An Early Mornings Tale

One morning early a Dad and his son Tom went for a walk in the country, they journeyed through the still mist looking for flowers for the boy's Mom, but they did not see many. Just then the foggy air began to thin as the sun climbed higher in the sky “look” cried the lad pointing! There through some old white wooden gates were lots of flowers in the garden just behind them. “Let’s get some for Mothers Day, Dad” said the boy,’ “hold on” said his Dad, “first we must ask whoever lives in the house up there”, as they thought about that, they seemed to hear a sad sighing sound. The Dad looked down and saw a pushed over mushroom where he thought it came from, so they knelt down to hear properly. He straightened the mushroom up with a toothpick which he pulled from his pocket. That’s when they saw a small person shivering in fear hiding in the grass near the mushroom; “don't be frightened little girl” said the Dad “we do not mean you harm”.. a very high voice answered them saying “I thought you were the old witch”, “the old witch”, repeated the Dad and boy in questioning tones, “yes” said the small girl, “we are Dymwellian folk, we live in the woods and gardens in peace, when the weather is good we like to sleep under the mushrooms when they grow but there is an old woman who has come down and torn up all our spring roofs, it has happened twice just lately and we don't feel safe”. “Now, do you know where this old lady comes from? ” said Tom’s Dad. The tiny person pointed to the old house faintly seen at the top of a twisty path that led up from behind the white gates. “Did you say we, meaning there are more of your type of people?” said Tom “Yes” said the Dymwellian girl person “if you promise not to harm us. “Yes I will call them forth,” “Oh, we would not hurt you” said Tom and his Dad together, just then she spoke some words in her high pitched voice and motioned with her hand; there was a soft rustling in the undergrowth and soon she was joined by six other like her; two girls and four little men. ‘" We were going up the path to ask if we could pick some flowers, “Oh we don't think it wise” said the little people who repeated that they thought the old woman to be a very wicked witch; as why else would anyone want to destroy their mushroom roofs? “Well” said Toms Dad “I think we shall go up there and see about this situation! I don't like seeing such nice folk as you deprived of their shelters,” so leaving the little people, Tom and his Dad started up the winding path; after a long walk they stopped in front of the house door. It was a very old house and the door shone plum red. Tom’s Dad reached out and taking hold of the brass knocker banged it twice; after a bit they heard footsteps and the door opened a crack there was what appeared to be an old lady peering out at them “What do you want?” she asked in a wary voice, “Oh we have come to see if you are a wicked witch” Tom blurted out all of a sudden!! When she heard that the old lady looked most shocked.’ “My, Oh my” she said... Just like that.! “What ever gave you that idea?” So they told her of their journey to gather flowers, and the plight of the Dymwellian folk who were living at the bottom of her garden, as she listened her eyes began to fill with big tears, which she wiped away on her large white pinafore. “Oh I do feel sad” she said, “you had better sit down on the those seats”. And she motioned to a table and chairs to one side of the door. “I shall be back soon” she announced, then with a bustling move she disappeared; well she didn't just disappear into the air! but went back into her house I mean. After a bit she returned with a maid and they both held trays of the most delicious fare of honeyed tea, cherry cake and the like, then she introduced herself; her name was Alice, which was a nice name Tom thought, and wondered how they could have thought her a witch. “Now” said Alice “I have not lived here long and I was merely picking those large mushrooms for a stew, I had no idea I had such neighbours at all.” “You shall have to introduce me.! You go ahead and tell them it is safe and you may pick a large bunch of flowers for Mothers Day. “We shall not be long.” Tom and his Dad said. They went quickly back to the little people who stood in a rather bedraggled group near the gatepost, once Tom and his dad had told them of the old lady’s response they were happier but Tom and his dads knees got wet from kneeling in the grass, so the little folk decided it would be safe enough to climb onto the gate so they could all understand each other better. Just then Alice came along accompanied by a man dressed in country garb; the little people’s spokesperson was the girl who introduced herself as Alfrisia. Alice told her if they did not mind, her woodsman would be willing to make sturdy wooden mushrooms for them to use when they made visits, that way Alice could enjoy mushrooms and know she was not causing them hardship. The little people were overjoyed at this and apologised for telling Tom and his Dad she was a wicked witch in the first place, then they all helped pick a large bunch of flowers for Mothers Day and Tom and his Dad set off home to tell Mom all about their adventure! ©Joe Maverick 5-11-13