Skip's Preposterous Wish Part 1

Bellia Hopscotch Rabbit was a loud girl who often made her presence known by yelling out her signature quote, “That’s preposterous!”; Bellia’s parents remembered fondly what her first word was. Bell, Bellia’s twin older sister, had recently said her own first word, “mama”, and Harlin was rather jumpy. He was hoping Bellia would say “papa” for her first word. The day had come, one Saturday night when Bellia was curled up next to her father as he sipped coffee. She started sputtering out the “puh” sound and Harlin quickly beckoned his wife and their eldest daughter, six year old, Stella, to come be a witness. However, everyone was in for a surprise, Bellia had said, “PREPOSTEROUS!”

The word seemed to stick as when Bellia got older, her use of the word became more frequent. Bellia was twelve years old now, and having been back from an exchange program a few months ago, everyone had gotten used to her yelling.

One night, that seemed perfectly normal, was the night Skip would never ever forget. It was after dinnertime, where everyone had about an hour of freetime before beheading to bed. Skip had taken this as an opportunity to shower. (He waits until after dinner, so there’s more hot water) While, he showers, his older sisters, Bell and Bellia, are busy helping their mother out with the dinner dishes. “Don’t break that plate,” warns Bell, as she scrubs more soap onto the yellow pot.

“Break plates? Me? That’s preposterous, Bell!” claims Bellia.

Soon an hour passed and all the children send their “goodnight’s” and “sweet dreams”.

“Good night, Mr.Hopscotch!” smiles David, a tenant in the Deluxe Village House.

“Nighty-night, dada,” says Grace with her adorable black eyes.

Harlin got out the removable mattress from his Seven Seater and laid it out in the living room. Bellia preferred the extra bed space, so she was the one who slept on the mattress. Everyone easily drifted fast asleep, but in the middle of Skip’s wonderful dream of becoming a successful detective, he was awoken by a familiar voice.

“THAT’S PREPOSTEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” sleep-yelled Bellia.

Her yell was so loud, Skip could even hear it from the room above the living room. He grumbles as the young rabbit drags himself out of bed and downstairs to see what was wrong. Bellia seemed fine as she was laying on the mattress, still fast asleep. Instantly, Skip sludges his tired body back to bed, wishing he could retrieve the wonderful dream. Right before, Skip’s returns to sleep he mutters out, “I wish Bellia wouldn’t talk anymore.”

Coincidentally, a shooting star flies right by, exactly when Skip makes his (preposterous) wish!

That morning, Harlin Hopscotch set out for work. Bellia and Heidi was already up, since Bellia’s mattress would be needed and Heidi made breakfast. At the kitchen, Heidi was dealing with some sticky problems. “Open wide,” she instructed.

Bellia obeyed and opened her mouth. After that, Heidi poured in an entire cup of hot water down. Bellia instantly closes her mouth and spits most of the water out.

“That was one of the typical country methods,” Heidi says, “We’ll keep trying, Bellia.”

“Heidi, what’s wrong?” asked Harlin as he walked down the wooden steps to the dining room.

“Bellia got a sore throat, lost her voice,” explains Heidi.

She adds in a whisper, “And most of herself, she can’t yell at all.”

Harlin nods and sits down across the dining table. Bellia glumly nibbles at her slice of pound cake. “Bellia, I got two simple solutions to a sore throat. Let me go to the kitchen and get it,” claims Harlin.

A shy smile appears from his third eldest daughter. When Harlin returns he’s holding two cans of coffee beans, Coffee Special, and, Coffee Blend. He explains that you must hold two blend beans under your tongue along with one special coffee bean. Bellia did so and waved goodbye to her father, who hopped into his car and was off to work. About an hour and a half later, Skip, Bell, Karen and David awoke. However, a fifth critter woke up 5 minutes later, Grace Hopscotch, who made her schedule match her sisters’. “Good morning everyone!” announces Skip as he sits down on the couch and reads the newspaper.

“Bellia has lost her voice,” states the fretting mother, “Any ideas are welcome. No one can drink tea today, it’s all for her.”

“Oh dear, let’s go cheer Bellia up,” Karen says as she walks on over to Bellia.

Belli follows and the two ask Bellia to join them for their book club meeting at the patio. “We can even pull up a chair for all three of us!”

“Don’t forget the tarts!” adds Bell.

The three girls leave and soon, Teri comes over for brunch. “Can you believe Freya thinks my post about hats is wrong! It’s simply my opinion, not a VERY TERI situation at all,” rants Teri to her sister, while her daughters go upstairs to play.

Heidi answers, “Oh dear, that is dreadful. You should talk to her Teri.”

“Yes, yes, I will. Now how’s your children?”

Heidi says, “Bellia has a sore throat, she lost her voice.”

“Just go to the Country Clinic and request for some cough syrup!” Teri says, “It is a simple and VERY TERI solution.”

Heidi shakes her head and insists using the old country ways their mother had taught them. However, Teri has other ideas, she instead goes to her good friend, Natalie Charcoal’s house (after brunch) and informs both Natalie and her husband, Mason, about Bellia’s lost of voice. Her original idea was to make them agree with her opinion. Unfortunately for Teri, things take a turn. “Oh really! Well, water always help, especially the premium store bought water,” Natalie states, already opening the fridge.

Mason adds, “No, no, no, Bellia just needs to stay in bed and let her body rest.”

“What do you two mean?!” butts in Teri, “Can’t y’all see the simple solution is to take her to see Doctor Alex Sweetpea?”

With a new argument happening between the adults, they all decide they should march on over back to the Hopscotch's home and try their cures on Bellia. Heidi, slightly surprised to see her sister back with two guests, is busy serving her husband lunch. Boiled squash pieces and biscuits, my favorite, thinks Harlin.

They all explain their business to Heidi and Bellia hears it all. On a piece of paper she writes, I just want my voice back!!! Try them all on me! Then, she hands it to the squabbling adults.

Harlin, also overhears this and declares a contest. Whoever cures Bellia’s sore throat will be the winner. Teri rushes off with her daughters back to her house, drops Breeze and Freya off, takes a cup and races towards the Country Clinic in her car. Natalie shuffles her way into Heidi’s kitchen and pours Bellia a large cup of ice cold water. Heidi begins making more tea, while her husband starts making coffee. Mason urges Bellia to go sleep in Bell’s bed.

Oh dear, oh dear, what have I done?! frets Skip as he watches, All because of that stupid wish!