|
| Sunday, December 18, 2005 |
| Tell me a story #2 |
Once upon a time, in a place far from our own and a forest we have never seen, a boy lived in a small house full of books. He did not live alone, as he kept a pig, named Dobel, for company. During the day the boy tended his vegetable patch, and in the evening he read aloud to Dobel. There were many books to choose from, for although the house was small, books were crammed onto every shelf and stashed under every bench. The boy had lived this way ever since he could remember. Most of the time, he was content. His vegetables kept him fed, his books kept him entertained, and his pig kept him company.
There was only one thing missing.
“Dobel,” the boy would often say, after putting down that night’s book, “I believe I would be as happy as the people in these books if I had a family. A mother and father to look after me, and a brother to play with. Then my life would be truly complete.”
Dobel would just look at the boy and blink, for although he understood, pigs cannot talk, so there was nothing he could say.
One day, a strong wind blew through the forest and rattled the windows on the boy’s small house.
“Dobel,” said the boy, “I believe a storm may be on the way.”
The boy was right. The strong wind grew stronger and stronger, and soon the windows and doors and all the walls of the small house trembled and shook.
“Dobel,” said the boy, “I have never seen winds like this before. I think we would be safer in the cellar.”
The wind blew for a long time. Rain came, and all the boy could hear for a long time was the pounding of wind and water, and the crashing sounds of falling trees. When everything became silent at last, the boy and Dobel came out of the cellar and looked at the flat house. Books were everywhere, and the vegetable patch was no more.
“Oh dear,” said the boy, for he did not know what else to say. Dobel, who could not say anything in any case, stared at the place where the peas used to grow. He had been very fond of peas.
The boy sat and thought for a long time. Then he stood up. “Dobel,” he said, “I have always wanted a family. I cannot live here any more, so I believe that now is as good a time as any to find a family.”
So the boy and the pig left the place they had lived ever since they could remember, and went in search of a family.
It was some time before they saw anyone. Both the boy and Dobel were tired, hungry, and aching all over on the day they came across a small house in an open field. A girl answered the door.
“Hello,” said the boy, “We have walked a very long way in search of a family. Is there one here we could join?”
“I’m sorry,” said the girl, “But I have lived here alone ever since I can remember, with just a flock of chickens to keep me fed and my cat, Elsa, to keep me company. I would be happy for you to share my house, though, if you could help me look after the chickens. You see, I have often read about families, and I have thought that it would be a good thing to at least have a brother.”
“Very well,” said the boy, “but I know nothing about chickens. I can keep a vegetable patch, though.”
The girl agreed. So it was that the boy found a sister, which was at least part of a family. She did not have so many books as he was used to, but he did not mind as he now had a sister to play games with in the evening. Dobel and Elsa became friends also, and entertained themselves with games of chasey.
And they all lived happily ever after.
Mostly. |
posted by Ata @ 7:44 pm  |
|
| 2 Comments: |
-
*tugs ata's sleeve*
Was the boy's name fitz?
*tugs sleeve again*
Was the girl's name molly?
*skips off before ata hits her*
-
Only if Nighteyes was actually a pig called Dobel.
|
| |
| << Home |
| |
|
|
|
|
*tugs ata's sleeve*
Was the boy's name fitz?
*tugs sleeve again*
Was the girl's name molly?
*skips off before ata hits her*