"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." ~ Albert Einstein
"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." ~ C. S. Lewis
"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. " ~Langston Hughes
Today it is drizzling rain here. I have always loved rain.I like to here it hitting my roof. I like to see it fill and overflow the buckets sitting on my step. I love the smell and the feel of rain. When others would run through a storm trying to avoid puddles, I would walk slowly through hoping to get soaked to the skin. Dave and I have taken all the children for walks in the rain. Once staying at the beach for a week in the rain we walked all alone on a deserted stretch of sand getting all the best shells. Laughing one night as Jennifer jumped around afraid of the ghost crabs that appeared to also enjoy the soaking rain. Everyone else who camped there that week stayed inside their snug travel trailers and missed all the fun of the giant waves crashing along the shore as the rain fell in softer waves from above. Today's Tale deals with rain and what life might be like without rain. I hope you enjoy My Fairy tale for today! Have a wonderful day!
Patsy
The Last Rain
Lila knelt there, in her shuttered garden room, remembering. She had been four Years old. the same age her grandson Ivan was now. The fat drops had sluiced through her long dark hair. It had fallen across her skinny back in tangles after the drenching. Her Grandma had set buckets out all over their house that day. They had bottled gallons and gallons of water. Scarce even then, Rain wasn't even believed in now. Oh how she wished to see the miracle again. It had been years now since the last rain. Years since she had tasted the lovely droplets. Her own sons had never seen rain. Her oldest Grandson had gone down to the well this morning and came back with only a few small bottles of the precious liquid. Lila wondered how she would water her few garden plants with so little water. But at least she still had plants. So many people didn't even have that much.
The last rain had been fifty years ago. The Grand Government had drilled the now crumbling wells in the third year after that. For a lot of years men and women had drawn water from the deep pits always under the watchful eye of a well keeper. Three years ago they had declared that the cities wells were running dry. People had left the cities and headed for the North. Lila and her sons had decided to stay in the nearly abandoned city. Always hoping for a miracle. Always praying for rain. Lila hoped that they had made the right choice. Picking carefully she gathered food to fix the families one meal of the day.
"Grandma," little Ivan called to her as she worked, " tell me again about the Rain!" "Come along " She answered, seeing the disapproving look her son was casting her way." I'll tell you as we work." Lila knew her children thought she was an old fool. She knew they didn't believe her stories about rain. They had never seen rain. They thought rain was a myth. Something made up by the old ones. But Ivan was young enough to still believe in an old woman's tales.
Late that night Lila was awakened by the squeak of a door. She quietly rose and watched from behind the tattered blinds as her oldest grandson slipped from the nearly vacant High rise and was swallowed by the darkness of the street far below. She knew he was sniffing around one of the few girls still living here in the city. She had seen him hide away a potion of his meal to carry to his secret lover. Lila reckoned that they would soon have either one more or one less mouth to feed. She wanted her family to stay together. She knew what the city held for them. But to go north? Was there more water north? Lila was afraid that the friends who had gone north had not found water at all. No one had come back to tell them. It was as if they had left the city and vanished. She crept quietly back to her bed to toss and turn through the night.
"Grandma! Grandma!" Ivan called; squealing fearfully through the rooms. "Come see the sky! It's turning all Black!" Lila jumped from her bed just as the first rumble echoed through out the city. "What is that her sons yelled at her?" Running from their beds with their hungry wives close behind."Buckets!" Lila screamed at them. "Get buckets and Barrels and pots and anything else that you can find that will hold water. Hurry now! Bring them to the roof. Put them out everywhere.""Grandma?" Ivan squealed as the thunder ripped through the city again, bringing the few remaining inhabitants running into the streets. "What is it?"
"Ivan," Lila said kneeling in front of him as she let loose her Bun, freeing her hair to hang in dark tangles around her hips. " You come with me!" Holding tight to each others hand, they ran into the dusty street just as the first fat, wet, drops splattered onto the parched ground. Together they danced as the buckets and barrels filled and the cities deep wells overflowed. They danced through the empty high rise they called home and Lila gathered all the family close around her as each of them experienced their own very first rain.
written by: Patricia Sawyer
11-8-2008
Showing posts with label Fairy Tales.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fairy Tales.. Show all posts
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Thursday Tale~ Run for the Gold!
"Don't ask questions of fairy tales. " ~ Jewish folk saying
Once Upon a Time In a world we can not yet imagine......
Hipthrow leaned against his cart and watched as the crowds gathered in the city square. This many people lining the streets could only mean one thing. Some poor soul would die today. Some fool would try and find favor with the princess. Another man young or old would think he could out run the beautiful Adali. The Islands King had ordered his only Daughter to marry. She in turn had refused to marry any man who could not out run her, And had further demanded that any who tried and could not should die.
Having survived the Forth War, of the Seventeenth World, know to mankind, Hipthrow had come to this Island Kingdom hoping only to find peace and quiet. He had a small plot of land that he used to grow fruits and vegetables to sell here in the city square. He had been a soldier for many years. Now he only wanted to enjoy his time left to live. He had no wife, No family, and very few friends. In this, the Seventeenth world, friends were hard to find.. Harder yet to keep.
"Hey You" Hipthrow yelled at an old beggar woman who he spotted just as she tucked a handful of apples from his cart into her tattered apron.. The Old lady ran, quickly dissolving into just another face in the crowd. "Oh well ," He thought to himself.. "I'll just have to eat my own wares tonight and she will have a full stomach as well."
Pushing his cart carefully through the crowd, selling an apple or Pear , here and there, Hipthrow got as close as he could to where the beautiful Princess and the young suitor prepared
to begin their race. If the young man could outrun her he would have her hand in Marriage but if he lost he would join the others who had tried, by loosing his head. The young man suddenly dashed off, leaving the princess standing there talking with her Father, the King. All too soon the Maiden took off behind him and in a flash had passed him there by winning the race and sealing his fate. Hipthrow watched in silence as the fine young warrior was lead away by the armed guards.
" And that" Said the King, " was the very last race for this week. Unless," he added with a grim smile, " there is one among you who would like to try for my Daughter's hand. If there be one here who wishes to try he should step forward now."
Suddenly an unseen hand pushed Hipthrow from behind and he staggered out into the street, stumbling before the king.
"Very well" the King replied, Tomorrow morning we will meet here to see if you might win the race and become the husband of my beautiful daughter Adali.
Hipthrow wanted to shout that he would not race. He wanted to scream that someone had pushed him. But looking into the surprised eyes of Adali he was suddenly speechless. He stood frozen as she and her Father walked away and into the palace. Finally turning away he was surprised to see the beggar Lady -thief standing by his cart munching on a Bright red apple.
" You stole that" he fussed at her. He laughed as he thought that after tomorrow she might very well claim his plot and his cart. " Take all you want," he told her, "after tomorrow it won't matter anyway."
" Oh would you Just Hush" The Old Lady muttered holding out a bag of brilliant purple velvet. "In this bag are all the things you need to win the race. " and bending close to his ear she began to whisper to him the secrets of the bag.
Hipthrow arrived the next morning scared but full of energy for the race. He saluted the beautiful princess as she stood on the balcony with her father. He was surprised to see her blush and look away.
Adali had watched the man as he had entered the town square . He had come from outside the gates, out there where she knew people grew things to eat. She was almost sorry that he would have to die. She had almost liked it when he had saluted her. as if she were just a regular girl and not a prize to be won. But she knew she could easily outrun him just as she had all the others. She was ready for him.
The trumpets sounded with a blare and the race was on. Adali let Hipthrow run way ahead of her before she even began to run, just as she had all the others.
" Run! Run!" shouted the crowds.
"Run for the gold !" Shouted the beggar woman.
Then running like the wind Adali took off, moving so fast that she seemed to be flying. Hipthrow glancing back over his shoulder saw that she was gaining on him and following the advice of the beggar lady reached into the bag tied to his belt and tossed a golden apple on the ground, watching as it rolled into her path. She was so attracted to the apples golden beauty that she stopped to pick it up. On he had flown in the race getting ahead of her again as she admired her apple. But finally she realized that he was ahead of her and she tucked her prize into her pocket and took off after him.Soon she was right behind him again. He could hear her steps as she almost caught him. He reached a second time into his velvet sack and tossed the second golden apple into the path just in front of her feet. She stopped to pick up this apple too. Amazed at the beauty of it she stood and admired it for a few moments before Taking off again, running as fast as she could.
With the finish line just ahead Hipthrow was running for his life. He was running with all his might. His breath nothing more than a pant as he realized that as fast as a new wind the princess was coming again. She was running along now just barely behind him. Just as it seemed she might pass him he reached into the velvet bag for the last time and tossed the third apple onto the ground. As the Beautiful princess bent over to pick it up he hurried across the finish line just a few steps ahead of her.
The crowds went wild. They couldn't believe what they had just seen. They shouted and stomped their feet. They screamed their praise as Adali took his hand in hers accepting that he would be her husband. Very soon there would be a grand wedding at the palace.Everyone celebrated that the princess was finally married. Everyone celebrated that there would be no more races . Hipthrow had outsmarted the princess and had won her hand. Together they would one day rule the Seventeenth World. And they would Live Happily ever after!
Today being a Thursday I decided to tell a Fairy tale. It is actually the re-telling of the story of Atalanta and Hippomenes and how the God of Love~ Venus~ helped him to out smart her and beat her at her own game. I hope you have enjoyed today's Tale. When I was a little girl I loved all the fairy tales. I looked forward to growing up and being swept away by my own prince charming. Sadly life is not usually a fairy tale and mine certainly has not been. But my life has been good. Even the bad parts had their own place and have served to make the overall story a great one.. Now if someone would just toss ME a golden Apple!!! Have a great Day!
Patsy
"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. "~ G.K. Chesterton
"Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all." ~ Hans Christian Andersen
Run for the Gold
Once Upon a Time In a world we can not yet imagine......
Hipthrow leaned against his cart and watched as the crowds gathered in the city square. This many people lining the streets could only mean one thing. Some poor soul would die today. Some fool would try and find favor with the princess. Another man young or old would think he could out run the beautiful Adali. The Islands King had ordered his only Daughter to marry. She in turn had refused to marry any man who could not out run her, And had further demanded that any who tried and could not should die.
Having survived the Forth War, of the Seventeenth World, know to mankind, Hipthrow had come to this Island Kingdom hoping only to find peace and quiet. He had a small plot of land that he used to grow fruits and vegetables to sell here in the city square. He had been a soldier for many years. Now he only wanted to enjoy his time left to live. He had no wife, No family, and very few friends. In this, the Seventeenth world, friends were hard to find.. Harder yet to keep.
"Hey You" Hipthrow yelled at an old beggar woman who he spotted just as she tucked a handful of apples from his cart into her tattered apron.. The Old lady ran, quickly dissolving into just another face in the crowd. "Oh well ," He thought to himself.. "I'll just have to eat my own wares tonight and she will have a full stomach as well."
Pushing his cart carefully through the crowd, selling an apple or Pear , here and there, Hipthrow got as close as he could to where the beautiful Princess and the young suitor prepared
to begin their race. If the young man could outrun her he would have her hand in Marriage but if he lost he would join the others who had tried, by loosing his head. The young man suddenly dashed off, leaving the princess standing there talking with her Father, the King. All too soon the Maiden took off behind him and in a flash had passed him there by winning the race and sealing his fate. Hipthrow watched in silence as the fine young warrior was lead away by the armed guards.
" And that" Said the King, " was the very last race for this week. Unless," he added with a grim smile, " there is one among you who would like to try for my Daughter's hand. If there be one here who wishes to try he should step forward now."
Suddenly an unseen hand pushed Hipthrow from behind and he staggered out into the street, stumbling before the king.
"Very well" the King replied, Tomorrow morning we will meet here to see if you might win the race and become the husband of my beautiful daughter Adali.
Hipthrow wanted to shout that he would not race. He wanted to scream that someone had pushed him. But looking into the surprised eyes of Adali he was suddenly speechless. He stood frozen as she and her Father walked away and into the palace. Finally turning away he was surprised to see the beggar Lady -thief standing by his cart munching on a Bright red apple.
" You stole that" he fussed at her. He laughed as he thought that after tomorrow she might very well claim his plot and his cart. " Take all you want," he told her, "after tomorrow it won't matter anyway."
" Oh would you Just Hush" The Old Lady muttered holding out a bag of brilliant purple velvet. "In this bag are all the things you need to win the race. " and bending close to his ear she began to whisper to him the secrets of the bag.
Hipthrow arrived the next morning scared but full of energy for the race. He saluted the beautiful princess as she stood on the balcony with her father. He was surprised to see her blush and look away.
Adali had watched the man as he had entered the town square . He had come from outside the gates, out there where she knew people grew things to eat. She was almost sorry that he would have to die. She had almost liked it when he had saluted her. as if she were just a regular girl and not a prize to be won. But she knew she could easily outrun him just as she had all the others. She was ready for him.
The trumpets sounded with a blare and the race was on. Adali let Hipthrow run way ahead of her before she even began to run, just as she had all the others.
" Run! Run!" shouted the crowds.
"Run for the gold !" Shouted the beggar woman.
Then running like the wind Adali took off, moving so fast that she seemed to be flying. Hipthrow glancing back over his shoulder saw that she was gaining on him and following the advice of the beggar lady reached into the bag tied to his belt and tossed a golden apple on the ground, watching as it rolled into her path. She was so attracted to the apples golden beauty that she stopped to pick it up. On he had flown in the race getting ahead of her again as she admired her apple. But finally she realized that he was ahead of her and she tucked her prize into her pocket and took off after him.Soon she was right behind him again. He could hear her steps as she almost caught him. He reached a second time into his velvet sack and tossed the second golden apple into the path just in front of her feet. She stopped to pick up this apple too. Amazed at the beauty of it she stood and admired it for a few moments before Taking off again, running as fast as she could.
With the finish line just ahead Hipthrow was running for his life. He was running with all his might. His breath nothing more than a pant as he realized that as fast as a new wind the princess was coming again. She was running along now just barely behind him. Just as it seemed she might pass him he reached into the velvet bag for the last time and tossed the third apple onto the ground. As the Beautiful princess bent over to pick it up he hurried across the finish line just a few steps ahead of her.
The crowds went wild. They couldn't believe what they had just seen. They shouted and stomped their feet. They screamed their praise as Adali took his hand in hers accepting that he would be her husband. Very soon there would be a grand wedding at the palace.Everyone celebrated that the princess was finally married. Everyone celebrated that there would be no more races . Hipthrow had outsmarted the princess and had won her hand. Together they would one day rule the Seventeenth World. And they would Live Happily ever after!
Today being a Thursday I decided to tell a Fairy tale. It is actually the re-telling of the story of Atalanta and Hippomenes and how the God of Love~ Venus~ helped him to out smart her and beat her at her own game. I hope you have enjoyed today's Tale. When I was a little girl I loved all the fairy tales. I looked forward to growing up and being swept away by my own prince charming. Sadly life is not usually a fairy tale and mine certainly has not been. But my life has been good. Even the bad parts had their own place and have served to make the overall story a great one.. Now if someone would just toss ME a golden Apple!!! Have a great Day!
Patsy
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