#sometimes it's like my hands automatically reach out to sketch something if I'm not actively engaged in something else

[friszil]

pretty thing that appeared in my sketchbook during history class. came out kinda weird and very unconsistent, love it for that

"a flower..." (mispronounced)

[phil-g-writes]

Andy's Dinosaur Adventure: Hattie's Goodbye

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*Disclaimer: Between the last series of Andy's Dinosaur Adventure and the first series of Andy's Prehistoric Adventure, shown on Cbeebies, the character of Hattie didn't return. I always wondered what happened to her, so while sitting with my toddler as he watched Andy and his adventures (he absolutely loves anything Andy Day does) I decided to write what I think happened. It's just for fun and for a way for me to improve my writing skills. All feedback and constructive criticism welcome.

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Andy had been working with Hattie for a couple of years now. He hoped to one day replace her as head of the Dinosaur Gallery when it's her time to move on. But she was so experienced and knowledgeable that he didn't see that happening any time soon.

Today was like any other day. Hattie was busy creating a new display in the main exhibition area. She had asked him to fetch a new fern for the Diplodocus model as the last one he had got her had strangely wilted, almost as if it was real.

He'd done as he always does. Hat, check. Gizmo, check. Waistcoat, check. Hattie's backpack, check. Jumping into the glowing clock he was transported in a haze of blue light and ticking clockwork, arriving exactly where he needed to be.

Humming a content tune Andy searched for a fresh fern as he stepped out of the way of the humongous Diplodocus stomping around him heading to the edge of the forest for the larger ferns.

Thankfully Diplodocus are messy eaters and so drop large ferns all the time. Picking one of a good size, Andy retraced his steps just in time for the clock to make its familiar warning sound of a loud bong, that told him his time here was up.

Flying through time back to the museum, he was almost getting bored of this part. Hiding his secret was becoming too easy. He had wanted to tell Hattie so many times. But she's so much smarter than him, she probably wouldn't believe him or have him locked up for being insane. No, it was best she didn't know.

Thrown from the clock back into the grand hall of the museum, Andy adjusted his shirt and glanced up to see what looked like visitors coming through the main doors, thankfully too far away to see his time traveling activities. He quickly threw off Hattie's backpack, hat, waistcoat and gizmo, tucking them down the side of the clock as best he could.

The visitors got closer just as he stood to attention. It was then he noticed one of the people coming towards him was the curator of the museum, Mr Hammond. Next to him was a small lady. She wore a light coloured pants suit, with a short bob of dark brown hair.

"Ah Andy, perfect timing. This is Mrs Pickles." Mr Hammond motioned to the lady next to him. Andy automatically reached out and shook Mrs Pickles' hand. Keeping his other hand holding the large fern behind his back. "Lovely to meet you" Andy said with a grin.

"As you know I'm due to leave the museum soon and I am very pleased to tell you Mrs Pickles will be my replacement" Mr Hammond said in an upbeat tone. Andy's eyebrows raised with surprise. He knew Me Hammond was leaving but he hadn't even considered who would replace him.

"Ah brilliant! That's great news!" Andy said cheerily. "Well, not that you're leaving sir, just that it will be Mrs Pickles who is to be, what I mean to say is…" "Yes I think we understand what you're trying to say" Mr Hammond interrupted to save Andy any more embarrassment.

"Well we best get moving. Lots of the museum to see!" And with that Andy nodded his head and looked at the floor as the pair walked up the large stairs. Once they had left Andy remembered the large fern behind his back. "Oh no, Hattie!" he said out loud as he ran as fast as he could back towards the dinosaur exhibit.

Just as Andy disappeared from view Hattie came trotting down the grand staircase and into the main hall. "Andy! Andy where are you?" she called out into the echoing hall.

She reached the bottom of the stairs, looking left to right just as the clock clicked and bonged in a sort of half hearted way, not quite a full bong but enough to get your attention.

Hattie looked over and noticed her backpack peeking out from around the corner of the clock. "What is that doing out here?" she said out loud to herself. Walking over and immediately picking up her backpack, the waistcoat, hat and gizmo fell from their hiding place and onto the floor.

She immediately thought of Andy. He's always acted suspiciously since he started. Friendly enough but sneaks off regularly and comes back with sudden knowledge of the dinosaur or fossil they're talking about. Things he definitely wouldn't have known before.

Hattie always thought he had been secretly searching the internet for information so not to appear dumb in front of her, but sometimes he comes out with the strangest theories, some even proven to be correct more recently.

Just as she was about to turn back to the dinosaur exhibit the clock lightly bonged once again. Standing right next to it she could hear the inner workings ticking, clunking and winding. So much activity inside for just an old grandfather clock she thought.

Looking at the clock face for the first time she only now realised it had a specific display for the year, this year in fact, and under it a picture of a man, well a human, as you would see sketched in an old history book.

She leaned in for a closer look just as two small doors in the front of the clock burst open and out shot a toy terrorsaur, as if it was a Cuckoo clock. Hattie screamed at the sudden shock and jumped back, dropping her backpack on the floor.

Andy was busy in the dinosaur exhibit when he heard Hattie's scream and the familiar noise of the clock. He dropped the fern he was carefully placing on the display and ran for the grand hall.

Zooming into the hall, his feet screeching across the perfectly waxed flooring he stopped just as the blue light emanating from the clock wrapped itself around Hattie who was watching it swirl around her arms and legs. She looked up and locked eyes with Andy. "I knew it!" she shouted at him, pointing her finger as the light enveloped her completely.

Andy launched himself at the clock, reaching it just as Hattie disappeared into mist. Her backpack, his hat, waistcoat and crucially his gizmo were still on the floor. Realising Hattie must have found them he scooped the items up and into the backpack.

Andy walked closer to the clock to check the dial which read 152 million years, with a sketch of a Diplodocus underneath. Andy sighed with some relief. It had taken Hattie to exactly the same time he had just been to. Maybe it could only do one time and location a day he thought. It wasn't something he'd ever tested.

Putting the backpack away carefully in his secret cupboard, Andy then headed back to the Dinosaur exhibit. All he could do now was wait. But what would he say to her? How do you explain that of course he knew about the time travelling clock but he never thought to mention it.

Now his mind moved to Hattie messing with time. Andy knows enough about time travel to know that meddling with it is risky business. He believes in his heart of hearts that he's very careful when he time travels. Though in reality he's risked changing history many times, such as giving a kazoo to a caveman for example.

Though when you think about it, who invented kazoos?

Andy had retreated back to the dinosaur exhibit and was half heartedly working when the clock sprang back into action. The museum was closed and empty now apart from Andy.

He ran back onto the now dark grand hall to see the blue light illuminating the corner of the hall next to the staircase. Andy stood about ten feet away, arms folded as Hattie reappeared with a jump into the here and now. She immediately collapsed to her knees, out of breath and shocked to her core.

Hattie looked up to see Andy standing nearby. "So, now you know" he said as a matter of fact.

"Diplodocus." she took a breath staring at the floor again. "Huge, real, Diplodocus" another breath. "Baby's hatch in the forest." another gulp of air. "Just as we thought" By this point Hattie was starting to catch her breath and looking up at him.

"Andy, this, this is incredible. Wonderful. Stupendous!" She exclaimed as she rose to her feet. "This can change everything about what we understand of dinosaurs, of human evolution!" She announces with grandiose. "We need to tell somebody!"

"Absolutely not." Andy states with a firm tone, his arms still crossed. "What do you mean?" Hattie says exasperated. "This will advance science! It will explain so many mysteries of why we're here! We can actually go and see it for ourselves!" She cheered.

Andy stands firm still with his arms crossed. "Exactly. And what sort of people will want to go see it? Scientists, historians?" he asks.

Hattie nods "Well, yes probably" she agrees. Andy continues "Or will it be billionaires looking for oil, millionaires looking for pet dinosaurs, despicable people looking for a place to hide. Never mind the people who'd want to change history to suit themselves" Andy says with a calm but firm teacher-like tone.

Hattie takes a moment to consider what Andy had said. It's obvious he has had plenty of time to think up that little speech so she moves on. "So how long have you known about this?"

Andy's bravado suddenly disappears, feeling like he's been caught out he unfolds his arms and buries his hands into his pockets "Since about 6 months after I started" he mumbles looking at the ground.

"What?!" Hattie exclaims, stepping closer to him in disbelief, making Andy take a step back in defence. "And you didn't think to tell me?" Hattie shouts obviously feeling quite hurt now. "I, I didn't think you'd believe me" he whispers.

"Well, I believe you now!" she shouts again, motioning back at the clock manically waving her arm. Andy looks up at her and smiles, he can't help but find that last sentence a little funny and he knows Hattie can't resist his silly sense of humour. A smile cracks in the corner of her mouth.

Hattie breaks eye contact with him, sighing as she turns to the side and folds her arms, a smirk still showing in the corner of her mouth. "How many times have you used it?" She asks, still not looking at him.

"Pretty much every day" he admits. "Usually when something goes wrong in the dinosaur exhibit…" "which is pretty much every day" they both say together and at that they both crack up laughing.

Fighting through the giggles Hattie attempts to say "So where have you been, or should I say when?" still chuckling to herself. "Oh you know, lots of different places and times. T-Rex to get that pumice stone I broke, Eustreptospondylus to get a replacement ammonite…" he realises now Hattie is staring at him with her mouth wide open.

"How many of my things have you broken?" she exclaims. "Ah…" he begins before Hattie bursts into laughter again, still a little delirious from her first adventure through time.

As the giggles subside she looks at him again. "So what do we do now?" Andy shrugs "I'd prefer it if you didn't tell anyone. It's just too dangerous." "Yes agreed" Hattie says in her forthright way and yet still to Andy's surprise. "Let's get some sleep and we can discuss this tomorrow" she offers. "Great idea Hattie" Andy brightens.

They walk away from the clock, gather their things to head home and exit through the staff door out onto the street as Andy locks up. Just before they part ways Hattie pipes up "Oh Andy?" she says holding a finger up. "How do you program in where you want to go?" Andy turns to face Hattie. "You just ask it. Only seems to activate when I need it though, like it knows" he shrugs again. "Hmmm" Hattie now thinking deeply "Interesting." Andy breaks the moment of thought "Anyway, see you tomorrow, and please don't tell anyone" he pleads. "I promise" Hattie beams with a big smile.

********

Though the weight of his secret is now feeling lighter, Andy struggles to sleep that night and gets to work early the next day, rather than lie awake in bed thinking. Coming through the main doors Andy decides he's going to be positive about Hattie knowing. Now he has someone to share this with. Someone he can talk to about it.

Feeling cheered up he skips through the doors, past Dippy the Diplodocus and towards the staircase. He looks up to see Hattie in front of the clock. The familiar sound of winding clockwork and swirling blue light surrounds Hattie as she turns to face him. Her face is a picture of regret.

"I'm so sorry Andy. I had to know" and with that Hattie is taken. Andy runs over to the clock to see where and when Hattie has gone. He looks at the familiar dial but there's a symbol he's never seen before. It looks like a ball flying through the air with bits coming off it and a tail trailing behind. Looking at the numbers above it reads: 65 million years.

"Extinction event" Andy whispers looking away from the clock. "Why would she go there?" With a sudden burst of speed he runs to his secret cupboard. Hat, backpack, waistcoat, gizmo, check. He runs back to the clock through the twisting corridors and double doors of the museum, finally reaching the clock. Making sure he's alone he then announces "to the time the dinosaurs died out".

The clock bursts into life and the blue light immediately pulls him in. In what feels like a shorter time than usual he's spat out into the environmental equivalent of a war zone.

Hot lava is erupting from the ground all around him. Searing hot rocks and debris is falling from the sky in every direction, dinosaurs and animals of all shapes and sizes flee past him and around the clock, the unfortunate ones falling into the lava or are trampled by larger creatures.

The air is thick, extremely hot and choking. The noise of destruction and stampeding animals is deafening. Andy coughs hard as his eyes begin to sting with the chemicals in the air. He takes a moment where he's not coughing to shout "Hattie! Hattie where are you?"

Andy takes another breath of poisonous air and immediately coughs so hard he thinks he's going to be sick.

Over the noise of the world ending around him he hears a distant voice "Andy! Wait! Please wait!" Andy looks through the dust and smog of poisonous gases to see Hattie running as fast as she can between the fleeing creatures who are also seeking sanctuary.

"Hattie, quick! We haven't got much time!" Andy shouts motioning her towards him, making sure to stay very close to the clock, using one hand to hold on to the wooden box behind him.

Hattie, now getting closer and running like hell, gently barges some of the smaller fleeing creatures out of her way as the ground beneath them cracks and crumbles under foot.

With about fifteen feet to go the integrity of the ground beneath Hattie and the creatures around her completely gives up to the chaos and collapses. Hattie, using a falling velociraptor as a leg up, leaps towards Andy who is standing on the only part of the ground not yet crumbling away.

He reaches out as far as he can while still having one hand on the clock. Hattie reaches out as she pushes the raptor to the crumbling floor, flying through the air towards him. Their arms cross paths and Andy grips tightly onto her forearm as she does to his.

Andy swings Hattie towards him and they both shout at the same time to the clock "time to head back!" "take me back home!" both exchanging looks of confusion as the blue light blurs their vision.

**********

Andy has traveled in the clock more times than he can remember. But something feels different now. It's quiet, silent in fact, and he realises he's got his eyes closed tight.

"Andy" says an echoing voice. He opens his eyes to almost pitch black. Streaks of blue light zip past him in silent fork lightning as he floats suspended in whatever space he finds himself in.

"Andy" says the echoing voice again. He turns in the space as best he can to see a circular portal about 50 yards away, framed in the familiar blue light which is crackling and giving off noiseless sparks. Through the portal he can see old fashion buildings and cars from many years ago. A figure floating near the portal comes into view. "Andy" says Hattie again, who is now visible in glimpses as the streaks of blue light illuminate her face.

"What's happening?" the echoing voice of Hattie asks, her tone quivering with worry. "I don't know Hattie. This has never happened before" he answers. "Normally I just say it's time to head back and it takes me to the museum, like it knows."

He thinks for a moment. "What did you say when you got back to the clock?" Hattie thinks before answering "I said take me back home" "And what did you mean by that, I mean what were you thinking at the time?" asks Andy.

This time Hattie pauses for a long moment. Andy broke the silence "Hattie, what were you thinking?" "I guess I was thinking of home. Of my parents. I didn't think I was going to make it back there and I just wanted to see them again" she says with a sigh.

Making sense of it Andy realises "I think the clock is pulling us between two destinations. It wants to send me back to the museum and you back to your parents." He says as he looks behind him to see his portal and an image of the grand hall where the clock is kept.

"All we've got to do is follow our portals and we'll be fine" he says with a smile. "But Andy" Hattie hesitates "My parents passed away when I was ten. If I go through that portal...it won't be the same time as your portal." Andy's face drops with realisation.

"I'm so sorry Andy" Hattie begins to cry. "Oh don't be daft" Andy dismisses. "You have been amazing. You've done nothing wrong." He nods and grins hoping Hattie will see. Hattie smiles through her tears. "You're always so kind."

"So I guess this is goodbye" Andy says solemnly. "I guess it is. Be good, and don't break any more of my stuff!" she mockingly tells him off wagging a finger in the darkness. Andy chuckles "I'll try my best" he answers honestly.

They both take a deep breath and in their suspended state push themselves towards their portals. The further they move the more out of focus they become to each other until a flash of blue light surrounds them and the familiar feel of time travel takes over.

Andy is thrown from the clock which is mechanically whining and groaning as he hits the floor of the museum. He looks up to see the clock spit sparks of blue embers. "Well you didn't like that did you?" he says to the clock as he stands up brushing himself down.

His gear safely stored away Andy returns to the dinosaur exhibit and checks the date and time on the laptop. He's been gone barely an hour, the museum will be opening soon. "Huh" he says to himself out loud, sitting down on the edge of the exhibit display.

"Ah there you are Andy!" a Scottish voice announces, shattering the silence and making Andy jump out of his skin. He shoots round to see who it is. "Are you OK Andy?" says Mrs Pickles who is rather startled by his reaction. "Sorry Mrs Pickles, you just surprised me" he says attempting a smile as he stands up to approach her.

"Well, I have been told I have that effect on people" jokes Mrs Pickles. Andy again attempts a smile, failing miserably. Mrs Pickles, noticing the strange atmosphere in the room, remembers why she needed to find him. "Oh yes, this letter came for you. It's wax sealed so must be official" she says with a nod.

Frowning as he takes the letter he thanks Mrs Pickles who disappears back into the corridors of the museum. Andy sits back down on the edge of the exhibit display and turns the letter over in his hands. He eventually decides to open it.

"Dear Andy,

It's Hattie. If my calculations are correct you should receive this letter just after you arrive back at the museum.

I wanted to write to you to let you know I'm safe and well. The landing was a little bumpy but you were right. I found my parents and they're still alive. Oh Andy it's the greatest gift I have ever been given. I have introduced myself, I know I shouldn't have, but I just had to speak to them. It took some convincing I can tell you! But they eventually accepted it was me.

I have had so many wonderful years with them. Being careful to avoid their young daughter of course!

Don't worry about explaining any of this to the museum. I've arranged for my resignation to arrive by post just after this letter. All I ask is you pretend to be shocked. I've recommended you as my replacement and included examples that will help your case. Good luck!

Look after my museum Andy. And no more breaking my things you noodle!

Love always,

Hattie"

"Andy?" It was Mrs Pickles again. "Yes Mrs Pickles?" Andy croaks, fighting back the tears. "We've just received Hattie's resignation by post! Something about going abroad on a fact finding mission. Did you know anything about this?"

Andy sniffs back his upset and turns to face Mrs Pickles. "No nothing Mrs Pickles. That's quite a shock." Andy says very unconvincingly while dabbing his eyes and looking at the floor.

Mrs Pickles narrows her eyes at him which goes unnoticed by Andy. "Well, she speaks very highly of you in her letter and recommends you take her position running the Dinosaur Gallery!" she says to him expectantly. "That's very kind of her" he manages to say while still looking at the ground. "Yes well, we'd still have to go through an interview process you understand" "Of course Mrs Pickles" Andy says quietly.

"But I have to say, she makes a very good case for you" she says with a smirk and a wink which Andy catches just as he looks up. Mrs Pickles turns to leave while flicking through the pages of Hattie's resignation.

Andy looks back at the letter in his hands and smiles as his tears tap on to the paper. "Thanks Hattie" he says to himself.

END.