Snuggle Bunny and Pumpkin Britches got ready for the day. School was just around the corner and summer was nearly over. Pumpkin was particularly excited as this year she started kindergarten. Snuggle was excited too as she was in first grade.

​

Both wanted to make a great impression. Pumpkin discovered she had a problem; none of her clothes fit her right. Overnight she grew three inches.

​

They went to their mother and told her of Pumpkin's problem. Their mother listened and said she had time to get this fixed today.

​

Her eyes drifted to the pumpkin embroidered on her daughter's overalls and she sighed lightly, quickly breathed in, and smiled.

They went to Pumpkin's favorite clothing store and Pumpkin went to the rack she always went to — the toddler one with a large pumpkin in the center.

​

But she discovered what her mom already suspected: she had outgrown this store altogether. Well, outgrew their regular stock. So they went to Snuggle's favorite store next.

​

Pumpkin found lots of beautiful clothes that fit. But there was not a single outfit with a pumpkin. This made her angry. She crossed her arms and yelled, "This store is stupid!"

​

This hurt Snuggle's feelings. Their mother glided her hand down Pumpkin's cheek and said, "Buttercup, the store isn't stupid. It just doesn't sell clothes with pumpkins on them all year round."

​

"Why not?!" Pumpkin asked, nearly yelling.

 

"It's not Halloween. The other store's owner runs the local pumpkin patch, so she always has some for smaller kids. She'd also have some for older kids during Halloween, but they don't sell enough to warrant having the stock all year."

 

"But I have to have a pumpkin. Got to. Halloween is my favorite time. It's me!"

​

"I understand, love. Mom found out I was having you on Halloween. My doctor was telling me before then I was imagining things, as they said I'd never have kids. You were both a surprise and a shock but for certain wanted. We make a big deal of Halloween as that was the day I heard the heart of my child. But you can tell people you love Halloween."

 

"I've always gotten pumpkins. Mom, can we check somewhere else?"

​

"Of course we can. We will do three things. One, we get three outfits right here and now as you need something to wear. Next, we find something here that we can take to the patch store — she does embroidery. It's expensive, but we will get her started on one for your first day at school. Lastly, we will look over the next few days, but we can't spend too much more time today. I'm due to pick your brother up at practice."

​

"Dad should get him! I need my pumpkins."

​

Mom frowned once, breathed in thrice.

​

"Pumpkin, you want the pumpkins but you don't need them. Your dad is working and that is a need. Grownups can't ditch work because their kid grew three inches. Your brother needs picked up on time and I never have you kids waiting to be picked up, spare an accident."

​

"But I need clothes!"

​

"You need clothes that fit, love, true. But pumpkins on them is a want. You do love pumpkins and I will do what I can to get you at least one outfit with them while addressing all my kids' genuine needs. But get, there are many wants in life. If I must have pumpkins sewn on, I'll get one or two done special, but you'll have to expand your horizons as it is very expensive. We cannot afford lots of special-made clothes."

​

"She gets dresses she wants!" Pumpkin crossed her arms. "You love them more than me!"

​

"Not more, not less, either. I love you both so much I'd die for either of you. Love grows if we are open to it, but Pumpkin, you have more love in you for them too. Her clothes are on sale and she needs some as she's also grown an inch this summer, and luckily they have them for her. But don't make love into a dollar sign. It's unfair to me to do so. Now get to picking, nugget, or you'll run out of time to have a bonus check for pumpkins."

​

Pumpkin refused to look.

​

Her mother said to try things on and Snuggle picked things. Pumpkin put them on, but no matter how cute they looked, she declared them all terrible.

​

Suddenly her mom looked at the wall clock and said, "Young lady, your mom will pick out of these others if you don't. Lots were cute. Only a few would not suit your skin tone. None were ugly."

​

"You would not pick!"

​

"Oh, you can bet your sweet britches I would. Just as I made sure you had your shots, buttercup. Those hurt, but not having them is worse. You need clothes immediately. You have two minutes to start looking through, otherwise the patch will close as it's not open long right now. I'd take your special request in tomorrow, but it is already a rush job for school and will cost a bucket. You at least tried on a bunch. That was an improvement. If you won't, I will. I would think about which options are best."

​

Pumpkin picked, but in a poor temper. They went back to the patch store and went inside. Her mom let her pick the design.

After discussing time, she was told a price for it just being done and a rush. Her mother nodded and paid more for the fastest turn. That special job cost as much as the clothes cost on sale — just to have one pair of overalls done special.

​

Snuggle's ear twitched a bit. She then told Pumpkin the cost. "I think Mom spent her ballgown money. She used the card she used when buying that dress last time."

​

Pumpkin looked out the window, quiet. They managed to get one more store with no luck, and then it was time to get brother.

Snuggle asked, "Mom, you used your dress money for Pumpkin."

​

"I did, but I can just have loops added to my wedding dress and I will save again. Girls, a new gown was a want and I am perfectly fine giving up my wants for yours anytime. You know I picked that style of wedding dress for the reason it could double. Smart clothes choices are a great thing."

​

Bubby tapped on the dash and said, "Dad's going to blow his stack."

​

"He will just not understand why pumpkins are that important for a bit to our girl, and be upset that I set aside a dream for a moment, and be a tad upset as he and I do love dancing and he looked forward to something trendy for a change. But he will — as her happiness means a ton to him — cool down. And wonder then about plans. I will have more money in a few weeks, but say I can't still afford the loops. As that is the worst, I still have the old ballgowns of last year. You haven't told me yet about team sneakers. Don't worry, I've got that still and I will get that first from this budget. And don't think I am nuts and don't know a good basketball court shoe costs the same — or is the same — as real shoes."

​

"And I have a backup plan to my backups. In fact, I still have my high school ballgown and wore it to nine events, as I buy classic pieces that are timeless rather than just here and now most all the time. My waistline is a bit big, but we can always work on trimming to a point. I love that one. And I daresay one of my girls will want it. Probably Honey will get it as she is eldest and it best suits her skin tone too. Snuggle and Pumpkin, don't worry — we will get you timeless dresses or a trendy one that suits you at the time."

​

Snuggle looked at Pumpkin and breathed in. Pumpkin crossed her arms. "Mom, it should be mine. I'm your real daughter."

"Love, you are all my real daughters. And I have a dress for you too. But if all three of my girls love that same dress, I'll have it remade by a seamstress two times if I can't find it in a store. Pumpkin, you have all my love, as they also have all of it. Love is able to grow, love, but get — I'll love you for life more than my own. Honey gets that dress as she is oldest, provided it's in good condition still and the seamstress can manage it. I know she wants it as she has already said how much she loves it. She will need it altered a ton, though, so maybe she won't get it."

​

Bubby laughed hard. "You are a ton taller. She took after our mom. She is super short."

​

"Well, she has a round or two left, but right now the side slit is too low for walking. But she isn't that short to me. She is already taller than my great-grandmother. Now she was real short. Honey could put out her arm straight and my great-grandmother could run under her arm all day long, and she was a lovely woman who got along just fine in the world."

​

"That's super short," Bubby said.

​

"Yep. And there are even shorter folks, and that's beautiful. Differences are the spice of life."

 

They pulled into the garage and the girls went to their room.

​

Snuggle breathed in and turned to Pumpkin, but before she could say anything, Mayor Lion roared.

​

"He's in trouble!" Snuggle said, and they opened their window curtains and the magical world of Avalon was right between the frames.

​

They went through and found Mayor Lion hiding behind the bush. He said, "Girls, help! I have no clothes."

​

"But you have fur," Snuggle said.

​

"And what does that mean? That I am some animal and fine being undressed? Clothes make me me!"

​

Pumpkin nodded. "I get it. Pumpkins are me, and they didn't have any."

​

"At least you have clothes," Mayor Lion said.

​

Snuggle nodded. "And Mom is getting a pumpkin outfit done up for you."

​

Pumpkin sighed. "Yeah. One. Just one, when I want pumpkins on all my clothes. Mom found me on Halloween."

​

Snuggle sighed.

​

"But at least you're not undressed. We have no way to make any," Mayor Lion said.

​

"Oh, right," Snuggle said and clutched her rabbit. "We got fish, cows, and chickens but not sheep."

​

"Let's go get them some," Pumpkin stated, and they went into the window, down the hall to the menagerie, and found blue, pink, white, red, purple, black, and yellow sheep on the bottom shelf.

​

Snuggle pointed to the top shelf and said, "Look."

​

And up on the top shelf, baaing, was a sheep with the most beautiful, shiny golden fleece of all the sheep.

​

"We've gotta get it!" Snuggle declared.

​

"But how?" Pumpkin asked.

​

"We climb the shelves."

​

And so they climbed up the shelves together and fell down near the top. They both landed on soft cushions and around them fell to the ground their mom's collection.

​

Pumpkin cried at the broken porcelain and wailed. "We are murderers! Mom will hate me forever. I was a big brat and now this. I may as well run away from home."

​

"If she won't love you anymore, she will hate me even more. We will run away together."

​

And so they ran to Avalon. Not even a minute later, their mom came in and saw the mess. Her magic sailed out of her with a massive stream of white glittery magic, and the entire menagerie was righted.

​

She listened and heard a baaing sheep and her children's tears, and went to Avalon. She hugged both girls. "My little loves, did you get hurt when you fell?"

​

"No, Mom. But you have to hate us. We're murderers."

"Girls, there is nothing in this life that would make me stop loving you. You could even kill me and I would still love you. Loves, I already said I love you so much I'd die for you, and love like that you can't lose easily. But girls, you aren't murderers. Your mom has a bit of magic, and if you ever break something in there, just tell me as soon as you can."

​

"But girls, please never run away again. Running is rarely the right answer, and that hurts me — that you felt unable to come to me about anything. Get, you can't lose my love, ever. But I can't help if I don't know the troubles."

​

"Next, let's go see the room so you can see for yourselves everything is fine. Get, I understand the fear you had. My mom — your grandma — had some china from her grandma, and I wanted to look at it closer. I climbed on the china hutch, got it down, and dropped it. I felt so bad I got out super glue and did my best to fix it. And it was so awful, my job. My mom probably could have fixed it nicer. She got mad at me for a bit, but she still loved me."

​

"Bet you weren't a brat like I was."

​

"Brat? Who called you a brat? Nah, you just wanted something badly that makes you feel special and expressed your distress. Dad agreed that one outfit for the first day of school was the right call for your emotional well-being, and then we both searched for an alternative option, as brother's shoes will take up the rest of my savings."

​

"We will show you our solution even though we both hope to find a place selling pumpkin clothes for grown-up kids. But I see no brats around me — just a kid expressing her worries on losing something important to herself. At most I would say you spoke with what you felt was needed heat, but remember: when things are going wrong, your mom probably will understand."

​

"Now look — here we are. Oh no, we have to find that pesky sheep."

=================================================

Now Here is the point I start needing to do research. When I do bones, I always know research points in my head.

​

I like making things as historically accurate as possible. Research can change words at times and for a lot of books if I have many I lay it down as quick sketch then.

 

But that is okay. Bones are just the structure that needs all of it. It's the shell of the story. The strength behind the moments.
=================================================

Aria analyzes the sand from the menagerie shelf where the golden sheep stood. She works with it as scientists do, examining its composition and properties, and determines the time and place they need to travel to.

​

The special closet provides desert gear appropriate to ancient Egypt. They dress for the journey before they leave.

They travel through time and arrive near a camel seller. Aria looks herself over and checks her purse. She makes purchases, paying with coins that looked very old but now look very new in this time. She picks up a couple of daggers for protection as it is a harsh land.

 

__________________________________________

Okay Research for this section right: What would they wear on this adventure? How do they for sure date this stuff in real life. I left it as a check but I have a word in my head radiation is how they do it. But its not that exact.. Now we can't do that with our girls right there so we make it a fun magic moment.

_______________________________________

Aria’s hand swept the shelf and rubbed.  “This dust is really old.”

 

“Mom how can you know? It looks just like sand to me.” The girls said.

 

She smiled. “Well, it’s a feeling but we best go analyze it. Now I have something much more effective than…OSL.”

 

“What is OSL?” Snuggle asked.

 

“Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating what that does is it looks at when the last time sunlight was on it. Radioactive also does other types of dating more suitable if… the this got here the normal way. Nah this sand was not under the ground and wasn’t even lying around. No this sand time traveled to that spot.”

 

We went into a room and she put the grains into a vial. The swirled into with a thousand lights. And then just stopped. A date appeared and a cabinet opened. “Okay girls it looks like we are going to ancient Egypt.”

 

“Mom how?” Pumpkin pulled back.

 

Her mom lifted her hand up and then inside it a ball of light appeared. “Good thing I have a closet of robes. Pumpkin the best I can get to pumpkins is orange.”

 

Pumpkin nodded twice and sighed.

 

They got dressed in fine linen sheath dresses called kalasiris, that were held up by two straps, both ankle-length. Over this they wore robes of fine linen. Pumpkins was dyed orange and Snuggles was red.

 

Mom wore a gold and purple and looked rather regal. “I need to um…m pretend something while there girls. My magic will be considered evil or goddess like which do we go with?”

 

“Goddess.” Pumpkin said sweetly.”

 

“That it is. Now sweeties…” Their mom looked at their heads. “We should shave them to fit in.”

 

Snuggled screeched and ran.

 

Mom said, “I said should.”

 

Snuggle returned. Mom spent some time cooking some dried fish, made bread, and then went back to the menagerie. “Girls Camels or Donkey’s.  Do you know which will survive a dry desert.”

 

Mom on Snuggles point got down camel statues. Floating out several trunks, they went through a portal.

 

Mom smiled, “We will need to buy some things when we get there but this should do us for a few evenings if needed. But the last thing we need to add on is a little khol around the eyes. … and we will sneak in some sun screen.” She added the khol to her eyes and the two girls.

 

They looked at each other in the mirror before leaving. The khol looked dramatic.

 

Mom smiled, “Yeah, it is something but so practical — it cuts the glare of the sun and keeps certain things away from the eyes in the dust and heat." The shaving head was skipped entirely much to Snuggle’s Relief as she passed a pair of scissors.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OKAY RESEARCH POINT What is this ancient caravan going to look like.... we will find out tomorrow.

​

___________________________________________________

The desert opened before them in waves of gold and heat, rolling around sort of like a haunting snake. Their camels moved steadily, already earning their keep. Mom smiled slightly. "You picked a good group, girls."

​

By evening they crested a dune and below, the moon shone down and the stars sparkled. Settled into the hollow where the wind dropped was a caravan at rest. Fifteen donkeys laden heavy — fabrics, spices, sealed jars of oil — their sides bulging with treasure wrapped tight against the sand.

​

The Shasu looked up. Camels meant wealth out here. Real wealth. The kind that bought protection and commanded respect.

​

"Girls, no matter what I say, do not disagree with me."

​

The herders were a nomadic clan of the desert and though they had a good trade and fine goods, they looked exceedingly dusty and weary. Their dark robes were practical against both sun and cold night air, their eyes sharp and assessing as strangers approached with camels, goods, and a heavy trunk.

​

That last part bought them entry without a fight.

​

Their mother held up one hand — open, unhurried. The greeting of someone who knew the custom. They were allowed to close the remaining distance.

​

She purchased flatbread and dried provisions quietly, then asked after fresh water.

​

"We have not enough to spare."

​

"Osiris has not been pleased for near a decade," one of the men said, not unkindly. "But there is water at the oasis — if the oasis holds. For a price I can direct you." And he looked toward the girls.

​

"I will give you coin aplenty. Their future husbands would take great exception to us not arriving safely. Now. Where is this place?"

​

Then her eyes moved to the daggers at the lead trader's belt. Beautiful things — curved, handles inlaid with lapis and bone, the sheaths tooled in fine geometric patterns. Her hand did not move toward her coin purse yet. She simply looked.

​

The trader followed her gaze and named his price first — for the directions. She pointed. "A few other items could be helpful. That one looks rather special."

​

"I can part with it for some of your water."

​

Mom's expression did not change. She paid him in water. He then asked her something too low for the girls to hear. Her eyes narrowed once.

​

"Girls. We leave immediately. Your husbands are waiting."

​

Pumpkin watched the whole exchange very quietly.

Walking away she said softly, "Mom—"

​

"Later," Aria said, and her voice was pleasant and meant it.

The daggers settled at the girls' waists — the real reason, after all, that they'd arrived as young women rather than children. No one questions a dagger on a woman's hip. Everyone questions one on a child.

​

They travel through the desert and find a lady in trouble at a well. Aria defends the woman and her girls. Mom's magic renders the attackers into sleep and sends them elsewhere. No lasting harm done.

​

​___________________________________________________

Research we are coming to another area the oasis. And Aria when she says later, always means it. And I will need to remember to include a reason to explain the deception.

​___________________________________________________

The Next Point of Narrative

​___________________________________________________

They use the daggers to defend themselve and a woman at the well. Grateful, the woman tells them she sold sheep to a town not too far away. Aria nods, and they travel on.

​___________________________________________________

Such a small bit, right? Let's see tomorrow how it expands!

​___________________________________________________

Their mouths were a bit dry.

​

"Mom why did you say we were married," Snuggle asked. "And why sell the water."

​

"Firstly, we are all of age for marriage around here."

​

"We are?" Snuggle said and looked at Pumpkin.

​

"Yes we are. Best we are just attached. You are going to your husbands, remember girls, if asked. That is important — you are going to them. We are wealthy. It's a different thing even in this age. And I am just attached.

"

Pumpkin laughed. "Mom you are attached."

​

"I am, but if I list him as Marcus Au they might get confused. He doesn't exist yet." She adjusted the reins without looking at them. "But girls if the need is great for water, I can magic just a little for you. Water is the high commodity right now and it's best we also buy things to fight."

​

They looked at the waterskins on their camels, worrying a little less, then a lot more.

​

"Mom what about you?" Pumpkin said with a worried lip.

Their mom waved it off with a chuckle. "Doesn't work for me. But no matter — I didn't pay too much for the daggers."

"We need them Mom." Pumpkin touched hers awkwardly.

"Likely."

​

They smelled the oasis before they saw it. Green on the air — faint, almost impossible — but there. And it felt like a freedom in the breath after so much heat and sand.

​

The walls came into view as they crested the last rise. Low stone, dry-fitted, old. They approached the gate and a guard called down, "Ladies get inside. Trouble on the horizon. Like to say you're the cause of it but they'd be coming to raid for water regardless."

​

Once inside safely the gate shut. Hard and fast behind their last animal. The ladies huddled at the covered wall.

​

Men shouted. Animals lifted in panic. Sheep, one camel, and a handful of donkeys pulled at their ropes.

​

Aria looked out over the small crops with their lines of ditches between and her hand went up once to shade her eyes.

The ladies at the wall whispered, "Do you think they will find the bad fence?"

​

"Not all of them," Mom said quietly. "But I think one already has."

​

She looked at the girls. Then at the daggers at their waists. "Stay close. Draw your weapons. Do you hear me."

They heard her.

​

Four scuttled in through the gap and made straight for the sheep pen. Then another wave and the guards were matched, then outnumbered. The same dusty robes. The same weary eyes, now sharp with something worse than need.

​

At the well a woman stood her ground with a staff. She was not winning but she had not stopped.

​

Mom began spinning her hands together slowly. What gathered between them looked at first like glass — clear, dense, turning. Then it turned white. Then it turned to snow, swirling softly in the desert heat.

​

Everyone fell asleep. Absolutely everyone.

​

When they woke the enemies were gone. The guards looked at each other. Then at Mom. They went to their knees.

​

"Goddess. We beseech you to bless us."

​

Aria nodded once. "You pleased me greatly. But tell me — have you had any sheep buyers recently? I am looking for one I lost track of."

​

The woman from the well stepped forward, staff still in hand, composure entirely recovered. "Yes. A small herd sold to the city at the end of the basin. Not too far." She bowed her head.

 

"We will fetch you water. Thank you goddess for the blessing."

 

"Goddess, where did the enemy—"

​​

"I sent them to a different place," their mom said, and explained briefly.

​

Pumpkin looked around at the empty ground where eight men had been. "Mom you didn't."

​

"I sent them somewhere else. No lasting harm." Mom was already checking the camels. "The world does not need more grudges than it already has."

​

Snuggle's ears moved once, up and down. "Mom the lady is

staring at you."

​

"Yes," said Aria. "That tends to happen. A goddess is rather a fascinating thing."

​

Snuggle's lip lifted up and down once.

___________________________________________________

Yep, ALL of that from a tiny bit of narrative. My bones are about making the quick notes.  But its time to research again as I have some notes again. The next set might seem a little sketchy to folks as I know all what I mean by the next set. Bones must make sense to the expander.

​

My dreams are sometimes like a pressed accordian. When you play it you carefully expand it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

​

​​​

They find the town near the Nile basin. The land is dry and meager. The inundation has not come in a long time. Poor harvests have left people hungry.

​​

Aria gets information from the local children and people quietly. She magics food for a few days at a distance without drawing attention to herself.

​

The girls want to solve it all permanently. Aria explains that she cannot. She does not know these people's full history. To solve it forever she would have to stay permanently and that is not her role.

​

She notices the people have eaten nearly all their seed grain. The girls remember what they learned in Book One about sowing fields. Now your thinking says Aria. They help plant what seed grain remains. With the food magicked and water coming it will be enough.

​

Aria performs the angel dance. Rain falls. A new well appears beneath her feet. She is spent.

​

Mom why aren't we harvesting asks Snuggle. Because we have to get before they decide to keep us says Aria. They go.They travel up the now full Nile by boat. The golden sheep has been sold to Olympus as it would be nothing but trouble otherwise. It might be sacrificed there but Aria tells the girls it will not be. She has an idea of where it is headed. She smiles and says no more.