The Moonstur looks over both of his shoulders as if I’m talking to somebody else. Then he looks back at me. “Why you no run and hide?” he says. He talks with a grrr in his voice. Then he jerks a thumb at Andever and Posey, who are hiding behind a tree. “Those two run and hide. They smart.”
I shake my head. “They just don’t see how wonderful you are.”
“WHAT?!” he shouts and waves his arms in the air. “Me NOT wonderful!!! Me GRACKAN. Everyone say me SCARY. You RUN!”
Aw, this Moonstur needs a great big hug, but I offer him my hand instead. “Nice to meet you, Grackan the Wonderful!” I say, shaking his furry green hand. He’s a snuggle bug, I think, except for maybe all those pointy teeth.
“Grackan da Won-dur-fool?” he repeats. I can tell he likes it, but then he gets all gruff again. “So, what you want?”
I look over at Andever. “That Cloud Critter has lost her melody. Have you seen it?”
“Is it bright, shiny, NOISY?” asks Grackan, and I give him a nod.
A big toothy smile spreads across his furry face. “Me help.”
Andever lets out a hopeful cry, but Grackan holds up a claw.
“FIRST we play hide-and-shriek!” he says. “THEN me help.”
I step up and answer for everyone. “Let’s play!”
Grackan is “it” first. He counts, and we scatter. Not to brag, but I am a master hider. I dive under the covers of one of the messy, unmade beds. I fluff the quilt to make it look like nobody is there. Posey hides in a closet. Bad idea. Andever hides behind a bush. Worse idea. They both get caught, obviously, and Grackan gives them a good scare.
I know because I hear them shriek.
Then we all take turns being “it.” Grackan is a master hider too. When he disguises himself as a furry footstool, no one finds him!
“ME win!” Grackan says triumphantly. “Now me tell you what me know.”
We gather round and listen eagerly.
“Your melody disturbing Pretty Pixies,” he says. Then he turns to me. “You go see. You find. You good at hide, which mean you good at find.”
Now I think that is a Moonstur compliment! So off we go to the Land of the Pretty Pixies.
