BW’s Adventures (1)

1st Adventure

It all started during a school trip to the library

Hello, I am BWs Granddad and this chapter of his story is about his and his early years classes visit to Banbury library. Have you had strange or even fantastical things happen to you? If you have, I cannot imagine they were in the library. BW told me this tale of his experiences of his class’s trip on the way back to school. First though here is how we got to the library.

It was a bright but cold morning. March in Banbury or anywhere else in Britain usually is. The Early Years class sat cross legged before their teacher Miss Amy. She was explaining to the children what a library is and why some books are held to be more special, to some people, than others. The books she mentioned were “The Holy Bible”, “The Quran” and “The Torah”. The children were attentive in a fidgety sort of way.

There were several parents as well as grandparents in the class. These were helpers. I was there because I am BW’s granddad and had offered to help on the trip to the library. I am called Bill but BW nearly always calls me Granddad.

I and the other helpers were listening to Miss Amy’s talk when she suddenly said “All children who are four go to the toilet.” Up got the four year olds and off they went to the toilet along with the two class assistants. Soon they started to troop back into class. Too soon for Miss Amy who sent some back. The five year olds followed them to the toilets. BW was in the first group.

Soon the class was gathered together. The children were allocated adults to walk with. The school children then put on their coats. On top of the coats they put on high visibility jackets, despite a few spirited objections, they were all soon attired to Miss Amys satisfaction. The children gathered around their adult helper. The rules for the walk were stated, hands held and off we all went.

Out of the class meandered the “crocodile” of children. The children went through the school library and along the long corridor. They went past open classrooms, displays of pupil achievements and the trophy display area. There was a slight delay as a member of staff was dispatched to an office. Upon their return the “crocodile” moved out of the building and along the path to the pedestrian gate.

Most of the children were chatting to the child they were walking with. Some were talking to the helpers. BW didn’t want to hold anyone but his mum’s hand. BW’s mum was just in front and despite or maybe because she was holding a little girls hand, BW kept trying to grab it. BW was told to hold his partners hand, but he didn’t want to.

We stopped as a group at the pelican crossing. The button was pressed by several eager fingers. Two adults positioned to keep back the traffic. The “crocodile” meandered across the road. With the class safely across the two adults rushed to re-join their particular groups of children. This procedure was repeated each time the class crossed a road.

I don’t know if you know Banbury, but I think it’s a nice town, a friendly town most of the time. As we crossed Bear Garden road the class returned the waves of two elderly ladies. The ladies eyes were filled with memories and the children’s with anticipation and hope. Down to South Bar, a tree lined and very wide Boulevard. A brief pause on the traffic island for the lights to go red then off we went again. Round to the car park which was carefully navigated. The children paused on the pavement at the pedestrian exit.

Miss Amy explained to the children that the right half of the building opposite was the library.

Banbury library is a red brick building. It is a double fronted, tall, three story building. The sign to the left of the door told those of us who can read, the times that the library is open. Today, it being a Monday, it is open till one pm.

The children “crocodile” across the road and up the ramp. Through the tall red doors. They passed between the two sensors which let folk know they were inadvertently or otherwise, stealing books from the library. Safely through the sensors and then past the grand staircase which is opposite the lift. The children entered the blue carpeted area; the library proper. The “crocodile” then turned right, past the self-service machines, then right again into the “children’s books” area of the library.

The children were met by an enthusiastic lady who got them to take off their high visibility jackets, then their coats. She then asked them to sit on the carpeted floor. This the children promptly did. The library lady then explained about the library, what books there were and how someone could borrow one or more of them. There were also CDs and DVDs available to be borrowed. She also told the children how people could join the library.

When the promotional aspect of her talk was completed she did some very dramatic readings from several books. I really enjoyed them. It looked like the children did too. There was no sign of fidgeting. This time with the library lady was about twenty minutes. The children were released to look for a book they would enjoy reading. Now no children left the children’s area. I know because I was at the exit next to BW’s mum. Well for a few minutes it looked like chaos as children swarmed over the area finding the books they wanted. Most judging the book by it’s cover!

The books the children chose were collected up by Miss Amy. A ticket for the class was issued by the librarian. Miss Amy told the children that they would be able to read their chosen books when they had gotten back to class.

“Now children please put on your coats and your high visibility vests.” Said miss Amy, “Children needing the toilet please make your way to the class assistants now.”

Two boys went with the class assistants to the loos. Neither was BW. The other children found their coats and high vis jackets. Eventually all the children including the two boys who went to the loo, had their high vis vests over their coats. Some needed more help than others. The strange thing was that there was one coat, a red one and one high vis vest laying on the floor. The coat was BW’s but there was no sign of him. Where was he?

Miss Amy did a head count and came up one child short. A check of the adult helpers lists of who they had in their groups confirmed that BW was missing. BW’s mum and I were not worried because we knew that BW had not left the children’s area. Even so, where could he be?

Miss Amy and a class assistant went back into the children’s area and had a good look round. There was no sign of BW. Miss Amy, the librarian and the class room assistant did a thorough search of the library’s ground floor. They came back to the group a few minutes later and told us there was still no sign of BW. So off they went again and searched upstairs. Upstairs there is a “Reference Area” with lots of interesting things to look up and find out about. I like to look at the old maps and to see how things have changed over the years. Miss Amy plus the two came back and told us they still couldn’t find BW.

Now BW’s Mum and I were starting to get a little worried. We know BW to be a good boy who wouldn’t just run off. But where could he be? Miss Amy said that she needed to tell the school and inform the police.

She said “I must do that but first I am just going to have another quick look round.”

So off she went with the librarian and the class room assistant back into the children’s area.

Now when parents find their lost child some cry with joy, some shout at the child for having gotten lost, some just grab their hand and walk off – not letting go of the child. Miss Amy found BW sat on a dusty floor in a dusty alcove of the children’s area. BW was fast asleep a book upon his lap.

She turned to the other two and said “How could we not have seen BW before when we looked?”

The class assistant shrugged. He was speechless.

The librarian said “I have never seen this alcove before and I have been working here for five years.”

Miss Amy squatted down and gently touched BW’s shoulder. BW woke with a start.

“How are you BW?” asked Miss Amy.

“I am ok Miss Amy.” BW replied.

“Didn’t you hear me tell everyone to get their coats on?” asked Miss Amy.

“No Miss Amy.” Said BW

“Well I think we need to get back to school, so put your coat on and your high vis vest.” Said Miss Amy.

“Yes Miss Amy” said BW getting up to go and get his coat and high vis vest.

Miss Amy picked up the book and looked at the title “Amy’s amazing adventure.” She thought to herself “I’m sure it was ‘BW’s Amazing Adventure’.” She later told me. Then she put the book back onto a shelf.

So coat and high vis vest on, BW joined his small group. He wanted to hold my hand.

“Granddad” he said “I have had an amazing adventure.”

“Have you? Do you want to tell me about it?” I said.

“Yes I would.” BW said.

This is what he told me as we made our way back to school.

“When the lady (the librarian) said we could choose a book, I went to stand up but sort of tripped into the wall and just sort of fell through it. Then I saw a shelf of books and one book had my name on it. I picked it off the shelf and when I opened it I … sort of fell into it as well.”

“Wow.” I said. “What happened then?”

“Well I was still in Banbury, in Spiceball Park, but I could see Daleks coming towards me so I hid behind a log. Grandad I was scared.”

“I would be too.” I said.

“Behind the Daleks there were some Cybermen and with them were some people.”

“Even more scary. What were they doing?” I said.

“Yes it was scary.” BW said. “They all seemed to be working doing something with the river bank.”

“That’s strange. I thought Daleks hated all other life forms.” I said.

“That’s what I thought too Grandad but they didn’t look to be in charge.” He said.

“So BW, what happened next?”

“I saw a ditch behind me so I rolled over and over till I went into it. It wasn’t deep and there wasn’t any water in it.”

“It’s good that you didn’t get wet. What happened next?” I asked.

“I crawled away from the Daleks and Cybermen. I went into the woods and when I felt safer I got out of the ditch and hid behind a big tree. I could see the Daleks and Cybermen but I didn’t think they could see me. I was wondering how did I get to Spiceball park and what were the Daleks and Cybermen doing with the people there? Then I heard that noise.”

“What noise?” I asked.

“The sound the Tardis makes when it appears or disappears.”

“I see.” playing the sound through my head ‘What happened next?”

“I turned round and there behind me was the Tardis. I was wondering how I could hide from the Daleks, Cybermen and the Tardis all at the same time.”

“So what did you do?” I asked.

“I decided to walk to the Tardis, be brave, and knock on the door. I knocked and the door opened just a little. I saw a pair of eyes looking at me. Then the door opened and out walked the Doctor.”

“Which Doctor was it?” I asked

“Well … it wasn’t a Doctor I had seen before but I knew it was the Doctor.”

“How did you know? If it he was one we had never seen before.”

“Because they had a sonic screwdriver in their hand.”

“Of course.” I said “What did he do then?”

“Granddad he was a she and she was Miss Amy.”

“She, Miss Amy said ‘What are you doing here BW? You should be in class.’”

“I asked ‘Miss Amy, why are you the Doctor? You are Miss Amy and the Doctors are always men.’”

“Miss Amy paused and asked ‘Where were you before you came here BW?’“

“I told her my story of going to the school with my mum and then about the class going to the library.”

“She said that she had seen mum and me go into the class but that the library trip wasn’t till tomorrow. She asked how did I get into the woods? It’s a long way from the library.”

“I told Miss Amy the Doctor ‘I picked up a book and sort of fallen into it.’”

“Oh dear she said ‘you seem to have fallen into and through a worm hole. What’s the name of your planet?’”

“I said ‘It is Earth.’”

“Ah said Miss Amy the Doctor ‘This planet is named Adam which means the same as Earth. On Earth scientists know that there are three dimensions – latitude, longitude and altitude they help us to know where we are and with time we know when we are there or were there. Some scientists think there may be many more dimensions maybe ten or even more. BW you are no longer on your Earth but on this planet. The worm hole brought you to this Earth but we aren’t in your universe but in a parallel one. Nearly everything in this reality are the same as where you are from but somethings are different.’”

“I think I understand.’ I said to Miss Amy The Doctor. But I was beginning to wonder how I could get back to the Banbury I am from. I asked Miss Amy the Doctor. What is it that is different here to where I am from?”

“Miss Amy the Doctor smiled ‘Here there is no poverty because we all care for each other and our planet. Illness comes to some but they are looked after and almost all get well again. All children have schools where they can learn without fear of others. All people are encouraged to fulfil their potential. Some have more than others but all have enough and more. Our leaders genuinely care for all their people. People are valued for who they are. Oh and there is no war, if we disagree we talk to each other. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree. We then go before a judge who decides between those who are arguing”.

“Granddad, I asked Miss Amy the doctor why the Daleks and Cybermen were there.”

“She asked me ‘What are they like on your planet?’”

“I said to her. ‘They aren’t really real but that they are like the ones I had seen in the park beyond the woods.’”

“Miss Amy the Doctor said ‘They are the same ones who contacted me because they were worried that they had seen a young boy alone and acting strangely. They said it was as if he was trying to hide from them.’”

“Miss Amy Doctor, are you sure that they don’t want to exterminate us?”

“No BW they do not want to exterminate us they don’t even want to hurt us. They are here from Skaro to help us. The Daleks find the right stone or other natural materials and the Cybermen repair or build for us.”

“I asked Miss Amy ‘Doctor what they are building?’”

“Miss Amy the Doctor said ‘Here in the park they have been helping the conservationists repair the riverbanks and plant new species of plants that will thrive there. They are also currently building a new swimming pool at the school but they build lots of things.’ Miss Amy the Doctor then asked me ‘BW would you like to meet them?’”

“I told her that I wasn’t sure.’ She told me that she would look after me. So I agreed.”

“Granddad, I felt really scared.” Said BW.

“I think I would have been as well.” I said. I thought he sounded really brave and I felt very proud of him. I remember someone saying “Bravery isn’t the absence of fear but feeling the fear and doing it anyway.”

“Granddad I asked The Doctor miss Amy ‘Are we going to walk or are we going in the Tardis Miss Amy?’”

“She said ‘It’s not far only a mile or so, but would you like to go in the Tardis?’”

“Yes. I said, without a moment’s hesitation.”

“Miss Amy the Doctor opened the door and followed me as I walked into the very big interior. The lighting and the colours inside were very soft. They led us to the central console. Miss Amy the Doctor showed me what I needed to do to set the coordinates to get to the school. I did as she told me and soon the familiar noises surrounded and filled the Tardis. The trip was too quick and the shaking movement that I felt stopped.”

“Miss Amy the Doctor walked towards the door. I followed her. She opened it and I followed her out into the sun shine. I was very surprised to see that the school looked just like mine and that all my class were in the forest school area. I was amazed when I saw the swimming pool being built. Well not really the pool more the creatures building it. There were Daleks, Cybermen, Cyborgs and lots of others that I don’t know the names of. They were all working together along with some men and women workers. The swimming pool was huge. Granddad isn’t it odd that they could all speak English?”

“One of the Daleks came up to the Doctor and me and asked the Doctor if I was Ok? She turned to me and smiled so I turned to the Dalek and said ‘Yes thank you.’”

“The Dalek seemed very please as he communicated with the other Daleks ‘The young humanoid boy is OK.’”

“I heard a whistle and everyone stopped working. The humans went off for tea or coffee but the Cybermen wanted to play football. One of them asked me, ‘Would you play football with us please?’”

“I told them ‘Yes I would like a game, thank you.’”

“A golden Dalek offered to referee and the game started. It was only a short game Grandad. I don’t know which side won. I don’t know which players were on my side and which on the other. All the Cybermen looked the same. But it was fun. I heard the whistle again and everyone thanked me for playing then went back to work on the swimming pool.”

“I asked Miss Amy the Doctor ‘Miss Amy can I meet myself please.’”

“I am sorry BW but I think that you shouldn’t do that but we can let you see our BW but he shouldn’t see you. Is that Ok with you?”

“Yes Miss Amy I would like that. I said.”

“We went into the class room. We stood a little way back from the windows and looked out at my class – well their class. They looked like my class but there was Miss Amy and me talking. I turned and saw Miss Amy standing next to me.”

“Miss Amy how can you be here and out there as well as on Earth at the same time?”

“BW, did you think I was the teacher? Your teacher on Earth is probably looking for you right now. The teacher, Miss Amy, is with her class outside. She is named Amy and I am her twin sister. I am sorry I should have explained.”

“The class were all learning happily together. They seemed to have gotten very muddy in the forest school.”

“Miss Amy the Doctor then asked me what I would like to do next?”

“I asked if it would be alright if I was to see BWs Mum?”

“I suppose you can but only from a distance. She said.”

“Thank you Miss Amy. I said”

“She said, It is nearly three o’clock so why don’t we go into the school library and look from there?”

“Walking up the path toward the class room was a lady who looked like mum but I knew she wasn’t. I really missed my mum. The Doctor looked at me and asked ‘Are you OK BW.’”

“I said ‘I am really missing my mum.’”

“The Doctor asked me ‘BW do you know how to get back to your time and dimension, your Earth?’”

“No. I said.”

“She said ‘Well why don’t you make your own worm hole?’”

“How can I do that miss? I asked.”

“She asked ‘How do you usually make a worm hole BW?’”

“I use wooden building bricks or sometimes lego miss. I make a spiral pattern out of them. I said”

“Ok BW, she said, let’s find some bricks for you to make your spiral pattern with and then we will see what happens.”

“The Doctor soon found some wooden building bricks and I set to work making the spiral pattern on the carpeted floor of the school library.”

“She said ‘That is a beautiful pattern. Please stand in the middle of your worm hole.’”

“Ok miss. I said and carefully got into the middle.”

“Miss Amy the Doctor said ‘Thank you for visiting us, it’s been such a pleasure to meet such a wonderful young man.’”

“Miss Amy the Doctor took from her pocket the sonic screwdriver. She gave it to me and told me which buttons did what she also told me that if I got into trouble to unscrew the base and press the button there. It’s a distress signal. I told her that I understood. Then I pointed the screwdriver at the bricks. The sonic screwdriver lit up and made the usual noise. The bricks started to rise into the air and spin round. Then they started to spin round me. Then I remembered to ask ‘Doctor, how is it that every one of the creatures speaks English?’”

I asked “And what did the Doctor say BW?”

BW replied “I don’t know. That is when Miss Amy asked me if I was OK.”

“Granddad do you think it really happened?”

“What do you think?” I replied.

“It really happened Granddad.”

-oo0oo-