Billy and the Passionfruit, Part 6 of 7.

Disclaimer: For the second-last time, it's not my story. Honestly. Hmph.

Dawn arrived bright and early, as it usually does. A swallow fluffed its feathers and cawed a greeting to the red-tinted sunrise, before gliding away on a cool morning breeze. All was peaceful and quiet in Candlestick Park.

Billy opened his eyes blearily. He looked around. He sat up. "Wha...?" he said. His hands patted confusedly at the rough woodwork of the bench beneath him.

"Bed?" he murmured. He patted the bench again. "No... not bed. Uhmm..."

Billy scratched his head sleepily. "Room?" he muttered, looking from side to side. "No room? Uhhh..."

Billy's hands reached out. "Bobby the bear?" he said. His fingers curled around the soft plushie toy. He sighed in relief. "Bobby the bear..." he repeated, smiling contentedly.

It took a moment for Billy's brain to kick into gear. He jolted upright. My drawing... the teacher... passionfruit... the principal... passionfruit... mum... dad... passionfruit... the tramp... the wizard... the tree...

The wizard! Of course!

Billy jumped into action. He dashed across the grass, ran through the south gate of the park, stopped, looked left and right, crossed the street, climbed up the hill and pressed the knob on the trunk of the biggest tree.

Exactly three seconds elapsed. Suddenly, a deafening chime, akin to the roar of ten thousand angry lions, reverberated through Billy's skull. The trunk of the biggest tree split open with a resounding crack to reveal a jagged, ten-foot-tall archway. Looming in the archway was a snarling white-furred monster of enormous proportions.

The hairs on the back of Billy's neck stood on end.

The monster growled. Its thin purple lips spread slowly in a toothy grin, exposing cruel fangs. A pair of yellow-tinted eyes, dark as poison, glowed eerily in Billy's direction. It stomped heavily forward on large, clawed feet.

Then it raised a hairy paw to brush a speck of dust off its tuxedo.

"Hello," said the monster pleasantly. "My name is Albert. How may I be of service?"

Billy remained rooted in place. His eyes had glazed over.

"Um, hello?" said the monster, waving a paw in front of Billy's face. "Anyone there?"

Billy didn't move.

"Oh, dear," said the monster, sighing audibly. "I truly fail to understand why I am forced to do this every time." He produced a large bucket of water and sloshed it over Billy.

Billy sputtered. "H-h-h-hi Mr. A-A-Albert," he said, shivering.

Albert beamed in delight. "Why hello there, young one," he said cheerfully. He spread his massive arms wide in a gesture of hospitality. "Welcome back to the land of the living. What may I do for you?"

Billy took a deep breath to calm himself down. Any monster in a tuxedo, he reasoned, is likely to be less than dangerous. He stopped short as a thought struck him. Or completely insane.

Billy took another deep breath. That didn't really help, he thought. But he steeled himself nonetheless. "Is there a wizard here, Mr. Albert?" he asked tentatively.

"Oh, I'm afraid not, Mr.-" Albert paused. "... May I have your name, young master?"

"Um, it's Billy," said Billy, crestfallen. The tramp had lied to him.

"Terribly sorry, Billy," said Albert. "The wizard is away on business at the moment. It is my sad duty as his butler to inform all appointment-seekers to come back tomorrow." He patted Billy's shoulder apologetically.

Billy's eyes lit up in joy. "So there is a wizard!" he said ecstatically.

Albert looked affronted. "Well, of course there is!" he said. "I would be plum out of a job otherwise, wouldn't I?" He crossed his arms and grumbled to himself. "Foolish kids... always think they know everything. It's all the same. All the same. Hmph."

Billy jumped up and down to regain Albert's attention. "Hey!" he yelled, waving his arms at the butler. "Hello?"

Albert looked up irritably. "Come back tomorrow," he snapped. The archway slammed shut.

Billy took a moment to digest this. "Alright," he chirped happily, to no-one in particular. He climbed down the hill, stopped, looked left and right, crossed the street, ran through the south gate of the park, dashed across the grass and returned to his wooden bench.

He spent the night in the park.

The next morning, Billy was up bright and early. Today he would see the wizard! Today he would get his answers!

Billy jumped into action. He dashed across the grass, ran through the south gate of the park, stopped, looked left and right, crossed the street, climbed up the hill and pressed the knob on the trunk of the biggest tree.

Three seconds elapsed. A deafening chime resounded, and the archway split open. Standing in the archway was a refreshed-looking Albert.

"Ah, hello, Billy," said Albert, smiling affably. "I was wondering when you'd drop by."

Billy was bouncing up and down in anxiousness. "Can I see the wizard now?" he begged. "Please?"

Albert's face fell. "I'm afraid I must deliver more bad news," he said regretfully. "You've just missed him. He's gone on another business trip and won't be back for another week." Albert patted Billy's head comfortingly. "Awfully sorry," he said.

The archway slammed shut.

Billy was crushed. "Okay," he murmured, "I'll come back in a week." He trudged down the hill, stopped, looked left and right, crossed the street, plodded in through the south gate of the park, and made his way across the grass to his wooden bench.

He spent another week in the park.

One week later, Billy was up bright and early. Today, at last, he would understand why everyone was so mad at him for saying passionfruit! Today he would solve the mystery!

Billy jumped into action. He dashed across the grass, ran through the south gate of the park, stopped, looked left and right, crossed the street, climbed up the hill and pressed the knob on the trunk of the biggest tree.

Three seconds elapsed. A deafening chime resounded, and the archway split open. Standing in the archway was a well-groomed Albert.

Albert gazed apologetically at Billy. "Billy," he began, "I'm afraid the wizard has left again, on yet another business trip. Popular man, you know, lots of clients and such." He patted Billy's head sympathetically.

Billy's lower lip quivered. His body shook. He burst into tears. "Not again!" he wailed. He hiccoughed pitifully.

"I am truly sorry, my lad," said Albert, grimacing. "The wizard will be returning in a month. Perhaps you could try coming back then."

The archway slammed shut.

Billy turned miserably away from the trunk of the biggest tree. He trudged down the hill, stopped, looked left and right, crossed the street, plodded in through the south gate of the park, and made his way across the grass to his wooden bench.

Sitting on the bench was the tramp.

"Ah, Billy!" the tramp said brightly. "Fancy meeting you here!"

Billy mumbled a despondent greeting in return.

"What? No cheery hello for an old friend?" prompted the tramp.

Billy sat down dejectedly on the opposite side of the bench.

"Hm, suppose not," said the tramp, a trifle disappointed. "So much for testing your perseverance."

Billy snapped out of his stupor. "What did you just say?" he demanded.

"My lad," said the tramp seriously, his black eyes glittering. "You didn't really think, did you, that a famous wizard lets just about anyone consult him?"

Billy shook his head confusedly.

"But you have passed my test," said the tramp with a wink. "Well done, if I do say so myself."

Billy nodded jerkily in thanks. His eyes widened in dawning comprehension.

The tramp reached under his tattered gray rags with a gnarled hand and pulled out a long wooden staff. In a flash he was clothed in elegant robes of wizardly purple. He winked again.

"Come on up, Billy," he said warmly. "We have much to discuss. Albert is preparing tea." And with a swirl of dazzling stars the wizard vanished from Candlestick Park.

To be continued...