A Place Quite Far Away

It was cold again that winter evening. He could not remember how much time had passed, since her family went away. Almost three years he reckoned, judging from the passing of the season, and sizing up her size. She was still quite small for a child of five. She always had been small and thin, but she was very strong and graceful. They sat together near the fireplace, snuggled from the cold. “Tell me a story, she said.” “What kind of story?” the old man asked. “A very long one” she said, “about a place very far away”. The old man took out his watch and turned it toward the fire to see. It was still early, but seemed much later, he thought. The weather was cold, and he was getting old. He felt both of these deep inside his bones. “A very long one?” “You will fall asleep before it’s finished.” “No I won’t.” she said with certainty, and shook her bright red head for him to see. “All right then, we shall see.” the old man said. “OK then” the girl replied, not quite satisfied. “About a place very far away” she reminded. “All right then, very far away, and we shall see what we shall see.” the old man said. “A Very Warm and Green Place, indeed it surely is." the old man began, this place so far away. No one ever shivered here, even in the winter. The air is warm and fresh and clean, coming from the sea. Currents from the tropics they say, keep everyone quite cozy at this place, so very far away. Even cold air here is actually quite warm they claim. By itself and safe it is, this land, nestled in the sea. Nothing less than pleasant ever happens here. It just is not allowed. A small girl lives here, in this peaceful place. She will one day be a princess, at the right bright and shiny time and place. She does not know this secret just yet, however. Probably because it is a secret, and a secret is a secret, and therefore kept a secret, sometimes even for a little while. The small girl has several friendly friends who share this land with her. They are varied in size and shape, and kind and caring creatures, each and every one. They were made by magic, from the sand along the seashore, a very, very, very long time ago. No one knows just how or when it started, this warm and cozy land. But it does not matter, in such a pleasant place. When and how it started, is of little consequence. It is how and where things are today, and where and how they go tomorrow, that really matters, or so they say. ...to be continued