WHO Fairytales and Little John WHEN Sunday 19th, evening WHERE Elaine’s home WHAT Seize the moment and capture his heart WARNINGS tbd
When Elaine went back to the cottage to retrieve Clio, Ella and William, she had to walk a little way into the forest to find them. They’d taken the smaller gate out into the trees, to pick mushrooms and climb trees. Elaine walked slowly, not in a hurry to disturb the peace. Her fingers trailed over tree trunks and stems, tracing the shapes of them, finding bright green caterpillars and glowing red ladybirds. When she at last came across the three of them, she hung back for a little while, watching them. Such a tight little family unit, together in the shade of the trees. The two adults smiling and sharing their love with the child, who skipped around them, their chatter bouncing on the air like birds. Of course it was the child who noticed her first, more curious than afraid.
By the time she came back out, her heart was beating out a pattern against her ribs, aching for something, a deep need that reached right into her soul. She wanted that. She wanted to belong and find safety and warmth with people who loved her unconditionally, and whom she could adore in return. As her bare foot alighted on the warm wood floor, she looked up and across, through into the hallway where Little John was standing, dutifully standing guard.
John. John. John, pulsed her heart. Elaine came across all lightheaded of a sudden, struck like lightning with a sudden surety, but she had to wait, as her guests stepped back in across the threshold. She had to wait, as John made sure his brother was well, and the little family agonisingly slowly made their way out. To wait for Little John to return to her, as she stood in the middle of the entryway, framed by the house she had made her home and the creeping, twining growth she had painted all around it.
“John,” she said, holding her hands out to him as he came back inside. She wanted to ask if they had gotten home safely, if they were happy, but the cat seemed to have caught her tongue for a moment as she gazed up at him.