Last time Woolfe and McClaw began their investigation and spoke to the many chickens on Foghorn Farm. Not many pictures last week, so I resorted to giving it a go myself. Thanks to Sadie (9) for her digital picture of Henrietta Hensworth. Please keep them coming everyone.
In my last post, I floated the idea of Woolfe and McClaw being more than just a little bit of fun, and to see if we could do some real good. After some searching and following up on some recommendations we've decided we would like to support the good work of Place2be. Place2be provides support in schools to children who are struggling with their mental health, whether through the pressures of playground politics or stresses at home. They enable children to use creative outlets and we thought that the aims and methods of Place2be. To coincide with #mentalhealthawarenessweek next week they are encouraging us all to get involved with their #sparkasmile campaign. Woolfe and McClaw are going to get involved....look out for our efforts on twitter @killick_Alex.
Next week we are going to set up a fundraising page and we hope that our loyal readers and guest illustrators might make a small donation that we can pass on the Place2Be.
Now, let's get back to the story......
In Chapter 3, the dynamic duo eggs-pand their search for witnesses. They talk to the cows, pigs, horses, and sheep to get to the bottom of the egg theft....
Until next time....
Chapter 3 – The invest-egg-ation continues…
Agent McClaw wandered into the barn, and was struck by the strong smells coming from the corner. “Oh, hello sunshine” said a slightly startled cow emerging from where the unmistakable aroma of cow dung was emanating. “Hello” said Brian “I’m looking for the Barn sisters”. “Well handsome, you’ve come to the right place…a barn!” said Cathy Barn, the eldest sister. “I’m Cathy, and this here’s my sister Daisy, and that there’s my other sister Maisie – they’re twins, and both as daft as each other” “Oi” mooed Daisy and Maisie in loud unison, “Don’t pay any attention to her” Daisy went on, “She’s thinks she’s a stand up cowmedienne”. “Listen ladies” Brian started, “I’m sure you are all very clever and entertaining cows, but right now we’ve got a robbery on our hands and I need to ask you a few questions as part of our investigation”
After a about twenty minutes conversation with the Barn sisters, it became apparent that they had been asleep at the time of the alleged incident and could be vouched for by each other as well as by the Stables siblings, Pumpkin and Kye, the two Clydesdales. Pumpkin and Kye Stables had been at the farm for over twenty years. “Thanks very much, I’ll be speaking to them later so will let you know if I need to speak with you again. “No problem, handsome” Cathy added, “Anytime is fine” as Brian, slightly embarrassed, began to moonwalk his way out of the barn. Next on Brian’s list were the sheep who were in the field next to the barn.
“Excuse me” Brian shouted from the gate. “ I’m looking for Serena Shepherd, Edwina Shepherd, Melinda and Belinda Lamb, Betty, Hettie and Greta Shearer, Alice Woolsey, Rosie and Posie Barber. I’m also looking for Rachel and Rebecca Cashmere-Jones”. Brian may as well have been the England football manager (even with his broad Glaswegian accent), doing a roll call before the start of a match. Slowly but surely, all eleven sheep wandered over to the gate – and not a Collie in sight to round them up.
“Afternoon ladies” Brian addressed the ‘team’, “As I think you’ll be aware, there was a terrible crime committed here in the early hours. My name is Agent Brian McClaw, from the Crime Stop Agency, and I need to talk to you all to find out what you might have seen or heard”. One by one, Agent McClaw interviewed all the sheep, and the answer he got back from each was the same. No-one had seen or heard anything…apart from one. “Agent McClaw” said Alice rather sheepishly, “I did hear a couple of things but thought nothing much about it until now. I thought I heard the farm van driving away very early, which I thought was a bit odd, but maybe it was to do a delivery or a pick up or something, but at 4 in the morning?” “Why do you think it was the farm van?” asked Brian. “Because it has quite a distinctive engine note”. “That’s very helpful Ms Woolsey”, Brian said, thinking that with a name like Woolsey she must be a bit of a petrol head.
At that moment, Agent Woolfe called over. “Agent McClaw” “Over here Dave”, shouted Brian. Dave beckoned Brian to join him away from the animals. “So how did yer get on?” “I’ve just finished interviewing the sheep Dave and nothing apart from one who heard the farm van leaving the farm at around 4 in the morning.” “Not much maybe, but it might be a significant clue. Let’s go and see the horses and the pigs” suggested Dave, and they walked along the field to the pig pen.
On the way to the stables was the pig pen, where the pig family, the Bacons lived, Mum – Penny, Dad – Peter and son Bobby. “I better do these ones boss” suggested Brian, thinking that Agent Woolfe might go native and want to eat the potential witnesses. “I’ve been a semi-vegetarian for quite some time Brian, so I don’t plan on eating any of the suspects….unless they’re guilty!” Dave joked. Brian was quite relieved to hear this, although it occurred to him that just because they worked together, that it wouldn’t stop him, as a cat, from being chased, as dogs do this, whatever their dietary preferences.
“Excuse me, can we have a word?” Dave gestured to Peter Bacon. Penny stood up and said. “Terrible what happened to the boootiful eggs”. Penny was originally from Norfolk, and while her accent had softened over the years, the unmistakeable twang would sometimes surface. Dave and Brian had not managed to get one question out, before Penny went on, “ We don’t get many visitors here, so its nice to see some new faces, just wish it wish it was better circumstances”. “We just wanna ask you a few questions if that’s alright?” Dave started, “Well of course Officers, anything we can to do help” Penny replied. Peter and Bobby continued to play fight in the corner of the pen, oblivious to the presence of the agents. “So tell me Penny, can I call you Penny?” enquired Dave “What were you doing last night between 11pm and 7am?” “Bobby was fast asleep and Pete and I were up talking ‘til about midnight and then he started snoring. I must have fallen asleep not long after. I didn’t realise that anything was wrong until Mrs H woke us at about 8 o’ clock asking if we had seen or heard anything. We hadn’t seen nothing I’m afraid” “ Mr Bacon – anything you want to add?” interjected Brian, looking over to Peter Bacon who had Bobby in a headlock and was about to execute a Piledriver followed by a Boston Crab. Brian and Dave had never seen pig wrestling before (and nor had anyone else for that matter). Pete and Bobby looked up, snorted and Bobby was just about to speak when Pete elbowed him in the ribs. “Sorry Officers, we were all asleep from what I remember. We make too much noise to have heard anything all the way across the farm” Pete said, getting Bobby in another headlock. “Oh boys” laughed Penny “Do stop it for a minute. These gentlemen are trying to solve a serious crime” “Its alright” confirmed Dave, “We’ve got enough for now, thanks”. And with that the agents left the pig pen and headed over to the stables.
Pumpkin and Kye Stables lived in the farm stables, having moved from southern Scotland many years before. “I’ll take this one boss” asserted Brian “I speak their language, so will be able to communicate easily” Dave raised one eyebrow trying not to remind his young apprentice that they all spoke the same language, most of the time, and having a similar accent didn’t necessarily guarantee rapport. “Hello Pumpkin, hello Kye” purred Brian confidently. “Listen sunny, we’ve never met before, so if you don’t mind, its Mr Stables and Miss Stables to you”. Brian who was already ginger, went a shade of bright red. “Please excuse my colleague” Dave butted in “He’s new and learning the ropes. But if you don’t mind, we need to ask you a few questions.” At this point Dave was hoping not to get a neigh. “That’s alright” piped up Pumpkin who was a little more friendly than Kye. “All we know is what we told Mrs H this morning. We did hear some voices whispering, but just assumed it was the chickens. When they’re not cooing they’re clucking away.” “When was this?” “Well it must have been around 3 or 4 in the morning. The reason I remember, is that I had to get up to go to the toilet, terrible…” “Do you remember anything else?” interrupted Dave not wanting to hear any more about Miss Stables’ urinary habits. “Well there was one thing. I thought I heard footsteps too, which now makes me think that they must be connected to the stolen eggs.” Both horses nodded, and with that the agents thanked them for their help. “That’s enough for today, Agent McClaw. Let’s head back.”
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