What Would You Put In Your Den?

Chewy Chester Meets a Mermaid. This will be book two in the series that Madam Brain Cell pulled out of her red bag.

Why do I do it to myself? The Mermaid will be called Merry.

Looking ahead to book two keeps me focused on book one. Chewy Chester Meets Wallis Worm.




Chester has started on his den. I have a great list of things he will be sneaking into it for his comfort. Things he feel might come in useful. Of course Wallis is guiding him into trouble.

Want another snippet? Well to earn it you must leave me one item you would sneak into your den and why.

A mid snippet from the rough draft...

A big pile of sticks caught his eye. They were long and brown. He needed both hands to fit around them, but he could lift one at a time. The sticks were from the tree next door. Daddy wasn't happy about them falling over the fence. He said he didn't know where to get rid of them. Now Chewy had just the place.
For half an hour he pulled the pile of sticks from one place to another behind the shed. Then he pushed his back into the old thicket hedge. He pushed and pushed on the left. Then he pushed and pushed on the right. A big hole appeared but it was only big enough for one person. So he pushed back even more. Then to the sides until he had a hollow room big enough for four boys. He was not inviting girls they would want to put up pink curtains and add frilly things. This den was for boys stuff.

He pulled his gloves from out of his pocket. His hands were not cold, but the hedge would scratch him on his next job. He wanted to stand tall in his den. Up went his arms. Whoosh. Down came leaves and twigs.
"Hey, mind what you are doing", A Blackbird flew past his ear and out of the den. "Give me some warning next time. I was going to build a new house here for Mrs Blackbird."
"Sorry. Mrs Evan's hedge will be quieter." Called out Chewy.
 Up went his arms again. His arms ached at the end of the job, but he could stand tall in his den.

A Sparrow looked down from the shed roof.
"What are you doing boy?" she asked.
"I am building a new place to play. It is an outside room where I can eat my sandwiches". Shouted back Chewy.
"Sandwiches? Are they made from bread?", called down the Sparrow.
"Yes. They have crusts on. Mummy said crusts make your hair grow. Do you want some. You might grow long feathers. Here I will throw it over by the bucket." Chewy broke off a crust from a sandwich he saved in a bag. He had hidden it from lunchtime. Working outside makes him hungry and sitting at the table eating lunch takes too long. So he put one sandwich in a bag he had in his pocket, one he kept in case he found treasure when he was out walking. The other sandwich he ate so Mummy could see he had eaten a good lunch. Chewy was never sure why Mummy said that every day. He must eat a good lunch today. His Mummy's lunches were always good.