... continued from ...
William’s Quest
Lily and William were headed for Sims’ farm which lay between the cottage and the river. They planned to spend the day playing in the snow-covered fields with their friends Bethan and Robby from school. They crossed the main street and ran down the lane, the bare hedges on either side coated with a dusting of snow. They turned right just before the bridge and headed up the track towards the old farmhouse, smoke rising from the chimney and were welcomed by Mam Sims, as she was known to one and all, Jenny and Robby’s grandmother. Some of the kids called her Mrs. Christmas. With her slightly stout build, froth of white hair and pink cheery face, she did look like the female version of the old gentleman. A look which was enhanced by her habit of wearing round spectacles perched on the end of her nose.
A day of sledging and snowball fights passed quickly, the children pausing only to regain their strength and warmth with the sandwiches and hot soup which Mam Sims provided. After lunch, the clear blue sky was gradually covered by grey cloud from the West and snow began to fall, light at first, but becoming gradually thicker and more persistent. Mam Sims appeared at the bottom field gate “Come on children, it’s time you were heading home, the snow is getting thicker and it will soon be dark. Shortest day of the year tomorrow”.
Reluctantly Lily and Will said goodbye to their friends and headed back down the farm track. At the lane, Lily turned left towards the village, but after a few steps realised that William had fallen behind. “Come on Will, we had better get back” she said, turning, but Will was looking away from her towards the bridge and the rising ground beyond. He turned towards her, “I haven’t got the mistletoe yet Lily. I promised Dad!” If truth be told, William didn’t want Lily to think he didn’t keep his promises and he was keen to impress her too. “We’ve been told not to go up there on our own Will and it will be dark soon”. She put a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away, “I won’t be long” he said and Lily watched him go, into the thickening snow. Lily quickly headed back to the village, her concern for Will growing with each step.
William crossed the stone bridge, glancing down at the swift, cold, black water below, he passed the hamlet and started up the road which wound up the hill. He knew where there was mistletoe alright. His class had been up here on a nature ramble in the summer and his teacher had pointed it out to them. The road was steep and snow-covered, but gave good grip and within ten minutes or so, he was at the kissing gate at the entrance to the old fort. It wasn’t huge, about the size of the football field at the school and circled with a wire fence to protect the bluebells which covered it in early summer from grazing sheep. The fort itself was fairly level, the banks and ditches could still be seen, but they had been reduced by time. Trees covered it and in the spring and summer it was a place of dappled light and picnics, but now it was bare and hushed.
He headed quickly towards the centre of the fort, the light failing and the snow starting to swirl as the breeze picked up. He struggled as he crossed the remaining two ditches where the snow was deeper, but it didn’t take him long to find it. Near the centre of the fort was what was left of a very old oak tree, in fact little more than a tall stump with a few large branches stretching out close to the ground. The thickening snow made it difficult to see as he looked up, but he could just make out the clump of green nestling in the broken crown. William easily scrambled up a few feet and reaching, grabbed handfuls of greenery which came away reluctantly. He glanced at it quickly, pleased that it had plenty of berries, like small moons. He was just about to scramble back down the tree when his own pale shadow appeared on the gnarled bark before him.
Lily hurried up the path to the cottage, pushed open the door and was glad to find her father in the kitchen. “Dad! Will has gone up the fort looking for mistletoe, I told him not to go!” “ Bloody William” he thought for a second and then remembered the scrapes he had gotten into when he had been Will’s age. “Don’t worry Lily, I‘m sure he is just fine, but as the snow is getting thicker, I’ll go up and look for him. His Mam and Dad will be up to their eyes in the pub, so let’s not worry them yet. I won’t be long”. He winked, smiled and headed for the garage. He wasn’t really worried as he climbed into the Land Rover, although it was almost dark, it was still early evening and it wasn’t as if Will had been missing for ages. Still, he thought, best for the boy not to be out in a blizzard, better safe than sorry.
Will slid down the trunk of the tree and slowly turned around. He half expected to see someone with a torch, although the light on the tree hadn’t really been like torch light, it was much softer. Through the falling snow, not very far away on the ground, he could see a ball of light about the size of a football, but it rippled, like a full moon reflected on the surface of the sea. As he watched, the globe seemed to expand and he could start to see a shape forming within it, gradually becoming clearer. William was not in the least afraid, because what was forming in that ball of light was the most beautiful and graceful thing he had seen in his short life. It was a silver-white hare which seemed to glow from within. Its fur sparkled like silver tinsel on a Christmas tree and it had the deepest, kindest, brown eyes.
It watched him, nose and ears twitching, cleaning its face with front paws, just like any hare would. It moved a little away from him and stopped and looked back, as if waiting for him. The edges of his vision became frosted and the world around him seemed to fade. He could only see the shining hare as if inside a snowy paperweight. Without conscious effort, he found himself moving forward, like walking in a dream. The mistletoe dropped at his feet. It wasn’t important any more, nothing was important now, except the hare. It turned again and gazed at him with those kind and knowing eyes, as if to say “Come on William, I have something wonderful to show you, just a little further”. A feeling of warmth and calm came over him and he didn’t know if he was asleep or awake. “Yes, Arianwen, he thought, just a little further”.
A sudden ripping snarl tore through his brain and brought him instantly back to reality. The edges of his vision cleared, as if wiped by an unseen hand and a small fast-moving shape, blurred by the snow, darted from his right towards the hare. He felt cold and a strong wind was blowing snow into his face, a wind which blew up from the Black Gap, only yards from his feet. The hare before him turned and leapt out into the darkness, the light within it fading as it went. In a moment of panic, William turned away from the abyss, but as he did so, his cold feet went from under him on the sloping snow bank. He started to slide, but desperately digging in with his numb feet and hands, he just managed to cling to the slippery slope. He could not move at all, without the risk of losing his grip.
“You need to be more careful, young William” a voice above him said. Cautiously raising his head, William saw through the swirling snow, the familiar figure of a man with Jack Russell terrier at his side. “Here, give me your hand”. William gripped the hand which reached towards him and as he did, he felt some of the warmth return to his body. The man lifted him lightly to his feet. “You had best go back William, or people will be worried, but don’t forget your mistletoe.” He gestured with his hand in the direction of the gate and a little way away, the small clump of green lying in the snow. William hurried forward and picked it up, then turned to thank the man for his help, but both man and dog had gone. When he reached the gate, he could see Mr. Summer’s Land Rover pulling in and he hurried forward towards the vehicle.
Tom was glad to see him safe and sound. During the short drive back down to the village William was quite and Tom didn’t press him. They pulled into the car park of the Terrier’s Rest and Will sat there for a moment as if unsure of what to say. “Are you alright Will?“ Tom asked. William nodded, then his story came out in a rush. “I saw a hare up the fort Mr. Summers and I started to follow it, I don’t know why. I lost track of where I was and I nearly slid into the gap. I was right on the edge and couldn’t move. It was just as well that Nelson scared the Hare off and the man in the photo saved me.” Tom looked at him, “What man in what photo Will?” William unfastened his safety belt “The man in the photo on your mantle-piece of course. Is he a friend of yours? I was sure he must be when I saw Nelson with him. I bet it was Nelson tracked me down Mr. Summers!”
Tom paused for a moment, no point in scaring the boy, he thought. “Go on William and warm up. If I was you I wouldn’t say too much to your parents about your adventure, or Christmas might be cancelled and be more careful in future!” he smiled. William nodded “I will Mr. Summers, I’ve learned a lesson, thank you” he said earnestly. Tom watched him push open the door of the pub, the mistletoe still clutched in his hand.
John Howells © 2014
Written for Pawsitively Terriers
Reprinted here with permission of his Executors
William’s Quest
Lily and William were headed for Sims’ farm which lay between the cottage and the river. They planned to spend the day playing in the snow-covered fields with their friends Bethan and Robby from school. They crossed the main street and ran down the lane, the bare hedges on either side coated with a dusting of snow. They turned right just before the bridge and headed up the track towards the old farmhouse, smoke rising from the chimney and were welcomed by Mam Sims, as she was known to one and all, Jenny and Robby’s grandmother. Some of the kids called her Mrs. Christmas. With her slightly stout build, froth of white hair and pink cheery face, she did look like the female version of the old gentleman. A look which was enhanced by her habit of wearing round spectacles perched on the end of her nose.
A day of sledging and snowball fights passed quickly, the children pausing only to regain their strength and warmth with the sandwiches and hot soup which Mam Sims provided. After lunch, the clear blue sky was gradually covered by grey cloud from the West and snow began to fall, light at first, but becoming gradually thicker and more persistent. Mam Sims appeared at the bottom field gate “Come on children, it’s time you were heading home, the snow is getting thicker and it will soon be dark. Shortest day of the year tomorrow”.
Reluctantly Lily and Will said goodbye to their friends and headed back down the farm track. At the lane, Lily turned left towards the village, but after a few steps realised that William had fallen behind. “Come on Will, we had better get back” she said, turning, but Will was looking away from her towards the bridge and the rising ground beyond. He turned towards her, “I haven’t got the mistletoe yet Lily. I promised Dad!” If truth be told, William didn’t want Lily to think he didn’t keep his promises and he was keen to impress her too. “We’ve been told not to go up there on our own Will and it will be dark soon”. She put a hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away, “I won’t be long” he said and Lily watched him go, into the thickening snow. Lily quickly headed back to the village, her concern for Will growing with each step.
William crossed the stone bridge, glancing down at the swift, cold, black water below, he passed the hamlet and started up the road which wound up the hill. He knew where there was mistletoe alright. His class had been up here on a nature ramble in the summer and his teacher had pointed it out to them. The road was steep and snow-covered, but gave good grip and within ten minutes or so, he was at the kissing gate at the entrance to the old fort. It wasn’t huge, about the size of the football field at the school and circled with a wire fence to protect the bluebells which covered it in early summer from grazing sheep. The fort itself was fairly level, the banks and ditches could still be seen, but they had been reduced by time. Trees covered it and in the spring and summer it was a place of dappled light and picnics, but now it was bare and hushed.
He headed quickly towards the centre of the fort, the light failing and the snow starting to swirl as the breeze picked up. He struggled as he crossed the remaining two ditches where the snow was deeper, but it didn’t take him long to find it. Near the centre of the fort was what was left of a very old oak tree, in fact little more than a tall stump with a few large branches stretching out close to the ground. The thickening snow made it difficult to see as he looked up, but he could just make out the clump of green nestling in the broken crown. William easily scrambled up a few feet and reaching, grabbed handfuls of greenery which came away reluctantly. He glanced at it quickly, pleased that it had plenty of berries, like small moons. He was just about to scramble back down the tree when his own pale shadow appeared on the gnarled bark before him.
Lily hurried up the path to the cottage, pushed open the door and was glad to find her father in the kitchen. “Dad! Will has gone up the fort looking for mistletoe, I told him not to go!” “ Bloody William” he thought for a second and then remembered the scrapes he had gotten into when he had been Will’s age. “Don’t worry Lily, I‘m sure he is just fine, but as the snow is getting thicker, I’ll go up and look for him. His Mam and Dad will be up to their eyes in the pub, so let’s not worry them yet. I won’t be long”. He winked, smiled and headed for the garage. He wasn’t really worried as he climbed into the Land Rover, although it was almost dark, it was still early evening and it wasn’t as if Will had been missing for ages. Still, he thought, best for the boy not to be out in a blizzard, better safe than sorry.
Will slid down the trunk of the tree and slowly turned around. He half expected to see someone with a torch, although the light on the tree hadn’t really been like torch light, it was much softer. Through the falling snow, not very far away on the ground, he could see a ball of light about the size of a football, but it rippled, like a full moon reflected on the surface of the sea. As he watched, the globe seemed to expand and he could start to see a shape forming within it, gradually becoming clearer. William was not in the least afraid, because what was forming in that ball of light was the most beautiful and graceful thing he had seen in his short life. It was a silver-white hare which seemed to glow from within. Its fur sparkled like silver tinsel on a Christmas tree and it had the deepest, kindest, brown eyes.
It watched him, nose and ears twitching, cleaning its face with front paws, just like any hare would. It moved a little away from him and stopped and looked back, as if waiting for him. The edges of his vision became frosted and the world around him seemed to fade. He could only see the shining hare as if inside a snowy paperweight. Without conscious effort, he found himself moving forward, like walking in a dream. The mistletoe dropped at his feet. It wasn’t important any more, nothing was important now, except the hare. It turned again and gazed at him with those kind and knowing eyes, as if to say “Come on William, I have something wonderful to show you, just a little further”. A feeling of warmth and calm came over him and he didn’t know if he was asleep or awake. “Yes, Arianwen, he thought, just a little further”.
A sudden ripping snarl tore through his brain and brought him instantly back to reality. The edges of his vision cleared, as if wiped by an unseen hand and a small fast-moving shape, blurred by the snow, darted from his right towards the hare. He felt cold and a strong wind was blowing snow into his face, a wind which blew up from the Black Gap, only yards from his feet. The hare before him turned and leapt out into the darkness, the light within it fading as it went. In a moment of panic, William turned away from the abyss, but as he did so, his cold feet went from under him on the sloping snow bank. He started to slide, but desperately digging in with his numb feet and hands, he just managed to cling to the slippery slope. He could not move at all, without the risk of losing his grip.
“You need to be more careful, young William” a voice above him said. Cautiously raising his head, William saw through the swirling snow, the familiar figure of a man with Jack Russell terrier at his side. “Here, give me your hand”. William gripped the hand which reached towards him and as he did, he felt some of the warmth return to his body. The man lifted him lightly to his feet. “You had best go back William, or people will be worried, but don’t forget your mistletoe.” He gestured with his hand in the direction of the gate and a little way away, the small clump of green lying in the snow. William hurried forward and picked it up, then turned to thank the man for his help, but both man and dog had gone. When he reached the gate, he could see Mr. Summer’s Land Rover pulling in and he hurried forward towards the vehicle.
Tom was glad to see him safe and sound. During the short drive back down to the village William was quite and Tom didn’t press him. They pulled into the car park of the Terrier’s Rest and Will sat there for a moment as if unsure of what to say. “Are you alright Will?“ Tom asked. William nodded, then his story came out in a rush. “I saw a hare up the fort Mr. Summers and I started to follow it, I don’t know why. I lost track of where I was and I nearly slid into the gap. I was right on the edge and couldn’t move. It was just as well that Nelson scared the Hare off and the man in the photo saved me.” Tom looked at him, “What man in what photo Will?” William unfastened his safety belt “The man in the photo on your mantle-piece of course. Is he a friend of yours? I was sure he must be when I saw Nelson with him. I bet it was Nelson tracked me down Mr. Summers!”
Tom paused for a moment, no point in scaring the boy, he thought. “Go on William and warm up. If I was you I wouldn’t say too much to your parents about your adventure, or Christmas might be cancelled and be more careful in future!” he smiled. William nodded “I will Mr. Summers, I’ve learned a lesson, thank you” he said earnestly. Tom watched him push open the door of the pub, the mistletoe still clutched in his hand.
John Howells © 2014
Written for Pawsitively Terriers
Reprinted here with permission of his Executors
