MOUSE OF COMMONS. MOUSE OF LORDS.

PART 1 OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL!!!

GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL!!! - PART 1

Part 1 of a 15 part internet-exclusive mini-adventure by Paul Chandler, set in Barcelona.

It was autumn on the streets of Barcelona, but you would never have known it for the leaves on the trees had barely had a chance to turn orange yet, let alone to fall to the street. It was getting dark though and on the cobbled streets off the Rambla district of town a shambling figure was skulking amongst the shadows; a figure, 7 foot tall with a pie for a head and a grudge long held - this was the ghost of the pie man and he was out to collect his rent money...

Meanwhile, not so very far away - there were other matters of interest for Gladstone McWhiskers and Oliver Louse, who were about to set off with Charlie Grrr on an adventure across Barcelona which was almost entirely devoted to pastry!!

"So..." beamed Charlie Grrr excitedly. "I don't suppose you've ever been on a pie-crawl, now - have you?"

Gladstone McWhiskers, Mouse of Commons and Lord gazed over at his colleague and friend, the loyal Oliver Louse and raised an eyebrow. Oliver raised one of his own and then they turned back to Charlie; where the bear was busy drawing up a map of their proposed routes through the many pie haunts of old Barcelona.

"No..." agreed Gladstone. "You're right there! Even after all the years we've known you, Charlie - we have never been introduced to the beary delights of pie-crawling..."

Ollie hadn't said much, so far; he was still quite in awe of this new city. They had been travelling around Spain for a few weeks by this stage, but they had been meeting with various Spanish mouse dignatories and it had been quite hard work, really. However they were now in Barcalona; having met up with Charlie Grrr who was due to be staging a big concert in Madrid the following week. This was the 2nd Pieload Festival; the first had been in Venice the previous year and his son; Charlie Junior was already in Madrid with their mouse house keeper, Ernestina - presumably doing all the hard work whilst Charlie Senior was lauding it up on the pie-crawl.

"Every bear deserves a weekend off sometimes..." he had declared when Gladstone had questioned him about it - and that was all the explanation that he gave; now here they were only a few house later about to proceed on their mysterious "pie-crawl..."

"You'll enjoy it - everyone enjoys a good pie-crawl..." Charlie exclaimed confidently, as they finished their drinks and prepared to move off.

"Yes! So you've said..." exclaimed Ollie, a little crossly. "But what IS a pie-crawl, exactly!?"

Charlie beamed and rose from his seat at the cafe where they had been sitting enjoying the last rays of the sun on that pleasant autumn afternoon. It was getting dark now and Charlie pointed towards a dingy looking alley across from where they were sitting.

"Down there!!" he declared - pointing into the shadows. "Is where the pie crawl begins - follow me and you will learn the ancient secret of pie-crawling..."

"I really can't wait..." Gladstone replied, a trifle sarcastically.

"Me neither..." added Ollie.

Charlie chuckled, as he rose to his paws - for he had more to say. "Oh yes..." he added. "I forgot to tell you..." he continued. "It's not just any old pie-crawl I'm taking you on - THIS is a HAUNTED pie-crawl... So what do you think of that!?" he laughed loudly - not waiting for a reply and turning away from them - off across the street and towards the dark and haunted alleys of Barcelona city.

Gladstone and Ollie stared at the bear and then they stared at one another. They really weren't sure that they liked the sound of the pie-crawl in the first place - but a ghostly pie-crawl simply sounded like the worst thing ever.

But, if Charlie Grrr had any say in the matter, there was no going back...

TO BE CONTINUED, TOMORROW.

What will Ollie and Gladstone find when they allow Charlie to take them on their first pie-crawl??

This instalment was originally written in Barcelona between Thursday 8th and Sunday 11th November 2007.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF GLADSTONE MCWHISKERS AND THE PHANTOM PIE-CRAWL

As you can see from the photo above, writing this story and also having my 34th birthday at the same time brought the hero out in me. I even managed to paddle in the sea.

...Not just paddle in the sea - but also drink erm - well, that looks like lemonade to me, does it not you!?

I did not travel alone... Mr Calum Williamson also came along too. But he wasn't the only person who came along. Find out who else came in tomorrow's behind the scenes photos... :)

Story and photos - Copyright Paul Chandler, 2007.

Labels: Gladstone McWhiskers, Mouse of Commons, Oliver Louse

posted by Paul Chandler @ 2:20 PM