The hunt for the Snow Dragon.

Snowflakes twirled and danced about Molly. ” I love snow,” she said.

“Woof” Bob said jumping around her.

Molly whispered, “Quiet Bob. A  Snow Dragon might hear us and run away.”

The dog nudged her with his nose, making her giggle.

They began their search in the garden. No Snow Dragon. They walked through the gate, looking right and left. Molly walked past Gran’s kitchen door. They looked in the garden shed, and behind the coal bags but didn’t find a Snow Dragon. They did meet many birds and Gran’s fat cat.

They walked to the front garden. They met the postman. “Hi Molly. Where are you going?” he asked.

“We are going to catch a Snow Dragon.” She whispered.

“Well – don’t let him catch you.” He said.

“No we won’t.” Molly told him.

Bob looked behind every tree.  Molly looked at the bare branches. No Snow Dragon. “Not even a squirrel, Bob.” She said.

Molly looked behind them. The snow was falling onto the ground covering her footprints. She couldn’t see her house. “Let’s go home,” She said.

Molly made a snow ball. She threw it. “Go get it Bob,” She said.

He sat and watched it land.  Molly sighed. Bob never chased tennis balls.

“Lets make a snowman instead.” She began by making a small ball and then dropped it on the ground. As she rolled it along the ground the snowball changed from being a round ball into a wobbly, wonky shape. It was big and getting bigger. Finally she reached her garden,  they left it there and went indoors .

It was warm inside. Molly felt tired. She forgot about her snowball but told dad about her search for a Snow Dragon.

“I think there are no Snow Dragons,” she said. Molly felt sad.

“Maybe they are shy, creatures. Perhaps you should send an email to one and see what happens.”

“What would I say?” She liked this idea.

“That you believe in them but you would love to know what they look like. Wait then and see what happens. Granddad always said, they were magical creatures.”

Molly wiggled her nose as she thought about this. “Let’s do it, can you help please?”

The email was sent and Molly went to bed.

Next morning she got up and peeped out the window.

Her heart jumped for there in the garden was a large dragon. He was white and very still. Molly raced outside to see him. “Its a Snow Dragon.” She said to her dad who came to look at it. “He is not alive though he is just made of snow, how did he get here?”

“Molly you did say you would love to know what they look like, didn’t you?”

“I did. Now I know they are amazing.” She giggled, “he looks like Bob does when you say no to him.”

They took pictures of the Snow Dragon and a large picture hangs on Molly’s bedroom wall in case she forgets what they look like.

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Muddy Puddles and Ally McDuff

 

Ally

Scruff

 

Ally McDuff has a best friend named Scruff.  He has a thick warm coat, four paws, a curly tail and a big smiley face.

Ally and Sruff love doing things together.

 

Trouble is they always get dirty.

“Stay clean, Ally.” Mum said.

Minutes later they were digging. Ally used a shovel. Scruf used his paws. “We will find the Pirates treasure soon, Scruff, ” she said.

By tea time they found:

An old smelly sock,

a bone,

an funny shaped blue glass bottle.

Ally peeped through the blue bottle and said, “Even you are blue, Scruff.”

“Woof” he said.

Ally looked at Scruff.  He was no longer white and black. He was dirty from nose to tail.

“This means a bath, Scruff,” Ally whispered.  She looked at her arms, she was dirty too.

“Maybe Mum won’t see it. Let’s hide.” They ran indoors.

Scruff hid under Ally’s bed. She squeezed in beside him.  “Mum won’t find us here” She said.

Mum did.  They washed Scruff first. He hated being washed.  He looked sad and wet when he was clean.

Ally was next. “Wash behind your ears,” Mum said.

When they were nice and shiny again, mum said, “Ally you are always getting dirty, someday…you might stay clean.”

“Tomorrow Scruff we will be clean all day.” Ally whispered.

Ally decided if they were to be clean, then Gran was the person to be with. Gran was the cleanest person for miles around. Her house shone in the sunlight. Her garden was squeaky clean. Though Ally wondered if the squeaky noise was made by the mice playing in the hedge.

“No chasing mice Scruff, today we will stay clean.” She said as they walked into Gran’s kitchen.

Gran was baking gingerbread men. Ally helped. Scruff sat on a stool and watched. When they put the gingerbread men in the oven to cook. shoes. Scruff has it on his fur.”

 

Gran looked at them and smiled. “Ahh Ally you and Scruff are wearing a lot of the mixture on your face, your clothes and your face.”

Ally scowled all the way home.  She looked grumpy during and after her bath.

Next day they decided to stay indoors. Ally loved painting. Scruff joined in, splodges of paint flew around the room.

When they were finished they showed the painting to mum. “It’s great, I love it even Scruffs paw prints.”

She looked at them and sighed. “Ally you are both covered in paint.”

Ally groaned. One bath later they were sitting having tea.

“How can we stay clean?” Ally wondered.

“I have an idea,” dad said.

Next morning he said to Ally, “you are coming to help me today. I am going to wash my car and Gran’s. You and scruff can help.”

Ally looked at the bucket of water and the sponge. They couldn’t get dirty could they?

They began to wash the cars. When the y were finished the cars were shining and clean. But when they looked at each other, they were all dirty, even Dad.

“Ahh no Dad, another bath?”

“Sorry Ally, it was my fault. Don’t worry though I will make up for it tomorrow.”

Ally spent the night wondering how they were going to manage to stay clean.

Next morning Dad said “I have a reward for my two helpers, we are going out.”

He brought them to the park where they had fun on the slides, swings and roundabouts, even Scruff had a go.

They came home squeaky clean.

Well done. Ally. Mum said. “You are shining like a new Ally.”

The Munchin Family – 3

Chapter  4

 

The shivering man was saying to himself, ‘The house looks like a bank vault, they must have loads of money. I know they have loads and loads of money or valuables.’  This very thought is what led him to their front door.

The Munchin family were staring at him as though he were an alien.

Baby came back with a huge steel mug of tea and a plate with a skyscraper sandwich wobbling about on it. ‘I didn’t know what you would like so I put everything on it,’ he explained. There was indeed a great deal piled in between two slices of bread. Lettuce leaves, tomatoes, ham, chicken, cucumber, potato salad and banana peeped out from between the slices of bread. The skyscraper sandwich was behaving like a quivering mountain of jelly.

The visitor stared at the wobbling sandwich.

Baby said, ‘I’m Baby who are you?’

‘I’m Duncan!’ The burly man said.

Baby giggled. ‘Funny name, Dun can, or Dun can’t,’ he sang. His voice hit the steel walls and bounced back at Duncan. Then silently the wobbling skyscraper sandwich fell first onto Duncan’s lap and then slid piece by piece onto the floor.

‘Two second rule, ‘ Roared Granddad and everyone, except Mother Munchin and Duncan, dived on the food. Within two seconds it was gone.

Mother Munchin apologized adding, ‘I’ll get you a fresh one.  Junior take Duncan’s jacket into the kitchen and I’ll clean it for him.’ She ran off to the kitchen to make another sandwich.

They are all batty, fruity and loopy, Duncan decided. He was wondering how he could get to take a look through the rest of the house. If I had mums sleeping tablets in my pocket I could put it in their food. Because the way they eat they wouldn’t notice the funny taste. With them all asleep my job would be easier.

Mother Munchin appeared before him and handed him a neat sandwich saying, ‘You poor dear you look really pale, will I call the doctor?’

Duncan who was staring at Granddad Munchin who was doing his favorite trick, making his eyes spin. Duncan’s stomach was spinning as fast as Granddads eyes.  ‘No, if I sit quietly for a while I will be much better, thank you. It is very kind of you to offer.’

Mother Munchin beamed at Duncan. ‘Oh you do have lovely manners. Most men today have forgotten where they put their manners.’ As she was speaking she was glaring at her family. It was her favorite topic –  her family’s lack of manners.

Granddad said, ‘Is that the time?  I should be somewhere else.’ And off he went.

Father Munchin looking up at the ceiling said ‘Well we can’t let Granddad wander about by himself. I’d best go to keep an eye on him.’  All the time he was thinking, ‘I don’t like this guy, he sounds too good to be true, I’ll check him out.’ And he went into the kitchen to see what he could learn about Duncan from his wallet.

Junior opened his mouth closed it and followed his dad. Because that’s what he usually did.

Baby thought Ducan looked interesting. He wondered what would go wrong next.

Baby’s life ran on disasters. His teacher at school was always telling him this. She said it yesterday as she helped him fish his books out of the school garden pond and last week when they had to wrestle his scarf from the very fat pig called ‘Smoky’ in the school animal farm. Baby’s worst disaster had happened when he was two years of age. Baby was trapped by accident in the fridge. Luckily he had loads to eat.

So as you can tell Baby was experienced in disasters but being flattened was an interesting and new one for him. He decided stayed to watch and learn.

‘Duncan might like to lie down on my bed, Mum.’ He whispered to her.

She stared at Duncan. He was a most peculiar colour green. ‘ Yes. You are right. Good idea. Really Baby what would I do without you. I really don’t know.’

Duncan was gently steered in the direction of the stairs. He was very white faced but happy. This was his big chance to take a look at the goodies in the house.

 

Chapter 5

 

The house was very bright and very clean. Duncan said so to Mother Munchin.

She beamed at him. ‘Oh thank you, how kind of you to notice.’ She said flicking another piece of imaginary dust from the banisters as they walked slowly upstairs.

Duncan was taking a very good look at this strange house. The walls were not painted, but there was an awful lot of photographs of the Munchin family. All of the photographs had no glass in the frames. ‘Nice photo’s of your family,’ Duncan lied. Then he couldn’t help himself as he said, ‘There is no glass in the frames!’

‘No, people sometimes bang doors and glass breaks.’ Baby told him. What he didn’t say was the people who caused them to break were usually Fred and Baby playing hide and seek or football.

‘Must be a lot of history attached to a place like this,’ Duncan said.

Baby giggled. Mother Munchin said, ‘Well some of it we don’t like talking about.’

‘Especially the donut house!’ Baby said.

‘Baby, it wasn’t Granddad’s fault he loved donuts.’ Turning to Duncan she whispered, ‘The original house was wooden and shaped like a donut. Granddad started sleep eating one night and we woke up in our beds with no roof over our heads and no walls or floors either.’

Duncan’s mouth fell open. He really didn’t know what to say. The silence stretched on for a while.

Mother Munchin’s next words made him jump. ‘I love bright shiny things,’ she was twisting a gold and ruby bracelet around her wrist and didn’t notice Duncan’s strange reaction to her words.

Duncan was smiling. A very strange scary smile, Baby thought.

Duncan was dreaming of all those things he could never afford. ‘This year I’m going to have all of those nice gadgets I see in the shops. He began to list them:  a new car, the newest phone, a new camera, computer and laptop, a house and perhaps a nice big very fierce dog, to keep burglars away.

Pulling open the nearest bedroom door she said, ‘Here you are, have a nap and when you feel better we will have tea before you go.’ Mother Munchin was leaving the room and still speaking. She was excited. It was an awful long time since they had a visitor to their house.

She was planning on doing some baking for Duncan. Her mind was full of cream cakes, ginger bread men and scones as she hopped on the banisters and slid down landing with a soft, klump on the floor on her feet.

‘When he wakes up let me know.’ She said as she dashed off to the kitchen.

Baby grinned in admiration. Each time he slid down the banisters he landed on his bottom or his head!  ‘Ok.I’ll sit on the top stair and read my comic that way when he wakes I’ll know it.’ He didn’t like the way the man’s eyes grew large and hungry as they looked at his mum’s bracelet. Baby also thought Duncan smelt like a man who was trying too hard to be nice.

Duncan

 

 

Odd Socks

Breeze asked everyone in Mudpile Wood to help solve a mystery.  Socks had gone missing, leaving most with only one sock of every color. Everyone agreed it was time to find the odd socks.

They searched everywhere, from the tip of the mountain to the bottom of the wood. Matt and Daisy-lyah searched in every rabbit hole. Tulip searched high into the sky in case the socks were carried up into the clouds by the wind. And they did not find one single sock.

Breeze remembered Bob, the dog had a friend called Ellie who loved finding things.  He wrote her a short note:

Dear Ellie,

Please help us find the odd socks from Mrs. Groundsels basket, if we don’t find them I am afraid we won’t get any delicious vegetable pies any more. I will ask Tulip to bake you some munchy dog biscuits.

I will leave the red basket on the smooth stones near your friend the dragon – at the pond.

Your best ogre friend

Breeze.

“What do we do now?” Hamish asked Breeze when they left the large washing basket at the smooth stones.

“We take a nap and let Ellie do her stuff.” Breeze said as he climbed the nearest tree. He tried to sleep but kept wondering about the missing socks. His dreams were filled with strange images: sheep eating socks, crows wearing socks after they pecked holes in the feet of the socks and the worst of all giant socks chasing Breeze.

Loud barking alerted them next morning and they went to find out what was wrong. Hamish stood looking at the red basket, “Well. I never.” He said over and over again.

“Superb. Great, Amazing. Happy days are here again, vegetable pie this evening for tea.” Breeze said.

“Woof.” said Ellie as she waited for them to bring her to Tulips house to collect her munchy, crunchy dog biscuits flavored with honey.

Do you doubt that she did it? Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think?

 

 And where did she find them?

Everywhere!

 

Odd Socks

Odd Socks.

Mrs Groundsel enjoyed washing clothes but for the past two weeks she became angry on washing day.

Her day would start as normal. She collected the dirty clothes brought them to the river bed filled a bucket with clean water and then washed the clothes. Then she would return to her cave and hang the washing on the long clothes line Breeze had made for her.

The line started at the top of the mountain and finished at the bottom of the mountain close to the edge of the wood. It might be a tiresome job to most of those who lived in the wood but Mrs. Groundsel loved washing day. She loved seeing her line of washing flapping in the wind.

Breeze said it looked like a line of colorful flags dancing around the mountain. Then in the afternoon she would take her washing from the line and begin to pair up the socks. This is when she discovered her problem.

She knew there was twelve pairs of black socks. She had five. There should have been one pair of socks in every other color. Then there were the spotty ones in different colors. Now there was one of each of the colored socks and the spotty ones.

She had a basket of odd socks.

She got angry. Her pin fell out of her hair and her hair escaped from its neat bun.  She fixed her hair then she marched to Breeze’s cave. “Have you or Hamish been messing around with my clothes line?”

Breeze shook his head. Hamish said, “No. We know better than to do something so foolish. You would not like us to do that.”

“So where did they go?” Mrs Groundsel looked at Breeze and said, “Go find them.”

“I’m not a finder of socks.” Breeze said. He noticed how angry Mrs Groundsel looked. “But I can always try.” He said.

 

(Part two following in a day or so)

How a rainbow was rescued.

 

Daisy-lyah and Lisbeth were playing. They saw a quivering mess of colours on the grass. They crept close.

“Its a ball with the air escaping” Lisbeth stated.

“No, its not cos it is a animal in trouble. We should do something, but what?”

Daisy-lyah sat on the ground and touched shaking colors. It quivered like jelly. She whispered, “don’t be afraid we will sort you out.”

“Breeze would want to help.” Lisbeth said.

“But he has no magic. We need someone with magic.” Daisy-lyah looked sad. “I have a little magic but not enough.”

“We need someone.” Lisbeth said with certainty. “Elegant will help  but…I don’t want to meet Lovisma. She twisted my pony tail into a tight knot once and mum had to cut my hair.”

Daisy-lyah sighed. “I will speak to Elegant you can hide. ”

“I like your plan.” Lisbeth whispered. “I will be look out and hoot like an owl if I see her.”

They ran to Elegant’s house and hid in the tall grass. Lovisma was sitting on a fallen tree infront of the house , flicking twigs into the river at the ducks and birds.

They decided to go to the back door. When they knocked they hid behind a rose bush just in case Lovisma heard and came around the side of the house.

Elegant came to the door. She looked out and said, “Hmm strange wind about today, it did sound like someone knocking on my door.”

Daisy-lyah flew up to Elegant and explained their problem to her.

Elegant said, “I saw this problem once before,  I need to collect a few items. We need to hurry.”

When they got to the wood, the muddle of colors had shrunk to the size of a tennis ball.

Elegant said, “hold this please Lisbeth we don’t have much time left.” She held a small cauldron out and poured a few drops of a golden liquid into the pot and then added a dash of silver. She said, “I need you both to stand beside the river out of the way.” When they ran to the river Elegant began.

She poured her mixture from the pot over the shivering shrinking mess of colors reciting a spell as she did so.

Suddenly they heard a happy song being played, as they watched the colors rose from the ground one by one high into the sky to form one glorious bright arching rainbow.

“It’s a rainbow.” Daisy-lyah and Lisbeth shouted.

When they calmed down Elegant explained what had happened. They looked sad when they heard how Leprechauns sometimes get tired of minding rainbows and simply walk away from them. Without a caretaker the rainbows become starved of love and attention, no one usually notices them shrink until they vanish.

“That is sad,” Lisbeth said. Daisy-lyah looked as though she might cry.

Elegant noticed and told them. “Today is a great day because you saved a rainbow. Come on lets tell everyone.”

As they walked into the forest the kind witch pulled two giant rainbow colored lollypops from her pocket and handed them to Daisy-lyah and Lisbeth.

The Party. Part 2.

The Ogres and Fairies had the center of the wood ready for the party.

They stood back to inspect their work.

“Its amzing.” Breeze said. Nudging a balloon with his head.

“Yes.” Tulip agreed.

Everyone was coming to the party, so the table zig zagged its way around the large trees near the center of the wood.

The table had tiny wooden bowls set at certain points in the center. These were decorated with, woodland flowers, silver stars and red fairy lights.

For each Ogre there was  a giant wooden cup, a knife  a fork and a spoon. The chair was decorated in moss and spiderwebs that twinkled when they caught the  sunlight.

Each Fairy place setting had a tiny glass knife and fork, a drinking cup shaped like a star with a squiggly straw peeping from one point. The fairies chairs were decorated in see through silk, with long red ribbons fluttering across the floor.

Place names were made from wood bark, names carved with fairy dust.

Guests arrived, they sat down chattering to each other. The Ogre menu read: Surprise stew, home brewed snow cone drink. or to a fairy dinner. The Fairy menu twinkled and glowed,  pleasant pie, a glass of cold milk, and an array of cream pies and cakes to follow.

There would be music and dancing later.

“Why did you hang lanterns from the trees? I banged my head off every single one.” Hamish the Goblin muttered lifting his hat to show a whole group of bumps and lumps.

“The fairies did it.” Breeze said. The other Ogres nodded in agreement.

“Well they are stupendous bumps, ” Elegant witch said as she arrived with her younger sister Lovisma.  A giant cauldron appeared to be flying behind Lovisma. There was a lot of hissing and bubbling coming from the cauldron and the wooden spoon which was spinning about was sending drops of liquid spattering the guests.

“We brought, devils delight, for those who don’t really care for milk or water.” Lovisma clapped her hands  in anticipation of the party.

There was silence while the guests and hosts wondered who might be brave enough to speak.

“Ahh what is in devils delight, it smells delicious.” Ellen an elderly tree nymph asked.

“There is a little bit of this and a lot of that but..”

“Nothing that was alive or walked through the forest.” Lovisma said.

“Did it fly?” Breeze wondered.

“No, it’s herbs spices and water, you fool.” Lovisma was starting to spin. When ever she got mad the tiny witch would spin so fast she created a hole in the ground.

The sound of a deep gong filled the wood. “Food’s up,” The Ogres declared. With a flick of their wands the fairies had the food appear infront of the diners.

“This is yummy, did you make it yourself?” Mrs. Groundsel asked Beaver an elderly Ogre.

“I did. Just a little something I rustled up.” The Ogres found his answer funny. They giggled. Their laughter turned to a bellowing noise. The Fairies sitting opposite Ogres became airborn many landed in trees or on the ground.

“Please don’t do that again.” Tulip snapped brusing cobwebs off her wings.

But they found they couldn’t stop laughing. The madder the fairies became the happier the Ogres were. Their laughter rang out throughout the wood, sending fairies flying through the air.

After the third time, the fairies got into a huddle. They whispered amongst themselves. When they broke apart they were smiling.

The Ogres’ looked at one another. “Is this good?” Breeze wondered.

Once seated the fairies began to eat.

The Ogres relaxed. Breeze was sitting opposite the tooth fairy. “Knock , knock, ” he said.

“Who’s there?” She asked

“Tooth!”

“Tooth who?”

“Tooth or dare!”

He began to chuckle. His laughter sent Ellen hurtling onto a passing squirrel. Ellen looked mad, she walked back to the table and asked, “Ready fairies ?”

The others pointed their wands at the cream pies and with a flick of their wands they each sent a pie into an Ogre’s face.

“Food fight,” Hamish roared.

“Hang on, Hamish, give us a mo, we can’t waste a pie.” Breeze said.

They waited until every Ogre removed the pie from their face and carefully ate it. The fairies were not happy when the food was flying through the air. They picked up their drinks and flew high into the tree to watch.

Everyone declared it to be the best party in the forest. They went home tired and happy though there was no music or dancing.

This was noticed by a few of the Ogres who agreed it would be a fitting excuse to host another event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tales from the Wood: Crazy Daisies.

 

It was Summertime, too hot to work.

The wood was singing the song of a thousand animals, fairies, witches, goblins and Ogres snoring.

Everyone was having a snooze, except for Breeze.

“Snoozing time takes place between twelve and 1 o clock not from two o clock to three o clock,” he muttered.

He wanted to have fun. But to have fun you need company.

Breeze thought about this for a while. He decided to plan an event.

When everyone living in Mudpile Wood opened their eyes they saw giant signs hanging in peculiar places. They dangled from chimney tops or perched in front of doorways. Written on them was:

If you wish to find Treasure you should learn to look in unusual places.

Tulip whispered, “What Treasure? Am I dreaming?”

She flew to the witches house. She tapped her wand on the door.

Lovisma opened her bedroom window. “Go away I don’t want anything. I’m a clever witch.”

“That is why I have come, did you do this?” Tulip turned and pointed at the edge of the wood, there was a arrow painted on a lump of wood pointing up to the sky.

Lovisma read it aloud, “If you wish to find Treasure you should learn to look in unusual places.”

Lovisma flew out of her bedroom window and landed beside Tulip.

“I didn’t do it. Why do I always get blamed?” Her hair was standing on end making her hat wobble. The wind caught hold and blew it high into the sky. Lovisma grumbled as she flew after it.  She was high above the wood when she caught the hat. She returned to Tulips side.

“There is another message tied to the old oak tree at the edge.”

Tulip asked, “are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m getting Elegant. She is great at solving puzzles.”

When Elegant joined them they set off to the oak tree. They were not the first to arrive. A group stood before the sign,  “Often you are best to go to the end last or don’t chase it.”

Hamish grumbled, “This is silly how do we know where the end is? I’m hungry. I should leave this to you. I think it is a joke.”

Matt Breeze’s Cousin asked, “Where is Breeze?”

Tulip smiled. She said, “that is the most useful question anyone has asked.”

Tulip, Lovisma and Elegant decided the best plan was to search the tree tops.

Suddenly Elegant shouted,”I see it. Look in the field beyond the oak tree .”

Everyone scampered, ran or flew to take a look. There was silence.

They were staring at a field of purple and pink flowers. These flowers were like no other they were swirling and twirling. The air smelt of peppermint and vanilla.

 

“Crazy Daisies.” Tulip murmured.

“Rubbish,” Elegant said. “There is no such thing. I never heard of them.”

Tulip smiled. “I did. I know who made these. Be careful.”

“Why?” Lovisma asked and stepped into the field. A bright pink daisy twirled around and snapped at her. She ran back to the edge of the field with the daisy chasing her.

No one knew what to do. They were looking at a swirling moving field of daisies.

Tulip stepped into the field. The daisies did not snap but Tulip shouted out. “They are not real come in and see.” She walked towards the center of the field and said, “It smells like peppermint and vanilla.” Bending down she broke a daisy petal off and ate it.

“They are delicious.”

Everyone except Lovisma raced out to taste the flowers. The tiny witch was hopping up and down. “I want one but they tried to eat me.”

“Nonsense,” Breeze said and stood up. He was holding a large paper daisy in his hand and he flicked it towards Lovisma. “It is a toy. Come in and have some fun.”

And fun it was because every now and then the daisies would move, fly around the field and every one would chase after them. When all the daisies were finally eaten everyone went home.

Tulip went to find Breeze. He was sitting on the riverbank with Lillian.

Tulip went to sit with them.

“Did you like our work?” Breeze asked.

“I loved it. ” Tulip said. Breeze and Lilian were very quiet. When Tulip looked at them she discovered they were asleep.