The Old Crone In the Woods, Part Iv

IV. Liesel looked down to the girl by her side, her brother’s features were perfectly clear, she hugged the small girl, and her fears vanished, replaced by a cascade of happy tears. She look up and cried, “Tell me, what’s your name? Who is it that care for kids after death?” The woman replied, “In life I was known as a Duchess from Munich, Elsebeth.” Liesel’s eyes went wide with realization, “I know that name! They say you had twelve children!” “Thirteen,”she said, “I think that’s why he chose me, I had experience mothering them.’ Then Liesel frowned, a dark thought occurring, “If you are dead, and these children are too, then am I not dead? Is that how I could pick up your trail and easily follow you?” Elsebeth saw real fear there in her eyes, and said, “Do not fear, you are living yet. He probably let you pick up my trail so He could find a replacement, I’d bet. “I have delayed my entry to Heaven, but even this is a matter of time. Maybe He wanted you to see all this, the next caretaker He wanted to find. “But I wouldn’t let that weight on your thoughts, you are quite young, and not even a wife, children and family lay before you, so go out and live a good, happy life. “But not right away, we have all this food, and a bed where you tonight can sleep safe. Come on children, help me carve up this goose, another gift of our God’s endless grace!” And so they did eat, and come the next day, Liesel hugged her nice before she did depart, never again could she find that cabin, though it was never that far from her heart. And in coming years, when children died young, and all would sadly tromp out to their grave, Liesel would look to the woods for the crone, then give dear Elsebeth a friendly wave.