Disclaimer: I do not own The Faraway Tree nor any of the characters. This short storey was written for my A Level English a few years ago. The idea was to write a text transformation, i choose The Faraway Tree and changed the themes to make it more modern. Hope you enjoy!

--------

The colours were dimming now, left only were blacks and grays; great swirls of torment and trouble which reflected the earlier going’s on of the evening. The white of the walls were blinding. After being held in shadow for hours upon end, being released felt even more damaging. Voices floated, harshly penetrating her mind.

She felt sick.

‘Beth?’

‘Beth! Frannie! Fancy seeing you two tonight!’ Joe beamed at the two. ‘Now, how about going for an innocent drink or two? Nothing more, nothing less. Unless of course either of you had anything planned?’

‘No.’ The girls said in unison before looking at each other and laughing. ‘Where to then?’ Asked Frannie, recovering first. ‘The usual?’

‘Do we ever go anywhere else?’ Replied Joe.

The three crossed the road and started walking down Brooke Street. As wide as it was long, Brooke Street was alluringly big. It was made up of hundreds of smaller roads and avenues which branched off the main street. It was always dark, even in the sunlit hours. The shops and their owners glistened, constantly busy like squirrels burrowing for nuts. Brooke Street was ‘the root’ of Dwarf Willow Town. There was nothing worth mentioning outside of the street. As welcoming as it sounded though, there was a secrecy about the place that no-one knew. There was a sense of unease which everyone felt. It was as if there were people walking by; people that no-one saw.

The sound that accompanied this mood was as trees rustling in the wind. Cedar and Oak talking in hushed voices casting a charm on the inhabitants of Dwarf Willow. Although the people of the town constantly felt vulnerable, visitors flocked like birds, eager to stay in the mythical place and to explore its mystical elements.

Joe, Beth and Frannie reached their destination for the night, situated faraway down Olive Avenue, the outside of the Bewitching Beech Bar gave nothing away. The building was quite old, very small and naturally dark. Due to its location and its size, you’d expect it to be deathly quiet in the way of custom, however being a haunt for students, it was far from. As Joe pushed the door open, smoke, laughter and the smell of warm beer flooded out. The décor of the Bar was surprisingly bright. Deep red in colour, the walls reflected the foreboding feel the street carried, but with a fun, if not drunken slant.

‘JOE! Over here! You alright?’

‘Rick! You’re not meant to be down ‘till tomorrow! Is Connie here also?’ Exclaimed Joe.

‘She is indeed! She’s just getting the drinks in.’ Replied Rick.

‘Dude, she’s your kid sister, you should be paying!’ Said Joe ‘Oh girls, sorry! This is my cousin Rick, and here’s Connie! Alright kiddo? This is Beth and Frannie.’ Joe said waving an impatient hand towards the two. ‘Been entertaining yourselves before we got here have you?’

‘Yeah, something like that.’ Smiled Connie glancing towards the bar. ‘Who’s that guy?’

‘Who?’

‘Him! The one wearing the purple shirt, smoking a pipe.’

‘You mean the one who’s about ten years older than you?’ Asked Rick, raising his eyebrows.

‘Yeah well, I was only asking. He caught my eye.’

‘He does that.’ Piped in Joe. ‘Know-one knows his name…he owns ‘Witch Hazel’, the night club down Sycamore Street. He pretty much keeps himself to himself so when he makes an appearance people generally look.’

‘Ok…” Slurred Joe. “Ok, I think, but I’m not sure, but I think, that, its closing time.’

‘Joe,’ Said Frannie.

‘Yeah?’

‘Go back to sleep.’

‘I wasn’t sleeping!’

‘No?’

‘No. I was not.’

‘What were you doing then?’

‘I was dreaming.’

Frannie and the others laughed as Joe slouched over the table.

‘K I’m back.’ Said Connie.

‘Umm, where did you disappear to little sister?’ Mocked Rick.

‘Just talking to Mister… Watzisname, that club owner guy that Joe introduced us to. The party he and Joe were talking about, it’s defiantly on. It’s at his apartment building. We still going?’ Connie asked Joe.

‘Ahhh why the hell not hey?’ Laughed Joe suddenly awake. ‘C’mon.’

‘Do you even remember where it is?’

‘Why yes Beth, I do. It’s at Witch Hazel.’

‘No hunny… it’s at the guy’s apartment. You practically organized it. Remember?’ Explained Beth. ‘Guys, you think this is a good idea?’

‘Well he can’t possibly get any more drunk then he already is, so yeah. Where does Watzisname live Joe?’ Asked Rick.

‘He lives half way up The Tree.’

Whoa!’ Cried Frannie. ‘You’re joking?’

‘That’s what he said.’

‘And what exactly is ‘The Tree’?’ Asked Rick looking lost.

‘It’s an apartment tower east of Dwarf Willow.’ Replied Frannie excitedly. ‘He must be loaded to be living there.’

‘Is it far? Because I don’t fancy carrying Joe.’ Smirked Rick.

‘There’s a direct bus link, if we leave now we can get the 11:15.’ Said Frannie.

‘I’m not sure…I think Joe needs to go home.’

‘Well what are we waiting for?’ Laughed Connie, ignoring Beth’s concern.

‘You took your time.’ The owner of Witch Hazel said to the group. ‘C’mon, there’s some people I’d like you to meet.’

He led them over to a strange yet interesting group of people sitting near a window. Each one of them looked and behaved so differently to the next Beth found it hard to focus on one in particular. There was a young girl, eighteen or nineteen at the most, who looked instantly likeable. She had hair that seemed to float around her head like a golden mist, as fine as silk. She was extremely beautiful and as Beth realized she wasn’t the only one looking, she noticed what the girl was wearing; a very short but dainty, shiny dress and the highest of heels one could walk in. Feeling over dressed Beth looked around and saw that it was the girl whose clothes were out of place, not her own.

Next to her sat an older man, probably in his thirties. His face was round, but not fat and his head was shaven. He was dressed in a royal blue suite with a gold waistcoat underneath which matched the gold stars on his jacket. He was also smoking from a pipe. Beth heavily suspected it wasn’t just tobacco he was smoking.

Just away from him stood a boy probably the same age as Beth, seventeen. He wore jeans and a T shirt with the slogan ‘Fuck the D.J’ printed on it. Around his neck he was also wearing an over sized pair of headphones which made him look quite comical.

A woman a least double his age was sat next to him. She was just as skinny as the boy and just as pale. In fact they looked identical despite the age gap.

‘Ok…’ Started the club owner. ‘This is Sarah Caprice, but everyone calls her by her stage name, Silky.’

Silky, the girl in the short dress was obviously drunk and staggered up and hugged everyone when her name was mentioned.

‘This…’ Said the owner whilst pointing towards the older woman, ‘Is Mrs. Pot, the flat we’re in belongs to her. The kid behind her is her son, don’t actually know what his real name is, everyone calls him Saucepan-man, he hates his last name so we play on it as much as possible. He’s a member of the Dwarf Willow steel band, just so you know his hearings suffered because of it. And last, but by no means least, we have Oliver Moon! Or if you like, Moon-face.’ The man in the suite nodded encouragingly at the group before involving himself once again in his pipe.

‘Now, I already know Joe, and Connie introduced herself down at the bar but I have no idea who the hell any of you are.’ Prompted Mister Whatsisname.

‘Oh yeah, sorry about that!’ Laughed Connie. ‘Brother Rick, and Beth and Frannie, Joe’s mates.

‘Hi.’ They all muttered, unsure what else to say.

‘Well isn’t Joe looking a bit worse for wear! Sit him down over there, he’ll sleep it off.’ Mr. Whatsisname said whilst leading them to a corner of the room everyone seemed to be avoiding. ‘Now drinks! What can I supply? Or rather what can Moon-face supply, as it appears I’m needed elsewhere! Sort them out will you Moon-face?’ Mr. Whatsisname hurried out of the room as Moon-face stood up to pour drinks.

‘Here.’ Moon-face said whilst passing them a drink each. ‘Drink up, don’t leave your glasses unattended, you don’t know how safe it will be.’ Moon-face’s eyes sparkled as he said those last words and walked away.

‘I don’t like him.’ Beth said at once. ‘He makes me feel uneasy.’

‘Yeah well, free booze. It’s the best offer I’m probably gonna get all night, so yeah.’ Replied Frannie, downing her second drink.

Walking through the apartment, Beth saw that all her friends were well and truly wasted. The only one she couldn’t find was Joe. Until now she’d done her best to resist the masses of alcohol surrounding her. Realizing she was going to be stuck there all night she reached for the nearest drink.

‘Well if everyone else is then what the hell.’ Beth spoke aloud whilst downing the drink in one. She carried on drinking until Saucepan-man came in. Offering her a joint he took a seat alongside her.

‘Alright old fellow?’

‘Bellow? Bellow what?’ Asked Saucepan-man.

‘No, I said ‘hi’’

‘Bye? Fine then. Go on, leave.’

‘I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE, I SAID HI!’ Shouted Beth.

‘Ok! There‘s no need to shout!. Chill girl!’

‘I told you he’s deaf.’ Said Moon-face entering the kitchen suddenly. ‘You need to speak a lot clearer, he gets insulted quite easily.’

‘God you made me jump!’ Remarked Beth.

‘Here, come with me. I want to take you upstairs. If you’re worried you can bring Joe and the others.’ He added due to the look on her face.

‘Yeah ok, umm what’s upstairs?’

‘You’ll see.’

‘Welcome, boys and girls, to the Land of Enchantments.’

Looking around Beth noticed nothing at first; a cloud of white smoke was whirling around her. She could see nothing except for the white ladder she had just climbed up. ‘Step out of the cloud Beth.’ Said the same voice as before.

After she did so she looked around again, this time seeing the strangest group of people she had ever seen. Some were dressed in leather, some in chains. Others had colours in their hair; pinks, greens, purples and blues. The area she stood in seemed endless. No walls enclosed it and stars were shining above. They were on the rooftop.

Tables stood placed around the edge like a barrier. On them were a vast collection of drugs and alcohol.

‘What can I get you mi’dear?’ Asked an elderly man in a thick Scottish accent. Beth thought he looked like a wizard, she felt stupid for even thinking it. ‘Oh, umm do you have any archers?’ She asked.

‘Fraid not. I specialize in weed and pills.’

‘She’ll have both.’

‘Oh no I won’t! Thank you anyway Moon-face, but I think I might leave.’

‘You won’t be able to get back down the ladder so you may as well stay. Anyway look at your friends! They’re having fun! Why ruin it?’

Beth glanced over and saw that they had no objection to consuming large amounts of both drugs and alcohol. Looking up at Moon-face she noticed for the first time how good looking he was. Her head was feeling clouded. She was already high from the fumes choking her.

‘Ifeellikeamdreeaminngg’ Slurred Beth to no-one in particular. She stumbled as she tripped over a barrier visible only to her. The colours in the room were getting brighter by the minute. Violets and oranges mainly, swirling around her, being absorbed in her skin and breathed in through her mouth. They were beautiful and had a sweet aroma about them. Puffs of green were shooting towards her as she swayed; they flew over her as her head wrenched backwards trying to follow them. It made her feel strong as she tried to catch them. Looking up she noticed stars falling over her. They were coming out of the sky. She felt them tinge slightly as each one fell on her upturned hands. Light was coming from somewhere. Blindingly bright it was floating above her. She reached out her hand and stretched it as far as she could. A face was beginning to merge, trying to talk to her. She was being lifted up, as though she herself was floating also. She was higher than the stars. She was a star. Twinkling and looking down at everyone whilst she closed her eyes and breathed in fresh air. Feeling heavy again she opened her eyes, the anonymous hand yanked away from her whilst another shook her hard.

‘Come back.’ She muttered.

‘Beth? Hellooo?’

‘I just saw God. He was taking me away.’

‘Beth!! It was me! I was trying to wake you! We need to leave; the Land of Enchantments is no more!’ Laughed Joe.

‘No, I saw God! You don’t understand. He didn’t want me to stay here any longer.’

‘Come on, I’ll carry you, I’ve sobered up now.’ Said Joe as he lifted her. ‘Your have to get yourself down the ladder somehow though… I’ll need both hands to move down.’

As they got to the ladder the smoke surrounding it became faster and more clouded. Beth stumbled to the edge after Joe and began to ascend.

‘Hold on tight, ok?’ Said Joe. ‘Not meaning to jinx you, but I don’t want you to fall.’

It was too little too late. As Beth’s foot slipped she felt herself falling fast into a blur of grey.

She was finding it easier to focus now. Voices became recognizable as she realized she was in hospital. Looking up she saw her parents.

‘Beth, what on earth happened?’

--------

Reviews, as always are welcome! If this story is liked i might write another similar to it. Much longer with more going on!