Now Gollup had just finished washing his drinking flask and drying it, and then washing and drying it again, whistling happily waddle bouncing back and forth in the sunny wonderful day, that he didn’t at all here the creature – or rather creatures (as it was discovered very quickly that there were more than 1), scurrying up the path behind him, zagging left, and zigging right, and climbing over each other in a very busy and industrious way.

These creatures – known as mopsy, or mopsies – when there were more than one – were dainty little creaturs with pointy snouts with three whiskers on each side, which would move up and down as the mopsy sniffed and tested the air around them, though not testing for anything in particular, as it was just the way of the mopsy to twitch its snout to smell the air. As they were dainty little creatures, they were quite quiet and able to easily move about undetected, generally surprising people in their quiet little dainty way – which might be considered rude by a gollup however it was never the intention of a mopsy, or mopsies (if there were more than 1) to actually disturb anyone.

This particular clan of mopsies were jst a little family of 5 with a mother and father mopsy and 3 little mopsies – which would climb up on mum or papa mopsy’s back – so as not to walk. Now mopsies were very industrious creatures, constantly moving about and rather prone to chattering incessantly about anything or nothing at all, as little creatures tend to do.

However, as Gollup had his back turned and was startled by a sneeze (by one of the little mopsy children) he had no idea that there were more than one creature until he turned around, with his hand prepared for his dagger – though really not prepared as in truth, he wouldn’t know how to use his dagger in any other method other than to cut oat and barley bread. However, it seemed instinctive to just be prepared, and he rather caught himself as he realized he had no idea what to do with the dagger, in such case as he would need to use his dagger for anything but cutting oat and barley bread.

Stopping with head upright and a curious look on his face (as Gollups are not timid creatures and etc and so on and so forth), looked rather quickly at all the mopsies climbing over the larger mopsies which Gollup assumed were the mother and father mopsies (rightly so), and it was obvious that – although they were indeed mixed company of a sort which Gollup had never seen before – not that Gollup had ever seen any other creature at all before – yet indeed mixed company nonetheless.

The mopsies rather oblivious to Gollup stopped quickly to the sudden sneeze of one of the younger mopsies and wiped its little snout as they all twitched their noses with whiskers moving up and down with each twitch.

Now Gollup, to which he will never understand, not being prone to mixed company, spoke up for the first time in Gollups life and said, “hello! I’m Gollup” to which the taller of the two taller mopsies (whom were still shorter and smaller than a gollup), replied, “Yes, yes you are, the first gollup today so far!”

To which Gollup replied, “hmmmm” with a polite nod as he was still rather happy and only slightly disturbed more by the fact that he spoke up, then by the presence of mixed company.

As Gollup had opened the introductions, and as mopsies were not rude creatures, the mopsy which replied immediately introduced the other mopsies.

“I’m Toodle, Barlet Toodle, and this is my wife Sesha Toodle, with Ceedee, and Meedee, and Needee Toodle too! its a pleasure to meet you too!

Now as Gollup was about to respond – being polite as all gollups are (as he was the only one – not really aware that Barlet Toodle had said, “Yes yes you are, the first gollup today so far!”), Sesha Toodle smiled a pleasant smile and began to immediately hold and coddle little Needee Toodle, as the rest of the Toodle’s began talking all at once.

“So are you going to town?” said little Ceedee Toodle
“Do you have any honey tea?” said little Meedee Toodle
“Do you like my new gown?” said little Needee Toodle
“Oh of course! can’t you see?” said Sesha Toodle to Meedee Toodle, and not to Gollup.

Now Gollup wasn’t sure which of the questions to answer first, so instead opted to answer them all at once with a simple, “hmmm, yes!”

to which immediately another barrage of questions came as,

“Are you going to shop?” said little Ceedee Toodle,
“Will you pour in my cup?” said little Meedee Toodle,
“Thank you so much!” said little Needee Toodle, as she curtsied in proper fashion.
“oh thats rude and abrupt!” said Sesha Toodle to Meedee Toodle and not to Gollup.

Gollup was now a little unsure what to say next, and said, “hmmm, umm, ahhh” in proper equal response though not really sure as to why or what he even meant, just that it seemed polite to at least respond with something, as Meedee Toodle came up to him with her frail little paw extended with a cup (not much larger than a thimble) in that outstretched dainty paw.

Gollup noted that her hands were quite clean and manicured and smiled as she looked at him expectantly with big green eyes that only a child can have. Gollup massaged the honey skin and uncorked the cork and poured a thimble full of honey tea into Meedie Toodle’s drinking cup, as she smiled and said, “bottoms up!” and quickly drinking all of it, in one festive little gulp, while twitching her snout with whiskers moving up and down.

Barlet Toodle, spoke at once and said,
“Now would you come with us,
we won’t be a fuss,
as we’re also along
and do like to sing songs,
and if you join us to walk,
we can nibble and talk
as we’ve snacks for us all,
on this nice day this fall!”

Well, before Gollup could answer, the Toodle family had hustled him onto the road and he was suddenly walking along with the mopsy clan called Toodle.