To read the previous edition, go here.

Pumble was the first one to reach King Baylor, much to everyone’s surprise.  After all, after a winter of eating cookies, pies and strudels with his only exercise tottering around the kitchen; no one thought he could run that fast.  “King Baylor!” he gasped, bending over and clutching his knees.  “You must tell us where the Doldrums are!”

King Baylor, ruler of the stickhorses, shook his head as the rest of the Land of the Flowered Bed thundered behind Pumble.  “You don’t want to go to the doldrums.”

“Oh, yes, we do!” Hairy cried, sweat plastering his normally puffy skin to his fur.  “You see, we have the Doldrums.  The Flying Pig told us the only way to get rid of the doldrums was to go to the Doldrums.  So we must get there as soon as possible, before Spring arrives and we have the doldrums forever.”

“Personally, I don’t mind the doldrums,” Cookies grumbled, crossing his wings.  “I’d much prefer everyone being bored and gloomy to making a ruckus running about and shouting and giggling like inane idiots, like normal.”

The seals hissed at him, narrowing their eyes and thumping their tails against the carpet in disapproval.

“The thing is, I don’t think you understand the terrifying truth about the Doldrums,” King Baylor murmured, his fuzzy face drooping in sorrow.  “You see, one can’t simply stroll into the Doldrums and return the Doldrums.  It’s not that easy.”

“Of course not,” Cookies muttered bitterly.  “Why would it ever be that easy?”

Pumble got so nervous, he pulled a package of cookies out from behind his wings and began to gobble them down.  Ladybug gripped his arm, and the seals quivered.

“What do we have to do?” Hairy asked.

King Baylor leaned forward, his voice so soft the others had to strain to hear.  “The thing about the Doldrums, you see,” he whispered, “Is that they are devoid of joy and frivolity.  There is no sunshine, no flowers, no laughter or joy.  There is only grey days, apathy and dismay and long hours that run into each other, dwelling on forever.  Anyone who stays longer for a few minutes, especially if they already have the Doldrums, will slowly begin to forget what they came for.  They’ll quit caring, and then they’ll forget entirely.  And once that happens, they’re trapped in the Doldrums forever, doomed to a life of boredom.”

The others stared at him in horror, their voices frozen in their throat.  Sandie was the first one to speak.  “How do we prevent that?  Is there a way to stay safe?”

King Baylor nodded.  “You must ask the GLUG to accompany you.”

“The GLUG?” Miss Moose McKinley burst out.  “Who is the GLUG?”

“I’ve heard stories about the GLUG,” Augie the Otter replied, shrugging when everyone turned to look at him.  “Back where I used to live.  He really likes tasty, tasty leaves…so I’ve heard.”

“The GLUG is the Ginourmous Lime Green Unusual Gnat,” King Baylor replied, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth.  “He is…unusual for sure.”

“I don’t care if he wears a bucket on his head and twirls around wearing sundresses,” Cookies snarled.  “How do we find him?”

“He’s coming to my comedy show tonight,” King Baylor replied.  “At eight o’clock.  Why don’t you all come, and I’ll introduce you after the show?  Then if he agrees, you can be on your way to the Doldrums.”

The animals all looked at each other, then nodded.  “We’ll be there,” Hairy vowed.  “And then–the Doldrums!”

“I’m going to need a lot more cookies,” Pumble muttered, shaking his wings.  Only crumbs trickled out.

To be continued…

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a week of whimsical fun coming up!

For more about the Land of the Flowered Bed, check out my illustrated children’s book!