Chapter 1

The Mission

The council sat and pondered the issue at hand. It was an important mission, though they had many situations that required as much preparation. They had gotten word that a lonely heart needed help. It had no spark, no joie de vie.

That in itself was not the real issue. The issue was the next agent to rise through the ranks. Agent OBW had proven an intelligent sort. He was a great problem solver with immense potential. His problem was that frankly, he had no manners. He was known to eat right off the plates on his companions and couldn’t keep his body to himself. He also spoke without reservation. He didn’t seem to have… an edit button. This could lead to a great calamity.

"This is a most worrisome situation," One of the elders barked at the noisy room. "It isn’t that he isn’t capable, but he could put our anonymity at risk. I mean what would humanity say if they found out about us?"

A murmur of agreement flooded the immense hall.

Murals of councils past encompassed the room. Regal portraits of heroic agents and happy families covered the tables and sideboards of the hall. The council members knew in the hearts of all agents was the desire and need to do good deeds and fill the hearts of those who were running on empty. A hush of worried anticipation filled the room as the chancellor prepared to speak.

He raised his hand to the council as he spoke thoughtfully and carefully. "If there was another way, without breaking our traditions, I would see to it myself." His eyes lowered, meeting those of the elder. He had seen the bitterness of failure, and yet, in this elder’s eyes he saw a slight glimmer of hope.

"But, we must risk it. We must set these wheels into motion before it is too late." His tone was confident, which belied his heart.

OBW could hear the crowd in the hall. They didn’t sound happy and he began to worry. He had worked his whole life for this opportunity and now he wanted it so badly, he could taste it.

He also knew he wasn’t the most well-mannered of agents. He tried to be like the other ones, waiting his turn, being calm and always listening… but it never came naturally. He was exuberant, filled with boundless energy and loved all things. How was he supposed to stay still?

It was cold in the wood clad room that held him waiting. The agents in training never knew when they would be called. Sometimes they would be whisked from their morning walks in mid stride when their time came.

Agent OBW had been watching the sunset. It was something he had always loved to do. It was a quiet moment in his otherwise busy day where he could sit pondering life. The melon patch had the best view to the west. The deep blue of the ocean paled in the comparison to the dancing of color on the horizon. The sky exploded in pinks and purples, the shimmering of stars just peeking through and then the deep cobalt turned to black.

He was tired. It was his dinnertime and he was hungry. The room was dim and cold, despite the fire in the fireplace. A chill ran through him… What was taking them so long?

The Council members had quieted their arguments and he could hear the soft whispers of the Councilors outside his door. This was it. It was his chance and he couldn’t blow it. He stood up and waited by the door. To ease his nerves he hummed to himself.

He never ever really thought he’d leave the island as an agent. The harsh reality of leaving all he knew set in and he didn’t like it. How would he ever get on alone? How would he ever figure his assignment out?

The Chancellor turned to the attendant at his side. "Send for OBW. Tell him it is time."

The creature jumped to action and returned quickly with the tiny trainee. The chancellor could never get used to how small and fragile the new agents seemed when they left the island. Despite their training, they were never prepared fully for what lay before them. The council members had always been the lucky ones, the chancellor thought. Always passing instruction and living through the agents. He looked at Agent OBW, as he trembled and breathed heavily.

"Agent OBW, you must know our concerns with sending you on this mission. This is a lifelong mission, an arduous one, a new life. Are you sure you are prepared for it?" The chancellor asked gently.

The thing was, Agent OBW didn’t know if he could do it. But he couldn’t say no, even though all he wanted was his bed, his dinner and his sunset.

"Well, um...well.....No… but yes?" He said. Not meaning to make a joke, he heard the room laugh softly.

He was embarrassed and wished he knew how not to be so awkward. He was always saying the wrong thing.

"Take heart, no agent is ever truly prepared.” The chancellor’s voice was calm and gentle. In his eyes, OBW could see his years and all of his kindness.  “You shall leave tonight! You will leave this Island of Peeyugee for the mainland. May the Council always be your guide and may you be its eyes and ears."

The Chancellor waved his hands as he spoke and the floor parted beneath them. A loud rumble shook the floor under his feet. The old wood floor spread wide to reveal the ocean beneath them. Below he saw his ship, a small reed basket to float along in. A bag of food was all that waited for him in the basket.

As he was lowered to his ship, the council clapped and made their well wishes.

The stars were brighter when out on the open ocean. There were no lights to compete with the flickering above him. He could just make out the Island of Peeyugee in the distance. The warm glow of the fires had long faded and only the silhouette of the high mountain that towered over their small city remained.

No outsiders knew of this island. It had remained secret for at least a thousand years. He guessed it was because even if an agent told anyone about it, who would believe him?

Agent OBW,

This will be the last you will hear from us. Your life is changing. While the desired end is known, we cannot foresee your journey. No amount of preparation could have readied you for what lay ahead. I have faith in you, even when the council does not. I know your heart is true. I know you will find your place.

Your mission is to be the spark. A being with much to offer has become joyless. Quiet and subdued days are all that she has found. You are to help her enjoy life again.

In order to make her welcome you, you must make her feel needed. She will pass you by if she thinks you are already happy. You must make yourself her project. You must make it a necessity to have you in her home. In turn, there is much love and belonging awaiting you.

You may despair, you may feel lost and alone... but in that, know how needed YOU are. Do not get in your own way.

You will find them on the big island of Youessay. In a tiny town on a mountain they will wait. How you arrive there will be of your own design. A map is attached to show you where they are...but you must make your own way.

You have very little time to get there. There will be a catastrophe where she will need you most. This heart needs you, young agent, her heart is sad… she will be your kindred spirit.

Hurry, Agent OBW. Don’t miss this chance. I believe in you. You must also believe in yourself.

A sinking of his heart filled his tiny chest. He knew it was late and he must try to sleep. He lay his head down and sighed. His tiny basket bobbed in the water as he floated toward the horizon. Already he could see the dim pink of the sunrise. A song of mournful whales filled his ears as he drifted to sleep. He would make a plan tomorrow. Tonight, he would dream of his bed.

"Would you look at that? Wilma! Come look at this!" The little, gray haired man waived frantically at his wife.

"What is it Gerald?" His wife was a little woman, with lightly lavender curls. She struggled from her chair and peered blankly out over the balcony of their giant cruise ship.

"See that little basket in the water? It’s just bobbing there." Gerald looked out again. He could just faintly make out the little watertight basket. Its contents were unknown to him. He could have sworn he made eye contact with some little creature riding in it.

"I can’t see a thing!" Wilma said as she squinted at the ocean. "Someone probably dropped their purse overboard. Go back to your shuffleboard."

Wilma turned and headed back for her lounge chair.

But Gerald kept watching. It was only a speck now, but he had a funny feeling that it wasn’t a purse. Was something moving in the basket?

Agent OBW woke with a start. He heard the loud blaring horn of the passing ship. The disturbance it caused in the water threw his basket to and fro. Sitting up he made eye contact with a huge creature on the deck of the enormous ship.

Before the old shriveled thing could really see him, he ducked out of sight. Slowly the massive vessel moved passed and on its way leaving only waves and a foul stench of exhaust behind.

Agent OBW was glad to be rid of it. What a strange sight. A great bully of a ship, disrupting the very water it used to move. Even the fish moved from its path. He thought about the little baskets they use on the island. Letting the surf take them out and the tide bring them back, they took only what they could eat and no fish was the wiser. Silently they bobbed into the bay and back to shore.

He thought about the surf that was now taking him further and further from home. Was it the same surf that used to bring him home every night in time for supper? Supper, the very thought made him hungry. He ruffled through the bag of food. A carrot would do the trick.

He wondered if that old creature did see him. He wondered if he’d see more like him. As he munched on his carrot, he was thankful the gulls didn’t like vegetables. He was never that good at sharing.

Chancellor Areeoh sat on his cushion. Before him he held the map, a copy of what OBW had. He thought of how scared Agent OBW must be, but how brave.

He himself had been on such a journey. It was long, long ago, but he did not go to Youessay, he went to the land of Kings and Queens. This is where he acquired his love of tea, scones and of course… Fish and chips. He had heard the name of the country many times, but his old brain didn’t recall.

His memory of his journey there, however, was crystal clear. A storm blew him off course… but he finally reached land and believed he was where he belonged. Landing in Queensland is what confused him. He found himself more confused by his surroundings. It was very hot and filled with animals he’d never even heard of! It wasn’t until someone mentioned Her Majesty the Queen…of… ENGLAND! That was it. England! Then he knew he was in the wrong place. He put his trust in a tiny furry animal, a small kind of bear and explained his plight.

The small bear suggested sneaking onto the flying machine that left every day from the airport. Agent Areeoh thought this was a splendid idea.

The next day, Agent Areeoh snuck into the airport and found a soft piece of luggage. He burrowed his way in and settled in for the flight. It wasn’t even that bad when his luggage was thrown around and then fell off the luggage rack altogether. He got a little hungry, but found a box of shortbread cookies in the suitcase.

After what felt like a year, with many stops and starts, the flying machine finally came to its final destination. He felt his suitcase be moved and waited for the perfect moment to wiggle his way out. When all was quiet, he pushed out from between the sweaters and cookie crumbs and emerged within an ocean of suitcases. Red ones, blue ones, hard ones, soft ones, tiny ones and enormous ones. He hopped and jumped from bag to bag pretending he was a frog, jumping lily pad to lily pad. When he found a door, he peeked out and ran. He saw a huge black car and made a bee line for it. Just as its occupants were about to shut the door, and they were looking up at a flying machine overhead,  Areeoh leapt in the door and under the seat. He pulled a mat in front of him, hoping not to be noticed.

“Mum?” he heard a small voice from the seat over him.

“Yes, dear?”

“A little dog just jumped in the car!” the small voice replied.

Areeoh’s heart began beating out of his chest. He pulled the floor mat around him…. He couldn’t be found!

“Don’t be silly dear. I would have noticed!” the kindly voice replied.

She shut her door and continued on her way. Areeoh breathed a sigh of relief but knew he was still in danger of being found. He wasn’t even sure of where he was yet. After what seemed forever, the car finally came to a halt and he heard the doors open.

He waited a few moments, then decided the quiet meant it was safe for him to pop out. He stuck his tiny face out from behind the floor mat and from under the seat into the late afternoon sun.

“There you are!” Said the small voice, from an equally small creature sitting next to the car. “Why are you hiding?” She asked.

Areeoh had no idea what to say. He just stared at her, her perfect green eyes, brilliant red hair in pig tails and freckles dotting her pale round face. He fully emerged from under the seat, pulled out his map and placed his foot on the Land of Queens. The little being stood up and looked at the map.

“England…you want to go to England! Well, you’re here. Where do you want to go from here?” She seemed so lovely and didn’t seem to notice she was talking to a little dog. A dog with a map no less.

He pulled out the note he found in his food sack. He put it in front of the little creature. She picked it up, read what she could and said quickly, “Wait here!”

He waited a few minutes, gathered his basket and map and the little being returned.

“My Mum says you want to go to Cambridge. I have no idea where that is, but she said it’s not far from here and you can take the train. She also told me I shouldn’t talk to strangers, but since you’re a dog, I think it’s alright.” She handed him a piece of cheese and sat down on the ground next to him.

“It’s almost night time, you can stay here tonight. Mum won’t mind.” She said as she lifted the little dog in her arms and put him inside her coat. “Well, she won’t mind if she doesn’t know. Shhhhhhh.”

He sank into her warm coat, still tasting the cheese she had given him. As she walked into her home, she and her mum talked about dinner and the little being walked upstairs. He heard the door shut as she opened her coat.

Areeoh was blinded by pink. Everything was pink. The floor, the walls… The fabric on the windows… Even her bed was PINK. As he looked at her in disbelief, she looked down at him. “Don’t tell Mum, but I hate pink. It’s just awful!” As she shook her head, Areeoh giggled. She looked down, having never heard a dog giggle before.

“My name is Alice.” She said as she placed the little dog on her blazing pink bed. She stood staring at his wrinkled face, a black mask surrounded by the lightest of tan. She knelt at the side of her bed, still staring him in the eye.

Areeoh knew she felt he was different. He had heard tales of the young people of these lands helping agents, never disclosing their secrets. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and opened his wrinkled mouth.

“I am Agent R-E-O. There is a family in dire need of my presence in Cambridge. I can’t stay here long… Time is of the essence!” He spoke slowly and clearly. He sat straight up and felt the urgency of his mission begin to rise in the pit of his stomach.

Alice beamed. She scooped him up, kissed his little head and said, “I knew you were special! I am going to make sure you get where you are supposed to. I promise!” With this, she held her pinky to his paw… she wrapped it around his smallest toe and said, “Pinky promise!”

“Thank you, Alice!” He whispered with relief and licked her chin. She laughed and put him back down on the bed.

They stared at one another for a very long time, enjoying this moment. For Alice, she knew this meant there was magic in the world, no matter what her parents said. For Areeoh, he found a friend.

The next morning, Alice snuck some leftover chicken and dumplings up to him for breakfast. She had a huge book filled with maps and words. As she opened the book on the bed, she seemed to trace something with her finger. Areeoh ate his breakfast and watched intently.

“Here, this is where we are.” She pointed to a point on the map and said, “Hyde Park, in London. But Cambridge is here.” He could see it wasn’t that far away.

“I will set out this morning. That shouldn’t be too difficult.” He said, chomping on the last dumpling.

“You can’t walk there! But I think we can take the train. I’d drive you, but last time I tried to take the car, I got in trouble. I AM only nine after all.” She rolled her eyes and reached into the top drawer of the desk next to her bed. “Let’s see….I have £45. That should be enough for us both to get to Cambridge!” As she spoke, she began to gather her things and brush her hair.

Areeoh wished he could stay with Alice. He liked her spunk. But his mission was clear… and she obviously didn’t need him. She had her act together.

WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOMP!

The loud noise roused The Chancellor from his memory filled daydream. He blinked madly and looked toward the door. There he saw one of the elders. He wasn’t standing as he had fallen face first onto the rug.

“Elder Beeohtee! Are you alright?” The Chancellor leapt down to check on his old colleague and friend. When he arrived at the elder’s side he was greeted by the sound of heavy snoring. He shook his head and covered him with his own cloak.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" OBW yelled in spite of himself. The storm had brought rough seas. The rough seas wanted to bring back his dinner. Each swell carried him high above the water, and each wave threw him back down.

After what felt like an eternity, the sun tried to show itself through the clouds as the ocean grew weary of its angry swells. Slowly, the water calmed, the sun broke through and he was warmed again. He huddled in the bottom of the basket, a little creature, alone and scared.

The basket kept the water out, with its tight weave. For centuries, citizens of Peeyugee had woven these baskets from the wild grasses that grew in the marshes. They had used them to carry water home from the spring. One day when one fell in the water and was swept back to shore, bone dry inside, they decided to try them out as boats.

They were woven no more than a foot in diameter, very tight with moss for cushion. Over time, the moss often would take over the whole inside of an older basket, making it almost luxurious to float in. The elders cultivated the moss and trained it up the sides. They made sure to trim it so it didn’t go over the edge.

OBW’s basket however, was new. The moss hadn’t yet taken over and his basket was hard and uncomfortable, though it was warm. He could still smell the soot from the kiln fires used to dry the baskets. It made him wish he had never set out on this journey.

He was hungry again. While rustling in his bag he discovered he only had enough food for two more days. He stood up and looked out over the edge of the basket. There was no land. There were no islands. What was he going to do? He’d been bobbing along for days in the middle of the ocean, in a little basket. It was just OBW in a little basket...alone.