Writing for Fun
August 2017
Scarlett’s Day in the Sun - Bob Wendelkin
It was Scarlett’s birthday and she was going to be taken by her Mummy and Daddy to a posh restaurant to have a birthday meal. She thought all she really want was some Chicken Nuggets. There was no need for the Posh Meal all she wanted and had was the love of her Mummy and Daddy. The meal was later in the day so as it was a fine summer’s day her Mummy had put her in the garden to enjoy the fine weather. Her Mummy had rubbed her skin with a very high factor sun screen and put up a tent and a lilo for her. Scarlett settled down to hear and enjoy a story her granddad had written for her.
After a while she found that her attention was being drawn towards a hole in the bank just behind the hedge. It wasn’t just the hole that attracted her it was that every few minutes animals would cautiously make their way to the hole, look round and then disappear into the hole. Only to be followed a few minutes later by a hedgehog, mole, squirrel, mouse and a black bird and so it went on. Scarlett thought to herself that she must find out why that hole was so attractive and why all these animals found it so special.
Getting off the lilo she made her way to the hole. Crouching down she looked in only to see a pair of bright eyes gazing back at her from the darkness. The eyes made their way towards her and eventually she could see that they belonged to a Rabbit.
‘What do you want? You weren’t summoned to come to this court,’ said the Rabbit.
Scarlett was totally surprised not only to be spoken to by a rabbit but also to understand what the rabbit had said.
‘I came to see why the animals were going into this hole,’ was Scarlett’s reply.
Equally strange was that the rabbit seemed to understand what she had said.
‘We have an important trial today and we have a very distinguished Judge coming specially to try the case,’ replied the rabbit.
‘What is the trial about?’ asked Scarlett becoming more interested as it could be more interesting than just sitting in the garden.
‘We believe that a Magpie stole a brooche. She denies it of course; she says she found it.’
‘That sounds familiar, I heard a story about a Thieving Magpie. I believe Magpies are supposed to be attracted by bright shiny objects for their nests.’
‘Exactly,’ replied the rabbit, ‘that is where the broach was found.’
Just then the Judge arrived; to Scarlett’s eyes he was a Cocker Spaniel but because his ears were long and dangled down like a wig he seemed to be the ideal creature to be chosen to be the judge.
‘This way My Lord,’ said the Rabbit in a most differential manner.
‘What is this human doing here? They weren’t summoned to this court case were they?’ said the Judge as he looked at Scarlett.
Before the rabbit could answer Scarlett went over to the Judge and looked him in the face and said, ‘I wondered what was happening when I saw all the animals going into this hole so I came over to investigate. Anyway we humans are also animals as well as you, so I feel I’m entitled to be here just like anyone else.’
‘You are indeed young lady but humans are not always that kind to animals, so we do our best to avoid them. Often they destroy their homes, destroy their food supplies and introduce foreign animals into their countryside who then drive out the native animals just as it happened to the Red Squirrels being driven out by the American Grey Squirrels.’
Scarlett noticed as she was talking to the Judge she was gradually becoming smaller until she was of a size that could go into the hole.
‘There,’ she said, ‘I have become smaller so someone thinks I’m entitled to be here and go into the court and see the magpie tried.’
‘There is no point the, Magpie is obviously guilty and I shall sentence her,’ said the Judge.
‘You say she is guilty without even hearing the evidence. What sort of judge are you. I now more than ever feel I must see justice done.’
‘Oh, very well, I can’t stay long as I have to take my master out for his walk. He thinks he is my master but seeing he provides food and shelter for me I let him think that way.’
‘So at least you think we humans have some use,’ was Scarlett’s reply.
The Judge and the Rabbit followed by Scarlett made their way further into the hole and eventually to what appeared to be a Law Court. Without waiting the Judge made his way directly to the judge’s seat; he sat down and banged his gavel and the court became silent.
‘Bring up the accused,’ said the judge
After a few moments the Magpie appeared. Scarlett could see that she had been crying and they had put an elastic band around her wings to stop her flying away. As soon as Scarlett saw her she was certain that she was the Magpie that used to visit her garden. The Magpie looked at Scarlett and it was clear from her reaction that the magpie also recognised Scarlett.
The Clerk of the Court then read out the charge against the Magpie. ‘You are charged with stealing a brooche and hiding it in your nest. How do you plead, Guilty or Not-Guilty?’ asked the Clerk.
The poor Magpie was totally confused by what was going on she just stood in the dock not knowing what to say.
The Judge, now dressed in his red gown, spoke to the Magpie. ‘Well answer, you stupid bird, are you guilty or not?’
The Magpie still looking confused said, ‘I didn’t steal anything, Please, please, won’t anyone believe me?’
The Judge seemed upset as he wanted a quick trial so that he could get home for his walk, now there would have to be a proper trial.
‘Enter Not-Guilty,’ said the Judge. ‘Who is your defence council?’
No one in the court answered as they didn’t want to upset this Judge. The people in the court just looked around to see if anyone was going to defend the Magpie, then they started to look at the ceiling not wishing to be involved.
Scarlett could see that no one would help this poor bird so summoning up all her courage she stood up.
‘As no one will try to protect her, I will, My Lord. I’ll do my best to see that Justice is done and your Lordship gets away for his walk,’ said Scarlett with a little mockery in her voice.
The prosecuting council started to give the case against the Magpie. He said that a brooch had been found in her nest, he said that she said that she had found it near some dustbins.
At this point Scarlett stood up and asked that the brooch should be produced in court. This request caused a bit of a fuss as the brooch seemed to have disappeared.
Scarlett said, ‘As this item has been lost I must ask the court to dismiss this case as it is possible that the brooch may never have existed.’
But before she could complete her address to the court an official arrived with the brooch in his hand.
‘Show me,’ demanded Scarlett.
Scarlett immediately recognised the broach as her Mummy’s. Her Mummy had thrown it away as the catch was broken and a couple of the glass beads were missing.
‘My Lord this was my mummy’s brooch and she threw it away as it was broken and said she would never wear it again. The case against my client should be dismissed as she didn’t steal it but as she said, she found it.’
‘Quite right, case dismissed,’ said the Judge quickly as he could now go for his walk.
‘Wake up Scarlett, you have been asleep, you have got to get ready to go out,’ said her Mummy.
‘But Mummy, I . . .’ replied Scarlett
Scarlett opened her hand and there was the brooch that the Magpie had been accused of stealing.
‘Oh you have my old brooch, I threw it away,’ said her Mummy.
On the lawn where Scarlett had been laying some stones had been arranged to spell out THANK YOU.
‘I see you have been practicing your spelling, you are getting such a clever girl,’ said her Mummy.
As the pair left the garden the Magpie hopped in front of them and Scarlett could see that it the one she had defended in court. The Magpie spread her wings and gave a big sweeping courtly bow to Scarlett.
Scarlett got dressed to go to her birthday meal and as they were walking to their car a man with his dog came along. The dog gave a slight woof and made his way to Scarlett where he looked up at Scarlett and gave her a big wink. Scarlett’s Mummy thought the dog was just being friendly but both Scarlett and the dog knew the truth.