‘You are not going to stop there are you?’ Jonathan said in disbelief. ‘Nothing happened!’
‘What? Then what I tell you story for if you not listening?’ Popo said briskly.
‘I was listening. But what I meant is that you can’t just end a chapter on berries and nuts can you? It’s not right!’ Jonathan protested.
‘Why not? The doll and rat are hungry and the mouse has got berries and nuts. They’ve escaped the nasty scarecrow and finally they are going to get some rest. As so should you young man!’ Popo went.
‘Oh ok,’ Jonathan grumbled. ‘But I bet that scarecrow will find a way into the hole and catch Rat and Marianne. I bet he’s even gonna eat Rat!’
‘Well you’ll just have to wait and find out,’ Popo told him. ‘And anyway, what makes you think the scarecrow will eat Rat?’ she asked, squinting at him.
‘Well, it’s just the way the title is called. You said it was called The Doll, the Witch and the Scarecrow. Rat’s not mentioned in it,’ Jonathan answered.
Somewhere from the bar, a glass fell, crashing to the floor in a myriad of fragments. Someone yelled.
‘Hmmm very true. He got left out didn’t he?’ Popo said thoughtfully.
‘So did he get eaten by the scarecrow?’ Jonathan asked eagerly, hoping to get Popo to continue with the story.
‘You’ll just have to come back another day and find out won’t you?’ Popo said mischievously, grinning at the same time.
Jonathan caught her look and pulled a face.
‘You are just being mean now,’ he told her. ‘What’s another chapter? I still have time to go home.’
‘Absolutely not. You must go home now or your parents will wonder where you are. Besides, it’s not safe to wander about in the late afternoon with so many aimless teenagers about. You won’t be the first little boy they’ve stolen from or bullied,’ Popo said.
‘All right then,’ Jonathan said reluctantly, giving in. ‘Will you be here tomorrow Popo?’
Popo nodded. ‘I’ll be here. I’m always here,’ she said.
So Jonathan slung on his bag, said goodbye to Popo and left the bar. Popo watched him leave and sighed before deciding to see what the commotion in the bar was about. As she headed towards the bar, a young waitress came running up to her.
‘Popo!’ she said, nearly frantic. ‘There’s a rat in the bar and its knocking all the glasses from the bottom shelf. Customers haven’t seen it yet but at this rate, they are going to!’
‘Oh dear,’Popo went. ‘Something must have upset the rat which is why it’s coming out in broad daylight,’ she said. ‘Let’s go take a look shall we?’
