Chapter Seventy Two

Alan walked with Namid as they headed away from the bazaar back into the town. As he walked, he glanced down and smiled. He could tell that she was back to normal and that gave him a sense of relief. He had been worried that she would carry lingering memories of her ordeal but his brother seemed to have purged everything from her mind. She was listening to her ereader and even though the robot voice did get on his nerves he was happy she was happy, that to him was the most important thing.

They reached the pavement and turned right.

"Well, my Mi-mi, I wonder where this funfair and circus is at," he said to her. "We should go ahead and try to find it so we can get tickets for the show."

"Yeah," Namid said with a nod.

"We can keep in contact telepathically with the others while we do this. I've become bored by the bazaar and I wanted to take a stroll with ya."

"Me too. I can't see anything so it gets boring even if Daddy does show me what's going on."

"I can imagine, my Meemster," Alan said.

They fell silent for a few minutes while Namid listened to her ereader. Finally she looked up at Alan.

"Uncle Alan?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think that person will be alright? They're not gonna kill him, are they?"

Alan smiled tenderly at her and squeezed her hand.

"You and your sister and brother have so much compassion. Your father instilled that in you and I'm glad to see that it's taken root. It's what you need if you're going to travel full time with him someday," he said as they walked. "It's what Rose and I are trying to teach your cousin and all the kids. That you need to care about someone other than yourself. Excuse me, Ma'am," he said as he stopped an elderly woman. "Hi, we're looking for the funfair and circus. Which way is it?"

Namid listened while the lady gave him directions to it just on the outskirts of the town. She advised him to take the bus and where he should catch it and Alan thanked her before they moved on.

"Hear that, my Meemster, we have to get on the bus."

"You gonna cause trouble?" Namid said.

"Moi? I never cause trouble. Good as gold, me."

"Yeah, right."

"Just what are you implying?" Alan asked.

"I'm…saying that you're a big kid."

"True but I also know when to behave. I know the difference between riding quietly and singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of my lungs while riding the bus. I do. Okay, I do get a bit silly at times but I still know the difference."

Namid giggled and she squealed when Alan suddenly hoisted her up in the air and spun her around.

"A circus, we're going to a circus tonight!" he said, ignoring the odd looks of the people around them. "Say horray!"

"Horray!" Namid yelled.

He sat her back down.

"That's the spirit, Meemster Beemster, we're gonna see all sorts of cool things tonight. Ah, here is our bus stop."

"I dare ya to get on the bus and act silly," Namid said.

"Now, just one minute. Your father would flay me alive if I didn't act like a responsible uncle and make you behave," Alan said.

"One time when Daddy took me on our special night out, we went by this fountain and he took his shoes and socks off and rolled up his trousers and got in and danced around in it for me."

"Really?" Alan said with interest. "Trying to picture the old man doing that. Sit down on this bench, Mi-mi, gotta tell ya something."

He guided Namid to a wooden bench beside the bus stop and sat down beside her. He put his arm around her.

"Do you know about your daddy being sad for a long time?" he asked her.

"Yeah, daddy said that before he had all of us, he was very sad."

"Yes, he was. He didn't have much to live for back then. Life had worn him down and he was feeling his age and there were times when he didn't feel like getting out of his TARDIS and exploring. "

Namid shut off her ereader and listened quietly while Alan spoke to her.

"See, back then he didn't feel like doing silly things like dancing in fountains. He was mad at the universe and mad at his enemies and mad at himself and his hearts were heavy. That's why I'm glad he does do silly stuff with you and your brother and sister. He's changed so much in the past couple of centuries and it makes my hearts light knowing he's a happier man today."

"Because of us," Namid said happily.

"Yup, because of us," he said, ruffling her hair as she giggled.

Which is why I'm thankful Brother rescued you in time from the flames, he thought to himself. God, I don't know if I would have been able to cope with you being gone, Namid. You're one in a million, my niece.

"Uncle Alan?"

"Hmm?"

"Watch."

Namid brought her father's mind forward and took a deep breath while she concentrated on it.

HEY, DADDY, WE'RE TAKING A BUS TO THE CIRCUS! She screamed to him inside her mind.

Alan laughed when he felt his brother's shock and then he heard him chuckling.

DON'T START THE CIRCUS WITHOUT US! The Doctor screamed back as everyone laughed.

Hey, wait, Sokanon thought to them. I wanna go to the circus. Don't go without me!

We're not going yet, Soki, Alan thought. Mi-mi and I thought we'd go on ahead and see what time the show started and get the tickets before it's too late. We'll wait for ya.

He felt her relief in his mind and smiled.

Let us know what time the show starts and how to get there, the Doctor thought to him.

Well, it's outside town and they told us to take bus sixteen to get to it which is what we're waiting for now, Alan thought back. When you get back to the pavement, turn right and go 'bout a tenth of a mile, you'll see the bus stop.

Great, we'll start over there in a few minutes. A couple of people are haggling for things and Mi-mi, Doc wants you to know he has something for you and he'll give it to you when he sees you.

Yay! Thank you, Dada!

You're welcome, Ya'nala. Have fun with Alan and I'll see you at the funfair, Doc thought to her.

Alan looked over to his right when he saw the bus slowing down and pulling up. He took Namid's hand while he thought to the others that the bus had arrived. As he and Namid waited for the bus to stop, he noticed a woman behind them with alabaster skin and long black hair walk up. He smiled hello to her and she did the same as the bus stopped. The door opened and the three of them got on, found seats near the back and sat down as the bus started up again.