Gollup glanced at Barlet with a concerned look on his face, not understanding what Barlet meant. Offend him? Was there something horrible in Wunderlingshire Township? Was it messy dirty? Barlet in the meantime had tapped Needee on saying,
“my sweetest flower Needee,
please run ahead to mother.
We’ve need to discuss freely,
can you play with sis and brother?”

Little Needee Toodle glanced at her father with a smile and ran ahead as Sesha turned around, gathering the children and moving futher ahead as Barlet slowed his pace a bit, forcing Gollup to slo down as well, to keep with Barlet. Gollup had no idea that Barlet had told Sesha to move ahead as he spoke to Gollup , while he was brushing his teeth, however, the Toodles were a caring lot with love and fun in their hearts having taken very quickly to the Innocent Gollup.

Now Gollup, you are indeed a special one,
which makes this all the harder,
so I will speak it clearly son,
to save surprised discover.

In Wunderling just up ahead,
there’s many different creatures,
Yet commonly its known and said,
this Townhips oldest feature.

Its primary inhabitants,
Are of your own persuasian,
Not accident or happenstance,
Its Gollupsville location.

For many years now it is known,
that Gollups filled this valley,
How you survived and have so grown,
Has raised a forefront query.

How is it that you came to feel,
that you are one and only?
To live your life invisible,
To grow so pure and formly?

I promise you I do not lie,
for gollups are a plenty,
I do not wish to tear your eye,
You’re warm and gentlemanly.

Now Gollup’s mouth dropped. and he stopped dead in his tracks. “What???” he spoke so loudly that that Sesha and all of the Toodle children stopped dead in their steps ahead and looked quickly around! Barlet, with a nod of his snout and a wave of his hand, prompted Sesha to quickly move the children again as they continued to walk to Wunderlingshire Township.

Gollup by this point was now not comfortable at all, ‘how can this be? He was the only gollap he knew, and yes its true he had never met any other creature before today, how could he have not at all sensed another gollup on the road if another gollup were to have passed his hedge, and and and and…’ as questions rattled though poor Gollups brain so rapidly that he was almost incapable of formulating a question to ask Barlet instead blubbering out, “But I -” “How can -”, “no no this isn’t – But?” “how???” finally sighing and pleading with Barlet with his eyes, so confused his eyes welled up and and his lower lip began to tremble ever so slightly.

Barlet, was so moved and so much compassion filled him as he slowly placed his frail Mopsy arm on Gollups shoulder saying,
“Oh gollup I am sorry,
I should have showed more mercy,
I didn’t know you had no clue,
oh my what did i do “

“So let us stop a moment here,
collect ourselves a moment,
I’ll answer any question dear,
If truly I do know it.”

He stood there waiting, patiently as Gollups breathing slowed from its rapid panting, allowing the poor gollup to catch his breath well enough to become coherent. Poor gollup was no longer light, nor happy, and even though still quite content from Honey, oats and jam, he felt no longer any desire to continue to Wunderlingshire Township. He looked up again, from his dropped eyes, at Barlet and quietly said, “I don’t understand Mr. Toodle. I only know that one day I woke up and I was the only one. I don’t know how I knew I was the only one but I knew I was. I was in my hedge and this was my home, I knew I was Gollup, and I knew preferred my company, but you do not seem like one who would be so cruel would you? You ate with me, and I have found your company – all of your company wonderful, when I have never been comfortable with company, so please please tell me that what you say is not in jest? Please tell me how this can be?”

Barlet smiled, a fatherly smile leading Gollup to the side of the road and together they sat in unison upon a a few clean stones which were jutting out from the embankment. He pulled out a long stem pipe from his coat and tails, seemingly from nowhere, and lit it under as little puffs of smoke ringed up around is snout, forming hoops as they tranquilly floated skyward. Gollup Now much more collected, watched the smoke rings rise from the pipe, waiting patiently for Barlet to begin speaking.

Barlet, after releasing a few more smoke rings, began to speak.

“For many years now it is known that Gollups rule this valley,
They live and love and company with guests and markets plenty.
When we met you, it was quite clear – your difference plainly shown,
I wish that it were true for all, your disposition known.

Now please do not misunderstand the things that I will mention,
As gollups are, you are unique, One pure without pretention.
There was a time in histoy when you would be the style,
However, wealth and fame and books have forced a certain bile.

They are still gollups this is true, this township of their making,
but as they once would give so free, they’ve changed to force for taking.
Now arrogance and pride is how – they act towards all comers,
with no one left to dominate, they turned in on each other.

Now not all gollups are this way, there are still many frendly,
With all of those pure qualities – as you! Who act so kindly.
I think that you have no idea, no memory within you.
Of how you came to be alone, without a hidden venue.

So as I cannot answer all the questions you are thinking,
The best that I can hope to do is help you find your kin.
So let us walk again to town and we will find together,
What you will need to help you calm and stand firm in this weather.”

Gollup, drained and still in a bit of shock, yet soothed by the change in Barlets style toward him, smiled and nodded with a much older calm as though something in him had been awakened, and somewhere, deep inside he could feel the truth to what Barlet had said. He stood now, as gollups are not timid creatures, though beyond this, Gollup no longer knew why that was, or how it could be, however, he did want to see for himself, that he was not the only one.