It was lucky for us we found Benjamin before he got hurt. However, we still didn’t know where to find his heart.
‘The town have searched every where.’ Said Jack. ‘No one can find it.’
‘I’ll bet those three’ve got it!’ I said.
‘I don’t think so, Emma. If they found another heart after the last one, then I don’t think they would keep it.’
‘Benjamin, do you know where it is?’ I asked Benjamin.
‘Not really?’
‘“Not really”? Benjamin, if you have any idea where it is then you must tell me. If we find your heart, we can bring Benny Bear back to life.’
‘Benny Bear!’ Said Benjamin, looking over to where his bear was laid on the table. ‘But someone needs to put the heart back, anyway.’ Said Benjamin.
#Knock, knock#
‘Jack, did you find him?’ Asked Sally as she opened the door.
‘Of course we did, Sally. Here his.’ Jack picked up Benjamin and took him over to Sally so he could be greeted.
‘Hi, my name’s Benjamin! Benjamin O’Brien.’
‘Nice to meet you, Benjamin. I’m Sally.’
‘I know, Jack just said so.’
‘We still haven’t been able to find his heart, have we, Benjamin?’ Said Jack as he put Benjamin back down on the floor.
Benjamin just continued to gaze up at Sally.
‘You’re a pwitty lady.’ He said.
‘Thank you.’ Sally smiled.
‘Benjamin’s always honest, Sally. He doesn’t know any different.’ I explained.
‘I think I can trust you.’ Said Benjamin.
‘Of course you can trust me, Benjamin.’ Said Sally.
Benjamin held out his hand as if he was giving something to Sally.
But then, something appeared in his hand.
A glowing light of some kind. A glowing ball.
‘Thank you. I wonder what this could this be?’ Said Sally taking the glowing object from Benjamin.
As soon as she took the glowing orb and held it in her hand, she knew.
‘The heart.’ She gasped.
‘The heart!’ I cried. ‘Benjamin, you had it the whole TIME!?’ I said as I picked him up in astonishment.
‘Dat’s wight.’ Said Benjamin
‘But why?’
‘Cause you once said to me dat I needed to give it to someone I twusted if I knew where it was. So I did.’
I put Benjamin back down again.
‘Well, I guess that clears things up.’ Said Jack.
‘Sally, you’re now the only one who can put Benjamin’s heart back.’ Jack explained.
Sally stared into the glowing orb that she now held.
‘This is incredible. But what do I do, Jack?’ Sally asked.
‘Come on, I’ll show you.’ He took Sally by the hand and guided her over to Benny Bear. ‘All you have to do is put the heart back into Benny Bear.’
Sally looked once again at the shimmering in her hand.
She then looked towards the toy bear whom was still lain lifeless on the table.
Sally held out her hand and placed the orb above the bear’s body.
The orb then floated out of Sally’s grasp and hovered above Benny Bear.
The heart began to beat, just like mine and Annie’s.
Sally stood back, a little afraid.
The heart then slowly started sinking down into Benny Bear’s body.
Once the heart had disappeared, Benny Bear’s eyes stopped glowing.
He sat up and rubbed his head.
‘Oh, what a head ache.’ He said.
‘Benny Bear!’ Benjamin cried as he peered over the top of the table and saw his friend.
‘Benjamin?’ Benny Bear crawled over to him. ‘Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!’ But then, Benny Bear looked at the rest of room and realized he had company. ‘Whoa!’ He jumped back, startled.
‘Benny, it’s ok. We’re all friends here.’ I said as I came up from behind him.
‘Emma. You’re safe as well. And Annie.’
‘That’s right. We were all found by his majesty and his town.’ Annie explained.
‘Oh, and who might be “his majesty”?’ Benny asked.
‘That would be me.’ Said Jack. ‘However, the name’s “Jack”. Annie’s the only one who doesn’t call me by my name.’
‘I see.’ Benny understood. ‘Benjamin, would you mind helping me off this table and onto the floor?’
Benjamin reached his hand up at the table where Benny was standing. Benny took hold of his hand and climbed on to his arm and Benjamin helped him to the floor.
‘That’s more like it.’ Said Benny. ‘Now, Emma, would you mind telling me where we are?’
‘We’re in this really creepy place called Halloween town. It’s pretty weird compared to where I come from, and probably weird compared to where you come from too.’ I explained in my own opinion.
‘It’s cool, Benny Bear. I’ve been counting cards with a fat bag person.’
‘A “fat bag person”?’ Benny puzzled.
‘That “fat bag person”, Benjamin, was Oogie Boogie. He’s nothing but a nasty piece of work.’ Jack explained. ‘Stay away from him, Benjamin. You’ll be far better off here.’
‘What do you say, Benny Bear?’ Benjamin asked the advice from his most trusted friend.
‘I think you should listen to what you’re friends tell you. They probably know this town like the back of their hand and I’ve only been here a few minutes.’
‘Ok, no more counting cards.’
‘Counting cards?’ Sally puzzled.
‘Yeah, I’ve been counting a wot of things.’
‘How did you do that?’ She asked.
‘Easy. I just wemember a wot of things.’ Said Benjamin.
‘You remember numbers?’
‘Dat’s wight.’
Sally then began rummaging through a draw, looking for something.
She brought out what looked like a calculator.
‘Here, what do you make of this?’ She said, passing the calculator to Benjamin.
‘Numbers!’ Benjamin cried in glee.
He sat down and began fiddling with the device he was just given.
‘Err…Sally, I don’t think Benjamin’s gonna understand how to use that.’ I objected.
‘I think he’ll learn soon enough.’
‘What makes you so sure? Benjamin can’t even speak properly, never mind knowing how to use a calculator.’
‘I have a plan in mind.’ Said Sally. ‘Just keep an eye on Benjamin with that calculator and I think you’ll be surprised.’
I watched as Benjamin tapped at the device with fascination.
‘Well, at least it’s keep him busy.’ Said Jack. ‘That reminds me,’ Jack began.
‘I myself was busy until you three came along. I’ll still help you find the rest of your friends, Emma. But I’ve also got to help the Mayor prepare for Halloween. It’s October already.’
‘What’s Hawoween?’ Questioned Benjamin.
‘What’s Halloween? Only the best holiday of the entire year. The greatest celebration in town!’ Jack explained.
‘A holiday?’ Said Benjamin.
‘That’s right.’
‘I wanna go to the sea side.’ Benjamin mixed up the noun.
Jack was confused.
‘The “sea side”?’ He said.
I just sighed.
‘Not that kind of holiday, Benjamin.’ Said Benny Bear. ‘A holiday is also an event celebrating a specific culture.’
‘What’s culture mean? And what’s celebwating mean?’
‘Well, I’ll explain later.’ Said Benny Bear.
Benjamin resumed to typing on his calculator.
I suppose this Halloween was gonna be the best of it’s kind is a town like this.
But I wasn’t really thrilled.
I wasn’t here to celebrate anything other than perhaps getting home. All I wanted was to find my friends and go home.
Benjamin seemed curious to know what Halloween was. Annie seemed fascinated.
Me however, I thought nothing of it.
