Sarah’s Story.
Sarah was a small child, much younger appearing than her years. Most people who did not know her always seemed to guess four maybe five. But in truth she was seven. Seven and a half if you asked her directly. Her diminutive stature was a favorite joke among cruel classmates who seemed to have nothing better to do than to taunt her. Perhaps it was this lack of friendship that caused her to become reclusive. The animals and plants of the forest and meadows had quickly and easily become her best friends. She would spend hours by the waters edge under the huge Oak that she simply called Tree. It was her favorite place in the whole wide world, this little brook at the edge of the forest with Tree as her sole companion. She would invent wondrous stories of Kings and Queens with herself always being the Princess of course, who would always be saved at the last minute from some terrible fate by a Prince. She would tell these stories to Tree since he was such a good listener and never complained. Tree also never told her to quit daydreaming like so many of the adults in her life. She didn’t see anything wrong with thinking about such things, but did learn to keep them to herself. Not since her Nana went to heaven did she have anyone who wanted to listen to her latest tale of a handsome Prince and his new Bride.
The day it happened was a perfect spring day. The sun was warm on her face and the breeze was cool against her skin as she ran outside after school. Her Mother was in such a good mood that she didn’t tell her even once not to be late for dinner when she left to play. She did of course manage to remind her not to slam the door on her way out.
As little Sarah ran through the small forest she sang a song composed of bits and pieces of many things, all somehow getting jumbly inside her seven and a half year old head. The words seemed to fit though, and she didn’t care if the tune was just right or not, all she knew was that she had been thinking of a wonderful new tale to tell Tree. But what happened next would change forever change the way she ran in the forest.
It happened so suddenly that she didn’t have a chance to react at all. Her foot caught the exposed root mid stride twisting her ankle and sending her tumbling to the ground. More embarrassed than she was hurt, she slowly started to rise when a very disgusted voice yelled at her to “Get off!” Looking down she saw the most amazing thing. A small bearded man with pointy ears that she had obviously landed upon was dusting himself off all the while cursing beneath his breath at the obvious lack of manners of human children. Small Sarah couldn’t help but to exclaim “Oh My gosh, a Leprechaun!” This comment initiated another barrage of expletives from the small man. “Leprechaun! You stupid stupid child. I am an Elf. A Forest Elf to be exact, and if you paid any attention in school at all you would know that Leprechauns are nothing but fantasy made up by silly little girls while Elves of course are as real as you are.” As unprepared as Sarah was for this, she was even less prepared for the three inch high woman who fluttered down from the trees and began to scold the small man. “McGregor” she said; “she is just a child, and if you don’t want to spend the next week as a toad I suggest you apologize and be nice to her. Look, you’ve hurt her feelings’. Sarah indeed had begun to sob quietly. Her foot hurt, a small man with pointy ears who was not a Leprechaun was yelling at her, and there was a faerie woman flitting around her head all at the same time. It was just a little too much all at once. “There, there”, the Woman said, landing lightly on Sarah’s shoulder. “You are fine. Just a little scrape is all. A quick wash and a bandage and you won’t even know it happened”. At this point, Sarah just sat down. Hard. With an “Oof” She could not have been more stunned if…well, if an Elf and a Faerie woman had just appeared out of no where which they just had. The beautiful little woman continued talking as if this was the most normal thing in the world. “I am so sorry McGregor scolded you Sarah, he is grumpy at times.” Sarah did manage “How do you know my name?” “Why, I am a faerie of course. I know many things, and besides. Tree has told me all about you. He is quite taken with you, you know. And he talks about you all the time”. “Tree can talk?” Sarah muttered? “Why of course he can talk. Why couldn’t he? Of course, you would have to be a faerie to understand. Or learn to listen very, very carefully.” “My name is Elenore, Elenore Goldenwish. But my friends just call me Elly. You can call me Elly too if you would like.” “And this rather dusty old Elf you happened upon is McGregor, and if he has a nickname I’ve never heard it. At least not one I can repeat in a childs presence.”
Remembering her manners, Sarah said hello to Elenore, and a shy, quiet hello to McGregor, who was still muttering about forest etiquette while picking up his scattered mushrooms. He did manage to tip his hat to her when Elenore discreetly made little frog noises in the back of her throat. This of course made Sarah laugh, and when a seven and a half year old girl laughs, it can sometimes be contagious. Sarah heard tittering coming from all around her. Slowly but surely more Elves came forth, and even a few more Fairies as well. Sarah was introduced to each of them one by one. Not all of the Forest elves were old and grumpy as McGregor. Some were quite handsome. She even met a little girl Elf that looked very much like one of her most beautiful dolls back home.
After what seemed like a very longtime, Elly told Sarah that it was time for them to go, and that Sarah should be getting home lest she be late for supper. Everyone said their goodbyes, and little Sarah finally had friends that she knew she could count on. At least, as long as she watched where she was running.