The Hum’s Decision

Like most entities in this world, The Hum wanted nothing more than a quiet life. It thought the notion of humming along through life very appropriate to its circumstances.

So news of the girl from above ground wasn’t the sort of news it wanted to hear as it could feel a shrill starting to form and shrilling was not something it enjoyed as it hurt its throat if you considered the Hum capable of having a throat.

The Hum knew it would be soon that he would find the girl in front of him and he also knew what it was he had to do.

The Hum’s job was to safeguard the sanctity of the below ground. Alice-Mary was a very inquisitive girl, and the Hum did not want her returning to the above ground with more information than was good for her.

The above ground folk were of limited intelligence and imagination as far as the Hum was concerned. The fact that Alice-Mary was an eighth of her above ground size below ground was not something the Hum wanted her aware of as in the past such information had led to enthusiastic people above ground digging holes trying to discover the below ground and the Hum was not having any of that.

How she had managed to come down the rabbit hole in the first place was a secret the Hum wanted kept.

The Hum could hear the approach of the girl, George and the rabbit Junker. The Junkers were not among the Hum’s favourites, as they tended to be rules unto themselves. Despite all the advice given to them about the dangers of bringing above ground folk below ground they tended to disregard all advice and as a result they ended up in front of the Hum expecting the Hum to solve a problem they created.

And so here they were again.

Alice-Mary was her usual inquisitive self in coming to see the Hum. She expected an old man in a grey beard sitting on some sort of throne.

She was disappointed to arrive in front of the Hum only to discover it was a giant mushroom she was looking at.

“Is that it? That’s the Hum?” she asked incredulously.

At that precise moment, the Hum spoke directly to her, its voice inside her head.

“Yes, disappointing isn’t it, you expected more, they always do, but in my world, I’m very impressive you know, not many being like me,” stated the Hum.

“I can hear you, can’t I?”

“Of course, it’s a little trick I enjoy playing. After all, in your world something like me might be served for dinner, but in the below ground, I’m what keeps the place ticking you might say or humming as you’ve come to realise.”

“You’re a mushroom,” said Alice-Mary not wasting any words.

“Yes, and a very fine one at that,” said the Hum inside her head, “and now young lady we have to send you back. Are you ready?”

“Just like that, you’re sending me back. I can’t wait to tell everyone about this place,” said a now enthusiastic Alice-Mary.

“Well if you just take hold of the red tentacle beside you then you’ll be off.”

Alice-Mary looked down and saw a red tentacle coming from the Hum’s central stem and took it in her hands.

The next thing she knew was she was back under the tree, her book in her lap and in her mind the sense that she had been asleep and had had the most amazing dream.

She shook her head and looking about saw her mother out hanging the washing. For the first time in a long time, she was glad to see her mother and rushing over threw her arms around her surprising her mother.

“Goodness, Alice-Mary what is wrong with you?” cried her mother as she reached up to hang out the bed sheets.

“I’ve had the most amazing dream. I was …..I was somewhere, but I can’t remember where exactly….”

“Alice-Mary, you and your dreams, I think you should write it down,” said her mother pushing her away so she could complete her hanging out.

“I think I will,” replied Alice-Mary.

“Oh and before you do, would be so kind as to remove that cap you are wearing. Where on earth did you find that?”

Alice-Mary reached up and removed the cap wondering where she had seen the word ‘JUNK’ before.

*Part 4 can be found here: https://summerstommy.com/2019/01/15/alice-mary-and-the-rabbit-part-4-the-hum/