Broken Strings (Dedicated to my good friend Michiko-Chan!) By HamClover

OOOOOOOOO

Many apologies about the list author's note last chapter. I hope it didn't upset any of you! (Actually, I think I worded one part wrong, so I was worried you guys thought I wasn't gonna' write completely!) Yeah well I stayed up late (again) watching movies (This time it was Satoshi Kon's Millennium Actress, and I didn't know it was subtitled!) I have to stop staying up late. I need to get used to waking up early again! High school starts September 7th!

OOOOOOOOO

Chapter 7 (finally):

"Errol, the least you could do for me is sit up straight," Gladys scolded the hay-colored hamster.

Errol rolled his eyes and glanced at Jingle.

"See, this is what happens when you get an uptight girlfriend!"

"I heard that!" Gladys shouted, her paws balled up in fists. It looked like she really was angry, but really she couldn't be happier. Whenever Errol was not around, things would become terribly boring and nothing would seem exciting. (Errol has a knack for making the dullest things fun)

Errol smirked at Gladys' comment and scratched his head.

"Man, am I hungry!" He complained.

Gladys look wearily at Jingle.

"Do we have any food?"

Jingle was inspecting his broken guitar.

"Do we?"

He looked up at slowly shook his head.

Errol snorted.

"Well there's a profound answer!" He said. Gladys glared at him.

"Jingle," She began, "We don't have any food! I haven't eaten in two days! Let's hop on Herbert and go find some!"

"Yeah!" Errol added.

"Wherever the wind blows," Jingle sighed, "We will follow,"

Errol stared at Gladys.

"What the hell is he talking about?"

"Don't ask."

So, after much pushing and shoving, they managed to go on their way. Now they were searching for two things; (one has already been checked off the list; finding Errol) guitar strings and food.

"So why is finding strings for that guitar so darned important?" Errol finally asked. It had been killing him to know.

"Playing my guitar is like breathing for me. It's all freedom."

"...in English?"

Gladys chuckled, turning her head to the frontier ahead of them. Then she spotted something off in the distance. Squinting, she realized what it was.

"Hey! Hey guys!" She shouted, "Look ahead!"

She pointed to the now growing larger brown spot.

"See? I think it's a trading post! We're saved!!"

Jingle and Errol looked ahead, and sure enough, it was.

"Well, good job, hawk eyes," Jingle said.

As they arrived to the slightly run down old building, they noticed piles and piles of seeds. Seeds, seeds, and more seeds! Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, apple seeds, any a ham could dream of! Just the sight of it made the trio's mouths water.

"We just hafta get some!" Errol exclaimed, running towards them.

"Wait!" Gladys shouted, catching Errol by the ruff of his neck, "This is a trading post! We either have to pay or trade for this stuff!"

"Oh..." Errol said glumly.

Just as Errol sighed, a slightly older hamster trotted out from the building.

"Why hello!" He said with his deep voice. "Welcome!"

"Uh, hi." Gladys greeted back.

"Now what would you three like?" The owner asked.

"EVERYTHING!" Errol screamed. Gladys smacked him.

"Shut up!" She whispered to him. Errol glanced the other way, with a pouty face on.

"Um, well, I think we'll take a few sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, right guys?"

The two boys nodded eagerly.

"Okay," The owner began, jotting this down on a tiny piece of paper, "Trade or pay?"

"Ummm...we don't have any money, so trade. Wadda' you want?"

The owner looked at the gang, inspecting every single object in their possession.

"What about....that old broken guitar yeh' guys got?"

Jingle gawked at him.

"WHAT!?" He shouted, finally snapping. "NOT MY GUITAR!!!"

The owner gruffly put his paws on his hips.

"No guitar, no food." He said, smirking.