There's no place like home 8/9

It was another three days before Jennifer Jane was able to visit the giant again. After all, she had a lot of homework to catch up with! For the first time since she’d been visiting the giant, there was no one at the pool.

She dipped her finger in the water and had a taste. The water was salty and flowing slowly into the river, so at least the pump was working correctly. She went back to the goblins to ask if they knew where he’d gone. The first person she found was one of the firemen polishing the fire engine.

“He asked one of the witches to make him small enough to go on holiday with Barnacle Bill. He said he’d never had a proper holiday before, except for the odd day off. Now he’s got the machine to keep the pool filled up properly they said there’d be no objection. I don’t know where they’ve gone though.”

Jennifer Jane thanked the fireman and went off to the Witches’ Home to see if they knew where the giant might have gone.

“It was quite interesting actually,” said Abigail, ”he came here two days ago. Said he didn’t like sea travel after all and could he go to visit the giant in the alternate world. I think Barnacle Bill was quite upset. We took him through the castle side of the Home and changed him back to his normal size, then told him how to get up to the castle. We haven’t seen him since.”

Jennifer Jane went through to the guardhouse, signed out her broom to go to the giant’s castle and flew off as quickly as possible.

She didn’t have to search for the giant at all. He was sitting by himself in a chair on the battlements and seemed to be quite pleased to have some one to talk to.

“Arthur’s gone to get a cup of tea,” he said.

“Do you know, I’ve never got round to asking him his name before, somehow I’ve always thought of him as ‘the giant’ and his wife. I suppose I ought to be properly introduced to you now that there are so many giants all in one place.”

The giant turned away from her and lowered his head in embarrassment, “Wilfred,” he whispered.

Jennifer Jane realised he was not very fond of his real name. She supposed he’d rather be known as ‘Bonecrusher’ or something similar, rather like the dragons. However she didn’t want to make fun of him so she was very polite.

“That’s a nice name, it suits you. You’re the friendliest giant I know, it would be horrible if you were called ‘Gorgol’ or something like that.”

Wilfred seemed quite relieved that she hadn’t made fun of his name. He started telling her about the horrible time he’d had at school, when he was teased by the other giant children for having such an unusual name. He was still telling her stories about his childhood when Arthur came clumping up the stairs.

“Hello,” he said, “what are you two talking about?”

Jennifer Jane explained that after all the time she’d been friendly with her giant, she’d never known his name.

“I’ve never been properly introduced to your wife either,” she said.

“Her name’s May,” said Arthur.

Although he was speaking quietly for a giant, his voice boomed out from the battlements and could probably have been heard for miles.

“I heard that,” came the reply in an equally loud voice from downstairs. “What are you saying about me behind my back?”

“Nothing dearest,” said Arthur, “just talking to our visitors.”

Jennifer Jane had to smother a giggle, it seemed so strange to hear a giant who could pull up trees and carry dozens of people in a box, having to be careful not to upset his wife.

“I’d better go back down and explain things to her,” said Arthur with a sigh. He turned round and went back down the stairs and a few moments later could be heard telling May that Jennifer Jane had turned up unexpectedly and was learning all their names and chatting to their new friend Wilfred.