Fred and the almost Lilliputians...

Slowly Fred was discovering hidden little groups of people and interesting places that he didn't even know existed.

Simply by walking about, Fred would stumble upon something or someone unexpected.

It made Fred feel a lot less alone and a lot less forgotten.

This idea of magic and possibility was so enchanting to Fred that he was determined to see what else was out there!

So one day, Fred was in the study, climbing up to one of the high shelves to see the spectacular view from it, when he discovered a quaint little red house.
"I wonder who could live here?" thought Fred, peering into one of the little windows.

He couldn't see much, and he didn't want to be too nosy in case he would offend someone.

Suddenly Fred saw a tiny blonde head peeping from around the corner of the wee house.

"Hello?" Fred said in a quiet voice.

" 'Ello?" said the tiny blonde girl.

Fred didn't want to frighten the little girl, so he smiled nicely at her and said in a gentle voice, "my name's Fred, what's yours?"

Staring at him with big excited eyes, the little girl whispered, "Rosalie."

"and how are you, Rosalie?" Fred asked her.

"Brilliant," she smiled at him, "You are a bunny wabbit?" she asked.

"I suppose you could say that, I'm sort a of bunny rabbit" said Fred.

Suddenly the little girl ran and jumped up at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I like you! I love bunnies, and you are the nicest one I've ever seen!" she squealed excitedly.

Patting her back awkwardly, Fred said "thanks, thankyou, you're a very nice little girl too," unsure of what to do with this over excited little girl.

"You'll play with me won't you?" Rosalie asked him.

"Sure..." said Fred, concerned of what he was getting himself into.

"You come meet my family!" Rosalie ordered.

Suddenly a whole load of little people jumped upon him.

"Woah!" said Fred, having had the wind knocked out of him again.

"These little people are awfully friendly," thought Fred, suspicious but secretly delighted.

"Hello," said Fred, unsure of what else to say.

All at once each little person kept jabbering at him, "Hello!" "Bunny!" "Giant!" "Teddy!"

"Come in the house!" the mother said,

"We'll make you some tea."

Fred poked his head into the house, wondering if he'd actually fit into such a tiny place.

He squeezed his head in first, then his shoulders, twisting himself around and folding his long legs in.

Fred was in! But not happy. He was very squished and uncomfortable.

"It's a bit small" Fred said awkwardly, trying to be polite.

There wasn't even room for anyone else in the house now he was in there. Fred felt almost like Alice in Wonderland, or like Gulliver and the Lilliputians...

"I'll just come out again, I think," he said.

Clambering out, the little people were rather glad. Although they wanted to make him welcome, they were a bit concerned their house would get broken.

Fred sat down outside the house, and the little people gathered around him.

"Tell us a story!" said Rosalie, making herself comfortable on Fred's lap.

"Yes!" everyone shouted.

"Yes dear, tell us about yourself, Fred," said the mother, "I'm sure you've lots of interesting stories from the spare room, and the shelves below."

"Ooh, the shelves below!" whispered Rosalie in awe, "tell us about them."

"OK" said Fred, stealing his nerve, "I'll tell you some stories."

Fred wasn't used to being the centre of attention and found it quite scary.

"But these people are so nice!" thought Fred, and he felt less frightened and became quite glad to have nice little people so interested in what he had to say.

"Well..." said Fred and he told them of all the adventures he'd had so far: of the gang of Easter chicks and being mauled by the big black puma, and Fred realised he'd had a rather interesting life.

The little people ooh and ahhed in all the right places, their big eyes almost popping out of their little heads with interest and excitement.

Fred talked and talked and soon realised it was getting rather late.

Little Rosalie yawned and he said he'd better get off home, and let them go to their beds.

Sadly they all agreed.

"But you'll come back, won't you?" asked Rosalie sleepily.

"Yes!" "Please do!" "We can tell you our stories!" all the other little people cried.

"And you can tell us more stories," said the mother, "You're a very good storyteller."

Fred had only just met these little people, and didn't even know all their names, but he was sure he'd made some real friends, and Rosalie seemed determined to make Fred her new big brother.

Fred assured them he'd come back very soon, wished them all sweet dreams and waved good night to them.

Climbing back down to his room, Fred felt very tired but really happy. Not only did he make some friends, but he had found something he was good at, telling stories. So he wasn't entirely useless after all!