– Uncle Uncle! – Stephany stormed into Mayor Meanswell's office. Miss Busybody was on the phone, and the Mayor just made tea for her. He thought that since she was on call for more than 30 minutes, her voice could use a tea. But as the pink storm arrived with her usual energy, the Mayor almost poured the hot steaming beverage to poor Miss Busybody. He managed to get hold of the cup again without a catastrophic accident. Fortunately Miss Busybody didn't notice a thing.
– Oh hello Stephany – said the mayor with his calm and nice voice – how is your day going?
– Uncle, we defeated the landshark, Stingy fell off the pirate ship, Sportacus saved him, and now we need some screws and tools, because our new friend Cassie can do some fixing with love. – she jabbered the words in one breath.
– Oh my, I hope Stingy is alright. But tell me why Sportacus needs screws to be fixed? Who is this Cassie who loves him?
– Uncle, we need the screws for the ship! And Cassie is our new friend! Come with me and I'll explain everything! – with that, Stepany was already gone.
The Mayor was standing there, still frozen, and tried to process what she said. He looked at Miss Busybody for help. The lady covered the phone with her hand, and whispered: "Go already!"
"But there?" – he whispered back.
"After her" – she answered, gesturing toward the door with the phone in her hand. At this moment Stephany stepped back at the office.
– Are you coming Uncle?
– Yes, yes. I'm on my way, Stephany, but where are we… nevermind. – he said, because Stephany was far ahead of him again.
– Oh my, this girl is a storm and a half. – the Mayor muttered to himself, and followed his niece.
The running girl led him to that playground, where the pirate ship was in the middle. The whole gang was there: all of the children, Sportacus, and a young lady, who he didn't meet yet. He must be the "new friend Cassie".
– Uncle look! The crows nest is broken! – Stephany pointed at the top of the ship.
– And I fell down – Stingy added jumping up and down, still excited.
– And, and, and Sportacus saved him! – Ziggy shouted in excitement too.
– Slow down children, I can't keep up. – Said the Mayor calmly. – As I see, the ship is now broken. Oh my, I'm glad you were here Sportacus, so no one got hurt. But unfortunately I have to close down the ship for now. It is very dangerous indeed.
Sportacus looked the broken thing up and down, and nodded in agreement. He knew how the kids love the ship, so they will be sad about it, but it was obviously dangerous.
– Close down? – Trixie shouted in shock! – You can't close down our ship!
– I'm afraid, I have to, Trixie – the Mayor said, and he looked comparably sad too – This is more like a shipwreck at the moment and this is dangerous to use. I can't let anyone near it, until I have fixed everything on it.
– And when will it be? – Trixie asked with a certain sharpness in her voice.
– Let me see… – the Mayor started to fish in his pockets, and finally he pulled out a weathered paper. He rolled it out, and the end of the paper hit the ground, and rolled along a bit more – I think I can do it soon, but I have to finish Miss Busybody's fence, clean out the weeds from the sports field, fix the gate… – and he continued muttering, lost in his endless tasklist.
– But Cassie said she could help to fix the crowsnest! – Stephany added.
– Oh yes, Cassie, I'm sorry I was distracted a little – said the Mayor, and held out a hand to the strange young lady in dark colours – I'm Mayor Meanswell, the ahm yeah, the Mayor. Nice to meet you! Stephany seemed so excited about you.
– It is a pleasure Mayor Meanswell, I'm Clarissa Meyer. I just arrived today. – Cassie shook the hand of the Mayor – I really would like to help with that nest up there, the kids love this ship..wreck.
– It's very nice of you Cassie, but it isn't just the nest, I'm afraid – said the Mayor sadly – this whole ship is falling apart. A hotfix is not enough this time. I didn't notice before from a distance, but I can see now how dangerous this playground is. I need to renovate the whole thing!
– I can help with that too. But it is not something I can do in a couple of hours, and I still don't know where to sleep tonight. Can you recommend a place nearby? A not too expensive one, if you can, I'm broke by design. – Cassie smiled mischievously.
– Oh in that case, no way, that I could let you help, I don't want you to do hard lifting in your condition…
The kids started to laugh, but Sportacus just smiled, shaking his head.
– I think what Cassie meant by that is, she doesn't have much money. - Sportacus said.
– Oh, I see, my bad. But I'm afraid, the town is not a tourist paradise, you see, so there is not much to choose from… – said the Mayor again lost in his thoughts.
– She could stay with us! – Stephany interrupted the Mayor – Just a couple of days.
Stephany saw his uncle turning red from ear to ear.
– She can stay in my room! - Stephany offered with growing enthusiasm.
– Stephany, it is really nice, but I don't think it's a good idea – said the Mayor in an apologising tone, avoiding to look at Cassie – I mean that is a small house and…
– It's okay, I can camp outside – Cassie interrupted, feeling pity for the Mayor.
– No no no, it is unnecessary. – said the Mayor – we can figure something out. Maybe… – his face suddenly lit up – I know! The old house of the gardener! He left us twenty years ago, since then, his place only houses the tools and occasionally a mouse family I'm afraid, but it can be fixed in no time! It is just a temporary solution of course, until you help fix this playground.
– That is more of a wreck than this ship – Trixie said in a harsh tone – that is no place to live in!
– Better than nothing I suppose! – said Cassie with a cheerful smile. She sometimes stayed in houses during her travels that were more of a cardboard box than a house, dirt floor, no windows. And usually a whole family was living there, sharing their little homes with her.
– I'm not used to five star accommodations anyway, so if it has floors, roofs and walls, it can be fixed, it just needs a little work and imagination.
– That's the spirit! – cheered the Mayor.
– I have an idea. – said Cassie putting up a serious face – Let's say instead of just fixing the ship, I help with the whole list of yours, and for that you let me crash the gardener's place for free!
– Crush? Oh my! – the Mayor looked terrified
– That means she wants to stay there Uncle, not really crush the place. It's slang. – Stephany jumped in to help.
– I see, well then, let me say, if you start to fix these things on my list I can even pay you. – said the Mayor, handing over the list – But not much I'm afraid, and I have to say that, this list is very long.
– I accept what I can get, and the extra will be the company. Also, these guys and gals can help with smaller tasks, if you can give a fair share of the payment to them too. – she said, offering her hand to the Mayor.
– I can see that you can negotiate. – smiled the Mayor knowing that his offer was far from good, and shook her hand in agreement. – Let me show you the house then.
– This way! – Stephany jumped in immediately to help. With Pixel on Cassie's skateboard, the kids lead the way, Cassie had to run to keep up with them.
Sportacus watched them go, as the Mayor slowly walked after them.
– I have to remember not to give cake as breakfast for Stephany – said Mayor Meanswell.
– Yes, I think that would be wise – Sportacus smiled, Stephany indeed had an unusual amount of energy. And chaos. She was pure chaos this whole morning. Sportacus watched her as she jumped across a bench instead of going around it. She reminded him of watching a thunderstorm from the ship. One day he might invite her to stay for a night, and watch a thunderstorm from up there. He suspected that Stephany would really enjoy that. But that would mean that Stephany would spend the night on the ship, and the thought of that wandered a bit further, but Sportacus stopped himself.
The Mayor saw the loving look on Sportacus' face, as they followed the kids and Cassie from a distance. The hero even blushed a little.
– Oh, love! Love is the most beautiful thing in the World. – the Mayor sighed.
Sportacus stopped dead. He was shocked, scared, and a bit panicked. The Mayor saw his puzzled expression, and tried to explain himself.
– Oh pardon me, I didn't want to be nosey, it's none of my business, but Stephany told me that Cassie is your girlfriend. Good for you.