Toy Realm

By Dawn M. Wiens

Come on an enchanted visit to Toy Realm, the most wondrous toy store in the world. Its fairytale outline shimmers high into the sky and within its swirling walls you can find every toy you have ever heard of as well as a few astounding ones you have not. When Kaci and Danny Ticklebury delve a little too closely into Toy Realm’s secrets they find they are in for much more of an adventure than they had bargained for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663243058

Dawn M. Wiens

Dawn Wiens is a published journalist and mother who would like to leave a little legacy behind for the children in her life to enjoy.

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Dawn M. Wiens.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

844-349-9409

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-4300-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-4305-8 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 08/23/2022

Contents

Chapter 1A Very Unusual Toy Store

Chapter 2Meet the Tickleburys

Chapter 3Discovering Toy Realm

Chapter 4Pepperlite Pocket Ponies

Chapter 5Missing Children

Chapter 6The NightCrawler

Chapter 7Freaky Freebie Friday

Chapter 8Tragedy Strikes

Chapter 9Kaci’s Brave Idea

Chapter 10Retracing Danny’s Steps

Chapter 11A Very Strange Place

Chapter 12The King and Queen

Chapter 13Unpleasant Peasantry

Chapter 14Lunch with the Jesters

Chapter 15Toy Makers of Toy Realm

Chapter 16Hard Labor Begins

Chapter 17The Castle Revisited

Chapter 18Conduit Dust in Action

Chapter 19Raiders of the Gilded Corridor

Chapter 20Kaci’s Big Idea

Chapter 21Not as Planned

Chapter 22Run for Your Life

Chapter 23A Toy-Soldier Surprise

CHAPTER 1

29729.png

A VERY UNUSUAL

TOY STORE

There is something curiously enchanted about Toy Realm.

More than any other store, Toy Realm draws children to it as a bright light attracts moths. Not just because it sells toys, for there are many toy stores to be found in this old city. Even the fact that Toy Realm appears to have been transported straight out of a fairy tale is not why children flock through its doors, although this certainly adds to the store’s mystery.

Toy Realm stands tall and tapered, resembling more than anything an improbable glittering unicorn horn that juts right up in the middle of the city. Massive blue-black swirls of the building’s outer wall appear to grow from beneath the ground itself, and the glistening layers smoothly twist into the sky, where they tower over the rooftops of all the surrounding buildings. At its base, Toy Realm is large enough to occupy three whole city blocks. Gradually, it narrows to a sharp point at the very top that reaches so high in the air it brushes the fluffy cotton-ball clouds lazily meandering by.

The really interesting fact about this building—some say the rather strange part—is that you can see the mysterious twinkling of millions of tiny lights just beneath the dark glossy surface of Toy Realm’s outer wall. It’s as if untold galaxies of stars were plucked from the midnight sky and trapped there beneath glass. These tiny bright pinpoints pulsate brilliantly enough for the store’s towering outline to shimmer distinctly all through the night.

Although the lights make Toy Realm stand out, they still aren’t the reason why children think this is such an extraordinary store. The answer to that mystery is simple: if you look hard enough in Toy Realm, among all the thousands and thousands of ordinary toys that in truth you can purchase at other stores, you’ll also find some absolutely wondrous toys unheard of anywhere else.

Toys as mystical and unusual as the toy store itself.

Just how extraordinary can Toy Realm’s toys be? you may ask. Just listen …

Only in Toy Realm is it possible to find a soccer ball that shoots out a long stream of blue and silver sparks every time it’s kicked. Or buy colorful glittering balloons that dance five feet off the ground even though they are filled with only normal air. Or purchase a pogo stick that enables the rider to bounce up high into the air and perform slow-motion somersaults before gliding down to a perfect landing.

Hard to believe, but it’s true!

Kids can even find realistic rubber snakes that slither, hiss, and slowly wind themselves around unguarded ankles and legs—very popular for scaring unsuspecting grandmothers.

And nowhere else but in Toy Realm can one find pink spangled ballet slippers and tutus that enable their wearers to instantly become expert ballerinas. Or peek through a toy telescope so powerful it gives the viewer a close-up look of Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons.

And these are only a few of the fantastic toys to be found in Toy Realm. Many people wonder just where all these miraculous creations come from. Even the salesclerks who work in Toy Realm are unable to say exactly who supplies them. Although truckloads of new toys arrive daily, the store’s employees swear that all the special enchanted toys will just somehow inexplicably appear in the storeroom overnight.

Very strange, yes, but as Toy Realm is already a little out of the ordinary, this never seems to raise too many eyebrows. In fact, about the only aspect troubling anyone about these mysterious enchanted toys is the cost. They are very expensive to buy, and few people can afford all the seemingly magical toys their children would like. Most kids have to agonize until Christmas or their birthdays roll around before they can expect to receive any. And, even worse, there are less-fortunate kids from lower-income families who don’t have the money to buy any of these extraordinary toys at all.

And since this really is unfair, Toy Realm created a wonderful solution to the problem. The store has set aside several specially designated days throughout the year, called Freebie Fridays, where children can receive a small enchanted toy for free. These wildly popular events take place on every third Friday of every third month. This means that four times a year, every child age twelve or under is gifted a small enchanted toy in celebration of passing through Toy Realm’s door.

A marvelously strange and unusual toy.

The most recent toy given away on Freebie Friday is a miniature hummingbird. Shimmering with every color of the rainbow, this fragile little creature is no bigger than an unshelled peanut. It hums and skims through the air just as a real hummingbird does, but only for a few minutes at a time before stopping to rest in the palm of its owner’s hand.

The toy hummingbirds also feature a mystifying trait shared by all the other special toys found at Toy Realm: they never need batteries! As unreal as it sounds, enchanted toys seem to operate from an inner power all their own, without ever running out of energy or showing signs of wearing out. They are designed to last forever—although a few of the hummingbirds have fallen victim to the family cat.

It is no surprise that kids flock to Freebie Fridays. These gala Fridays have become so popular, in fact, that local schools close for the day since very few children show up for class anyway. Those who know of Toy Realm’s giveaway, including parents and more than a few teachers, cannot wait to see what fantastic new item the store will offer.

Yes, everyone loves Freebie Fridays. And for those kids in less-fortunate circumstances, these special days are more than just an excuse to skip school or a way to boost their enchanted toy collections. Freebie Fridays actually represent the only chance they ever get to receive an enchanted toy at all. And for some of the poorer kids, it’s the only opportunity they ever have to actually go and visit the store.

Yes, for some kids … kids like Kaci Ticklebury.

CHAPTER 2

29729.png

MEET THE

TICKLEBURYS

Kaci Ticklebury is a shy eleven-year-old who lives on the outskirts of the city in a tall and creaky old-fashioned house. This house is unremarkable in every respect except for the fact that it is filled to bursting with Tickleburys. Quite literally bursting, for living along with Kaci and her mother are Kaci’s uncle Gilbert, her auntie Prue, and umpteen Ticklebury cousins, all happily crammed within the rambling old walls.

Uncle Gilbert and Auntie Prue actually have fourteen children in all, ranging in age from eleven to thirty-six. Since all the Tickleburys enjoy one another’s company so much, none of the kids ever want to move out when they become adults. They just get married and bring their husbands and wives straight back to the house to live with the rest of the family. The married couples soon give birth to children of their own, adding an astonishing number of assorted baby and toddler Tickleburys to the already-crowded household.

Kaci once counted fifty-two people living in the Ticklebury home. But as it is impossible to keep all the exuberant Tickleburys collected in one spot for any length of time, she might have missed one or two.

Even though Kaci and her mom live with the Tickleburys now, the pair did not start out as Tickleburys in the beginning. Tragically, Kaci’s father died in a coal-mining accident when she was just nine years old, leaving Kaci and her mother penniless.

Auntie Prue was on the phone immediately upon hearing the dreadful news, insisting in a stricken voice, My dears, you must move to the city at once and come live with us. At least until you get your feet on the ground. We won’t take no for an answer! Kaci’s mother accepted the invitation gratefully, knowing there is no use arguing against her sister’s tears of concern.

When Kaci and her mom finally arrived on the Tickleburys’ doorstep after a very long journey, they were not only welcomed into the household but embraced by it. A plump, boisterous wave of cheerful people immediately descended on them and carried the two newcomers off on a guided tour of the house. They went first to the dining room, for an all-important snack, and then on through the rest of the four floors, until they reached a cozy little attic room balanced at the very top. It had a bunk bed with pretty patchwork quilts and a moon-shaped window overlooking the lights of the city. Kaci was thrilled to learn that this would be the room she and her mom would share.

When a little over two years had passed, the family decided to adopt Kaci and her mother both. This grand occasion was marked by balloons and streamers and a massive chocolate cake. Kaci had never seen a cake quite like this one before, decorated as it was with the fat footprints of an errant toddler. This didn’t faze anybody, though, and with glasses of sparkling red raspberry juice held high, they toasted the addition of Kaci and her mom to the happy Ticklebury clan.

30441.png

Several nights after the adoption party, an important question pops into Kaci’s mind. She’s been patiently awaiting sleep, lazily studying the cracks in the rough-hewn ceiling above her top bunk, when this new thought arises. Deciding to take a chance that her mother is still awake in the bunk bed below, she shifts beneath her patchwork quilt and cautiously leans over the wooden side rail.

Mom, are you asleep yet? Kaci whispers, brushing a few unruly blond curls back from her lightly freckled face.

Mmmm, comes the sleepy reply from down below. Kaci can see her mom’s slim outline shift toward her in the moonlight.

Mom, I’ve been wondering. Since we’re adopted, does this mean we can keep on living here for as long as we like? Kaci asks hopefully. Forever, if we want to?

Her mother’s careworn face nods lazily on her pillow, framed by a halo of frizzy light-brown hair. Yes, sweetheart. We are honorary members of the Ticklebury family now. That means this will always be home. She offers Kaci a reassuring smile before adding, We have absolutely nothing to worry about anymore. Now get some sleep. It’s late. Yawning deeply, her mom snuggles into her feather pillow and drifts off almost immediately into a sound slumber.

Kaci rolls back onto her own pillow and gazes contentedly through the moon-shaped window hovering across the tiny room. She can see a surprisingly long way off through this window. This is because their neighborhood sits on a round shouldered hill that affords them a view of the entire city. Kaci considers this very fortunate, as it allows her to dreamily behold the most wonderful sight in the whole world—Toy Realm. The glistening swirls of the toy store’s remarkably tall, tapered outline twinkle softly at her through the still night air.

Oh, why does it take so long for Freebie Fridays to come around? Kaci sighs to herself. When she glances over to her special Toy Realm calendar, a shaft of moonlight reveals a discouraging number of uncrossed-off days still left to go until the next one. Since the Tickleburys don’t have much money and the family is so large, it’s a major undertaking for them to even get to Toy Realm, let alone buy any enchanted toys. So the only time the family makes the journey to the toy store is on those special Freebie Fridays.

Despite these limitations, a fair collection of Toy Realm toys do grace Kaci’s room. Some are neatly arranged around her bed, and others sit near the bottom of the attic’s sloping roof, along a narrow shelf Uncle Gilbert built just for this purpose.

Many of these toys are ordinary: a stack of fluffy stuffed animals, several dolls, a baseball bat and glove, skipping ropes, and a shiny set of jacks. And then there’s the small treasure trove of Kaci’s special enchanted toys, each and every one collected from Toy Realm’s Freebie Fridays.

I think you’re my favorite one, Kaci whispers to her most recent Freebie Friday toy, the tiny hummingbird. It sits quietly in its grassy nest tucked carefully away on a wooden rafter just above Kaci’s head. Her fingers twitch restlessly on the top squares of her quilt, as she’s tempted to bring the tiny bird down and watch it fly around her bed. After few moments, she decides against it, in case the loud humming wakes up her mother.

Kaci’s other special toys include a silvery whistle capable of playing a different tune each time she blows into it and a set of playing cards decorated with moving 3D pictures of puppies. One of her favorite toys came into her possession two Freebie Fridays ago: a sparkly yellow Hula-Hoop designed to change colors the faster it’s twirled. And then there’s the fun bubble-blowing pipe that unfailingly delivers a stream of giant bubbles even though just ordinary tap water is added.

She even has a small container of florescent green Sloo Goo, the least cherished of all her Toy Realm prizes. The shimmering blob of goo resembles a handful of slimy mucus that invariably attempts to crawl up her arm whenever she holds it, a most disconcerting feeling. She’s careful to keep it stashed at the far side of the attic room whenever she is sleeping.

Snuggling deeper into her pillow, Kaci allows her mind to wander back to the Sloo Goo Freebie Friday. She and her mom had been living with the Tickleburys for only a short time when the family made that exciting trip into the heart of the city. Kaci had never been to Toy Realm before and couldn’t wait to get there.

That was such a great day, she whispers dreamily to herself, falling asleep to the memories of that extraordinary visit.

CHAPTER 3

29729.png

DISCOVERING

TOY REALM

C’mon, Kaci—I’ll show you around! her cousin Danny had eagerly exclaimed on that visit, taking her by the arm as she entered Toy Realm for the very first time. Only a half year older, Danny is the Ticklebury closest in age to Kaci, and it hadn’t taken long for the two cousins to become fast friends.

The Ticklebury family had just finished sweeping into