The Adventures of Azalea and Twig (book 6)

Chapter 24

     Molly stood in the line, waiting to go through security, as Barb hid in her Backpack, and Branch hid in her shirt pocket.

     "Are you sure about this?" Branch whispered up to Molly, concerned, as he poked his head out of the pocket to look around.

     "Yes. Now stay down. Don't let anyone see you," Molly replied, pushing Branch back down into her pocket.

     "Ugh! I can't breath in here!" Barb complained, unzipping the bag, as she poked her head out, gasping for air.

     A little girl standing behind them noticed Barb, staring at her wide eyed.

     "Whatcha looking at, shrimpy!" Barb yelled at the little girl, who started crying.

     "Barb!" Molly yelled in a whisper, pushing her back down into the bag. "What part of 'stay out of sight' do you not understand!?" She zipped the bag back up, and Barb crossed her arms, pouting.

     "Why did Popsqueek get to go through cargo, but I got stuck up here with dorkzilla?"
"I heard that, Barb!" Branch yelled from the pocket.
"You where meant to!" Barb yelled back.

     "Will you two just shut up!?" Molly whisper yelled. "You're gonna get us all caught!"

     Standing off to the side, a security officer stood with a search dog.

     The dog's nose twitched, as it smelt something unusual.

     "Ruff! Ruff!" he barked, pulling on its leash to get to Molly.

     The officer noticed, and looked at Molly, seeing her acting strangely, as she talked to herself.

     Branch and Barb where bickering back and forth, while Molly was trying to get them to stay quiet.

     "Guys... seriously... you need to stop talking."

     "Excuse me, miss," the officer said, walking up to Molly.

     Molly froze, Branch and Barb instantly shutting up.

    "Could you step over here for a minute, please?" the officer asked, suspicious of Molly's behavior.

     "Um... what seems to be the problem?" Molly asked, smiling innocently, as she stepped out of the security line.

     The dog sniffed at the bag, Barb trying to shoo it away.

     "Go! Get out of here!" she whispered, swatting her hand at the dog. But the dog didn't leave. Instead he started growling, and barking loudly.

     "Ruff! Ruff!"

     "I'm gonna need to see what's in that bag," the officer said, crossing her arms, as she glared at Molly.

     "Oh... um... it's just cloths in there..." Molly said, slowly taking off the backpack, and opening it up.

     As the officer looked into the bag, Barb jumped out, running away.

     "You'll never catch me, coppers!" she shouted, laughing maniacally, as she ran.

     "Oh god no..." Branch sighed, slapping his forehead, gently.

     Quickly, the search dog took off after Barb, grabbing her by her Mohawk, and carrying her back.

     "Hey! Put me down, you mutt!" Barb yelled.

     He dropped her at the officer's feet, Barb immediately standing up.

     "Why I outta..." she grumbled, pulling back her hand, prepared to punch the dog in the nose, but Molly quickly scooped her up, holding her in both hands, as she smiled innocently at the officer.

     "What the heck is that thing?" the officer questioned, confused by Barb.

     "Umm..." Molly said, trying to think. "This is Barb... she's... my... doll?"
"A doll?" the officer questioned, raising her eyebrow.

     "Yeah... state of the art technology. She can run, walk, climb. She can even talk," Molly stated. "She has a bunch of catch phrases like... uh... like..." She tried to think of something Barb could say.

     "Pst... Molly," Branch whispered up to her.

     Molly looked down at him, discreetly.

     "Make her say; 'I'm a dumb stupid head, and Branch is the best'," he chuckled.

     "What? No," Molly whispered to him. "I'm not gonna make her say that."

     The officer cleared her throat, crossing her arms.

     "Um... she... she can say... um... I'm a dumb stupid head, and Branch is the best?"

     Barb gasped, looking up at her.

     "I'm not saying that!" she refused.

     "Sorry," Molly said, smiling innocently. "Batteries must be going dead. Just need to..." She whacked Barb onto a table.

     "Ow!" Barb cried out. "I'm a dumb stupid head, and Branch is the best!"

     Branch chuckled, quietly in Molly's pocket, amused by what was happening.

     "I'm gonna kill him..." Barb grumbled, angrily.

     "You got any more 'dolls' with you today?" the officer asked, still suspicious.

     "Uh... well... I... I..."

     Barb smirked, coming up with a revenge plan.

     "Pocket... pocket... beep beep boop," Barb said, like a robot, pointing at Molly's shirt pocket.

     Branch gulped, hearing Barb say that, no longer amused by the situation.

     The officer looked at her.

     "Imma need you to empty your pockets," the officer said.

     "Uh... well... I... I do have... this one..." Molly said, nervously, taking Branch out of her pocket.

     Branch's eyes widened in fear, as Molly held him in her hand, showing him to the officer.

     He gulped, shrinking down a bit, as he shook, slightly, in fear.

     "This one... is Branch..." Molly said, holding Branch out to her.

     Slowly, the officer took Branch, looking at him carefully.

     "Hmm... very realistic doll..." she said, twisting, and bending Branch up and down.

     "Ugh..." Branch groaned, trying not to scream in pain, as the officer twisted his head around.

     Molly looked at Branch, her eyes wide.

     "Um... yeah... that's how they're designed," Molly said with a smile.

     Branch couldn't take the examination any more, and bit down on the officer's finger.

     "Ow!" she shouted, dropping Branch to the floor.

     Quickly, Molly scooped him up, holding him close to her.

     "Must be a design flaw..." she said, nervously. "They're prototypes, so all the bugs aren't exactly worked out yet."

     The officer glanced at her, and then the two trolls.

     "I don't get paid enough for this..." she mumbled. "Just go," she allowed.

     Molly grabbed her backpack, and then ran off towards the loading gate.