Ida stood upon the clock tower, gripping it with one hand. In her hours of waiting and observing, she watched the cautious people rush home like nimble mice before the sun set.
The people of the city of Harmishworth can never be seen walking the streets at night. It's far too dangerous at night. But tonight, brave (or perhaps foolish) people dared to step foot outside. They wore fancy dresses and neat ties for the evening.
From afar, music and laughter could be heard, exciting them as they scuttled and darted towards the plaza. They were not alone. Large clumsy creatures traveled beside them wearing suits three sizes too small; breathing unnaturally quickly for lack of air.
One woman said sharply, "I CAN'T BELIEVE FATHER WON'T LET ME ATTEND THIS PARTY ALONE!"
Her guard monster, a blob wearing a suit, hat, and a marvelous moustache looked surprised.
The woman continued, "I CAN GUARD MYSELF JUST FINE WITHOUT YOU LOOMING OVER MY PRESENCE."
"GUARD MONSTERS LIKE YOU SMELL WEIRD-"
"AND GORGE YOURSELVES IN SWEETS THE ENTIRE PARTY"
"COULDN'T LOOK AT YOUR OWN TOES (IF YOU HAD ANY)"
"AND ARE SIMPLY TOO EMOTIONAL FOR MY TASTE."
The guard monster immediately started tearing up. He was so insulted!
OH, he thought. As the tears started dripping down his face. He gave the woman back her purses, and started to leave.
The woman was taken aback. "HEY, WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME MY BAGS BACK?"
"HOW DARE YOU!"
"HAROLD!"
"WAIT, THAT'S NOT IT-"
"HOWARD?"
"HARRY, YOU CAN'T QUIT ON ME!"
The guard monster squiggled away even faster. He had been working for her for weeks! And she still didn't know his name was Humphrey!
A crowd of people had gathered to view the commotion with all the yelling from the woman. They were largely uncomfortable.
"MY FATHER WILL PUT YOU ON THE BLACKLIST! NO ONE WILL EVER HIRE YOU AGAIN!" The woman screamed at him with a red face, fully insulted. Humphrey was so embarrassed.
As Humphrey went further away from the crowd, he found himself in front of the plaza's garden. It was made out of stone and brick, with greenery over the top of the gate's archway. The black metal gate with swirly designs let through the light inside, beckoning that he enter.
Humphrey stepped forward and with a look of surprise, he saw a water fountain with three marble water beast statues atop it. One water beast had its front foot raised, and the painted blue stone chipped and molded to look like water was swirling around the fountain under the water beast's command. The water beast statues were depicting massive creatures with fuzzy white fur, black flaps trailing their spines on their back. They have bills, four webbed feet, furry tails, and streaks of dark fur around their light bodies. They resembled powerful platypuses.