Chapter 3 Nip opens the veil..........

The journey back to their forest home was fairly uneventful for the hobgoblin family. The only delay had been when the wheel on the family's cart had gotten down into the deep rut in the main road that ran the length of the woods. Nip's Da and he had hoisted the cart out and there had been but a slight delay.

But by the time they arrived back at the homestead, all the travelers were weary and hungry. Nip's neighbor had left a pot of acorn porridge with the children and it was a welcome sight. They left the unpacking of the cart, crawled down into their badger hole home and just sat down to have something to eat. The hoblets were all so excited to see their Ma and Da, big sister and Nip return with so many parcels, packages, tubs and tins. Curiousity and hoping that there might be something for them was what got them through the days that the olders were gone. And after the porridge, Ma didn't fail to reward their wishes with real true presents from the faire.

As the hoblets carried on about their gifts and toys, Nip went outside to clear his head, off load the bounty from the faire and put the cart away in the out building behind the stump where they had their home. He loved being home. The smell of the forest, the look of the dim moonlight through trees whose branches that he knew so well, the feel of the cool night air on his bald head and the feeling of comfort overtook him. He realized he had made a place in the world for himself through his knowledge and hard work and a bit of being in the right place at the right time and was well pleased.

As he walked to the shed, his thoughts trailed off to the new appointment to Opener of the Veil. It wouldn't be long before the King and Queen sent for him to perform his new duty and he was bursting with pride. He was so engrossed in his thoughts of his very own new wagon and who he might meet and what he would do when it came time for the opening of the veil that he missed seeing the shadows moving near the shed. And as he reached for the aged and worn wooden pull on the door of the small dirt covered shed, he recoiled as he touched something cold instead of the expected neutral feel of the wood.

Yes, he was startled and a bit confused as he was overcome by the slender shadows. They drug him off behind the shed and made sure that he would not utter a sound to alarm his family to their presence. Nip could not move, or speak, or even close his eyes. He was dumbstruck at what he saw in front of him. He had never seen anything or anyone like these translucent, non corporal beings that inhabited the same space as he but did not appear to be of the same place as he.

The beings, if that is what you would call them were spectral beings, ghost like in their appearance. Dark and yet the dim light from the moon passed through them. And when the tallest one spoke, it was as though the air was being broken. Raspy, harsh and yet small.

"Are you to be the new Opener?" said the specter.

Nip couldn't speak but he did nod his head in the affirmative "We will not hurt you and have only come seeking your assistance. You see, we did not heed the warning from the Changeling Rabbit on last Hallows Eve and stayed out and about past the 3 a.m. curfew. We have been wandering in search of a way to go back through the veil now these many, many months. We are tired and in need of help."

"If we don't return through the veil by the last stroke of Hallows midnight we will be undone. We shan't be. We won't exist. Won't you help us?" begged the trio in unison.

Not knowing whether to believe these shadows, Nip raised his shoulders up in a gesture of not knowing. He felt badly for them if their story was true but these were the ones watching the fae sleep at the encampment. If they were on the up and up, why hadn't they just sought out his help then? If they meant no harm then why did they drag him off so no one else could see them? And why had they make it appear that he had only dreamed of seeing them at the faery encampment? . It was at this point that Nip realized just what these shadows were. Lost souls.

And the tallest one spoke again, "because we didn't want to frighten anyone and because if the Queen were to find out about this, she might not let us go back through the veil. You see, we have seen too much of the world in these months of exile. If you will speak to the Queen, I hope she will let us through. We saw how she rewarded you for your kindness as you took care of the Changeling Rabbit."

All of this was too much for Nip and he felt himself drifting off to sleep again.

When he awoke he was in his bed inside his home. Not again, he thought. How did they do this to me again? And he got up and realized he was still dressed from his journey yesterday. So now he knew he hadn't dreamed the first encounter with the shadows and was determined to get to the bottom of this situation, being the practical hobgoblin he was.

He climbed up to the front door, open it only to be greeted by very bright sunlight and a commotion happening at his front door. A courier from the Queen and King had delivered his wonderful new wagon with a team of three tawny ground squirrels  and the family was excitedly asking all manner of questions to the very  overwhelmed bliney troll looking for all the world like he might explode at any moment.

"Are you Nip?", questioned the blue skinned troll. "If so, get in, we are already running late. I lost my way at the 2nd fork in the road and had to do a bit of back tracking."

"But I need to change my clothes and eat breakfast", Nip protested.

"No time, old chap, we need to dash. You can fuss about when we get to the veil." said the troll in a very vexed voice as he pushed Nip up onto the wagon seat.

"Oh, alright then. Good bye family. Da, I promise to tell you everything when I return." Nip hollered as they drove out of the front pathway and through the woods to the forest road.

And following behind, in the deep forest shade, the shadows trailed behind at a safe distance.

It was just before sunset when Nip, the bliney troll and the shadows came to the "edge of the world" as it is called. Nip rushed to ask where he could freshen up, not because he needed to because Hobgoblins generally only freshen twice a year and he had freshened before heading out to the faire, but because he certainly did not want to offend the Queen and her lovely court. But that wasn't necessary. He was just fine the way he was, they all assured him of that. But he was still a bit hungry.

Not wanting to be rude but very careful to understand his role Nip started asking questions about his duties and procedures and all the things he had worried and fretted over the last few days. He needn't have concerned himself because "the knowing" overcame him as he stood at the veil. All questions were answered, all worries consoled. He even knew what was to be done with the shadows who stood only a short distance away in the shade and motioned for them to join him as he stood next to the Queen and King.

The King did admonish the three for their disobedience and let them know that because of their crime they would never again be allowed to cross through the veil. And then he wiped their memories of the world from them with his faery glamour.

Nip stepped forward, reached out and pulled the veil back just as the last rays of the sun were dying on the horizon. Quiet, peace and calm were what he felt as he performed his very first opening of the veil. Of course this was before the onslaught of ...................... well now, that is for Nip to know. We mortals must wait until........well we must wait, all will be revealed someday.

As to why Nip had been sent back into his sleep to protect the shadow specters, that is also a  secret best kept for another Hallowe'en telling.  Do make sure that if you are serving a "dumb supper" that your guests get back in time for the closing of the veil. You wouldn't want to be responsible for wandering spirits now would you?

Just be assured that Nip certainly does his job well and has not lost one shadow in the last 247 years of his being the Opener.....and Closer of the veil.

The Dream Catcher a story for The Darker Side of Faerie



Thank you to Ms. Magaly for this opportunity to participate in  ALL HALLOW'S GRIM

blog party 2012

The Darker Side of Faerie.

 

 

The Dream Catcher, Jiggles

 

The dream catcher moves gently in the wind, feathers twitching, beads and bells making small clinging sounds and there is a newness to the decorations.

Some new nightmare has gotten snagged in the rigging of the web. It's not really something you can see but rather there is a feeling that there is more to the dream catcher this morning than was there last night. It feels more full, more plump with possibilities.

Jiggles only looks out of the corner of his eye so as not to disturb the "new one".It takes awhile for the ectoplasm to settle. It takes a day or two before the outer shell has hardened so that the nightmare can be eaten properly. And eat it he shall.

Once when he was a little one, he had rushed the eating of his prey and got a right good belly ache for his troubles. Spent the better part of a week retching and burbalating the horrid mess. Since then he has followed the procedures and recipes for the eating of the bad ones, the scary ones, the ones that make you sweat and wake feeling like you just relived that horrid moment. Of course every once in a while a guilt dream got caught in the catcher and then Jiggles had to clean out the whole of it. Guilt made every other dream uneatable. Guilt was the one thing Jiggles could not abide. Other than that one kind of nightmare, chomping on the bad dreams of others was a wondrous adventure. After all "one beings terror is another beings tiramasu".

The hardest ones to let cure long enough to eat them are the ones of children and innocents. They tend to wriggle themselves free of the web if not carefully attended. And careful is not exactly Jiggles long suit, if you get my drift. He usually just lets those go because he knows, they'll be back sooner or later.

He'd much rather be out with the other baddies, using what he eats to bring the others to their knees, than tending his catcher. He is after all a recycling junkie. He recycles their horror and uses it on them again and again, thereby assuring himself of a decent size meal. He has kept this secret for almost all his life.

What would happen if the other dream catchers found out that he had turned to a life of recycling? Oh that was Jiggles only bad dream and he made sure he slept tied up in knots so that his secret was safe and never retrieved by another of his race. He had seen a public lynching just as he was coming into his own and vowed never to get caught. Lynching for a recycler not only included hanging but also having your wings pulled out and your antennae plucked out of your head. It was hideous.....if you recycle.

He left the "new one" to cure and headed out to the local gathering spot hoping to meet up with his chums. On the way, he stopped by the B's place for a chat with his old neighbor. Not many many of B's kind around anymore. Most had been wiped out by bad thoughts and disparaging words. Funny how the others never gave a thought to doing that, talking bad. Jiggles couldn't imagine how it must be in their worlds where being hate filled, ill tempered and horrid was just a way of getting by. But then if it weren't for all the bullying and talking behind backs in the other's world, he wouldn't have much to munch on, now would he?

Never did Jiggles see his own dishonesty and recycling as just another way of being horrid. He saw himself as a survivor. Someone just getting by on his back handed ways.

B's was a survivor too but in a different way. B's was a goodie, through and through. He just hadn't been wiped out by the dark and dirty, yet. Lucky B's, he never had bad dreams, never lived with regret at his table, danced with the truth and dipped it backwards. Jiggles had been doing all of those things for years and it began to tell in his countenance. That's why he avoided most of his old friends and neighbors, he was sure it showed. It's why he came to visit the only goodie he knew. Everything felt better when he was with B's and maybe it would rub off on his tattered wings. At least it was worth a try. B's never gave Jiggles a hard time, he just made Jiggles feel better about himself. What's the harm in that.?

Jiggles and B's were in the middle of a good game of checkers when the authorities just showed up at B's door. Of course without guile, B's let them in and they grabbed Jiggles and arrested him for suspicion of recycling.

There was no trial. It all went very quickly. Jiggles was done away with, zip-zap quickly.

I'm sure another dream catcher took over Jiggle's web. I'm sure that the harshness of the others is still going to keep the baddies fed as well. And the slight breeze moves the dream catcher just as before and after Jiggles.

The battle to choose good over bad is an ongoing struggle no matter what color your wings are. Too bad about Jiggles.

Happy Hallows, Oma Linda

The Real Witches of Halloween, my interview.....

So here I am thinking I am on top of my game with all I have to do this week. I looked over this blog to see if I needed to make some corrections or additions to upcoming events and realize.............DUH, my interview with Lyn on The Real Witches of Halloween has come and gone and I didn't post about it.

Not that my babblings have earth shaking news in them but......I did promise I would spread the word about Lyn's terrific blog and website and obviously this old broad fell down on her duty.

So I would like to encourage you to follow this link and check out The Real Witches of Halloween and the interview I did with Lyn. You might find out something you didn't know about my wickedy ways.....or maybe you'll find out something about someone else.....spooky.

Thanks from an addled old addle, Oma Linda

Catching you up on Ry's wisdom.....

My favorite inside, outside, upside down thinker and philosopher was in rare form this week. It has been an interesting week for him at school. Very good days and very "not so good" ones as well. The more social he becomes, the more opportunities for those new found skills to be tested. And unfortunately, the neuro typical kids that he tries his skills on are used to neuro typical responses and our Aspergian wonder is probably a conundrum for those kids in oh so many ways.

After three years of looking for expressions on his face and seeing a completely blank slate when there should be a clue has become second nature for me. But it is his behaviors that give me the clues I need. If he comes in from school and doesn't talk about the day but goes back to his room only to show up shortly with some cleverly constructed "whats it" from his legos and a story of how it works, which could go on forever, I know he has had some form of rejection. On the other hand, if he chats me up first thing and the disappears, it like the all clear siren going off. But who would know that? Unless you have been schooled by a super smart, tender hearted and all boy 8 year old Aspergian.

Today we took our lazy day route to happiness. I worked at my desk, GK watched TV and Ry wandered between his room to build and the TV to stare blankly at Sponge Bob and the Ninja Turtles. At 10:00, we each got dressed and began the chores of Saturday. Ry's chores were very short today and so he came to chat with me while I did mine. He came in to tell me that Papa was his hero. I turned to see his face while he explained to me why he felt that way. He said because Papa was a war hero. I was confused. My Joe was a Marine but he never saw action in any war....well except for the war of the typewriters and supply.

Ry said it must have been really hard to fight in The Civil War (and he was perfectly serious, none of the goofball glint in his eye). crickets.....I really didn't want to laugh but I did explain that in order for Joe to have fought in the Civil War he would have to be over 160 years old. Ry said very nonchalantly.....oh I guess I was just wrong. And that was that. I still don't know what possessed him to bring that bit to the table. But Joe sure enjoyed the sentiment and we did have a chuckle about how good he looks for someone that old.

After we finished our chores, the grands picked the Cat opoly game to play until Shelley got home from work. As we were playing, Ry sent me to the equivalent of jail in monopoly and just laughed and was very snotty about my plight. I told him that payback is a biotch and that his time was coming.......and then he sent his sister to jail and again we warned him about being a stinker. As we tallied the "riches" we had amassed during our game, he was very sad because he didn't have a lot of money or property and GK pointed out to him that Karma comes to bite you in the butt......he turns to me and said, "Oma, I know about payback being a biotch but you didn't even warn me about that Karma woman".

Oh lovelies, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He is so dear and such a stinker. So his sister consoled him because after all they are each others best friends and mortal enemies.....
I excused myself and went outside to allow myself the giggle.

So just so you can't say I didn't warn you......look out for the Karma woman cuz I hear she is a bad one.

Smooches and Squoozes, Oma Linda

Nip's encounter..........Chapter 2 of Nip the Hobgoblin

After many more tankards of cider brewed libation, the family of Nip the Hobgoblin spent their last night at the Faire campgrounds. Wagons, carts, caravans and wheel barrows were all parked on the open grass area of the meadow. Campfires dotted the night as did the stars in the sky. The din of the early evening's festivities had  calmed now to a purr of quiet talks, a giggle and an occasional song or lilting tune on an stringed instrument drifted through the stillness. But soon there was only the sound of snoring and the night sounds of the forest nearby. All was quiet and the fae were at peace.

The moon was at crone sliver which gave the stars a chance to sparkle even more brightly. No clouds to cover the celestial show. No cover for the silent shadows that glided across the night sky and came to rest not far from the campground.

 And still the silence prevailed.

The sun would soon peek over the horizon, the moon was still holding court in the sky and something was waiting to change the fae's world forever. None of the sleeping fae would ever have guessed that a change was in the wind, that is except for Nip. After the most excellent day of his life, so far, he had a very hard time relaxing and sleeping. He had been up most of the night with pangs of worry over his new position one moment and exhilaration over his new prospects the next. Now that he was to be the opener of the veil, he would have more responsibilities and they were weighing heavily upon him already. He also wondered what would his very own wagon from the Faery King and Queen be like and what would he wear to perform his new job and how he would learn the task. So many thoughts so little sleep.

And so it comes as no surprise that Nip watched with great interest as the slender shadows of darkness streaked across the sky and landed in the forest to the east. Mind you, he felt no alarm at the event, just interest. You see, Hobgoblins are the most likely of the fae to have more interaction with the humans, animals and spirits of the land. They also are the most grounded when it comes to not being fooled or frightened. While all fae have "the knowing" only Hobgoblins have the good sense that goes along with it.

A pixie, brownie or sprite might have been caught unawares, a faery or sylph may have reacted to the entities by taking flight, the troll or goblin may have attacked  but a young Hobgoblin such as Nip merely observed, analyzed and kept an eye on the situation.

And besides, Nip had better things to do than to call an alarm to something he hadn't figured out yet. And so he started his indirect but purposeful route to the eastern woods being careful not to be seen.

His first sense of being close to whatever had streaked across the sky came when he noticed the grass pressed down at the base of an old downed tree. The tree had fallen into a cluster of boulders and was resting on its side.  This tree looked as if it had been toppled over for a long time judging from the lichen and moss growth, the moss was growing on the wrong side of the tree. Only someone who spent their life in the woods would have caught that error in camouflage.

Upon careful examination, Nip could tell, that in fact, this was a ruse. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to disguise a new entry into the cluster of boulders. He stayed back and watched and waited. The night's lack of sleep caught up with him and much to his dismay he awoke to a tug on his tunic and looked up to see the face of his sister.

"Get down before they see you"."Who?", said his giggling sister. As Nip grabbed her arm then he realized he must have been dreaming all along because he was still by the campfire in the clearing. The fae were just beginning to awaken to greet the day.

How could he have been dreaming of the forest? It felt so very real. How could he have had a dream like that, when he didn't even remember lying down to sleep? Scratching his bald head, he stood up, stretched and looked toward the east where he had seen the tree and had a feeling that it had not been a dream at all. He felt that someone or something was watching him from the woods.

His Da roused him from his mesmerized staring in the direction of the sunrise with his reminder to make sure that they hurried along so that they would reach home before nightfall. Too much work waiting at home to be dawdling and gawking.

And so the Hobgoblin family headed towards their home in the woods far beyond the downed tree and whatever had happened the night before.

A mixed bag of tricks for you......

First I forgot this picture from our post for Joe's birthday. The birthday boy and his adoring cat on the Cat opoly board.

Then the lovely and generous Linda from RV Vagabonds sent me a beautifully beaded batty bracelet that she made for me. I am adding this to this years accessories for my Madame Zoleena's fortune tellers costume for Halloween. My only payment for this bracelet is that I have the grands take a picture of me as the mystic herself. Thank you Ms. Linda. Will do.

 

 

And then on to tell you about Sunday's fun with the family. When hot air balloons fly in the sky of Albuquerque there is another event that one just cannot miss. That is the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival. It's always held in huge white tent and hundreds of artisans and craft persons come with all manner of wonderfulness from all over the country. This year was no exception. So much to see and to sample and enjoy as well.

I haven't been to one of these humongous craft shows in many years. I used to sell, then attended, then it became too much to endure with the crowds, the heat and my bad old legs. But I promised Shel and the kids that after they had gotten up at the butt crack of dawn and watched the final mass ascension that I would go with them to the Rio Grande......for the adventure. It was a lot of fun seeing old friends doing new things, meeting new crafts people with vivid and wonderful items to sell. The grands, Shel and I got matching rings from a jewelery maker I've known for over 20 years, clay donkeys for our herd corner and wonderful recycle useful art from a new friend.

But the best part of the day was when we stopped to have a bite to eat at the food court (Indian fry bread tacos) and the kids joined in the entertainment by dancing their feet off to the Watermelon Jug Band music and then played recycled junk as percussion instruments with the Recycle Man. RyLeigh was jumping all over the place and attracted the attention of the Recycle Man before RM even started his set. GK trying to get her brother to 2 step to a Hank Williams Sr. song, "Hey, hey good looking" was a crowd pleaser, especially when she "dipped" her bro. The Cuckoos showed their ham bones again. And so another "good time" was had by all.

Tonight will be a very welcome time to join with many as we begin a new moon cycle and welcome in the Samhain time. I have Halloweened myself to pieces in the last two weeks and now it is time to center and glean the messages and focus energies to the remembering of the ancients and closing out the year with acknowledgment of lessons learned and prospects of new opportunities to learn in the new year. I will be directing myself towards another new year. Oma Linda

Happy Birthday....you old coot

To my Sweet Man: the most understanding, caring, loving husband, father and Papa in the world and also to the most exasperpating, grumpy, opinionated darling ever to grace this orb......we love you so, signed "The Cuckoos".

I guess you figured out it's Sweet Man's BD. Yep, a youngster in the scheme of things, and oldster on the clock. Bless him, we are like carrots and peas, as well as oil and water. We're lucky that way. He is the oldest of 8 children and I the youngest of 3. Actually he is still trying to raise me, cuz he keeps endeavoring to spoil me worse and help me behave (a thankless task, I might add). Yesterday we attempted to return the favor.

The kids and I spent their fall break day off from school with SM on his day off. Treated him to lunch out and games in. The wind was blowing like crazy. Our Halloween decos in the front porch came crashing down and caused quite a ruckus. Nice day to play Catopoly....like Monopoly only with litter boxes and fish bones etc. We played the cat influenced game because Joe made a confession the other day that he is finding the older he gets the more he realizes that he likes cats better than dogs. (Don't worry, he didn't say it in front of Odin and Ellie, they didn't get their little doggy feelings hurt).

Now let me explain that I am saying all the above tongue in cheek. We went to the restaurant that the kids picked (buffets don't really do it for us anymore) and Joe hates games......but he loves his grands. Funny thing is, we had a great time. He and Ry won the 2 1/2 hour monotony game which turned out to be a riot with Ry's "deals" and GK's swindling ways. Joe was his usual wheeler dealer self, bad joke artist and the kids tried to emulate. I have never laughed so hard. Crazy people, I'm surrounded by crazy people.

His real birth date is today. So while he had to go back to work, the grands are going to bake for him today. We'll have his favorite, breakfast for dinner meal and he'll get to watch one of his favorite shows "Castle", because that's what the kids got for him. The first three seasons. Well at least it will be a change from NCIS and Joe will love it. I got him some of his favorite snacks; artisan wafer rolled hazelnut/chocolate cookies, circus peanut candies and sardines in oil. No he doesn't eat them all at one time. Well maybe in the same day but not at the same sitting. At our age, what is there to buy for someone except the very things they love? Next week on his days off, we will trek someplace just the two of us and celebrate his day again.

As I sat down to say Happy Birthday to my very sweet Joe, I am reminded why it is that it's easy to love him....he is so very Joe. Genuine, whether grumpy, in charge, wheeler dealer or steadfast defender of his family he is just Joe, through and through. He has been who he is for over 6 decades....no changing him now, not that I would want to......er, yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Happy Birthday my love, my bestest friend.

Nip the Hobgoblin

I know this was posted yesterday on Lyn's the Witches of Halloween but I am in love with the beginning story of this young Hobgoblin and wanted to post it here for those of you who didn't get to read it yesterday. Also because this is only the first installment in yet another series of "faery tales". I will have another ready for you before Samhain. Many thanks to all of you who encourage my story telling. You know you only spur me on to more madness and I love your for that. So without further ado.......Nip.

For thousands of years humans have been in close contact with the different incarnations of the fae, be it troll, gnome, sprite, bogart, sylph, mermaid, goblin, faerie or the hundreds of other incarnations of the fae races.

Nip is a member of the fae. He began his existence as just an ordinary hob goblin. And this is how his story begins.

Most of Nip’s youth was spent in a piney wood close to a mid-sized village of human. He lived in a deserted badger’s hole with his Ma and Da and 4 younger siblings. They made their way in the world through barter and the occasional sale of the furs that they collected after the humans had killed the beasts of the forest. The leathers that his Da made were known throughout the forest and fetched quite a price at the faire in the autumn of the year. Nip enjoyed helping his Ma sew the soft furs into robes and throws.

Nip was the gatherer of the family. He went out in the dark hours to find the “dead ones” or what was left of them. He wasn’t afraid like his siblings. He actually looked forward to getting to tuck the dead ones in after he had taken the skins and furs from them. He was good at digging a hole and burying them so that they could be at peace and hidden from sight. He took a great deal of pride in his work and was always a happy hob goblin knowing that his part of the family business was essential in all of the household lasting the cold winter months with stores of nuts, berries and his Ma’s famous squash bakes.

The autumn faire was not just a marketplace or a trading post but it’s where all the fae would gather for three days at the second harvest to barter, swap and sell their wares. Families traveled for miles to get to see their friends, relatives and join in the excitement and wonder of this time of year. The King and Queen of the Fae always made an appearance and even joined in the dancing. A mood of goodwill and joy was what all the fae looked towards during the faire.

Nip himself knew that he would have to be even more help in the tanning and sewing as well as his job of gathering in order for his family to be safe and well fed during the harsh winter that approached. He and his Da worked to finish all the skins and he spent time teaching his younger sister the art of sewing the furs. His Ma was making all the squash pies, gooseberry preserves and her lovely root tarts she could manage in between supervising the sewing of the capes, hoods and blankets. Even the younger siblings joined in by gathering dry wood to keep the stove burning for the cooking and the outside tripod bubbling for the tanning. The hob goblin neck of the woods was very busy in preparations. The best part of being a part of this family was the singing and laughing that they also incorporated in their days work. Nip was a lucky hob goblin surrounded by love, work and fun and he knew it. He had met other hobbies at the faire in the past two years that were our on their own by his age with no one but themselves to attend. Most of the others were sad, mean or grumpy and he reckoned it was because they didn’t have the connections to family that Nip had. He vowed never to leave the woods and had made his own plan when he was of the age to go out on his own to live nearby so that if he was fortunate to have a wife and hoblets of his own, they would know the connection, he too had lived in his youth.

As the days grew shorter, and the time for the faire drew closer, the family talked over what they would need from the marketplace. It was for certain that Da needed a new blade to do his work, Ma needed to get more needles and some yard goods for making the family new wraps for the winter and Nip hankered for a blade of his own instead of always having to ask to borrow his Da’s. He would sell some of his rope that he had made by the fire at night from the sinew of the dead ones from whom he gathered. His next youngest sister would be allowed to attend this year and her parents hoped that maybe some young hob goblin would take a liking to her and come to live with them in the woods. There was always need for more hands. But Nip’s sister only wanted to go to see all the wonders with which Nip had regaled her when he returned home from the festivities these last two years.

For you see, this was not just an ordinary faire, it was the best of all the seasons. Rich with the bounty that the earth provided to all the fae as well as silks from spiders webs, exotic fruits and vegetables, clothing embroidered with shiny bits of shells from as far away as the sea, furniture made from the finest wood, rugs, drapes, jewelry, perfumes from the most rare herbs, hair combs, pillows stuffed with duckling down, wagons that could carry anything and of course there was the musical instruments. All of these wonderments and more were for sale or trade to any and all fae.

The morning finally arrived to leave for the second harvest faire. The wagon was loaded to almost overflow with all their goods to be used to their families well being. Nip took the rope, wrapped it around his waist and began the pull as he would do many times in the journey. The rest would also take turns pulling the wagon as they made their way to something they all prepared for and looked forward to all year long.

As they approached the woodland clearing they came upon a very chaotic sight. The Queen was standing on the side of the road sobbing into her hands, her shoulders quaking with grief and she was surrounded by her court of faeries. Every member of the court was weeping and moaning.

Not far from them was the changeling rabbit. She was on her side and had been injured but from where the family stood they could not make out how badly nor how it may have occurred. The royal guards were surrounding the rabbit and they too looked very sad indeed.

Nip took a step towards one of the fairie court and courteously asked what had happened. This lovely being told him that they had been on the way to the faire when the changeling rabbit had been set upon by a something that none of the others could see. This something had killed the changeling with a blast of light and gotten away before the royal guards could even react. What could have done such a thing? The changeling was the only being that could open the veil between the worlds of the human and the fae. She worked to open the veil between the living and the dead at Samhain at the beheast of the elders. The changeling could not be killed, she was the opener of the veil. That just couldn’t be, but it was true. The Queen had sent for the King to see if there was anything he could do because her magick had not been able to bring the changeling back to life. She was in anguish.

Nip took the news back to his family. They all were horrified and a bit frightened. What if the something came for any of them? His Ma and sister began to cry. Nip agreed and moved the wagon and his family to the tree line just in case. They waited for the King as well.

It was not long before the King and his court arrived. They too were in shock and tried everything they could think of to bring the changeling back but to no avail. The King’s butler suggested they try to find the source of the blast of light. They asked if anyone had ever seen such wounds before?

Nip drew closer and said yes he had. He had found a couple of groundhogs at the base of a tree who had wounds like these. It had been during one of the wet times in the woods where they live. And the King asked Nip his name and where these woods were and what was the wet times? Nip answered all their questions and told them much more than they ever wanted to know of his travels and duties in the woods and his work with the dead ones and his care of them. For you see he had never met a royal and had no idea that they really did not care about his life or his work.

Reader, you must understand it never rains on the King or Queen so they had no idea what rain or lightning was or how it could be dangerous. But a country hob goblin had the answers to their questions.

The King did not even have to ask, because Nip just simply went about his work and dug a hole for the changeling rabbit as he had for so many dead things in the woods close to home. Everyone stood and watched as he tucked her into her final resting place and covered her up with dirt and then gathered rocks to secure her place. The Queen’s court had begun to weave flowers, vines and branches into a burial loop and gently laid it upon the place that would be remembered as the last place they had seen the changeling rabbit alive. Odd that the very being that opened the veil for those who had departed would this Samhain be on the other side of that very veil.

The King and Queen remained at the sight and Nip and his family continued onto the faire.
After trading and selling all their wares and goods the family had decided to attend the last night’s dancing as they felt they deserved a night of fun and enjoyment. This would be the first that any of them had seen of the Royals since their meeting in the clearing.

Nip was dancing with his Ma, spinning her round and round to the beat of the flute and drum when he felt a light touch on his shoulder. He turned to see the Queen. He was quite surprised, bowed deeply and returned her smile. She had come to thank him for his generosity and tenderness. She had also come to ask him if he would be interested in taking on another job and offered him the job of opening the veil at Samhain, since he had such a loving way with the treatment of the dead ones. She had been so very touched by his spirit and appreciated his love of his job.

Nip was speechless, but his mother said, oh yes, yes, what an honor but will he have to live away from his family? The Queen assured her that he could travel to the veil yearly to do his job and that he would be given his own wagon and team of mice to take him to the location. He also would be able to continue to live his hob goblin life and she personally would make sure of that because she saw the warmth of his spirit because of the love of his family.

Nip finally found his voice and said that he didn’t know how to do the job but that if he could say so, he was a quick learner. The Queen laughed and said that she and the King would assist him the first time he opened the veil and that she had every confidence in his abilities. Nip just beamed. Never had a hob goblin held such an important job and he was so very proud and happy.

All the fae, raised their acorn tankards and toasted the new “Opener”. To Nip the hob goblin, “Cheers”.

So if you dear reader hear someone mention in the month of October that they feel a “nip in the air”, you know exactly to whom they refer.

Guest Blog on Witch Blog today

Good Morning lovelies. I'd like to invite you to read my guest blog at Wise Woman Whispers @ Witch Blog today.  I have written a little story about the faery folk and an especially talented hobgoblin named Nip. Here is that link to Nip

Thank you Lyn for this very nice opportunity. I am grateful to be a part of your Real Witches of Halloween.

Thanksgiving greetings.........

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends, waving and smiling.

graphic by Penniwigs

 

Makes me hungry for a great turkey leftover sandwich....yum and blessings, Oma Linda

Would you rather be right or happy?

At first I wasn't going to keep going with the train of thought of bullying as it relates to our lives here at the Cuckoos nest. But then I thought, it's not fair or right not to let you all know what is going on. I'm mean it's like leaving you out there blowing in the wind.

When I worked with teenagers (and middle school youth as well) I had a very good and wise friend who asked me when I was "fit to be tied" by some circumstances beyond my control but still part of my working with the kids and their parents, would you rather be right or happy? Now on the surface the answer was right, but in my heart I wanted to be happy. But that's because that is who I am. Being right has caused all manner of difficulties in my life.....or at least having to be right has. But being happy with my self and my good behavior has never been a negative. Hmmmmmm what to choose, what to choose. Because I was in a position to be "a role model" I chose happy.

I wish I could tell you that yesterday's principal with principle episode was the last you were going to hear of "the teacher" but I'd be lying to you. "The Teacher" chose to be right. She sent an email to Shel once again letting the world know that she could not have known about GK's past and issues and it should have been told to her at the beginning of the school year and that if GK were to ever find herself in another situation where she saw wrong being done that she should tell an adult because she could be an accomplish to a crime in the real world and that the teacher would certainly keep her eye on GK from now on. I know what a terrible run on sentence. What a terrible example of the teachers mind set. It was once again GK and Shel's fault because the teachers had to take a strangers word (her phrase) when they take the kids out in public. And Gk did switch her story and that is an indicator of guilt.....blah, blah, blah.

She could have just let it go or been polite and said she was sorry but instead she had to lecture Shel and GK once again about how flawed their thinking and they were. What the, what the.

I posted this on facebook so I know some of you have already read this rant....sorry lovelies. I am still puzzled as to the why of this behavior. I know, I'm Ms. Goody Two Shoes and I don't need to know but really? So I gave GK an assignment from her Suzy Sunshine Oma to find something good about this woman to concentrate on and try to respect.

 Faulty logic? I don't think so. GK has to stay in the class there are no other teachers of this subject for 7th grade. Make lemonade out of persimmons. Look for the good and concentrate on that. Pity the hurt "the teacher" must have somewhere inside her to make her so adamant about being in control and right no matter what. Be nice, be good and if she will not allow you to be these things.....we'll go back to the drawing board and use another tactic or involve the principal again. GK knows we will not let her suffer a fool. Giving up and reacting to "the teacher", giving her attitude or an excuse to continue to bully is not an option. Besides, that really isn't GK's style.

And if all else fails, I will do what I did when Shel was in high school and her chorus teacher went off her nut and began verbally and physically abusing the swing choir at zero hour (o dark thirty in the AM). I'll go sit in the class and just be a presence of peace. We do what we have to do to protect not only our own but all children......period. It is that pay it forward thing. I had a totally different outcome to my abusive 1st grade classroom situation. I will not let my own suffer needlessly at the hands of pathetic people.

Besides, GK is the kid who went with her brother to special needs summer program so we could have eyes and ears on that situation and ended up being a junior counselor because she fell in love with differently abled, especially down syndrome kids. If she could live through being hit, pushed under the water, yelled at by these kids and still become an advocate for them and actually enjoy being in the crowd of sweet and sour differently abled children, some of whom were "out there"......she can withstand one teacher with a huge character flaw.

I have faith in GK, her loving Mom and all of you who love and support us. We are the armed ones, with love. Oma Linda

A principal with principles....who woulda thunk it???

My lovelies, friends and sistas in witchery.....

I feel like I should be saying "to the nation and all the ships at sea", but the WWII reference would be lost on so many and I am so exhilarated you'll need to excuse my mania.

Shel and GK went to school this morning armed with our letter of protest, which was addressed to the principal, and both teachers involved in the UNM OSI rock throwing incident. Although this makes for a very long blog, I would like for you to see what we wrote.

Upon reflection on our conversation of 9/28/2012 concerning the UNM OSI rock throwing incident, I feel it my place to inform you of certain particular issues.

My child, GereaKaye was very distressed as were you, Ms.. That is obvious from the tone of your voice in our conversation.

I cannot speak to your reason for vexation, but I can inform you as to why Gerea was. I want you to understand her better, not make excuses for her because she said she did not participate in the rock throwing. I believe her because of her past but it is obvious that my view of my child holds no sway with you and you are satisfied that she is a liar, an embarrassment to 21st Century and you personally. But I would ask that you do some investigation into your colleagues view of my daughter, her behavior and her demeanor. This might sway you to understanding her better.

I will just let you know that while you were put off by her standing up for herself, I am proud of her for that. Gerea is a survivor of verbal, emotional and physical abuse by an adult. She has been in therapy for 3 years and is just beginning to find her voice and her position in life as a worthy human. Her "oak tree" stance with  you was what she has been taught to weather her pain.

Your tirade of being embarrassed, her being a terrible example of 21st and also the comment about questioning the validity of the adult who informed you of her guilt all are pieces in the abuse puzzle. You could not have known any of that. But your posturing, embarrassing, threatening  and pushing at her to wear her down are all bullying tactics used by her abuser in the past.

She stood up to you as long as she could and then buckled to your reprimand. So when you said to me "she is either lying to you now or lied to me then",  you are wrong. She was coping as best as she could in that confrontation.

The came away feeling as though she had betrayed herself. Not you, not the school, not me but the young woman who has been trying to "be her truth". We were blessed by Gerea having a standing appointment with her therapist this evening. Gerea has come to grips with her caving in to your demands of confession under pressure. She will take whatever punishment you choose to dole out, knowing she is innocent and taking her "oak tree" stance with roots in the truth and the ability to sway with the breeze of life.

I do however take exception to your absolute belief that an adult would not lie, while a 12 year old certainly would. That is harmful thinking especially when the other girls involved told you that Gerea was not a participant.

My hope is that you will let this incident pass through you not dwell within you and that you and Gerea can find a good place to work and enjoy each other's company. She is very fond of your class, the subject matter and up until the bump in the road today, you. Trust should be something that both of you work on together if possible.

But please Ms. do talk to the Mr. R, Ms. M. and any of the other 6th grade teachers about Gerea. I know that you will be pleasantly informed of a kid who went to Regional science fair last year and has already finished her experiments this summer for this years entry, enjoys school, loves to learn, a voracious reader, is a quirky nerdy kid with dreams of being a computer designer. Please continue to allow 21st Century Academy to be a safe place for Gerea to be a student and grow as a person.

Lastly, I am very proud of who my child is and would wear the same color shirt as she anytime, I am sorry that you are not and that you felt that you needed to share that "truth "with her.

If any one of you would like to discuss the incident, this letter, my concerns or my child, please feel free to contact me.

When they got there, the secretary asked how she could help and Shel told her that she had a letter for the two teachers and the principal. The principal overheard and invited them into her office. And then a miracle happened. She said she had seen GK upset on Friday afternoon and wanted to know what was going on and how could she help. GK gave her view of the events and then the principal read our letter. She assured GK that she knew that GK certainly would not have been involved and that she was so very sorry that the teachers had reacted and acted the way they had. She excused herself and when to speak to the teachers.

In the meantime the PE teacher saw GK in the office, came in and asked if she could help and also assured GK that she was safe at school, well liked by students and staff and that she would have her back as well.

When the principal returned, she said she had spoken to both the teachers and there would be no punishment for GK because she had done nothing wrong, most especially when she stood up for herself and the truth. Both the teachers had been told by other students already this morning that in fact GK had not done anything. The principal let the teachers know that she would be available to GK and her Mom if the situation was anything but settled as of start of class today. Of course that doesn't mean that things will ever be the same between GK and those teachers but as the letter states we have high hopes for good character wining out in the end.

GK wrote out her view of the incident and that was that. She was assured by the principal that she was safe and if at any time she felt unsafe or threatened by anyone, be they teacher or student to not hesitate to just come to the principal. This invitation was also extended to Shel. And she once again apologized for an obvious error in judgement by the staff.

Don't ya just hate it when you're all ready to kick some ass and they listen and understand????? Spoils an olde broads day. And I was all ready starting the poison candy apple making. Not really, just joking.

I personally was dumbfounded by the principals caring, cooperation and action to settle the situation.
She had no idea what had gone on at UNM on Friday. Now I bet she was inwardly a little unsettled by not being told by her teaching staff. And I should imagine that the piper will need to be paid, somehow.

Both Shel and GK were well pleased and relieved. I still am in shock. I am also gonna have to think of something nice to do for the principal with principles because goodness needs to be rewarded always. This all could have gone so differently and we were all ready for that outcome.....this is just super happy news could not wait to share it with all of you.