Chapter 5/Missing

Over the next few weeks, Stampy was healing rather quickly with his friends always around to help. He was eating more, which noticeably improved his weight. He played games in his Funland and built more shops as well. He rarely cried, even though his heart ached for it sometimes. He was with Sqaishey more than ever before and that was when he was at his happiest.

Today, that was not the case. Stampy was supposed to meet up with his sister today and they were going to bring his dogs for grooming. But Stampy didn't show up, so Netty had to do it on her own. Around lunchtime, she walked over to Sqaishey's house and knocked on the door.

Sqaishey looked rather startled by the annoyed look on Netty's face. Before she could greet her, Netty said, "Can I see Stampy?"

Sqaishey's expression changed from startled to puzzled. "Stampy isn't here."

"Come on, Sqaishey." Netty gave her a disbelieving glare.

"Really, he's not! He told me he couldn't visit until later on because you guys were going to the groomers."

"He never showed, Sqaishey, " Netty told her in a calmer tone. "I just assumed he would be with you. I apologize."

"Well..." Sqaishey look like she was thinking. Then she said, "He looked kind of ill when he left yesterday, so maybe he slept in."

"Maybe..."

"Let's go check on him. "

"Stampy, are you in there?" Sqaishey called through his bedroom door. After not hearing an answer, she and Netty walked in quietly, so they didn't disturbed the cat's sleep. But they wouldn't have disturbed anything, because Stampy wasn't even in bed.

"That's weird." Netty looked like she was already starting to freak out.

"Be calm, Netty," Sqaishey warned. "He might just be in a different part of the house. Then you'd be starting to get all panicky for nothing. Let's search the house."

The two split up and searched the entire house, Netty towards the front, Sqaishey all of the back rooms, Netty upstairs, Sqaishey downstairs. After about a half hour, they met up back in Stampy's room.

"I couldn't find him," they reported in unison.

"Where could he be?" Sqaishey began to feel panic rising in her chest as well. The two walked outside together.

"I know he isn't with Squid. I stopped by to say hello this morning before I brought the dogs to the groomers. What about Amy and Rosie?"

"Nope. I went out with them this morning and returned home just before you got there. We could talk to Choo-Choo and Finnball."

With that settled, the girls ran to the village to find Choo-Choo and Finnball. They found the big-headed alien just as he was leaving his house.

"What's up, ladies? Are you two alright?" He looked concerned as he stood in front of the girls, who were panting hard from the run.

"Where are you off to?" Netty asked.

"Finnball and I are going to have a game of Flower Power to practice our use with a bow." he explained.

"Well, do you know where Stampy is?" As the words escaped Sqaishey's mouth, Finnball came out of Choo-Choo's house.

"Is he missing?" Finnball asked.

"He was supposed to meet me at the dog house," Netty explained everything, from the doghouse to accusing Sqaishey of sheltering him and them searching through his house. They explained what they had done this morning and who they were with. "I think we should gather everyone together and find him." Netty finished.

Then, as if on a cue, Squid came bounding up to them. "Have you guys seen Stamps? I was going to see if he wanted to go to the compound and build more for the water park."

"I was just about to come get you," Sqaishey said. She briefly explained what was going on. "We need Amy and Rosie."

"I'll go get them," Finnball offered and bounded away before anybody could protest.

"This isn't like Stamps," Squid mumbled. "I don't think he would just run off without telling anybody. He has to be here somewhere." He thought for a minute. "When Amy and Rosie come back with Finnball, I want you four girls to search the Funland. Choo-Choo, Finnball and I will search the shops."

"We need to find him," Netty whined.

"We will, Netty. It will all be alright. He's probably just having a think somewhere."

But, do you know that for sure?