Disclaimer is in the prologue.
Rini in Toyland
Chapter 4 - The Toyland Christmas Festival
Darien Be-Nimble, Serenity Bo-Peep, and Rini sat in front of the shoe where Serenity and her mother lived. "What am I going to do?" Serenity asked again, still wiping tears. "I can't marry Diamond Barnaby. I won't marry him!"
"You're going to stop crying," Darien insisted, drying her eyes with his own handkerchief, "and think of a way to make the money to pay that mortgage."
"I think Mr. Barnaby is just an old meanie," grumbled Rini as a young woman in a red cape and hood walked up to the group. She carried an empty wooden basket. Her cape hid an orange and blue fairy-tale dress.
She removed her hood, and Rini jumped. The girl had long, golden hair bound back with a big red ribbon. She had large blue eyes and a cheerful smile. Rini knew her! "What's going on?" she asked. "I heard some commotion over here earlier."
Serenity jumped up and threw her arms around the girl. "Ohhhh, it's terrible, Mina! Mr. Barnaby wants me to marry him, or he'll throw us all out on the streets!" A waterfall of tears soaked the shoulder of the red cape.
Rini cleared her throat. Mina let go of Serenity and knelt down to Rini's eye level. "Who are you, small lady?" She frowned at her pink jumpsuit and snow boots. "And why are you dressed so strangely?"
"My name is Serenity Shields, but you can call me Rini." She pulled at the zipper on her jumpsuit. "I'm from another country far away. I'm Serenity's new helper. Who are you?"
Mina smiled and curtsied. "I'm Mina Red Riding Hood, Serenity's older sister. Mama made this cape for me so I wouldn't catch cold while making my deliveries. I bring food to the elderly citizens of Toyland."
Rini leaned on the white picket fence surrounding the shoe. "There has to be a way to get that mortgage from Mr. Barnaby!" She sighed. "Serenity's too nice to marry that creep, even if she is a crybaby."
"A CRYBABY!" Serenity turned angrily on Rini. "I am not! Why, you little brat! And I let you be my helper, too! I could have told Barnaby how you really came to Toyland!"
"Who kicked Mr. Barnaby and told him to go away? Who helped you find your sheep when you lost them?" snapped Rini.
Darien Be-Nimble got between the two upset girls. "Ladies, please, this is not a time to argue! We've got to stay together if we want to get that mortgage!"
Rini shrugged. "Well, I HAD an idea. I don't think you want to hear it, though. I am just a little kid."
Mina shook her head. "We're open to any suggestions anyone has, Rini, no matter how small they are!"
Rini gestured for them to draw close to her. "Serenity mentioned Toyland's having some kind of big Christmas thing tonight."
"The Christmas Festival," Mina explained. "It's a very big deal. It happens every year on Christmas Eve to honor the arrival of Santa Claus to the Toyland Toy Factory. There's feasting and dancing and music, and everyone in Toyland is there."
"Would Mr. Barnaby be there?"
"Yes, and his brother and sister, too," Darien said. "They begin and end the Festival."
"I think we could get the mortgage from Mr. Barnaby while he's distracted by the Festival," Rini told them. "We'd need more help, though." - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - --- --- -- --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rini couldn't believe her eyes. The young woman who popped out of the river had a fish tail. From the waist up, she looked like a normal young woman who just happened to have wavy turquoise hair and a silvery-turquoise top. The top, though, blended into glittery turquoise and blue scales and fins. Rini thought that mermaids were just fairy tales.
"It's nice to meet you, Rini," she said. Her voice was gentle and musical. "I'd be more than happy to aid you. The people of the river and sea have no particular fondness for Diamond Barnaby and his family. The Barnabys have fished the waters to the point where all water-dwelling creatures, and many of my own kind, fear for their lives."
She dove back into the river and emerged with a beautiful hand mirror. "This mirror was in my family for generations," she explained. "A land- walker dropped it into the river. My great-grandmother endowed it with the power to see everything that is going on, even when it's happening miles away. You'll be able to keep an easy eye on Diamond Barnaby's movements with this."
Serenity grinned. "Thank you, Michelle!"
"You're welcome, dear Serenity Bo-Peep, and little pink-haired Rini. I wish you both the best of luck. My people and I will watch Barnaby from the river as much as we can, but we have our own show to put on tonight." With a graceful splash, she returned to the water and swam away.
"Wow," gasped Rini. "I didn't know mermaids were real, too! I mean, where I come from, they're just stories you see in cartoons."
"There aren't as many mermaids as there used to be," Serenity told her. "Many were killed when they were tangled in Barnaby's nets and traps." Serenity smiled. "They make wonderful music, though! Their song and dance is always the highlight of the Christmas Festival."
Serenity stopped by a white and pink fence, which a tall, slender young woman was draping with strings of red roses, green ivy, and silvery bell- like flowers. A wide-brimmed green hat, trimmed with delicate pink flowers, shaded her green eyes and brown hair. "Hello, Mary Quite Contrary!"
"Hello, Serenity," Mary said, tying a string of roses to a fence post. "Are you getting ready for the festival?"
"Yes, in a way," Serenity began as Rini leaned over the fence. The garden was the prettiest Rini ever saw. The colorful flowers and vegetables were all in neat lines, like kids in a row at school.
"Oh, I know who you are!" Rini exclaimed. "'Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row!'"
Mary jutted a finger at Rini. "The kid's good," she said admiringly. "Now, you apparently know all about me, but I don't know you."
"I'm Rini," she told her, "and we need your help. We're going to get the mortgage for the shoe from Mr. Barnaby tonight."
"It won't be easy," Mary insisted. "I heard that he keeps all important documents in the cane that he uses for special functions." She gave the garland a tug. "And he has his bodyguard and carriage driver, Rubeus, with him during the entire Festival."
Rini sighed. "There's got to be a way!" She looked at the ropes of ivy, silver bells, and roses. "And I think I know how!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Rini and Mary Quite Contrary sat in a large Sugarplum Tree that overlooked Toyland Circle. They were eating fresh sugarplums and commenting on the splendor and dancing and singing. Mary giggled. "The Marzipan dancers are always a bit clumsy. One year, a dancer landed in the river, and a merman fished her out!"
Rini chucked through mouthfuls of plum. "I liked the tea dancers. They jumped out of giant tea pots!" She wiped her hand on a handkerchief that Mary provided and looked into Michelle the Mermaid's mirror. "It's been almost an hour, and Diamond Barnaby still hasn't put his cane down!"
Mary sighed, and waved at Darien, who was standing near the red-carpeted area reserved for the Barnaby family, King Cole, and the Queen of Hearts. The King was very much a merry soul, but he wasn't that old. His long, white hair and thin figure were far less imposing than Diamond Barnaby's. Diamond's sister Emerald chatted with the Queen of Hearts, a lovely woman with long, curly black hair pulled into heart-shaped buns on her head. She appeared quite bored with Emerald's talk. Emerald was attractive, with long, bright green hair, and an elaborate black gown trimmed with bright green beads, ribbons, and sequins, but all she ever talked about was herself and her money.
"Where's Rubeus?" Mary wondered, taking the mirror from Rini. "He's rarely away from Diamond's side during these events." Rini leaned over her shoulder. The mirror revealed a flame-haired, muscular youth skulking trying to open the sheep's pen. She winced at Woolie's frightened bleating. She liked the little lamb and hoped Rubeus wouldn't hurt her. "I wonder what he wants with the sheep's pen?"
"Mary," gasped Rini, "look at the river!" One by one, Michelle's people appeared on the surface. They all looked a great deal like Michelle, with hair the color of coral and sea stones. Michelle, playing a violin that seemed to be made of pure silver, floated to the top on a huge pink shell and a spray of water. The mermaids moved gracefully around her, singing with voices like a hundred angels. "Wow, Mary," Rini said, "they're the best singers I ever heard, and so graceful!" She watched, amazed at the spectacle. "This is the coolest thing I ever saw! It's like one of those old American water musicals, but better."
Mary shook Rini's arm. "Rini, Diamond Barnaby put his cane down! Signal Darien, quick!"
The merpeople's musical number was reaching a crashing, elegant crescendo. Rini gave the signal they arranged that evening, shining the moonlight off the mirror. Darien nodded and moved stealthily toward Barnaby. The group on the red carpet was mesmerized by the majestic finale of the spectacle, which involved colored lights created by smooth glass found in the river. The merpeople did one last final flip, and Michelle took her bows and dove beautifully back into the water.
The crowd stood and applauded, except for Rini and Mary, who applauded in the tree. Darien ducked behind the throne-like chair where Mr. Barnaby sat, avoiding the crowd. He reached for the cane, but Barnaby picked it up instead. He let out a breath. He was so close!
He didn't want to do this, but he had no choice. The next part of the Festival involved King Cole, Queen Hearts, and Mr. Barnaby making big speeches to prepare for the arrival of Santa. This was the least thrilling part of the evening. People often fell asleep. He waved to Jack and Jill, who were squabbling over whether the merpeople or the Chocolate dancers were the best act of the night. Jill nodded and grabbed the infamous pail. The pair gathered water from the river, tottered over to Mr. Barnaby, and threw it over him as he picked up his speech.
The water also hit the king, queen, and Emerald, who screamed. "My dress! My hair!" she shrieked. "Do you two imbeciles know how long it took to do my hair?" She waved at Jack and Jill with her dripping wet fan. "Diamond, punish them!"
The King shook his finger at Jack and Jill. Jill just threw her raven locks over her shoulder and looked righteous. Jack blushed and looked at the ground. "We're sorry, Your Majesties, Mr. Barnaby," Jill explained huffily, "but we were carrying some water to clean the road and get ready for Mr. Claus' arrival when this dimwit had to go spilling it all over the most important people in town!" Rini and Mary saw Jill wink at Jack through the mirror. This was all an act to keep Diamond Barnaby away from his cane and the mortgage.
Jack saw the wink, too. "It was your fault!" he shouted. "You lost your half of the pail!"
Diamond dropped the cane and went to separate the angry pair. Darien made his way through the commotion to the chair, but a hand snatched the cane just as Darien got his fingers around it. "Looking for this, Darien Be- Nimble?" Rubeus hissed. He hauled Darien up by his collar. "Hey, Mr. Barnaby, look what I found, crawling around on the carpet." He whispered something into Mr. Barnaby's ear that made the white-haired man very happy.
"Oh no!" gasped Mary. "We've got to help him! They've got Darien!" She started to stand, but Rini pushed her back down. The sudden movement caused both of them to lose their hold on the tree. The two girls and the mirror went tumbling to the soft grass below them.
Diamond Barnaby took the cane as Rubeus held Darien's arms. Serenity ran to his side, but two Royal Guards blocked her. Two more guards came up to Mary and Rini, brandishing their flags. "Get out of here, Rini!" Mary ordered. "I'll take care of these dorks." Rini hated to run, but there was nothing she could do. She grabbed the mirror and ran behind the tree. Mary took several good swings at the guards, but they hit her with their flags and dragged her struggling to where Jack, Jill, and Darien were also being held.
Diamond Barnaby climbed on top of the shell podium that Michelle recently vacated. Rini peered from behind the tree, horrified. Diamond pointed his cane at Darien. "I have received information from a very reliable source that Darien Be-Nimble is nothing more than a thief and a liar. While all of you have been watching the Christmas Festival, he's been stealing my sheep and having them made into lamb chops! Darien Be-Nimble should be put under arrest and banished to the Forbidden Forest!"
Rini in Toyland
Chapter 4 - The Toyland Christmas Festival
Darien Be-Nimble, Serenity Bo-Peep, and Rini sat in front of the shoe where Serenity and her mother lived. "What am I going to do?" Serenity asked again, still wiping tears. "I can't marry Diamond Barnaby. I won't marry him!"
"You're going to stop crying," Darien insisted, drying her eyes with his own handkerchief, "and think of a way to make the money to pay that mortgage."
"I think Mr. Barnaby is just an old meanie," grumbled Rini as a young woman in a red cape and hood walked up to the group. She carried an empty wooden basket. Her cape hid an orange and blue fairy-tale dress.
She removed her hood, and Rini jumped. The girl had long, golden hair bound back with a big red ribbon. She had large blue eyes and a cheerful smile. Rini knew her! "What's going on?" she asked. "I heard some commotion over here earlier."
Serenity jumped up and threw her arms around the girl. "Ohhhh, it's terrible, Mina! Mr. Barnaby wants me to marry him, or he'll throw us all out on the streets!" A waterfall of tears soaked the shoulder of the red cape.
Rini cleared her throat. Mina let go of Serenity and knelt down to Rini's eye level. "Who are you, small lady?" She frowned at her pink jumpsuit and snow boots. "And why are you dressed so strangely?"
"My name is Serenity Shields, but you can call me Rini." She pulled at the zipper on her jumpsuit. "I'm from another country far away. I'm Serenity's new helper. Who are you?"
Mina smiled and curtsied. "I'm Mina Red Riding Hood, Serenity's older sister. Mama made this cape for me so I wouldn't catch cold while making my deliveries. I bring food to the elderly citizens of Toyland."
Rini leaned on the white picket fence surrounding the shoe. "There has to be a way to get that mortgage from Mr. Barnaby!" She sighed. "Serenity's too nice to marry that creep, even if she is a crybaby."
"A CRYBABY!" Serenity turned angrily on Rini. "I am not! Why, you little brat! And I let you be my helper, too! I could have told Barnaby how you really came to Toyland!"
"Who kicked Mr. Barnaby and told him to go away? Who helped you find your sheep when you lost them?" snapped Rini.
Darien Be-Nimble got between the two upset girls. "Ladies, please, this is not a time to argue! We've got to stay together if we want to get that mortgage!"
Rini shrugged. "Well, I HAD an idea. I don't think you want to hear it, though. I am just a little kid."
Mina shook her head. "We're open to any suggestions anyone has, Rini, no matter how small they are!"
Rini gestured for them to draw close to her. "Serenity mentioned Toyland's having some kind of big Christmas thing tonight."
"The Christmas Festival," Mina explained. "It's a very big deal. It happens every year on Christmas Eve to honor the arrival of Santa Claus to the Toyland Toy Factory. There's feasting and dancing and music, and everyone in Toyland is there."
"Would Mr. Barnaby be there?"
"Yes, and his brother and sister, too," Darien said. "They begin and end the Festival."
"I think we could get the mortgage from Mr. Barnaby while he's distracted by the Festival," Rini told them. "We'd need more help, though." - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - --- --- -- --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rini couldn't believe her eyes. The young woman who popped out of the river had a fish tail. From the waist up, she looked like a normal young woman who just happened to have wavy turquoise hair and a silvery-turquoise top. The top, though, blended into glittery turquoise and blue scales and fins. Rini thought that mermaids were just fairy tales.
"It's nice to meet you, Rini," she said. Her voice was gentle and musical. "I'd be more than happy to aid you. The people of the river and sea have no particular fondness for Diamond Barnaby and his family. The Barnabys have fished the waters to the point where all water-dwelling creatures, and many of my own kind, fear for their lives."
She dove back into the river and emerged with a beautiful hand mirror. "This mirror was in my family for generations," she explained. "A land- walker dropped it into the river. My great-grandmother endowed it with the power to see everything that is going on, even when it's happening miles away. You'll be able to keep an easy eye on Diamond Barnaby's movements with this."
Serenity grinned. "Thank you, Michelle!"
"You're welcome, dear Serenity Bo-Peep, and little pink-haired Rini. I wish you both the best of luck. My people and I will watch Barnaby from the river as much as we can, but we have our own show to put on tonight." With a graceful splash, she returned to the water and swam away.
"Wow," gasped Rini. "I didn't know mermaids were real, too! I mean, where I come from, they're just stories you see in cartoons."
"There aren't as many mermaids as there used to be," Serenity told her. "Many were killed when they were tangled in Barnaby's nets and traps." Serenity smiled. "They make wonderful music, though! Their song and dance is always the highlight of the Christmas Festival."
Serenity stopped by a white and pink fence, which a tall, slender young woman was draping with strings of red roses, green ivy, and silvery bell- like flowers. A wide-brimmed green hat, trimmed with delicate pink flowers, shaded her green eyes and brown hair. "Hello, Mary Quite Contrary!"
"Hello, Serenity," Mary said, tying a string of roses to a fence post. "Are you getting ready for the festival?"
"Yes, in a way," Serenity began as Rini leaned over the fence. The garden was the prettiest Rini ever saw. The colorful flowers and vegetables were all in neat lines, like kids in a row at school.
"Oh, I know who you are!" Rini exclaimed. "'Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row!'"
Mary jutted a finger at Rini. "The kid's good," she said admiringly. "Now, you apparently know all about me, but I don't know you."
"I'm Rini," she told her, "and we need your help. We're going to get the mortgage for the shoe from Mr. Barnaby tonight."
"It won't be easy," Mary insisted. "I heard that he keeps all important documents in the cane that he uses for special functions." She gave the garland a tug. "And he has his bodyguard and carriage driver, Rubeus, with him during the entire Festival."
Rini sighed. "There's got to be a way!" She looked at the ropes of ivy, silver bells, and roses. "And I think I know how!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Rini and Mary Quite Contrary sat in a large Sugarplum Tree that overlooked Toyland Circle. They were eating fresh sugarplums and commenting on the splendor and dancing and singing. Mary giggled. "The Marzipan dancers are always a bit clumsy. One year, a dancer landed in the river, and a merman fished her out!"
Rini chucked through mouthfuls of plum. "I liked the tea dancers. They jumped out of giant tea pots!" She wiped her hand on a handkerchief that Mary provided and looked into Michelle the Mermaid's mirror. "It's been almost an hour, and Diamond Barnaby still hasn't put his cane down!"
Mary sighed, and waved at Darien, who was standing near the red-carpeted area reserved for the Barnaby family, King Cole, and the Queen of Hearts. The King was very much a merry soul, but he wasn't that old. His long, white hair and thin figure were far less imposing than Diamond Barnaby's. Diamond's sister Emerald chatted with the Queen of Hearts, a lovely woman with long, curly black hair pulled into heart-shaped buns on her head. She appeared quite bored with Emerald's talk. Emerald was attractive, with long, bright green hair, and an elaborate black gown trimmed with bright green beads, ribbons, and sequins, but all she ever talked about was herself and her money.
"Where's Rubeus?" Mary wondered, taking the mirror from Rini. "He's rarely away from Diamond's side during these events." Rini leaned over her shoulder. The mirror revealed a flame-haired, muscular youth skulking trying to open the sheep's pen. She winced at Woolie's frightened bleating. She liked the little lamb and hoped Rubeus wouldn't hurt her. "I wonder what he wants with the sheep's pen?"
"Mary," gasped Rini, "look at the river!" One by one, Michelle's people appeared on the surface. They all looked a great deal like Michelle, with hair the color of coral and sea stones. Michelle, playing a violin that seemed to be made of pure silver, floated to the top on a huge pink shell and a spray of water. The mermaids moved gracefully around her, singing with voices like a hundred angels. "Wow, Mary," Rini said, "they're the best singers I ever heard, and so graceful!" She watched, amazed at the spectacle. "This is the coolest thing I ever saw! It's like one of those old American water musicals, but better."
Mary shook Rini's arm. "Rini, Diamond Barnaby put his cane down! Signal Darien, quick!"
The merpeople's musical number was reaching a crashing, elegant crescendo. Rini gave the signal they arranged that evening, shining the moonlight off the mirror. Darien nodded and moved stealthily toward Barnaby. The group on the red carpet was mesmerized by the majestic finale of the spectacle, which involved colored lights created by smooth glass found in the river. The merpeople did one last final flip, and Michelle took her bows and dove beautifully back into the water.
The crowd stood and applauded, except for Rini and Mary, who applauded in the tree. Darien ducked behind the throne-like chair where Mr. Barnaby sat, avoiding the crowd. He reached for the cane, but Barnaby picked it up instead. He let out a breath. He was so close!
He didn't want to do this, but he had no choice. The next part of the Festival involved King Cole, Queen Hearts, and Mr. Barnaby making big speeches to prepare for the arrival of Santa. This was the least thrilling part of the evening. People often fell asleep. He waved to Jack and Jill, who were squabbling over whether the merpeople or the Chocolate dancers were the best act of the night. Jill nodded and grabbed the infamous pail. The pair gathered water from the river, tottered over to Mr. Barnaby, and threw it over him as he picked up his speech.
The water also hit the king, queen, and Emerald, who screamed. "My dress! My hair!" she shrieked. "Do you two imbeciles know how long it took to do my hair?" She waved at Jack and Jill with her dripping wet fan. "Diamond, punish them!"
The King shook his finger at Jack and Jill. Jill just threw her raven locks over her shoulder and looked righteous. Jack blushed and looked at the ground. "We're sorry, Your Majesties, Mr. Barnaby," Jill explained huffily, "but we were carrying some water to clean the road and get ready for Mr. Claus' arrival when this dimwit had to go spilling it all over the most important people in town!" Rini and Mary saw Jill wink at Jack through the mirror. This was all an act to keep Diamond Barnaby away from his cane and the mortgage.
Jack saw the wink, too. "It was your fault!" he shouted. "You lost your half of the pail!"
Diamond dropped the cane and went to separate the angry pair. Darien made his way through the commotion to the chair, but a hand snatched the cane just as Darien got his fingers around it. "Looking for this, Darien Be- Nimble?" Rubeus hissed. He hauled Darien up by his collar. "Hey, Mr. Barnaby, look what I found, crawling around on the carpet." He whispered something into Mr. Barnaby's ear that made the white-haired man very happy.
"Oh no!" gasped Mary. "We've got to help him! They've got Darien!" She started to stand, but Rini pushed her back down. The sudden movement caused both of them to lose their hold on the tree. The two girls and the mirror went tumbling to the soft grass below them.
Diamond Barnaby took the cane as Rubeus held Darien's arms. Serenity ran to his side, but two Royal Guards blocked her. Two more guards came up to Mary and Rini, brandishing their flags. "Get out of here, Rini!" Mary ordered. "I'll take care of these dorks." Rini hated to run, but there was nothing she could do. She grabbed the mirror and ran behind the tree. Mary took several good swings at the guards, but they hit her with their flags and dragged her struggling to where Jack, Jill, and Darien were also being held.
Diamond Barnaby climbed on top of the shell podium that Michelle recently vacated. Rini peered from behind the tree, horrified. Diamond pointed his cane at Darien. "I have received information from a very reliable source that Darien Be-Nimble is nothing more than a thief and a liar. While all of you have been watching the Christmas Festival, he's been stealing my sheep and having them made into lamb chops! Darien Be-Nimble should be put under arrest and banished to the Forbidden Forest!"