Badger the Mystical Mutt and Daydream Drivers (6 page)

The path was strewn with sweet-smelling petals, which tickled their paws, and led up to a wooden cabin. A million fireflies shimmered all around them.

They stepped up onto the veranda and saw a sign saying: ‘WELCOME TO THE ZEN DEN. LEAVE YOUR DOUBTS AT THE DOOR, AND REMOVE ALL GLOOMINESS BEFORE ENTERING’.

The door glided effortlessly open and a waft of lavender filled the air. A soft melody floated past their ears. The floor was covered with sumptuous velvet cushions.

“Wow!” said Lennie, looking around the room. “This is amazing!” Then he saw it, dangling in the window; a perfectly formed Dreamcatcher with a tag attached. It had
feathers of different shapes and sizes, and all the colours of the rainbow. It shone with jewels.

“The jewels of Jupiter!” smiled Badger. He read out Baby Unicorn’s message;

“Here is my surprise for you
,

Your Dreamcatcher is complete
,

Although I don’t think you’ll need it now
.

May all your dreams be sweet.”

“Now, are you ready to relax, Lennie? Choose a cushion and make yourself comfortable.” Badger sat down with his back legs crossed, and held out his front paws. Lennie did the same.

Badger took a deep breath and said: “Close your eyes, Lennie, and take a deep, deep breath. In … and out. In … and out. Empty your head of all your worries about Pogo Paws and Pickle, and just sit in this moment of absolute calm,” he whispered. “Now, begin to believe in yourself, picture good things ahead, and soon, all your days will be badgical magical.”

They both sat breathing in the beautiful smells, feeling very contented.

“When you’re ready, Lennie,” whispered Badger, “wiggle your paws and open your eyes. There! How does that feel?”

“I feel like I’m floating,” replied a very relaxed Lennie.

Just then, a cuckoo clock chimed.

“That’s our cue to go.” Badger jumped up.

As they made their way to the door, the cuckoo flew off the clock and onto a wooden box. The bird tapped its beak on the lid
which opened to reveal a parcel wrapped in ribbon with a tag that said: ‘Life is full of surprises, and here’s one just for you’.

Badger untied the ribbon carefully to find four buttery slices of toast for the journey home from Baby Unicorn.

“The Zen Den is my most favourite place ever,” smiled Badger, tying the ribbon around Lennie’s head like a bandanna, and grabbing the Dreamcatcher.

As they stepped outside the cabin, Badger heard the familiar rattle and hum of the Wim-Wim.

“How do you feel about our journey home now, Lennie? Ready to soar into the stars?” asked Badger.

Lennie smiled blissfully. “I’m super-chilled, and ready for anything,” he replied.

Badger chuckled and climbed into the Wim-Wim, followed by an extremely laid-back Lennie.

They flew back to Badger’s garden.

As they tumbled out of the Wim-Wim, they heard a loud commotion and the whirring of a chainsaw.

They peered out into the lane where to their horror; the old oak tree was tied up in chains. A team of fierce looking Digger Dogs in hard hats and high-vis jackets surrounded the faithful tree. The Earl was at the centre brandishing a gleaming chainsaw.

Badger and Lennie scrambled through the crack in the fence and sped towards the crowd screaming “Stoppppppppppppppppp pppppppppppppppppppppppp!”

But it looked like they were already too late.

When the assembled crowd turned round, they could only see Lennie. Badger was already flying high above the old oak tree. The Earl tutted, and turned back to his chainsaw. He pulled the cord, ready to slice into the tree. Badger tapped ’Chief urgently, and said:
‘Turn at once with utmost zeal, into a shield of solid steel’
.

’Chief shot downwards and slid between the bark of the old oak tree and the jaws of the menacing blade. Sparks flew as steel slammed into steel, and the Earl leapt backwards in shock. He looked up to see Badger plummeting towards him. The Mystical Mutt landed squarely with a thump on top of the Earl, and flattened him to the ground.

“Stay there, ’Chief!” ordered Badger. “You did well. You’ve saved the tree.”

“For now, but I’ll be back,” warned the Earl, dusting himself down. “This lane is mine now, Badger. And don’t you forget it. It’s only home to a motley bunch of scruffs and strays. They mean nothing. They drag the whole area down. This lane will be beautiful when I’m finished with it; very des-res for high-class pooches.”

“Don’t you care at all about the community that has been built up here? This is where dogs and cats get on. Timmy and Snif set up PLOPP, the drop-in centre at the end of the lane; it’s where we’ve had
amazing times with
Pet Idol
and the
Barking Boogie
. It’s where we all look out for each other. And you want to stamp on all that?”

“That’s all very touching, I’m sure,” scoffed the Earl, as he threw down a pile of papers. “Just make sure everyone gets one of these.” And off he strode.

Badger and Lennie looked at the papers. At the top of each page, in large writing, it said: ‘Eviction Order’. Pogo Paws and Pickle drew close, the alley cats drew closer, the birds fluttered in a flurry above, and all the other strays from the lane gasped.

“It says everyone has to be out by sundown tomorrow,” said Lennie.

“Good luck finding new homes. We’ve already got one!” boasted Pickle.

“Yes!” added Pogo Paws proudly. “The Earl’s promised us one of his new-builds.”

“Oh really?” said Badger raising an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Did he stamp his paw on any paperwork for you?”

Pogo Paws and Pickle looked at each other and shook their heads.

“If I were you, I’d be checking that new house contract as soon as possible,” said Badger.

Pogo Paws and Pickle sped off in a panic to confront the Earl. Badger looked sadly at the devastation of the lane.

Earth was piled high, underground pipes lay exposed, planks of wood were stacked against the fence, and the sandpit had been completely dug up. The wheelie bins lay open on their sides.

The lane was almost unrecognisable.

“We have to stop this” said Badger. “Everyone here is losing their homes through no fault of their own. If we don’t do something, it will never be the same again. What right does he have to destroy this community? I’m ashamed to admit he’s a relative of mine.”

The assembled crowd muttered their agreement.

“We could find another lane, but it wouldn’t be the same,” said the leader of the alley cats.

“The lane has the best worms in the country,” sang the birds, harmoniously.

“I feel safe here, even though I’ve got to live alongside Pogo Paws and Pickle,” said Lennie.

“We need to think of a plan, and fast,” said Badger.

Just then, Lennie spotted something familiar peeking out of a pile of rubble. He tapped Badger on the shoulder and pointed. There was a perfectly intact jam jar with a hopping mad flea inside.

“Of course!” said Badger joyfully. “We’ll send him packing with a flea in his ear. It’s time to open that jam jar!”