it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 21

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 21: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 21 Sleep did not come easily this night. My thoughts kept retracing every word those hideous creatures had...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 21

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 21

Sleep did not come easily this night. My thoughts kept retracing every word those hideous creatures had spewed out onto my poor unwitting parents. My parents were good people albeit a tad too socially pre-occupied. They were good, kind people who wanted to be like and respected by all, which made them sitting ducks for the trolls’ onslaught of lies.

The time passes slowly; I hear the chirping of the dawn chorus. Thinking to myself what a pity it is that so many people miss this melodic welcoming in of the new day, as they slumber.

My mind still not quietened by the roar of last night’s conversation, I rise and head towards the window from which BB led me all those days ago. My chest feels tight and I need to open the window for fresh air. The window seems stiff tonight, but I realise that it’s my fatigue preventing strength from coming  to my limbs.

I decide to press my face against the cool window pane. It feels refreshing. As my eyes close and reopen there is movement down below that catches my eye. Placing both hands on the window pane, I try my best to get a look at the goings on down below.

Trolls!!! This time in their natural form, all huddled in a group and very clearly discussing something of major importance. This is evident from their serious expressions and animated movements. They may even be having a quarrel.

Again I try and open the window pane, but to no avail. If I were allowed to curse, now would be the time to do it. “Oh bother!” I blurt out aloud. Suddenly below me is a flurry of activity and then nothing. Had I not known better; I would have guessed it to be a whirlwind playing with the leaves that had fallen from the trees.

My bedroom door opens and my heart nearly stops! Swirling around I see Nanny enter my room. Nanny is holding a special box, the type in which very expensive and usually very pretty dresses are delivered. Wide awake I rush at Nanny. Nanny smiles and steps aside, so that I cannot run into her.

“Sorry Nanny” I say yet clearly I don’t mean it. Nanny can see the excitement etched on my face. Nanny smiles and says “Who is the luckiest girl I know then?”

“Me!!” I exclaim excitedly. Nanny holds that beautiful box aloft, as I try and jump to reach it. After of teasing for a few minutes, Nanny finally lowers the box onto my bed. I scramble over to the bed, and more importantly the box!

Nanny holds up her had as to halt my progress. It works.

“What is it Nanny?” I enquire, “Do you not wish for me to have a lovely new dress from father?”  My excitement was somewhat quashed.

“The dress, my dear girl is not a gift from your father.” Nanny’s tone is cold. I am confused.

“Who else would buy me a dress then, Nanny?”  “It must be mother!” I exclaim.

Nanny simply looks downcast and shakes her head.

“Please tell me Nanny, I can’t bear waiting.”  Nanny says one name “Mrs Lawly”

Oh no!! I can’t possibly accept anything from troll-woman, what was I to do? Thinking out loud I say “Well I don’t want anything from that woman/troll.”

Nanny places her hands upon her ample lap, looks sternly at me and says “You have to accept this dress Winifred, it would be considered very rude and impolite to turn it down and your parents would be mortified and socially disgraced”

Never having recalled Nanny ever using a string of such important words all at once, the severity of such a decision dawned on me like a yolk about my neck.

“There is more,” says Nanny “She has written a poem for you to read at the breakfast gathering this very morning.” Nanny continued “You will find it in the box with your new dress.”

I did not like the sound of this, no, not one little bit! Gingerly I move forward that box is no longer a prize but a poison. It comes not from my loving father, but from my nemesis! My feet feel like lead and my heart the same. How am I to show gratitude for something I do not wish to have nor wear?

Nanny urges me on “Go on Winifred, open the box and see what the dress looks like, I’m sure it will be beautiful” her voice still cold is not convincing me at all. Yet to satisfy her I reach out and open the box.

The dress is simply fantastic! It has embroidery of scarlet roses all along the hemline and the puffy cuffs. The embroidery must’ve taken absolute ages, its exquisite! The dress is snow white and pure silk, with a huge sash bow to fit around my waist. I secretly love the dress.

“Nanny, I suppose I have to wear this to save face.” I say not very convincingly yet I’m sure Nanny understands.

I sit down on my bed next to Nanny; I turn to look at her. “I need to tell you what I heard last night Nanny” and go on to tell her all I’d overheard whilst hiding behind the oak door. I also tell her what had happened before she strode through the doorway, this morning.

Nanny looks very worried. Our thoughts together turn to the poem I’m meant to read at breakfast. My stomach does flips and I’m feeling positively ill. I am turning pale. Nanny sees this and brings over a glass of water.

Nanny puts her hand in the box and removes the embellished paper, with the most ornate handwriting either of us has ever seen. There are a lot of curls and loops and swoops in this handwriting and it takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the text.

NO!! NO!! NO!! I simply cannot and will not read this poem! I burst into tears and cling to Nanny in sheer desperation.” Nanny they want me to read aloud. They want me to say those words!!! What am I to do??? Please help me Nanny!”  

veronicastewar4.blogspot.com

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 20

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 20: Creeping down the passage on tip toes, and placing myself with my back against the wall at the top of the stairs, I strained my ears to ...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 20

Creeping down the passage on tip toes, and placing myself with my back against the wall at the top of the stairs, I strained my ears to hear what was being said.

There were the gruffer tones of the gentlemen entwined with the more melodic tones from the ladies, more than one conversation was being had. I couldn’t decipher one from the other. This annoyed me, as I desperately wanted to know what was being said and if anything was being said about me!

I despise these trolls and there is nothing ever in the whole wide world that could make me like them, my mind made up that they were the worst of worst creatures that ever could exist.

They were mean, they were deceitful, and they were horrid, stinky, foul and just plain old deplorable! I will not be caught out, for if I utter those terrible words (I’m not even going to mention them now) the whole mission would be off, and the consequences dire. I couldn’t even bear to think about it.

Silly me! How could I say those words when I truly know that faeries do in fact exist?

This thought has put my mind as ease, for now.  Edging closer to the staircase my back still firm against the wall, my attention is once again on the conversation from the dining hall. Oh curse the size of that room; it all seems rather pointless sitting up here so far away from the action. Plan in mind I tiptoe quietly to the dining hall, managing to remain undetected as the adults enjoy their animated chatter, I hide behind the big oak wood door.

It comes to me clear as a bell “Winifred simply must be told that Faeries are for silly girls and not one of her standing and intelligence and it would be seen as simply disgraceful for her to admit in proper company that the fanciful creatures are real.”

Mothers voice was polite in return; “Why thank you for your words of advice, it would be simply awful for Winifred to return to her boarding school with such tales, especially as the subject is in proper circles considered preposterous, I will make sure she is aware not to mention faeries to any of her school friends, as I’m sure she’d be embarrassed in front of them.”

“That’s very good, Florence” responded the troll woman Mrs Lawly. As if she’d imparted some very important topic to be avoided in polite company information to my poor mother who was clearly feeling “out of touch” now.

My cheeks grew ever hotter as I stood behind the door and heard how the trolls each subtly took turns in trying to persuade mother and then father as to the very difficult position they would find themselves in socially, if I were to speak to anyone about faeries.

How dare they do this? They are so manipulative!!! I was furious as I heard each one of those sneaky, despicable creatures try and work their persuasions onto my unwitting parents with such sheer ease and impact.

“Faeries... no! never mention faeries; they are indeed made up in the minds of lunatics. You wouldn’t want people to think she’s lost her mind and for her to be put in an asylum? Would you?”

And “Socially it’d be suicide, folk would think your daughter is an uneducated fool.” And “Not to worry, as long as Winifred never mentions faeries, life will continue to be good both in business and socially, as no self-respecting business man would consider dealing with the father of a lunatic, as they would not want the social stigma of being associated with one who has such delusions.” Then Father agreed and laughter followed. I was really mad now!

Well they most certainly are crafty underhanded and (did I mention smelly?) creatures I have ever set my eyes upon in my entire 11 years on this earth!!

I have a plan, I will simply never utter the word “Faeries” in front of my parents, then they will never have to ask me if I believed and they wouldn’t insist on me never mentioning faeries to anyone. I snuck back to my room with one very happy thought;

Problem solved!!!

Or so I thought………

www.veronicastewar4.blogspot.com

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 19

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 19: Slowly I feel myself drifting back and see that I’m surrounded by adults, all looking rather puzzled as to how I came to be lying on the f...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 19

Slowly I feel myself drifting back and see that I’m surrounded by adults, all looking rather puzzled as to how I came to be lying on the floor, when just minutes earlier I was perfectly fine.

Matilda, the apprentice cook, lifts me to my feet and hastily takes me from the room. Matilda was clearly embarrassed at being in such “elegant” company. As we make to leave the room, mother’s voice reaches me “Rest now my little one”. I love when mother speaks to me. We are just about to reach the door, when it dawns on me…. My orb!! Where is my orb?

My eyes dart about the room like a fly against a window pane, I glimpse it just as we turn the corner, it’s rolled into the middle of the room, under the huge dining table. How the relief swept over me. For two reasons; one thing I knew my orb would be safe and the other thing I knew was that I’d averted that very direct question about believing in faeries.

Lying on my bed, my mind wandered all over the place. Why had Nanny and Mr Bowfinger not returned to serve the dinner guests? What were the guests doing at my home? Did the subject of believing in faeries come up by chance or on purpose? Will my orb be safe?

There was a knock at my door, Nanny walked in. “Are you feeling better now, Winifred?” she asked kindly as she sat on the edge of my bed and stroked my hair.

“I’m fine now, thank- you Nanny” I replied. I noticed how much older and frailer she looked, almost as if something, some inner spark or glow had been put out.

“Nanny, I asked are you feeling alright, why is it that you and Mr Bowfinger never returned to serve the rest of the dinner?”

“Mr Bowfinger and I both started feeling very unwell” she replied

“We both became rather faint and felt like the very life was being drained from us”

I jumped to my feet excitedly exclaiming “Nanny I know why!”

“You know why?” Nanny looked perplexed.

“Trolls” I blurted out, “The dinner guests were trolls, Nanny” I explained

“But how do you know this Winifred?” asked Nanny

“I was given an orb by Butterpetal Bloom, it allows me to see the truth” I continued to explain how I’d hidden behind the vase and from my deductions and spying I surmised that we were entertaining trolls, every one of them except Mr & Mrs Steele.

“You must have felt the trolls’ presence in the room and that’s why your inner lights grew dim, and you both became ill” I confidently concluded.

“That must be it, but why are they here? What do they want with your parents?”

“I’m not certain, but I think they wanted me to say that I don’t believe in faeries, fortunately I became faint and did not have to answer”

Nanny said “That’s it! You must be on your guard at all times now, they must know about your mission to save us.” “They are going to do their best to get you to say you don’t believe in faeries, and if you ever do, your mission will be over and all fairies lights will fade away”

I knew this meant that it’s up to me to keep the faeries alive!veronicastewar4.blogspot.com

it's worth a try: A decade or a day?

it's worth a try: A decade or a day?: It's been ten years, a decade yes Since they came and made a mess of your loved ones lives as they stole you away It was a lovely day a...

A decade or a day?

It's been ten years, a decade yes
Since they came and made a mess
of your loved ones lives
as they stole you away

It was a lovely day as we celebrated
the impending birth of your namesake
your wife was there, no mistake
we had a great time, and I said goodbye as she left.

You went riding with your friend that day
the day the crims took you away
It was a good day to ride your bike
ow we wish they'd let you stay.

All you did was take a break
to have a chat , and decide your track
to smoke a cigarette
before you returned back

As you were about to leave
a shot rang out
and there you were left
no longer did you draw breath

Whilst waving goodbye to those who'd wished us well
the news reached us
You were  dead
What the hell?

Our minds were racing
What had just been?
Did we hear that right?
His little brother was dead?

Your wife and precious child,
oh such dread
Your brother, you were his biggest hero
Could not believe it in his head

The ramifications are still ongoing
How they took your life
reasons still mystify
A young man in his prime
with a young family
Why oh Why ?

It's a decade past but could just as well
be the last day past.
You will forever be close
you've not really gone
Oft we speak your name
knowing it will never be the same


You're just behind that door
Soon enough we will be with you,once more
When did this all happen
was it a decade or a day?

it's worth a try: A Poem about the passing away of a loved one

it's worth a try: A Poem about the passing away of a loved one: Today I heard that my good friends’ mom has passed away. It shook me to the core, for not long before you see, Her dad too had passe...

it's worth a try: A Poem about the passing away of a loved one

it's worth a try: A Poem about the passing away of a loved one: Today I heard that my good friends’ mom has passed away. It shook me to the core, for not long before you see, Her dad too had passe...

A Poem about the passing away of a loved one

Today I heard that my good friends’ mom has passed away.

It shook me to the core, for not long before you see,

Her dad too had passed away.

So why will this shake me the way it has?

Its simple see, but difficult to explain.

Our Parents and siblings share the same age

As do we and our offspring three.

Such similar lives we lead

At these times our hearts do bleed.

Our parents we will forever need.

I suppose it has once again brought it near,

The silence that is the threatening fear

I live so far away from my own mom

What would I do, if she too, was suddenly ‘gone’?

veronicastewar4.blogspot.com

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 18

it's worth a try: Knocking on Faerie Door Part 18: The dinner bell rings, hastily I make my way to the dining hall. It’s such a grand room especially when it’s dressed to impress. Today we ...

Knocking on Faerie Door Part 18

The dinner bell rings, hastily I make my way to the dining hall. It’s such a grand room especially when it’s dressed to impress. Today we have really pulled out all the stops. The linen table cloths and napkins are bright white. Silverware is laid out and shining proudly on the tablecloth. When the silver domed cloches come out they will be perfectly complimented. The centrepiece on the table was a silver filigreed candelabra, which spreads light really well across the long highly polished walnut table. There are bouquets of flowers set on tables in the corners of the room.

Nervously yet hurriedly I enter the room, my orb clasped firmly in my down-turned fist.  After been introduced around to the trolls and humans I took my place, to the right of mother. Mother and father made a truly handsome couple in their finery. Mother wore her diamonds. I do so long to own diamonds myself one day.

To the right of father sat Mr and Mrs Gruntly who appeared as perfectly respectful and dignified guests however, I knew their secret! The overpowering perfume emitting from Mrs Gruntly bears witness to the fact that she was covering her own hideous odour. Of this I am convinced. To the right of them was the human couple Mr & Mrs Steele, Americans whose drawl was rather difficult to understand. Mr Steele was in construction the irony of which did not fail me. The couple sat to their right were Mr & Mrs Agnostica, a name which I thought sounded very exotic, perhaps even Italian. Mother was at the other head of the table on the side farthest from the door through which Nanny and Mr Bowfinger would come to serve the food. I was sat next to mother as I’ve mentioned and to my right yet more trolls. Yes Mr & Mrs Oldhorn; and from what I saw through the orb it describes his crooked bent back and twisted fingers and gnarled looking face perfectly. The last couple who sat to the right of them and the left of my father were introduced as Mr & Mrs Lawly, he was a solicitor. I remind myself to ask nanny what that means, his wife was very proud to be an educated lady and a teacher in the local school.

Conversation begins to flow, all about things that are of little or no consequence to me. Nanny appears through the door and is closely followed by Mr Bowfinger, both are carrying trays filled with breads and meats. Nanny’s eyes dart from guest to guest as she puts down dish after dish, Mr bowfinger follows suit.

Before my eyes Nanny seems to grow ever paler. Bob Bowfinger appears to be getting slower and slower. The next course of food and all the subsequent courses are brought through by some of the kitchen staff. Mother looks dismayed, but says nothing of her confusion as to why Nanny & Mr Bowfinger have not reappeared. The cloches are looking magnificent and as they are lifted the platters of game meats and fowl are revealed. Many an ooh and and an aah is heard around the table as the wonderful smell fills the air.

Mother seems to have forgotten her confusion regards the disappearance of Nanny & Mr Bowfinger, I however have not. My ears prick up, the conversation has turned from politics of the day to FAERIES!!! Yes these distinguished “people” are discussing Faeries!!

Mrs Lawly states “ It’s simply preposterous to think that these little flying creatures are miniature people”  “they are mere fantasy and all children who believe in such nonsense should be disciplined” “ It’s taking the children away from learning real life”

Mr Lawly interjects “Indeed, it’s all codswallop”

“Surely it’s harmless fun?” says the kindly Mrs Steele

“Oh No Mrs Steele, once these children believe in faerie folk; all reality seems to be dismissed” retorts Mr Gruntly

Listening intently and not wanting to give away anything I slide a little lower down in my chair, hoping that none of the guests would choose this time to ask me anything.

Then as I’d wriggled down and thought myself safe, the worst imaginable thing happened….

“Winifred” said Mrs Agnostica ,“ What do you think of faeries?” “Do you believe in Faeries?”

My face pales I can feel the blood draining from head……

veronicastewar4.blogspot.com