestnut tree..he looked down..and who was it WHO saw...Yes...Mr C..
-Its C...whispered WHO to himself...this can't be good...If I don't warn him the Pumpkin might eat him like he did Sir Hog...
-Whoo hoo,whoo hoo..whood WHO...C,can you see me ,I am up here..Whoo hoo..
Mr C didn't respond,he just kept on digging and digging..
-Who who...C ...WHO whood again...then he picked some chestnuts from the tree and started throwing to get Mr C's attention....one did hit Mr C right on his behind..!
-Who ddid tthat...stammered Mr C..waving his shovel through the air..
-Me,that's who....said WHO ..it's me up here....My dear friend C ..do you know you are in a very dangerous place ..if you look behind you can see the Haunted Pumpkin glowing in the dark..please keep away from there or you might end up like Sir Hog..'
-Who do you think you are attacking me with chestnuts in the middle of the night,said C irritated...I am working here can't you see....please,just let me be..
And C..started digging again....minding his own buisness...and what could this buiness be ..Who knows..well, that is ,WHO didn't know..and he flew back to the garden to tell his friends all about this strange encounter with Mr C on the Hilltop!

Hog In The Fog

It was ever so still....in the dead of night...Gustave couldn't sleep...thinking about Swampthings....Elvira couldn't sleep...thinking of Swampthings..Miss Moussie...slept like a log,but she was dreaming....dreaming of a Hog in the fog...and a horse from nowhere...and sitting at the fire with Mozes....

A Plan...

In the middle of taking a bite from his sixt cookie,Gustave frose....Then he jumped up and tryed to say something with his mouth full... "HMMPFINWTDOOO,MPFCMNNE"....he said, and then he ran out of the kitchen....
-What was he saying..squeaked Miss MOussie and she hurried after him...
-I believe it was what they call a text message...said Elvira following Miss Moussie..like..I KNW WHT TO DO..COME ON....
-You mean he has a plan...twittered Miss Moussie...thank goodness!

Gustave ran towards the pond....stopped, and then took a dive into the green water..
-Gustave squeaked Miss Moussie...I am not going to follow you in there...you know I can't swim, please come out and tell us what you are planning to do..
Elvira and Miss Moussie stood ther impatiently waiting for Gustave to emerge from the pond ....they waited and waited..
-Gustave this isn't funny anymore..twittered Miss Moussie..no time for jokes..we have to do something right now..
At that very moment a THING emerged from the deep dark water...it was green and slimy...with a sort of tentacles waving around...and it was hissing and puffing like a dragon...
-O.M.G...squeaked Miss Moussie grabbing Elvira by here tail trying to pull her away...A Swamp thing..run for your life..
But Elvira being very brave and clever didn't move an inch...she saw what we can't see at this moment but she saw it was not the terrible swamp thing emerging but ..Gustave

Gustave the swamp thing climbed out of the pond..'Friends'..he said whilst dripping water and slime and waving his tentacles...Friends...we are going to beat this Haunted Pumkin with his own wapon...
-And that is,asked Miss Moussie....
-Creepiness..answered Gustave...we are going to be very scary..and demand the Pumpkin to let Sir Hog go....I just know this will work...
-O Gustave you are wonderful..said Elvira...I love it when a plan comes together...lets gather everybody...we are going to be Swampthings...
Miss Moussie was very quiet...she wasn't so sure this plan could work..and she wasn't so sure she would like to be a swamp thing....too wet..and too slimy..yak.

Troubled..

It was a glorious morning..the wind had decided to have a rest after his blustery night ,the sun was shining,and the garden lookt magical in golden autumn colors.
It could have been a wonderful autumn day if it wasn't for the sad news WHO brought home ...something terrible had happened..Sir Horatio Hog was missing...probably swallowed by the haunted Pumpkin on the Hilltop.
There they were...all the little,and not so little garden creatures,sitting in Miss Moussie's kitchen..all with troubled hearts...

-I just don't know what to say..said Gustave..and he took another bite from his fifth cookie...
-Well,you do know how to eat cookies...twittered Miss Moussie,how can you eat in a moment like this..
-It's my nerves,its my nerves..so sorry ,croaked Gustave..but when I eat I can think better..the cookies are just what I need..food for the brain..and I don't ask why you are polishing your silver like crazy..I suppose you are nervous too...
-We better come up with an idea ,said Elvira..looking very squashed and flushed,sitting between the kitchen table and the burning stove..its very hot in here...
-WHO,laying on the sofa in a very dramatic pose,didn't say much..he was still recovering from the shock...

What ever will they do...lets not disturb them any further and come back later...hopefully they will find a way to help Sir Hog...anyway..something else is puzzling me...did you see Mr C...he isn't in Miss Moussie's kitchen..

The disappearing of Horatio Hog..

It was still dark when Miss Moussie awoke...there was a blustery wind howling outside her window..
Goodness,she twittered,what dreadful weather..So good I did all of my shopping yesterday...now I can stay inside today with a cup of tea and a good book.
She tryed to get back to sleep but the wind was rocking her little houssie and cried many lyrics..
Then, there was a sudden knock on the door...and again...and again!
Who could this be..
Miss Moussie heard a panicking voice calling..."Please, Miss Moussie open up..Its Me.. WHO!
As quick as possible Miss Moussie jumped in her slippers and ren to open the door.
There stood WHO..out of breath..with a bewildered look on his face..

-The Pumpkin ,he stammered,the Pumpkin...and poor Horatio!
-What are you trying to tell me dear Who..did something happen to Sir Hog?
-I saw him in the forest..heading towards the Haunted Pumpkin..I warned him not to go there... I said to him ...'there is more between heaven and earth then we know my friend Horatio'....this could be very dangerous...but he wouldn't listen..and now he is gone...he went in to the Pumpkin..I waited and waited..but Horatio disappeared, then I heard a creepy voice cackle... GO AWAY........

WHO crached on the sofa..leaving Miss Moussie standing in the doorway ..in the blustering wind..now what to do.....

Scary Movie..

'The monster of the wild wood'...come..sit yourself down..and lets watch together..Iike some popcorn..and when you find it to scary..I will hold your hand..

The talk of the Garden...

Now..after reading the news everybody is talking about it...The haunted pumpkin on the Hill!.And where do you go to hear the latest gossip...yes..to the barbershop!

-Dear Sir Hog..please sit still..its only your beard that needs a trim..

In the barbershop chair is sitting Sir H. Hog...nobody knows where the H stands for..well,we believe it to be Horatio..but we are not sure..Sir Hog comes from a very nobel family..royalty he wants us to believe..

-Sir Hog..please ,why are you so jumpy today..
-Why?Do you even have to ask..I want to go to the Haunted Pumpkin..did you see it last night..it was glowing in the dark...I tell you,it was staring at me with two creepy piercing eyes..I didn't dare to go near it ..but now at daytime I will go and take a look..
-O my dear Sir...would this be wise.....rumour said spooky noises are coming out of there..like chains rattling..and the whispering of voices..
-Well,somebody has to go there...don't worry I will be fine..I...Sir H. Hog come from a very nobel family..my grand father was a Knight..and my mother always told me I am just like him..a fearless creature..

And after saying this Sir H Hog..jumped out of his seat and headed in the direction of the Haunted Pumpkin on the Hill...

The Pumpkin on the Hill..

Do you know what the days news is...you are not going to believe it...there seems to be a haunted Pumkin on the Hill top..wow...I hate anything haunted..its too suspicious..and I can't stand the suspence..O dear...Well,I am not going near that spooky pumpkin...wonder if Gustave knows..he likes scary things..

Ponds and Pies..

There should be two of everything...Gustave sighed..How he missed his dear friend Miss Moussie..When you have two of everything..one could leave, and the other could stay..so,you were never to be alone..or lonesome..Well,having two Ponds would be difficult,then he wouldn't know in wich one to swim..Having two Pies..that's a complete different story,one could never have enough Pies.." A Friend"...that's what makes you ever so vulnerable..You just have to wait..until he or she come's back..and you can be together again..just the two of you,friends for ever..two of a kind..

Listen.. what's that...a little squeaky voice..could this be.....