"Where have you been Bruno ? " asks Granny " I finally got those bears delivered from that Raquel Thieves woman ! I had to ring again yesterday and ask for Raquel in accounts ! "
" That's good " smiles Bruno " We were running low on the soft toys especially the bears "
"But while I have been restocking the window " Granny continues " just what have you been up to for the last half hour? "
" I've been dealing with a customer " Bruno says getting excited " and . . . . I sold the big camel ! "
"Never ! " Granny says stunned ! " I thought we'd still have that camel for years ! "
"Well it's sold and I have a bag of cash to prove it ! "
"Cash! " exclaims granny " Let me look !"
" Wonderful !"
"Well done Bruno " Granny praises patting his shoulder " Who bought him? "
" He wanted to ride him to go see some baby " Bruno replied " he said his name was Sheik Ya Booty from Scunthorpe "
"Well best take that money inside and lock it in the safe " Granny says gleefully .
The window now has new items for sale.
Meanwhile Mr Mossy is looking into Fortuna's shop window at the new display.
" I knew it " he mutters then shouts " EDWARD EDWARD ! What are you doing in the window ?? "
The panda he's shouting at, stay still and silent " EDWARD ! " Mossy shouts as loud as he can, for a small bear , but the panda stays silent and still .
" What are you shouting about dear boy? " enquires Diggory " That's a toy "
" I'm sure it's Edward " insists Mossy staring intently at the Panda, trying to catch him blinking " I know it's you " he stares harder
"Get down before you fall dear boy !" Diggory advises " You'll do yourself a mischief if you fall off that high up "
Mossy starts to wobble, so decides it might be best if he did get down for now.
Once he's sitting back down next to Diggory and caught his breath " he looks the old bear in the eye and asks
"Where did you say that Edward said he was going ? "
"Edward dear boy, whose Edward? "
Mossy sighs " You know Edward ! He's the bossy Panda who thinks he's in charge of us bears "
" I thought you said you were called Bossy ? " says Diggory confused
" I said I'm MOSSY not Bossy !"
" Oh Mossy not Bossy right " repeats Diggory
" So where did that pain in the butt Panda say he was going ? " Mossy says trying to hold in his temper " when you saw him waiting for a taxi "
" Oh that Panda ! " cries Diggory " Why didn't you say that Panda !"
Mossy counts to ten, then ten again " That Panda "
" Oh he was off to have a smoke on the common " Diggory answers " I think that's what he said "
Mossy bites his tongue to stop him yelling at the old fool ! It's not his fault he's so old and cannot remember , he sighs again but where could Edward and the others be? It's Christmas eve and he's been missing for days ! Edward would never miss their Christmas eve get together ! Never ! Something was going on! He was sure that was Edward in the shop window ! He'd know that ornery old bossy boots anywhere ! He just needed to work out what was going on !
Meanwhile inside the shop
The shop was quite busy with last minute shoppers.
"No!" states a very young voice. Bruno decided he's needed out the back when he sees whose voice it is !
" Want toys !" Lucas demands looking up at Santa from his position on the floor. " NOW!"
"Look Lucas ! " Santa says " It's not Christmas until tomorrow, so no toys "
"T O Y S "
"Lucas you know full well I'm not the real Santa ! " says Santa getting annoyed " Who am I ? "
" Atti ccccuss"
" Exactly Atticus your brother ! So get up or I'll be late to give out the presents at the
church hall old age pensioner club ! "
"Lucas enough ! " calls out Saffy who is over with Valentine selecting some last minute extras.
Granny had moved off to leave Santa to deal with Lucas and was talking to Ragnor.
" So you are in charge of finding something for that Mrs Mum ! I mean Mrs Mum this year "
" Yes " Ragnor confirms " but I cannot see anything for her here I'm afraid. I'd best go into town "
"There is not need to go into town Lad, I have just the thing for your Mum "
" You do ? " Ragnor looks around
"Yes Look there " says Granny pointing to the large pink bear sitting at the side
" What that huge bear!"
" What's wrong with the lovely pink bear " enquires Granny " She may seem big to you but to your mum she'll be perfectly sized "
"And I can let you have her for a good price " entices granny " Since it's almost Christmas "
"Well . . . " mutters Ragnor , thinking it would save him a trip into town and fighting the crowds
" Now you take care getting that teddy home young man " Says granny from the shop doorway.
Now he's out in the fresh air, Ragnor starts wondering if he's done the right thing ! He hopes the others will like it and agree Mum would love it !
"So lucky I had that sled available for sale " says Granny with a smile " and remember no returns unless damaged "
Ragnor starts heading home wondering if they have enough wrapping paper to wrap up the bear or should he stop at the newsagents for another roll or six !
" Come back anytime " calls Granny
Granny cannot quite believe she's sold that bear and Bruno the Camel ! They have had some great sales this last week in December ! For once they can shut for Christmas and Boxing day !
The story will continue after Christmas . . .
