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One sunny morning Mr Berry had finished loading his pick-up ready for market when Mrs Cherry came hurrying into the yard.
'Mr Berry are you going into town?' she asked.
'Yes,' replied Mr Berry, 'Just as soon as I've had my breakfast.'
'You haven’t got a very big load on board this morning, would you be kind enough to give me a lift into the market? The bus has broken down and I can't get there to do my shopping.'
'Certainly Mrs Cherry. I'm always pleased to help a neighbour. Be back here in twenty minutes. Okay?'
Twenty minutes later Mrs Cherry was back with her neighbour Mrs Polly Plum and her twins, Vickie and Dennis. 'May we come too?' said Polly.
'Jump in,' said Mr Berry; but there wasn't room for them in the cab with Mr Berry and Mrs Cherry. 'You can get in the back but this is only a makeshift bus so there aren't any seats.' Mr Berry thought hard, then he said, 'There's a big wooden box in the back, you can sit on it but…' he said to Vickie and Dennis, ‘Mind you littlins sit still. It's full of eggs and I can't sell 'em in the market if they're scrambled.' So the three Plums sat on the box marked EGGS.
They hadn't gone far when Mrs Cherry said. 'Who's that standing by the bus stop?'
'It's Peggy Peach,' said Mr Berry. He stopped the pick-up. 'There's room in the back for you Peggy Peach if you'd like a lift.'
'Thank you William,' said Peggy Peach. 'But there isn't a seat.'
'Do you mind sitting on a straw bale? It'll be a bit prickly, but this is a makeshift bus without proper seats. Climb in the back,' he said. Peggy Peach climbed in and sat on the straw bale, opposite Polly Plum and the twins on the egg box.
Next came Mr and Mrs Stringbean who had decided to walk to town. Mr Berry, slowed down and peeped his horn.
'Good morning Dan, good morning Daisy would you like a lift in my bus?'
'William we'd love a lift. Our old feet are aching fit to break,' said Dan Stringbean.
'Do you mind sitting in the back. It's not very comfortable, this is a makeshift bus and the only seat is a straw bale you can sit next to Peggy Peach.'
'Anything's better than walking,' said Mrs Stringbean, 'My feet are killing me!' So they climbed into the back with Peggy Peach opposite the Plums on the egg box. 'We won't take much room,' said Daisy Stringbean but they were rather fat and Peggy Peach had to hold on tight so she didn't get pushed off the end.
A little further on they caught sight of a tall, fat boy pushing a bicycle with a flat tyre. 'That's young Spud Nutter,' said Mrs Cherry, 'He's got a puncture.'
'Well I'm blessed,' said Mr Berry slowing down to speak to Spud. 'Hello there, Spud, would you like a lift? We could load your bike into the back if you like.'
'Thanks a lot, Mr Berry. That'll be a great, I'm late for school.'
Mr Berry pulled up and they lifted the bike into the back of the truck.'
'Thanks,' said Spud
'Climb in the back, there's one box left to sit on. It's got holes in the top. He smiled to himself as Spud climbed in and sat on the box with holes in the lid. 'I hope there aren't any more people wanting lifts Mrs Cherry,' said Mr Berry as they set off again. 'I think my bus is full, there aren't any more seats.'
'No,' said Mrs Cherry, and then she said, 'What's that funny noise? It sounded like someone saying "Ow!" in the back, Mr Berry.'
'Really?' said Mr Berry smiling, 'I shouldn't worry about it Mrs Cherry.' But Mrs Cherry did worry, she heard it again and then again "Ow, OW, OW!"
'Somebody said "OW!" .I heard them.'
'We're nearly there now, don't worry. Look there's my friend PC Tom Beat. 'G'morning Tom,' said Mr Berry, 'Can I park over there to put down my passengers?'
'Yes,' said Tom, 'Then I'd like to have a word with you, William Berry.'
Mr Berry pulled into the side and helped his passengers out of the back. 'Please can we all have a lift back?' asked Mrs Plum.
'Of course you can,' said Mr Berry, 'I shall leave the market car park at noon.'
Then Mr Berry caught sight of Spud. He could hardly get out of the truck.
'What's wrong with you young Spud?' asked Mr Berry. Spud rubbed his sit-upon. There was something in that box and it bit my…'
'Oh, so there was,' laughed Mr Berry. 'I forgot to tell you, it's my old gander I'm selling him in the market, he's got a fierce beak on him hasn't he?'
'Not half,' said Spud. 'I'll never be able to sit down again.'
'Then you'll have to ride back on my bus.' Mr Berry said.
'Oh will he?' said PC Tom Beat. 'I want a word with you. You can't bring passengers into town in the back of a pick-up truck. Its against the law.'
'I'm sorry Tom I didn't know that. I brought my friends into town to get their shopping because there wasn't a bus, and there isn't a bus to take them back. What shall we do? Can we get special permission from the Mayor?'
'I should think so,' said Tom. 'I'll go and see him, while you're in the market. See you in the car park at midday.'
When the town clock struck twelve everyone gathered by Mr Berry's old pick up truck. Mr Berry was looking for his friend. And then he saw Tom driving a mini-bus into the car park.
'Everyone on board,' said Tom. 'You'll have a more comfortable ride in this bus than in Mr Berry's.'
When Mr Berry drove home, Spud's bike was in the back and Spud sat in the front beside Mr Berry. Spud was going to visit the doctor to get something to treat his bruises.
The End
© Rosa Johnson 2006
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