A drizzle of rain spread throughout the wood giving Fiddler and his friends a dreary welcome back home. The unruly mouse tilted his head and caught a few rain drops in his mouth as Delta and Hazel scurried onwards eager to escape the weather.
The huge beech tree that contained the Channel 1.5 offices was a welcome sight for Hazel and she picked up speed, hurrying into the reception and waiting there for her two companions.
Fiddler stood outside the tree and blinked as the rain washed over his face. “Ready for a tellin’ off, mate?” he asked Delta.
The rat shrugged. “Let’s get inside away from the rain.”
The three friends entered the lift and waited in silence until they reached their floor. Both Fiddler and Delta were sure they’d be in trouble for being late and Hazel was wondering what to tell her father if he asked where she’d been.
With a ding the lift stopped and the doors opened. Fiddler, Delta and Hazel all looked very bedraggled as they made their way over to the boss’s office and each felt the eyes of their fellow journalists watching them. Fiddler knocked at the office door hesitantly.
“Yes?”
Fiddler peeked round the door. “Sir, it’s me, sir. Sorry I’m late, sir. . .”
The Boss jumped up from the chair and pointed at Fiddler accusingly. “You! Get in here this instant!”
Delta and Hazel were now even more hesitant about entering the room and they dithered behind Fiddler. With a tug Fiddler pulled them in behind him and all three faced the Boss together.
The Boss waddled forward towards Hazel. He stopped in front of her and looked up at his taller daughter sternly. Hazel kept her eyes firmly towards the ground. “I’ve been so worried!” he cried throwing his chubby paws around her shoulders and hugging her tightly. “Worried sick!”
Hazel smiled fondly at her father. “I’m fine. Fiddler saved me.”
The Boss glared at Fiddler who wisely stayed silent. “Saved you? Saved you from what?”
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“The humans.”
“The humans! Hazel, they are the very reason why I banned you from going to the village! See what happens when you disobey me?”
Hazel held on to her father and tried to calm him. “But Fiddler saved me from them, I’m okay.”
The Boss let his daughter go and turned to face Fiddler. “Is it true, you saved my Hazel?”
Fiddler looked up. “Sir, yes sir, from the humans, sir. . .”
The Boss frowned and held up a paw. “One word answers.”
“Yes,” said Fiddler. “Sir.”
The Boss sighed. “I am glad you are all back here safe. Hazel, you’re still banned from entering the village. Fiddler, I would have you banned too but I know you are far too headstrong to listen.” The Boss turned to address Delta who had so far escaped any warning. “As the most sensible creature here I appoint you with the task of seeing your reporter through this job. Make sure he knows his limits, camera-rat Delta.”
Delta nodded. “Sir.”
With a wave of his paw the Boss dismissed Fiddler and Delta. Gratefully, they retired to their own office realising that Hazel had things to discuss with her father.
“We got off pretty lightly I think,” said Delta sitting himself down on the sofa. “He could easily have blamed us for leading Hazel astray.”
Fiddler put his footpaws up on his desk and leant back in his chair with his arms behind his head. “It’s ‘cuz he loves me. I can’t help it, I’m a natural born charmer.”
Delta chuckled and threw a cushion at his friend playfully. Fiddler caught it and placed it behind his head. “Now that Hebe’s agreed to help us, filming humans will be easy, we’ll just breeze that award ceremony.”
The two friends sat quietly for a moment. Fiddler yawned and stretched his arms. “Watch out, mate, look who’s coming to visit.”
Delta looked out the window and saw Marley. He groaned and got up to open the door. “Come in, Marley, make yourself at home,” he said wearily.
Marley eyed them both distastefully and sat down. “I’m surprised to see you both survived your foolish little trip into the human dwelling,” he said.
“Surprised or disappointed?” asked Fiddler with a grin.
Marley scowled at him. “The Boss is allowing you to continue filming?”
Delta sat forward aggressively. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“You endangered his daughter’s life! I’d have sacked you.” Marley smiled primly and stared levelly at Fiddler.
The young mouse shrugged. “We didn’t know Hazel followed us into the house. She does have a mind of her own, y’ know. It won’t happen again.”
Marley headed for the door. He looked back at Fiddler and Delta and said, “I have work to do. I wish you both the worst of luck and hope you’re prepared to lose to the better contestant.” Marley stopped and opened the door. “I hope you both get eaten by humans!”
Fiddler laughed as Marley slammed the door behind him. “Nice chap our Marley, ha ha!”