Morning Mist

 

Oil and acrylic (I broke all the rules) on board

24" x 18"

61cm x 46cm

Faerie House: Introducing Rabbit - Chapter 3

 Dog and Rabbit had jam sessions over the next few days. They expanded their repertoire beyond the one song that Dog had been learning. Rabbit encouraged Dog to improvise. Sometimes the results were just noise, but other times they made something really beautiful together. 

 The music was fun but they also liked to get outdoors for part of each day. One day Dog was showing Rabbit the patio the friends built last summer. 

 While they were clearing off the pine needles and other debris, Dog heard a shuffling sound. 

“That must be Hedgehog!” said Dog excitedly.

Can you see Hedgehog?

 In three bounds, Dog was up the yard, headed to the wood pile.

“Hedgehog!” called Dog, “I am so excited to see you!”

“It’s lovely to be back,” said Hedgehog a bit groggily. “I am glad it is not sunny today. I couldn’t find my sunglasses.”

 Hedgehog waddled to a big flat rock to have a look around.

“I am not sure if my eyes have adjusted yet, but is that a rabbit over there?” asked Hedgehog quietly.

 “Oh yes, Rabbit arrived a few days ago,” replied Dog, “destined for the faerie house it seems, and a very good soul.” Then in a louder voice called, “Come Rabbit. Come and meet Hedgehog.”

 Rabbit approached respectfully. 

“I am very pleased to meet you,” Rabbit said, “I have been hearing such wonderful things about you. 

“I look forward to getting to know you,” said Hedgehog, giving Dog an inquiring look.

 “There is lots of time for all that,” said Dog briskly, “How about some carrots Hedgehog. You must be hungry.” 

 Dog went inside and got the carrots. Hedgehog watched Rabbit carefully during the meal. Rabbit’s nose twitched a lot, but Rabbit did not nibble on any of the carrots.

“Help yourself,” Hedgehog said after a few minutes, “You look a bit hungry too.” They both munched happily. 

Then Hedgehog said, “You know, it is the weirdest thing. I have polka tunes playing in my head. One tune especially goes round and round.” 

“Hmmmm… that’s interesting,” said Dog, “Could you hum a bit of it?”

“I am not very musical, as you know,” said Hedgehog, “but it was something like this,” Hedgehog hummed, “and there was a really strong beat.” 

 “Aww well,” said Dog, smiling, “there is something I would like to show you.” 

“You bought something on-line didn’t you? Is it a CD player?” guessed Hedgehog.

“Oh it is much better than that,” said Dog winking at Rabbit. 

They went inside. Hedgehog gave a whoop of surprise.

“An accordion! My lands! Let’s hear you play it!” said Hedgehog, and then after listening, “Yes, that is the tune exactly!”

 Outside, beside the carrot greens, two crocuses popped up. They were a little early for the season, but where there is love, magic happens. 

 

The end. 

Faerie House: Introducing Rabbit - Chapter 2

 Dog welcomed Rabbit into the Faerie house. Dog had not been expecting company. Dog was fairly neat on the whole, but it had been a long time since anyone else had been there. Dog glanced around quickly and tidied up some crumbs. 

  “It is a plain little house,” said Dog, looking around. “It is what happens here that is so special. Please come in and make yourself comfortable.”

Rabbit chose to sit on the floor. Dog hopped onto the chair. 

 

“Perhaps you would like to hear a little bit about us,” said Dog. “I think you said you had heard something about this place?”

“I did hear a bit from that lady in the Thrift store, but I would very much like to hear all about the faerie house and your friends. Being here makes it all so much more interesting and real,” said Rabbit.  

“OK,” said Dog, with closed eyes, thinking back to how it all began and realizing he wasn’t quite sure. “It began with Frog and me, I think. Frog was part of a collection of some kind; I was once part of a floral arrangement. That part is very foggy in my memory. The two of us were given an opportunity, and how that was I can’t recall, to live in a faerie house. It was under this tree, that I remember, and very rustic. Hedgehog came to us there from a different lady’s collection. Hedgehog does not talk about it much, but I believe Hedgehog also lived in a drawer. The three of us had a merry time together. 

“After a while the old house started to fall apart. The next thing we knew, we had this wonderful strong, warm house. Sometime after that the turtles arrived. They came together but you could not find 2 turtles with more different personalities. We call them T1 and T2.  

“Frog has been the cook from the start. I really miss Frog’s cooking during the winter, let me tell you! Frog can be impatient sometimes, but the funny thing is, Frog really works at overcoming those feelings. The best example of that is how Frog has taken T2 under a wing, so to speak. When T2 arrived we all had the impression that T2 was not very dependable. T2 certainly knew how to evade work. But Frog managed to get T2 to help in the kitchen. Surprisingly, T2 liked it.  T2 quickly gained some confidence and got more helpful. Now T2 takes the lead on some menus and Frog loves that.  

“Hedgehog is the dearest creature. Not really an innovator, Hedgehog is always there to help out. I depend on Hedgehog to help me think things through. I can sometimes let my ideas run ahead of me. Hedgehog will be wondering what I have ordered on-line over the winter. You just wait and see!

“T1 is a quiet and mighty organizer. Last year T1 planned a big Eid event for the end of Ramadan. None of us knew anything about Eid, but T1 did the research, ordered some things, and had us all cooking and decorating. We learned a lot. 

“I have left the most important part until last and it is the hardest to explain. This is a faerie house, but we don’t ever actually see faeries. We know they are here because they do things. Faerie magic can only happen if everyone is thinking loving thoughts. We often wait for what the faeries will do when we have celebrated some kind of special day. They make something beautiful with colour or lights, then we all of a sudden have very full, joyous hearts. You will be amazed when that happens to you, and it will.” 

Rabbit sat listening, amazed. 

“I feel so lucky to find myself here,” Rabbit said. “And I really look forward to meeting the others.”

“If the days continue to be warm, Hedgehog will be up soon. Amphibians and reptiles need it even warmer. Frosts at night are dangerous for them. But sometimes Frog, T1 and T2 can be up a bit early because they can be inside the house. As a non-hibernater ,” explained Dog, “I don’t exactly know what gets them up.”  

Rabbit looked around and saw an accordion. 

“Is that accordion yours?” asked Rabbit.

“Ah,” said Dog, “That is my winter purchase. I need to do something while everyone is hibernating! I have been practising every day and I have one song that is passable. Do you play an instrument?” 

“Not exactly,” said Rabbit, “But I am very good at keeping time with my percussive hind feet.” 

Rabbit gave a sample of managing a steady rhythm by stamping a foot.

 

“Marvellous!” exclaimed Dog. “Let me play my tune for you. Join in! I have never played with another musician so please forgive my fluffs.” 

Dog and Rabbit rehearsed together for the next hour, getting more enthusiastic as they went along. They were really rocking their tunes. Eventually they were exhausted; Dog put down the accordion and Rabbit’s feet rested. 

One more chapter to go. 

A New Faerie House Story: Introducing Rabbit - Chapter 1

 It had been a long winter. Not a very cold one, but all the friends except Dog were  hibernating regardless. Sometimes the time hung a little heavy. Dog did try a few new things, but more about that later. 

 Dog went outside everyday. Now that spring was in the air it was more fun to check things out. There were some eager plants generating new growth under the cover of dead leaves. It would soon be time for a clean up around the faerie house. 

 On a recent warm day Dog saw something different— it looked like loose dirt piled up. It had definitely not been there the day before. 

“My goodness,” said Dog. “It is a hole!”

 “Haallooooo,” Dog said quietly at first from the side of the hole. Then a little louder, “Haalllooooo?”

Dog heard a small voice.

“Friend or foe?” the voice said. 

“Friend,” said Dog, hoping this would be true. Dog took the size of hole into account and knew the creature could not be very big, and besides, Dog could run fast if necessary. 

 Slowly, and with much nose twitching, a rabbit emerged from the hole. 

“Oh my, but you are a dog!” Rabbit said, looking ready to return down the hole. 

“Please, fear not,” said Dog. “This is a different kind of place.” 

“I have heard a little bit about that,” Rabbit admitted. “I wasn’t sure if it was true.”

 “First things first,” said Dog. “How can I be hospitable? Are you hungry?”

“Well, yes, a bit,” said Rabbit hesitantly. “Don’t go to any trouble.” 

“What I have is carrots, and I think they might suit you,” said Dog. 

“Carrots would be very nice, thank you,” said Rabbit.

“Excellent! Give me a moment,” said Dog heading to the house. “When you have had some sustenance you can tell me about yourself.” 

“These carrots are very nice indeed!” said Rabbit between munches. 

“We grow them here,” Dog said proudly. “Now, how did you come to be in a hole in the faerie house garden?” 

“I will need to start from the beginning,” Rabbit began, looking around at the little plot under the big tree. “It all seems magical now, though there was a long time when it was just kinda dreary. I spent a long time at the back of a drawer.  Very suddenly everything changed really fast. I was part of a clearing up and was lucky to end up at the Thrift Store, not in the garbage. I spent a little time on the store shelf, but it didn’t take long before a lady picked me up and gave me a close look over. 

   “ ‘This might be just the thing,’ she said, and explained to another person about a faerie house under a tree and the creatures who lived there. 

“I had to keep very still, but inside I was jumping and pleading to have this lady take me to that faerie house. First I was wrapped up and put in a bag. Then there was a period when I really didn’t know how this was going to turn out. Soon I was unwrapped and another lady said, ‘Oh, how lovely!’ But then I was put back in the bag again!

“During my time at the back of a drawer I had gotten used to very little happening. The most I could hope for was that the drawer would open and I could catch a bit of daylight. Now I felt on the cusp of something that I hoped would be very good. Waiting was really hard. 

“Then just yesterday I was carried outside in a pocket, there was some humming about what would be just right, and I was set down in front of the most beautiful house I had ever seen. 

   “ ‘This must be IT!’ I thought. 

“There was a little hole being started for me, and I was encouraged to finish it off. 

 “The lady said, ‘Just wait here. The others will be out soon.’ And here you are!”

“It is obvious that you are meant to be here!” said Dog. “There are others of us who have spent time in a drawer and I know I can speak for everyone: you are so welcome to join us.” 

 “Let’s go inside for a bit,” said Dog. “Hedgehog should be coming around soon, but it will take longer for Frog and the turtles, T1 and T2. Shall we call you Rabbit?”

“Please do. I haven’t been called anything before and Rabbit certainly fits.” 

Stay tuned for chapter 2.