Chapter 1
"Vince! Naboo! Bollo!" Howard shouted, panicking. The goth fairy, the shaman and the ape all came through to the living room, annoyed to have been woken up.
"What do you want, Howard? It's seven in the morning and we didn't get to bed till four!" said Vince.
"This had better be good." Naboo threatened.
Howard couldn't speak, he just pointed. On the coffee table was a large basket.
"What?" asked Vince, exasperated. Slowly, Howard walked towards the basket and lifted a small bundle out. He cradled it in his arms and carried it over to the waiting three.
"She was on the doorstep. She had a note attached." He held it out. Naboo took it from him, and read it aloud.
"Dear Howard,
This is Catherine Elizabeth Moon. Your niece and goddaughter. I'm very sorry, but your sister Natalie and her boyfriend Joseph both died in a car crash. Natalie had written in a will that she wanted you to look after Catherine if anything happened to her.
So, I'm leaving her here. I know that you'll take care of her, and raise her well. Once again, I am very sorry.
Ruth Whiting, a friend of Natalie's."
"Howard, I'm so sorry." Vince whispered.
"Do you want to be alone?" asked Naboo.
"No. It doesn't matter; we were never really that close. What are we going to do with her?" He asked, looking at the baby in his arms.
"Look after her." Said Bollo, as if it was obvious.
"But none of us have any idea how to raise a child!" Howard panicked.
"We learn." Bollo replied simply.
"Look, Bollo's right." Naboo said. "What else can we do? We're not going to dump her on the street. We'll manage, don't worry."
"Yeah, we'll all pitch in and help. We're a team!" Vince said enthusiastically.