"TICIANITA ARABELLA WOBELLS-ARLOTT" Tales

BOOK ONE: CHAPTER ONE

TICIANITA ARABELLA WOBELLS-ARLOTT

(Introducing Tish and her Silver Tummy Button)

Tish was the daughter of a VERY posh family. She had a VERY posh name. Her full name was, TICIANITA ARABELLA WOBELLS-ARLOTT. Her friends and family called her Tish for short.

It had been one of those days when everything went wrong for Tish: To start with, it had been her first day at the Convent school ' worse than that, the other young ladies there had teased her something awful.

Mamma had a Coffee Morning planned, and the chauffeur had flu. Worse still, the Maid had run off with the Butler to get married the night before. That meant Tish had to WALK to school, and walk back from school, on her very first day - and all on her own. It was all quite shocking. Tish was five years old and thought a young lady of her age should be treated with MUCH more respect and consideration.

Even more worse - when the Nun introduced her to the other girls ' giving Tish's full name ' the others had laughed. At morning break, one of the girls made fun of her name; calling her, Tishywobbles, and all the others joined in calling her that and laughing.

And even worse than even that, on the way home it was raining, and some thoughtless lorry driver had driven right through a big puddle, and simply soaked her. Now she had been left to take a bath without any help. Surely, nothing else could go wrong¦¦ but it did. It was just as she finished drying herself that she noticed:

Tish was very vain. She stood admiring herself in the full-length mirror. She just knew she was simply gorgeous. Her Papa called her his little Gem. She had the longest tresses of silken ginger hair, and a perfect heart-shaped face, with simply the cutest nose.

Tish leaned forward to check her large, sparkling, green eyes, and then admired her cute lips and white teeth. Leaning back, she tossed her head from side to side, admiring the way her hair draped her shoulders, and hung almost to her waist.

Standing still, she posed to admire the rest of her. Suddenly she saw it ' or rather - DID NOT see it. There was not the slightest doubt, it had gone!

She looked from the mirror, right down the full length of her body, and then felt around in disbelieve. There was sadly no doubt - it had totally disappeared.
In ABSOLUTE desperation, Tish checked the empty bath. Apart from a few ginger hairs and the soap ' there was nothing. Tish sat on the loo seat and started to sob. "Oh dear, my beautiful body is ruined. Tears rolled down her lovely cheeks. She cried and cried. She wanted to call Mamma, but was afraid.

Then over her sobs she heard a small voice calling, "For goodness sake, stop that horrible noise Mistress.

It took Tish completely by surprise, and quite startled her. She looked all round the bathroom, but she was quite alone. Cautiously she asked, "Who are you, and where are you?

The little voice answered, "I'm at the window. I am your Pussycat of course, Mistress. If I can get through this opening, I will come in.

Before Tish had time to think, a ball of ginger fur had squeezed through the slightly open window, and in one bound landed in her lap.

"That's better. It was cold out there, and I'm all wet. Said Kitty. With that, the ball of fur snuggled up and started to purr.

Tish had difficulty believing her eyes and ears. 'What a day it has been.' She thought.
She stroked her little kitten, and dried it with her towel saying, "I had no IDEA Pussycats could talk ' or did I just imagine it?

Her little kitten purred, and snuggled again and replied; "Only special kittens can talk ' the ones like me, born on the night of a Blue Moon. Most Kittens keep silent. Who would believe a girl that said her Pussycat could talk to her?

The kitten stretched and Tish was sure it winked at her before it spoke again, "So, what was all the noise about, Mistress?

Tish had forgotten to cry any more in her surprise, she started again. Between sobs she explained her dreadful day, and finished by saying, "And NOW look - I've lost my Tummy Button. She displayed her tummy to her Pussycat, and started sobbing harder.

Pussycat stretched out a paw, and crawled up to have a proper look. True enough. Her mistress's tummy was as smooth as smooth. "Well there IS a funny thing. The kitten purred.

"What am I going to do? Asked Tish in desperation.

That time she was sure her kitten winked as she said, "Luckily for you, you have been a very nice Mistress to me, and you spent lots of time stroking and loving me, and giving me best cream. Just for that, I will tell you a little secret.

She crawled up onto Tish's shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Tomorrow night is exactly twelve weeks after the last Blue Moon.

She paused and Tish asked, "What does that mean?

"It means that if you follow my instructions, you can get a brand new ' and improved ' Tummy Button ' but only if you are still young enough.

"What do I have to do? How old do I not have to be? Tish asked eagerly.

"You must be under six years old, said Pussycat.

"Oh, I am, I am, I just started Convent School today Tish grabbed her Pussycat excitedly.

"Well then, tomorrow night you must lay on your bed, with your tummy bare, and your curtains wide open. Whatever happens, you must remain ABSOLUTELY still and silent, with your eyes tight shut. And one other thing ' you must feed me double cream every day for a month.

"Oh, I will, I will. For a whole year, promised Tish.

She simply could not wait for the following night to come. At school next day when the other girls called her, Tishywobbles, she just laughed and jumped up and down, thinking, 'They don't know what I'm having done tonight'.

She raced home after school, and was on edge right through dinner, until she could finally give Mamma and Papa a kiss, and hurry off to bed.

She had to wait a while, wearing her pyjamas, until Mamma came to check she had settled. The moment Mamma left, she almost tore her pyjama top off, and then, pulling the duvet over the bed, she laid stretched full length, eyes tight shut ' and waited.
She waited and waited ' and waited. It seemed simply hours, but nothing had happened. Her eyes ached from being held tight shut. She was also starting to feel cold, and wanted to wee, but dare not move.

At last, the Moon appeared from behind a cloud. Slowly the beams of light started to move over the bed. They reached her legs, and moved up, on to her tummy. As Tish lay almost in agony, The Man in the Moon slid down a Moonbeam.

Tish suddenly felt him working on her tummy. She wanted to look; she thought she might scream. He just kept busily working and grunting away.

At last, with a sigh, he stopped, and Tish heard him say, "Keep those eyes tight shut. Dear me, I am quite out of breath. I must be getting too old for this. Well there you are, though I say it myself, I've made a good job of that.

He coughed and added, "As you were such a brave little girl, I have granted you three wishes for every day until your sixteenth birthday.

He took another deep breath. "If you want to make a wish, you must remember these two rhymes:

"Face the West
Raise my vest.
This must be done
To bare my tum.

That is so you remember to turn to the West and bare your tummy. Next, you must say aloud:

"Hold my bottom firm
As Button I turn.
Wish be mine
At this time.

As you say that, turn your Tummy Button one full turn to the right, and make your wish.

He coughed again, "Dear me, I'm getting a chill¦ Remember, you have THREE wishes a day. You must NEVER EVER make more than three wishes in any day. Now just count up to ten and I'll be gone again.

Tish kept repeating the rhymes over and over, and almost forgot to count to ten. When she remembered she counted aloud quite slowly. After reaching ten, she was half afraid to open her eyes in case of what she might see. She was sure he must have made her tummy bleed, when screwed the Button into her tummy so hard.
Very slowly, she opened her eyelids, and even more slowly, she lowered her gaze down her body. She breathed a simply HUGE sigh of relief. Not only was she not bleeding, but also she had the most beautiful Tummy Button that anyone could EVER have seen.

It was simply marvellous. Not too big, not too small. It was not sunk in, but it did not stick out. It had a perfect crossed dimple, right in the centre. Best of all, it was pure SILVER - just the colour of the brightest moonbeam.

She was SO thrilled. However, she needed to pop to the loo, and had to make a quick dash to her toilet. She sat there a minute or two admiring her new Tummy Button. Then she had an idea. She would make a wish:

Thinking hard, she remembered the rhyme,

"Face the West
Raise my vest
This must be done
To bare my tum.

But of course her tummy was already bare, her pyjama top was in the bedroom on the floor. So all Tish had to do was turn to the West. (She knew where THAT was, because the weathervane on the house showed that).
She stood and faced the West, and said out loud,

"Hold my bottom firm
As Button I turn.
Wish be mine
At this time.

As she spoke, she took hold of her Silver Tummy Button and gave it a full twist to the right, and said, "I wish I was wearing my pyjama top.

Absolutely in an instant, she was wearing her pyjama top. Tish thought that was brilliant, and tried it again. Lifting her pyjama top right up above her tummy, she repeated,

"Hold my bottom firm
As Button I turn.
Wish be mine
At this time.

As she said it, she turned her Silver Tummy Button one turn to the right, and said, "I wish ' let me think ' I wish I was on my bed playing with my little kitten.

Absolutely in an instant, she found herself stretched on her bed holding two silver balls threaded on elastic. Her kitten was purring at her, and kept trying to reach them with her paw.

Tish teased the kitten for a while, and then showed off her new Silver Tummy Button.

Pussycat was very impressed, saying, "To tell you the truth, Mistress, I thought the whole thing was an old Moggy's tale. I am so happy for you. It really suits you.

Tish decided to show off: On her last day at Prep School, her friend George's mum had given her a lollipop. Tish loved lollipops, especially yellow ones. Standing, she turned to the West and bared her tummy, repeating,

"Hold my bottom firm
As Button I turn.
Wish be mine
At this time.

As she said it, she turned her Silver Tummy Button one turn to the right, and said, "I wish I am sucking a lollipop, and that it is banana flavoured.

Absolutely in an instant, a large yellow, banana flavoured lollipop was stuck firmly in her mouth. Tish was delighted. Kitty's eyes opened wide in surprise. Tish grasped the stick and started sucking the lolipop slowly at first, enjoying the flavour, then she hungrily started sucking it harder and harder; so hard her cheeks were drawn right in.

It seemed only moments before it was all juicy, and came off the stick into her mouth. She loved that. It was always the best bit. It filled her mouth and she had to keep slurping and swallowing, as she crunched it into tiny pieces, so it did not dribble down her chin.

Normally when she finished eating a lollipop, Tish would spend ages finding holes or cracks in anything to poke with the stick. Sometimes she would try to find a spider that was hiding. This time she popped the stick straight on her bedside table, and looked proudly at Kitty.

Her Pussycat clapped her paws. "Very impressive Mistress. How about rustling up a plate of sardines and custard for me?

"Your wish is my command. Said Tish. With that, she lifted her pyjama top right up, and turned to the West, saying,

"Hold my bottom firm
As Button I turn.
Wish be mine
At this time.

However, of course, she had made a VERY BIG mistake. THAT was a FOURTH wish! ' OH DEAR!

As she said it, she turned her Tummy Button one turn to the right, and ' HER BOTTOM FELL OFF.

Poor Trish stood rooted to the spot. She realised the dreadful thing she had done. She dare not move in case any more bits of her fell off. Her Pussycat gazed open mouthed at her from the bed. The kitten had no idea what had gone wrong ' but she knew whatever it was, it was pretty serious for her Mistress.

At last, Trish managed to speak. "Now what am I going to do Pussycat? I forgot I had my three wishes for the day. Now look at me! The kitten said nothing. She just did not know what to say. Tish and Pussycat stayed very still, thinking hard.

There were a few dreadful moments of utter silence, which were finally broken by a slight whooshing sound, followed by a soft bump ' and a grunt. It was the Man in the Moon returned. He had slid down on one of the last remaining Moon Beams.

"Oh dear, it is all my fault. I was in such a hurry I forgot to tell you. I can see I'm too late. Just stay still child, and I will see what I can do.

He walked round and viewed the situation, scratching a crumb of cheese from his pointed chin before saying, "Hmm. Well, first I have to get you on to the bed, young lady. You had better move right out of the way little Kitten.

Pussycat jumped off the bed and sat watching on the carpet, as The Man in the Moon gently cradled Tish in his arms, and lifted her into place; putting her tummy down, on the bed. Next, he picked up her bottom and placed it alongside her. With great care, he half lifted, half rolled Tish into position over her bottom. He wriggled her and wobbled her until she was in exactly the right position.

"There we are, don't move a muscle Missy. I will just get my thingamajig to fix things, and with any luck we will have you back as good as new in a jiffy.

He took from his pocket what looked like a spiral screwdriver, and started to screw Tish's Tummy Button back tight. As he did so, Tish felt her bottom give a bit of a quiver, then click into place. Gosh, she was SO relieved.

She lay quite still as she watched him work, and managed to sneak a look at The Man in the Moon. He had a VERY pointed forehead, and an even more pointed chin. His nose was all wrinkly and long, and his eyes were exceedingly large.

What struck her most was that only his eyes were coal black. The rest of him was white all over. Even his clothes and shoes were white.

It was only because of the shadows that Trish could make out his face and figure at all. She expected that it was because he lived on the Moon, and she guessed everything was probably black and white up there.

He interrupted her thoughts. "There young lady. Good as new. He sniffed and coughed a little, "I ' I ' Well from the look of those threads, it appears to me that you have turned your Button more than three times, young lady. Is that correct?

Tish trembled. Should she tell him the truth?

As she hesitated, and blushed a bright red, he saved her the trouble of choosing by saying, "Well I guess we both did wrong. Now two wrongs do not make a right young lady ' but in this case I will make an exception. After all I should have told you why that second rhyme goes,

"Hold my bottom firm
As Button I turn.
Wish be mine
At this time.

The FIRST line is to remind you to hold on to your bottom as you turn your Silver Tummy Button.

He did some tut, tutting, muttering, "It never was like that when the Silver Tummy Buttons were made in Britain. What with the cost of labour, they moved the Button Factory to another Planet beyond your Sun. The result is that every now and then we get a Silver Tummy Button with a faulty thread.

He paused. "Now the British, they ALWAYS gave us good screw threads. But ' Well we have had to add that warning line to the rhyme - just in case.

Tish wondered who he meant by 'we', and asked him.

"Oh, mine isn't the only Moon you know, there are thousands in this part of the sky alone. We are kept very busy I can assure you. You just would not BELIEVE the number of children that loose their Tummy Buttons ' and it always seems to be at bath-time.

He straightened himself up and replaced his thingamajig in a large pocket. "I have got to hurry young lady, or I will miss my last moonbeam ride. You remember to hold your bottom in place when you make a wish ' And NEVER EVER make more than three in one day again. Without more ado, he was off up a fading moonbeam, with Tish's thanks ringing in his ears.

Tish sat quiet, thinking how lucky she had been. Her Kitten hopped on the bed beside her. Tish stroked her Kitten, and started to daydream. Her eyes closed ' next thing she knew it was morning, and she wakened to hear the new Maid tapping at the door, calling to tell Tish it was time to get up.

Tish did not even know Mamma had hired a new Maid. She slipped off the bed quickly and sneaked open the door. She was just in time to catch a glimpse of the Maid turning the corner of the stairs.

"Well she SEEMS alright Pussycat. We will just have to wait and see. Her kitten stretched, scratched an ear, yawned, and licked a paw. Tish sat back on the bed and also stretched.

It seemed only moments later there was another tap at the door. This time the door opened wide and the new Maid entered.

"Oh, good Miss Tish, you are already up. Look, I brought you some hot chocolate. My, what a pretty kitten you have. Oh, and my name is Mary.

Tish was quite impressed. The maid continued, "Would you like to drink this now Miss? Or take a shower first? Tish felt rather grubby and thought showering first was best. She told Mary so.

Mary ran the shower for Tish and stood waiting with a bathrobe and Tish hopped under the shower. As Tish turned round under the spray, Mary exclaimed. "Well I do declare Miss Tish, you have the finest little navel I EVER saw. I must say it is as beautiful as the rest of you.

Tish guessed navel was a new name for a Tummy Button. She would remember that. She also decided that the new maid was the best maid they had EVER had. She decided to trust her and said, "It is a special one that The Man In The Moon gave me, Mary. It is a very special secret.

Mary smiled, "If you say so Missy. Now step out and let me get you dry.
¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦¦..
Tish's adventures continue in Chapter 2.