Bud's adventures on Lambardo Island

Chapter 1- The moon and Godiva

The wind howled harmoniously through the trees as Bud watched the glimmering stars above him shine like gold dust in the dark night sky. The sky felt lonely tonight with the absence of the full moon. Only a small slither of white remained in the sky where not so long ago the full figure of the moon cast its mystical spell over the town of Beaconsfair. A smile lay sprawled across Bud’s soft cheeks as he grasped the magnitude of the night sky and his small insignificance within the universe. Sometimes a calming thought, sometimes terrifying, tonight it seemed a happy thought as he began to realise that no matter what he did, the world would be the same, so he should do what he could to be happy. Nothing else matters in the end, thought Bud. In that instant the bright light on the porch that was illuminating the front of the house fell dark and Bud felt a ghostly chill creep upon his soul. It was so terrifying he decided to go inside. A wild idea crept into his tired mind as he hopped off the bar stool he had been taking comfort on. This wild idea was one that he had been pondering for a while. He was trying to decide whether to set sail to the next island, Lambardo Island. It was a wild idea as such because Lombardo Island was well known in the town of Beaconsfair as being the only island where the wild ones were said to live. But it was only a rumour, surely? The wild ones, it had been said, never slept, and ate only blue bananas from the wild blue banana tree. The wild ones, you see, were fruitarians. Apart from the accidental fruit fly, those delicious blue bananas that only grew on Lambardo Island were the only things to make up the diets of those wild ones. Suddenly, a shiver ran down Bud’s spine. A creepy crawly? No. Just the thought of meeting a wild one up close… the idea was unnerving. And so it was decided, it was something he just had to do, there was no way around it, it had to be done; Bud had to go to Lambardo Island, and it had to be tomorrow too, for the full moon would soon come around again, and, if rumour serves true, when the full moon comes out, the wild ones get really wild. The wild ones, at full moon, get wilder than wild, they get wilder than the wildest wilderbeast or the hungriest of lions. On that full moon night, the wild ones were known to eat more than just the blue bananas from the tropical blue banana tree, they were known to eat Beaconsfairians. Bud wasn’t worried, though, despite all the rumours. He was an avid adventurer and wilderness explorer. First, Bud conquered the Island of Dominigo just West of Lambardo. And before that he conquered the Island of Rovidi, just North of Lamdardo. On these islands is where he laid his flag, which remains to this day.

Bud decided it was probably time to turn in. He had a big journey to make tomorrow and rest was very important for him to stay alert. He laid his big empty mug of had-been tea on the kitchen table and began to make his way upstairs when he heard a faint whisper. At first he thought it was the wind but as he listened closer he became aware of it’s high pitch. He turned around instantly and glaring at him through his window was the biggest tabby cat he had ever seen. It’s fur was jet black and shimmered in the night sky and it had a look on it’s face of great satisfaction. Had it just caught a mouse? He thought. Just then, more noises rippled across the air and Bud understood at once. Kittens, and lots of them. This kitty had just given birth and had come to include Bud in her celebrations. ‘Hmmm’ thought bud, ‘I will call you Godiva’. Then, just as instantly as she had appeared, Godiva disappeared. ‘How strange, maybe I will see you tomorrow’ muttered Bud as he turned around and continued upstairs. ‘So peculiar to see a cat with such dark and beautiful fur, I surely hope I will see her again, and I hope her babies will be okay.’ As bud reached the top of the stairs, he looked back with nostalgia, secretly wishing the cat could have stayed, he could have used the company tonight. ‘Oh well’ Bud said and sighed, ‘she would have made a lovely companion on my journey tomorrow’ at the thought Bud’s eyes grew very heavy and as he rubbed them he realised that tomorrow was his birthday. ‘What a day to travel on! My birthday!’. As Bud opened the door to his room, he noticed his desk light was still on, ‘silly me I must have forgotten to turn it off’ he muttered as he crossed over to his desk to turn it off. Upon the desk laid the instructions for building a sailing ship. The writing was so small that only those with great eyes could read them. Luckily, Bud had great eyesight. So great that, when he turned off that desk light, his eyes were able to adjust to the dark so well that he didn’t even stub his toes on the bed post before climbing into his bed. Bud turned over and through the slits in the window blinds he could just make out the moon’s faint glow in the far, far away-ness. ‘Good night moon’ whispered Bud, ‘good night stars. Good night all living things near and far’.

Chapter 2- Setting sail

That morning, the sun arose with such energy, casting it’s beautiful bright light across all of Beaconsfair. Many people were awake and busy in the town centre, but not Bud. Today was a special day, he declared. ‘Today is the day I will make way to the Island of Lambardo!’ There was not a cloud in sight and the fullness of the dew drops on the grass outside his house gave Bud a feeling of freshness and relief as he breathed in the cool summer air. There is nothing quite like an exquisite summer morning, he thought, as he took in the view of the lake from his house. Standing on his front porch, Bud looked out across the boat he had built. It was a small blue sailing boat, a beautiful baby blue he had just finished painting the day before. The name on the side of the boat read ‘Baby Blue’ for the boat was only a small thing, but nonetheless Bud was proud. He marvelled for only a few seconds more at his creation before stumbling onwards towards the path on his rear garden. The sea air seemed to call out to him and he couldn’t resist feeling that someone else was there with him, perhaps a sea deity, a goddess wanting to wish him well on his travels. Suddenly he felt the brush of something against his leg… Godiva! She looked up at him in a superb kind of good morning greeting. It made Bud smile and he felt a sort of internal well of warmth bubbling up inside of him. But where were her babies? Maybe dad is looking after them for the day? Bud thought it best not to interfere in the personal runnings of her household, so he didn’t ask. Instead, he laid out his hand in a kind of warm welcome and whispered ‘I’m Bud, nice to meet you!’ Godiva looked him deep in the eyes and gave a huge stretch of both her arms, raising her tail into the air as she curled her back. ‘Ha!’ thought Bud, ‘Good morning to you too! And isn’t it a beautiful one’ he murmured as he made his way down the garden path, Godiva following close behind.