Season Of The Witch

She travels on a flurry of snowflakes with the north wind that takes her where she wants. Winter Witch has a cold heart, never letting in kindness, love or generosity. She is mean to the bone, her desire is to take life from any unfortunate left in her grasp. The small bunny or fawn will quickly die should she come upon them lost in the forest. So too will children who wander away from home on a cold winter night.

The only thing that stands in her way of making the world cold and dark  is Spring Witch that follows her and finds lost children and stray animals that need the breath of life. It has always infuriated the winter witch and her animosity toward the witch of spring grew and grew.

One day Winter Witch came across Autumn Witch as the year's end neared. She told her of what the witch of spring did to her, how she saved some victims of hers from death and how terrible of Spring Witch to take away her schadenfreude.


Autumn Witch was sad to hear this for she cooled and readied life for change after Summer Witch made things grow their tallest and best in the long days of her season. The witch of fall knew things must stay balanced. The witch of spring, because of her heart to make all things well and new, overstepped her place in the seasons.

"Let Spring Witch be for now," said Autumn Witch. "She is always young and impetuous. Let her learn from what will follow if she continues this way." The witch of fall was the wisest of all four, for she knew what the seasons brought.

"Very  well," said Winter Witch. Still, it bothered her for she so enjoyed taking life in her silent coldness, watching the warmth leave the victim until it is as cold as she. "I'll bide my time, until then," she said to herself as she flew off into a storm.

Spring Witch came earlier each winter until spring grew longer. She found more animals to rescue until the grass could no longer grow fast enough to feed everyone and streams trickled out water from all the life now so abundant on the earth.

Summer Witch felt beleaguered by the abundance of life searching for food and shelter, as fast as summer's witch could provide, life on earth devoured it. When Autumn Witch came, there was scant to do for most of the foliage was destroyed, depriving her of painting hillsides and skies with brilliant hues. The witch of fall sought out Winter Witch and found her in an early snow storm.

"Spring Witch as caused an imbalance in nature I'm afraid," she said to Winter Witch as she caused a swirl of snow to cover a bare holly in front of them.

"I will temper her spirit. So that she knows not to over extend her season." Winter Witch then flew off in a flurry of dark thunderous clouds.

As the days grew shorter and the nights longer, Winter Witch flew over the land creating mounds of snow that turned to ice. The storms surged and grew stronger each day. The ice grew and grew into hills and then mountains of hard, cold snow. When Spring Witch arrived, the ice was so thick she couldn't penetrate it to save a soul.

The ice became glaciers that stood through spring's warmth, summer's heat and autumn's wind.  When the following winter came more ice and snow fell until the land was unrecognizable, the animals changed, and mankind only survived in caves, if they could find one.

Winter Witch was thrilled. She now had all the seasons to herself, but then realized, she was as impertinent as Spring Witch. She too had caused an unbalance of nature. She then tempered her wrath and sulked back to the northern land to sleep and allow nature to once again right itself.

As time passed, the witches of the seasons knew each as important in their own right to keep nature in harmony. Life prospered and the land grew abundant until one day when mankind filled his heart with greed.

Humans wanted more and more for themselves. And not to thrive but to dominant and hoard risking all other life in their greed for more and more. Winter Witch saw this and talked among the others, concerned if mankind was allowed to continue, what would happen to Mother Earth?

And because of man's greed for Mother Earth's wealth, a warming occurred from the factories and machines that created unlimited consumption for mankind. The toxic gasses heated the air and created great storms that brought floods and drought, but still mankind wanted more and more for themselves. The warming of Mother Earth concerned the seasons witches.

Winter Witch tried to cover the land in cold to cool the earth but had to leave when the Spring Witch came to renew and heal as much as she could. But the damage of men continued until Summer Witch came with heat that dried and caked the hard soil to try and prevent men from contaminating it further. It did no good and the Autumn Witch, the wisest of all the witches, grew worried. Would mankind kill all life in their quest for more and more? They might! Thought Autumn Witch.

Autumn Witch went to the king of the fairies asking what could be done? This could not go on to the peril of Mother Earth. The fairy king called a council to decide the best course of action. When they returned with a remedy, it was not good."We who know the Craft will survive, it is up to mankind to do good by Mother Earth or perish." The king of all fairies told Autumn Witch.

So the witch came back and told the others. Now, the witches of the seasons do what they can to keep nature in balance to this day. They have seen the seasons come and go long before humankind arrived and will continue should mankind fail to see their error. They have left it to us to come to our senses and find balance with our Mother Earth.

But will we?

The Witch of New Year

Now is when the witch of New Year looks for a fresh victim. Someone who lost their keys, or can't find their cell phone. A hapless soul caught on the very moment when a year has passed. She takes their time and from then on, they are a year off. They write checks for the past year, can't remember the day of the week and everything seems topsy-turvey to them for the whole year.

The witch of New Year has taken a year from them and she is now a year younger, never aging and she is very, very old, yet looks as sensuous as she did on her eighteenth birthday centuries upon centuries ago.

She walks among the party-goers, always quite fashionable, eyes turn her way, but she is on the hunt and looks at them in a different way. The person who pats their pocket to see if the keys and wallet are there. Someone who has picked up another's drink. In that moment of forgetfulness, just before they reach for drink or wallet, she takes their year exactly at the stroke of midnight. Now she needs to find the perfect victim for it was New Year's Eve.

A man of fine stature boldly steps in front of her as she walks down the street. He sees a great beauty, perfect for his party in upper Manhattan, a jewel to add to the mix. He tells her he couldn't help notice that she was a very beautiful woman and would she like to see New York from a penthouse full of famous people. He offers her his limo, the driver waiting patiently.

The witch of New Year sees a great opportunity and gladly accepts, offering the man her hand. He escorts her to the open cab of the limo where champagne and caviar wait. The witch enters the soft luxuries of wealth as comfortable to it as a cat curled by the fire.

They chat, he inquires of people he knows to see if they might have a common connection. She tells him she maintains an apartment here but lives, secluded, in Eastern Europe. His blue eyes twinkle when she smiles at him and tells him she is looking forward to a wonderful party, full of people.

He confirms there would be quite a crowd, for his luxury penthouse is the top two floors of the building. She sees he is quite handsome and must attract the same.

The limo pulls up to the curb of a fine building where the doorman opens the cab and offers his gloved hand to the witch. She is radiant, and the doorman feels what a privilege it is to assist such a beautiful woman. Her gown flows like raven black gossamer that sparkles with light here and there. She emits a sensuality that attracts everyone.

One of the great bands of the world plays and sings while people dance in a sea of writhing bodies as the witch of time gazes about. She glances at the diamonds on her wrist where her watch is precisely set. She has time and decides to dance with the one who brought her.

They are eye popping to watch. The beauty of both enhanced by the dance made them magical. People stopped to watch them in admiration as they moved to the rhythm of the music.  When it was over, he escorted her off the dance floor where many young men waited for a chance. But she wasn't interested, it was time to look about.

Leaving the gentlemen to yearn, she walked to the refreshments for a glass of champagne. It was there, she found her victim, fumbling for her eye glasses in a small silver purse. The prey was attractive but plain, like vanilla ice cream is to French vanilla. She obviously couldn't find them, for they hung around her neck from a glittering cord.

Perfect. The witch thought and walked to her.

"Hi, are you looking for these?" the witch asked with a smile as she touched the cord that held the glasses.

"Oh, thanks. That's why I put them on the chain!" The woman says with a laugh.  I'd lose my head too if it wasn't attached. My name's Dot."

The witch smiles and extends her hand. Mine is Zelda. I'm glad to meet someone else who loses things. Sometimes I think I could lose a whole year." The witch giggles with Dot at the little joke. "What are you drinking? Zelda asks.

"Oh, I can't find it and anyway, I thought I'd have a cola instead."

"Let me get it for you." The witch turns and quickly comes back with a glass of soda and places it near her champagne.

"That didn't take long,"

"It doesn't does it, I don't know why but when they see me, they come right up and ask what I'd like. Lovely party isn't it?"

"It is, I don't know what happened to my date. He's here somewhere and it's almost twelve. Are you excited about the new year?" Dot asks.

"Always, I've never missed a New Years party in my life."

"Oh, how wonderful. You must lead an interesting life, you look so young."

"Young looks but wisdom, my dear, of the ages. Look it's almost midnight, the band is about to play.

The large disk begins to descend. The countdown begins as the crowd shouts out each last second. And just before the very last second, Zelda asks Dot, "Where are you're glasses?"

Dot for one moment registers panic and grabs the chain around her neck only to find it's not there, she had put them in her purse earlier. Right then Zelda grabs her by the hand and holds her. The crowd roars, fireworks go off and everybody is screaming, Happy New Year!

"You're purse, don't you think?" Zelda says to Dot who  now has a very confused stare because she isn't sure of anything. She isn't sure where she is, or where her glasses are, or what year it is.

Zelda walks away and wanders through the crowd looking younger than ever. 

The Story Of Santa Claus And The Elves Of Frost.

A very long time ago, on the shore's of Greece, lived a very special man who's name was Nicholas. The fishing village loved him because he made people smile. He remembered everyone's birthday or if someone was in great need he left a gift. He'd place the gift in the villager's sock near where they slept. In the morning the recipient would be sure to find it, but not know who left it. That made the gift--a true gift.

Nicholas was special in other ways as well. He helped all creatures, not just his own kind. Because his heart was set true and his love for all so great, the elves of Frost showed themselves to Nicholas.

They became great friends and the elves told Nicholas of the many children all over the world that needed gifts, especially someone to come to them with only kindness in their heart even if they received nothing but to let them know they were loved. That someone, the elves of Frost said, was Nicholas.

But Nicholas would have to pay a great price to help so many children, the elves of Frost told him, Nicholas would have to go to their magic kingdom at the very top of the world. For there, they could work without being disturbed, and with the help of the elves, visit children all over the world.

Nicholas agreed but when the elves took him to their frosty palace it was much colder than his seaside village in Greece, he thought he would freeze. So the elves made him a very special garment weaved from the dreams of children. Now Nicholas would know what each child's heart held, both good and bad. The elves took the color red from a volcano to keep him warm and the color white from snow for trim so he didn't get too hot. His boots were sturdy shiny black from coal to keep him upright no matter where he went, and a matching hat to go with his shirt and pants. It made Nicholas look even more jolly than he already was.

Nicholas' life was very happy for now he could go to children everywhere and give them something even if it was only the gift of hope, for some children that was what they wanted most.

The children of the world remember getting a gift from someone they never met. A kindness when most needed, or a toy to cheer them but they never saw who until one fateful day. 

On a cold winter night in a little village not that far from where Nicholas grew up a child was born. The child's parents had fled their homeland because of war. They had no place to sleep, save a manger shared by farm animals to rest from the cold winter night. The animals gathered around the manger to shelter the child from the cold and keep the infant warm. Nicholas came that snowy night on a shining star and gave the child the gift of peace so that the family could return to their homeland.

  The child opened his eyes when he received his gift and saw Nicholas with his rosy cheeks smiling down at him. Then the child gave Nicholas a gift, that all children around the world would remember the man who bestowed love to all the children on that very special winter night. And to this day, children leave cookies and milk for the man christened Saint Nicholas who is so loved that children of all faiths and every land call him Santa Claus. 

The Imp Under The Bed

Tim woke from a noise he heard. It wasn't a squeak, it wasn't a creak, but a sound that came from under the bed. He pulled back the covers and climbed down to peer under the bed, but saw only a few wayward toys and a sock.

"Did the sock talk?" He asked himself as he reached for the items. "Maybe Johnny horse did or cowboy Bob."

But when he looked at them on top of his bed they said nor did nothing.Then the noise came again, a kind of squeak but not the kind a mouse makes. No, he thought, that was a hinge that made the noise.

It couldn't be a hinge because there was no door or gate under the bed, so how could a squeaky hinge make a noise right beneath him? Tim jumped off and looked again. He ran his hand over the floorboards, and save for a few dust bunnies, didn't feel a hinge.

He decided to lay down on the floor next to his bed and wait for the noise. He waited and waited, but not a squeak, not even a peep came from under the bed.

When his eyes grew weary and the floor too cold, Tim grabbed his blanket and pillow to settle in and wait on the floor for the sound. "Even if it takes all night," he said to himself.

The pillow was soft and warm, and though the floor was wood, the blanket made it a bit more comfortable. Tim looked very carefully at the floor. For now the full moon cast its rays through the pane window and lit the wood floor in an icy light.

A branch scratched the house outside and then came the creak. Tim opened his eyes to see the strangest creature he ever saw. Small with big ears, and hair all over, the creature helped himself up from an opening in the floor.

That's strange, Tim thought, I'm sure that wasn't there before. "

"Hello," said Tim. "How did you do that?"

The creature brushed off his shoulders and arms. "Do what?"

"Open a door in my bedroom floor."

"Oh, that. Well, it looks like your bedroom floor from where you are but it's not a floor at all to me."

"It's not?" Tim asked.

"No, not at all. I'm an Imp you know. We Imps go by a whole different order. You see, I'm tunneling at the moment."

Tim looked for a tunnel in the room but couldn't find one. "What tunnel?"

The Imp looked at Tim in the most astonishing way. He then opened the hatch again and said while pointing with his finger. "What's that if it's not a tunnel."

Tim had to admit that with the hatch opened there was a tunnel from where the Imp came. "I always thought the floor was the ceiling of our living room."

"Well it is to you but not to me. It's all very simple, you see I tunnel and when I came up from below I entered here. But, you see, it's only temporary, for I'll tunnel through the ceiling over there," he said pointing to a corner of the ceiling, "And I'll be in Calerdon."

"You mean on the other side of the ceiling there is a place, it's not the roof?" Tim was very confused.

"Calerdon is not a place, it's the most beautiful of cities of all Plexideria.

"I've never heard of it. I've been to Baltimore but I haven't heard of either of those other places."

"You don't get out much do you?" The Imp said in a pitiful way.

"Yes I do, weather permitting of course. Mostly to to the playground or school. But my friend, Jack and I have explored the river. As far as we are allowed of course."

"Well that's what I mean. You're limited."

"Limited?"

"Yes, you see for you, there is a ceiling and a floor."

"Oh." Tim wasn't sure what the Imp meant, because of course the ceiling and floor have always been there. The tunnel and hatch, now that was new.

"Its alright," said the Imp, "You're not that limited. Here we are talking about tunneling, ceilings and floors. Now there are a lot of humans that can't."

"Why's that?"

"They weren't keen enough to search like you. Something got your curiosity and you investigated it until you found about it. You heard the hinge didn't you."

"Yes, I did." Tim brightened up and smiled.

"There was a glitch when I mounted the hatch and I meant to oil that hinge and didn't, my bad."

"Oh, I'm glad to meet you and hear about tunnels in the ceiling and floor."

"That's good. Usually it's not the case. Some have quite a fright." The Imp made a face and stuck out his tongue, making Tim laugh. "Yes, well I'm off. Better get back in bed before dawn comes. Don't you think?"

The Imp threw a rope ladder up in the air and it caught on the ceiling. Then the Imp grabbed the ladder and his round hairy body seemed to glide up the rope ladder to the ceiling. There he pulled out a hatch from the bag he had with him and slapped it on the ceiling. He then smoothed the hatch before he pulled out an oil can for a squirt of lubricant on the two hinges.

Tim stood next to his bed, his mouth gaped as he watched the Imp open the hatch. Then the Imp helped himself up, turned and waved at Tim before he climbed and stood in a place that should have been the roof but was a beautiful sunny day in a strange forest. The Imp then grabbed the rope ladder and pulled it up, putting it in his bag. When the hatch closed, it disappeared and only the ceiling was left just like it was before.

Tim looked at the clock on his desk before he climbed back in bed. He couldn't wait to tell his friends what happened and wondered if he should mention any of this to his parents. They never mentioned Imps living in the house.

In the morning at breakfast, Tim told his mom and dad that he met an Imp who was tunneling from the floor to the ceiling in his room and did they know about Imps?

When his mother gave him his stack of blueberry pancakes, she said, "Dear, I hope you're not bringing creatures from the river into your room, like the frog you and Jack brought home one day."

"No, he was already here. He came out of the floor and tunneled to the ceiling."

"You know your mom doesn't want you to bring wild things in the house. Now you let it go first thing when you go out today. Alright son?"

Tim was about to argue but decided instead to agree with his dad. "I will."

"Promise?" asked his father.

"I promise."

Later in the day, when Tim met up with Jack, he asked him if he ever seen an Imp. Jack wanted to know what one looked like and where did he see him. But when Tim told about the Imp coming out from under the bed and climbing up to the ceiling, opening it up, Jack looked bewildered.

"Maybe you had a bad dream." Jack said.

But Tim didn't think it was bad, he wasn't even frightened by it and remembered what the Imp said about not everyone being able to see these things because they lacked curiosity.

That day, as Tim and Jack explored the river, Tim began to notice more and more things, for his curiosity gave him a keen eye. A leaf fluttered and moved and when he looked carefully, he saw a small faerie lifting the leaf to blink at him and smile. Jack saw more and more creatures from the magic kingdoms he read about in books and they were as real as anything else.

He asked Jack if he saw anything unusual, especially when a water sprite sitting on the back of a catfish came near the river's edge, but Jack only saw the catfish albeit a very big catfish. That's when the whole world opened to Tim. He now could see things nobody he knew could and wondered what it all meant. 

Putter Patter and the Cockoo

 There once lived an elf named Putter Patter. He lived in the Black forest of Germany and was a very happy elf. He spent most days warming his hands and feet as he sat with a pint of ale, smoking his pipe at a cozy forest inn. If anyone in the village needed something repaired they would look for Putter Patter at the inn. The villager would tell the elf what was broken, or sometimes they would ask if he could make something for them, such as a cabinet or chair. Putter Patter would look at their need and either fix or make what they needed.

This was a fine arrangement for the village, who kept the elf happy with tobacco and ale while he toasted his toes at the inn's hearth. And the inn enjoyed having the elf as a guest. When wayfarers stayed, he delighted in a chat about roads and paths needed for destinations. Elves, as everyone knows, live a very long time and know every inch of the forest and its glens.

As time went by the village grew more prosperous, and people wanted something to tell the time. They needed clocks, so the town council went to Putter Patter to see if he had an idea of a clock they could use. For clocks at that time were very, very rare. Putter Patter placed his chin in his hand and puffed his pipe in thought. The fire crackled and popped, as he pondered the subject. The council stood waiting for his ideas with an occasional good soul handing the elf another pint of ale or tobacco for his pipe.

While Putter Patter steeped deep in thought, a cuckoo bird called outside the window. "Cuc-koo, Cuc-koo," the bird sang out.

Suddenly the elf stood up and snapped his fingers. "I've got it!" He cheered.

Off he ran to his workshop made within the trunk of a great oak, opened the door and went right to his tools and wood. He sawed and hammered, hammered and sawed. Putter Patter rang bells, blew whistles and sounded horns, but he just wasn't satisfied with what he heard. He tinkered and whittled, he sawed and hammered some more but for him it didn't sound quite the right tone for a forest clock, it needed the soul of the forest to sound just right for him.

While he sat to ponder what to do,  a cuckoo bird sang outside the window, "Cuck-koo, Cuc-koo." Putter Patter jumped up, grabbed one of his clocks, and ran out the door toward the cuckoo bird in the limb of his oak tree.

The elf held up his clock and said, "Mr. Cuckoo. Dear fellow, would you put your voice in my box?"

The cuckoo looked at the clock in the elf's hand and shook his head no.

"And why not?" Asked the elf for he thought his clocks had a fine quality to them.

"What kind of home is that for a bird? it looks like a clock.

Putter Patter looked at his creation. It had a bright blue front with pillars at the corners to hold up the flat roof. The dial was bright brass that twinkled in the light. Then he thought about what the cuckoo bird said.

"Mr. Cuckoo, would you be kind enough to come back tomorrow? I have an idea of what you might like."

"Very good," said the cuckoo.

Putter Patter looked about the forest where he had lived all his life. For the first time, he looked closely at each leaf and twig of the great oak, he looked at the branches and everything around him with the keenest of eye. The elf then went back  inside and began to work. His wood chisel grooved and his file smoothed, he cut and hammered, hammered and cut all through the day and night.

In the morning, as dawn warmed the day, Putter Patter held the new clock up to the window and smiled.  He went to his stove and heated water for tea to wait until the cuckoo called. With his mug of tea, he went to his rocker, sat down and lit his pipe.

After his second cup, he heard the cuckoo. With his new clock in hand, Putter Patter walked outside to greet the bird.

"Well, what do you think?" Asked Putter Patter.

The bird flew down for a closer look. The clock had carved oak leaves and branches with acorns, and a carved wood cuckoo at the top. The face and hands were made with different color woods. The roof slanted to keep the rain and snow off. It was a very handsome clock indeed. But something wasn't quite right.

"How would I sing?" Asked the cuckoo.

"Ah!, let me show you."

Putter Patter put his clock on a hook and set the pine cone weights to hang. Then he turned the carved wood hands until they went to the hour. The clock banged with a gong and a door over the face opened. Out popped a beautiful carved cuckoo.

"Oh, that's so much better. And you captured my real look. Let me fly inside."

With that, Putter Patter opened the back of the clock to let the cuckoo in and held it up for the bird's inspection. In a quick flight, the cuckoo landed inside and asked the elf to shut him in and turn the clock to the hour.

Putter Patter did what was asked and when the little door over the dial opened the tiny cuckoo came out and sang, "Cuc-koo," for each hour.

The elf opened the back again to let the bird out. The cuckoo flew high into the branches and sang as loud as he could to draw all the creatures of the forest to see what the elf made.

Deer and squirrels, owls, foxes and bears all came to the see what the elf had done. When all the creatures of the forest settled about, Putter Patter put the clock to work for the noon hour.

When the hands of the cock hit noon, the cuckoo clock banged and the door opened. The carving of the cuckoo came out and sung, "Cuckoo," for each hour.

All the creatures loved this thing called a clock, though they didn't understand why humans needed such a thing. Creatures only need the sun and stars to tell you when it's time to eat or sleep. But they congratulated the elf on his new invention for humans anyway. The elf beamed with the praise, for it was one thing to fix a squeaky door and sit by the fire with a pint, but to hear the forest creatures give him credit was best of all.

Putter Patter made many, many cuckoo clocks. He carved the images of all the creatures that came that day on his cuckoo clocks after that. And to this day, cuckoo clocks look like the forest they came from, otherwise, the cuckoo won't sing. 

Zendor The Witch, Taker Of Souls

Deep in a cave that sits on top a high mountain, Zendor the witch gazed at a crystal ball. In cages going far back inside the cave were the living souls of children crying for their parents. She loves to hear their pleas and wails, it is music to her ears.

She peers into the crystal for more souls to capture in the night and add to her collection. Two children, twins born only a few days before can be seen. A worthy prize, she thinks and cackles in amusement while holding the globe up high for the souls of children held in the cages to see as well. When the children wailed and cried for her to stop, she laughed even louder.

The baby boy and girl lay in their cribs guarded night and day by the king's soldiers, for these were the children of the king and queen of the realm. Their castle sat on a high cliff with only one road to the gate. The villagers, in the valley below, complained to the king of their children's soul's taken from them, for they were left with babies that didn't cry or laugh, the children without souls found no interest in parties, parades, toys, puppies or kittens. They just sat and stared out the window at other children that played and danced, read books, and wished on stars.

The king sent for a wizard known to live deep in a primeval forest. But he could not be found, for the wizard was wise to mankind and their need for more wealth and power.

Zendor the witch plotted and planned. She sent rats and bats to spy on the castle, and black widow spiders to hear everything within the castle walls. So she knew the king was in search of the great wizard. This presented a problem, she thought, but not sure what he might do, if anything, since he detested mankind for its greed. She would have to plan her theft very carefully this time she thought.

One day a carnival came to the kingdom. They sat up tents on the outskirts of the village with bright banners and flags. They had sword swallowers, fire eaters, and trained ponies that carried pretty women who performed acrobatics on the backs of steeds. A man with a very large hat and short legs stood on a stool beckoning people to see women with beards, and men so hairy they looked like wolves. Snakes with a dozen heads and a goat who's head could turn in a complete circle were available for all to gaze upon.

As the citizens wandered the carnival grounds, the king's soldiers looked closely at the carnies and their tents. They looked in barrels and bags, they looked at the ponies and even felt in the beards of the bearded ladies but found nothing unusual. Still though they kept a close eye on everyone for the guards were suspicious.

No news came to the king of the wizard. The prince and princess had guards night and day for their children, they were never left alone no matter if asleep or awake, for two sentries always stood next to them.

Everyone went to the carnival, even people in other kingdoms heard of the wonders and traveled great distances to see the performers and strange creatures that harbored inside tents. They marveled at the acts and when it was announced that the last day of the carnival there would be a fireworks display not like any other. As word spread more people gathered on the last day when the moon was only a sliver in the far horizon.

It was a spectacular day on the last day of the carnival for all day entertainers meandered about to keep the crowds entertained and for no charge. There was cotton candy swirled in clouds of pink, yellow and blue, and ice-cold lemonade for any child. There were games to win teddy bears and dolls and as the the sky darkened, people began to gather in the fields around the carnival to have the best view.

When night's blanket covered the sky and stars twinkled in the firmament, the first firework flew high. It whistled all the way into the sky with a shrill noise it made before a boom rang out and the sky turned brilliant sparkling colors. Then more rockets, and more, until the whole sky looked like one giant waterfall of colored light, sparkling and shining brighter than the sun.

Suddenly the show ended with the sky going dark again. It went very dark without anyone able to see the stars again. That's when people began to notice that they couldn't see each other. They couldn't see anything. It may have been a good thing too. For when the sky darkened the entertainers turned back into rats, wolves and bears that scattered into the forest leaving everyone else to wander aimlessly.

For three days and nights the people couldn't see. They wandered about, some to untimely deaths, until they realized everyone was blind and decided to wait for help. But that help never came. On the fourth day their sight began to come back and finally, after a full day, their sight returned.

Everyone was so grateful see again that they didn't realize a very strange thing. All the children were quiet, they never left where they stood on the night of the fireworks, but stared with blank eyes. No crying or laughter did these children make. That's when people saw each child had lost their soul. The king and queen ran to bed chamber where their children slept and with a sharp gasp of breath turned their babies over to see eyes with only slits opened that looked at nothing.

Throughout the kingdom the wails of mothers and fathers could be heard. The king and queen, frantic to find someone who could help, went to the king of faeries themselves to beseech his intervention. After the king and queen of the realm left the faeries talked among themselves, for none of the magical beings in the world were fond of humans, their greed being a problem for all sprites. But to hear so many unhappy creatures and know how they would feel if such a fate befell their children, decided to intervene.

The reason no human could locate the great wizard was that only those in possession of magical abilities could find him. It wasn't hard for the king of the faeries to do. He opened the East door of the castle and walked into a beautiful realm where cuckoo birds called among the great oak trees and followed a running brook jumping with trout. When the king of the faeries came to a cave, where the brook sprang from, he took his scepter and banged the end against a nearby rock. It rang out like a temple bell, deep and loud.

Soon after, the great wizard appeared at the entrance of the cave. "Come in dear friend and tell me what brings you hear?" He asked of the faerie king.

"I think you know, but let's talk of this matter and see what can be done."

The great wizard bowed before he beckoned the king inside to his great hall. The vast room sparkled with cut gemstones protruding from the cavern's walls. It was like walking into a mineral glowing vibrant with colors. He led his guest to one particular group of crystals and asked the king of faeries to look.

What he saw were all the children held captive by Zendor. He saw their sad ghost like faces imprisoned and wanting to be back in their bodies. "There is a great many of them isn't there," the king finally said.

"Yes, far too many. We need to restore balance my friend and I'll need your help and that of the humans."

"You know you have mine, and I'm sure that of the humans, but we should ask them, I think."

"Let me know their answer for they will have to give up all their wealth to have the children back."

So the king of the faeries went to the king of the realm and said they had a plan but it would require the entire wealth of the realm. All jewels and gold must be turned over, anything of value so that the only thing left would be the clothes on your back and the roof over your head. The king agreed and set out to gather all the wealth.

He went to each villager far and wide, and in great heaps carted off all possessions leaving only the clothes on their backs and a home for shelter. Those that protested, the king took to his castle and showed them the bare floors with not a chair to sit on. No crown on the king's head and no rings on his fingers. Everything was brought out of the castle and stacked. So those that hesitated saw the king was a good king and did the same.

When everyone's possessions lay in front of the castle the king bid the faerie king to come and see that they did as instructed for none of the humans could bear seeing children with no soul. No amount of money was worth that.

The faerie king looked over all the things and in a flash, everything vanished from sight. "You must now wait," he said, before he too disappeared from sight.

And the humans did. They toiled the soil for bread and kept nothing that came their way save to keep clothes on themselves and a bit of food on the table. Day and night parents waited for the return of their children's souls. 

One day a peddler came to Zendor. He wanted to bargain and had many things that the witch might need in exchange for some of the souls of her captive children. She wasn't much interested, the fine jewels, silks, barrels of flour and butter didn't appeal to her nearly as much as listening to the cries of children.

The peddle offered herds of cows and goats. Cheeses, carts, donkeys and chickens. He showed her crowns of gold that glittered with diamonds. But the wail of souls soothed her to sleep she said, and how could she sleep without their pitiful pleads.

He finally unveiled a cabinet, the door made of glass so that you could see inside. It was big enough to fit two people, three would be a bit crowded. "I doubt you would be interested in this since nobody else is."

The witch looked at it with some curiosity. "What is it?"

"A travel machine of course." You can travel anywhere by getting in and saying where you want to go." He told her, "It's useless for anything else, and people don't like it because it can't hold much."

The witch thought it over before she asked how many souls for the travel machine. Which the peddler said, "I only need two, for their cries keep pesky children away."

She had so many, she thought, what would the loss of two be among all the crying souls, and a travel machine might be useful.

"Alright, you can have two but first show me how to use the machine."

"Very good and I'll be rid of carrying this around with me." He opened the door and stepped in , then beckoned the witch to do the same.

 Zendor stepped in before she turned to face the glass door as if in an elevator.

"Now where would you like to go? 

"To the top of the highest mountain."

"Very good. Now make up a rhyme that tells the machine where you want it to go."

The witch thought a moment, " Take me high, to the highest mountain, where I can see both land and sea "

There was a shudder in the cabinet when suddenly the cabinet stood on top the highest mountain where the witch could see both land and sea. The witch was delighted and opened the door to step out.

She smiled to feel the shock of cold and a view so far up. Then she got back in the booth. 'I'll take it."

"Very well," said the peddler, " Take us back from where we came, take us to where souls cry and wail."

Another shudder occurred before they came back to Zendor's cave and the wailing souls of children.

They stepped out with the witch excited about the travel machine, but still hesitant to part with any children. She still wasn't sure if it was worth two souls.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that you can travel anywhere, even the stars if one want, but who would want to go to a star?"

The witch very much wanted too, for she had heard from a rat that said he had seen the great wizard himself, of a distant star that gave anyone who went there, great magical powers. The Wizard star, and it was said it held a fountain with the water of magic.

"It might be useful. Alright then, do you have a preference of souls?"

"No, just as long as they scream loud so as to ward off pesky children who only want candy, but not to buy."

She went to a cell and said a magic spell. The cage opened and the witch fished about before she caught two souls. She placed them in a bird cage and then handed the cage to the peddler. "There you are, now be off with you, for I have work to do.

The peddler gathered all his belongings before he started his walk back to the base of the mountain. When he was well on his way, the witch stepped into the travel machine and with a shudder it disappeared. At that moment, the great wizard transformed himself from a lizard nearby and went to the cages of souls. He said the magic spell he heard the witch whispered, and all the cages opened. Then he led the souls of the children back to his camp below and soon they each found their way back home where their bodies lay waiting.

The whole land was happy, for the laughter of children could be heard and everyone agreed, their happiness was worth all the gold in the world. And the witch, try as she might could not get back to her cave, for it no longer held the souls of wailing children.

The Meanest Witch that Ever Was.

There once was a witch so mean she had only stone soup to eat. Nothing alive could stand to be around her. Not even the trees and ferns of the forest could stand living nearby, and because of that it left her cottage barren, save for the rocks in the earth. On occasion though, some poor hapless soul would wander to close and then end up flavoring the broth of her stone soup. She was so mean that whatever she caught would flavor a soup more than once before she ate them whole.

In the same kingdom lived a goblin who loved everyone he met. If it wasn't for being very, very ugly, as goblins tend to be, he would be the most popular creature in the kingdom. Still, some people and creatures of the forest, took the time to know him.  Once they got over how terribly horrible he looked, which took some doing, they found him quite the fun fellow.

One spring day the village in the forest of this kingdom decided it would be good to hold a fair in a nearby meadow. Everyone was invited, there would be booths for merchants from all over to show their goods and a farmer's market with baked breads, pies and cookies. People could spend the day to get to know their neighbors and shop for things not found in the village.

As word spread, far and wide, the fair grew and grew each year. It was the biggest event the kingdom hosted and with the word spread among all the people that came, and all the goods that could be had, even the meanest witch got word albeit from a tasty victim.

The goblin had a kissing booth. Quite popular because young people would dare each other to kiss such a hideous creature, and as always, the goblin would make friends with his easy, laughing ways. He had the booth not so much to make money, although it was nice, but to show people it's best not to judge someone by how they look until you get to know them. Some of his friends had said he was 'kinda cute in an ugly sort of way.' It always made him smile.

The meanest witch ever thought how delightful to be so mean that she could ruin the whole event. A catastrophe so terrible that no one would ever come to the fair again. It would be her meanest most horrible act ever, and that made her smile.

The day the fair opened was the best day of the whole year. The meadow was thick and green with wildflowers. The sun shown the brightest, and the sky the bluest that anyone could ever remember. The fair launched kites and flags to flutter and play in a gentle breeze that kept the air cool while the sun warmed. Merchants polished and painted their booths before donning them with wares from every corner in the world to entice even the most miserly to buy. Minstrels gathered here and there to coax those listening to have a pint of ale and a song. It was so delightful and everyone very excited to go to the fair that day. So was the meanest witch and the ugliest goblin.

When everyone was at the fair, and all enjoying themselves, the witch showed up. She spilled the drinks of children to make them cry, turned wildflowers brown and dead, changed the pitch of the musicians instruments so they sounded like cats fighting and even cut the strings on the kites flying in the wind, she was that mean.

People began to avoid her as quick as possible, many leaving the fair in fear of her meanness as she walked around the fair grounds pulling down shelves of merchandise and overturning booths. But when she got to the ugliest goblin's kissing booth she stopped.

She stared at the sign above his booth that read, "Do You Dare To Kiss The Ugliest Goblin?"

The witch had to ponder this, because she had never kissed anyone let alone a goblin. It came to her mind that this would be the perfect topping to her day, to kiss a goblin and he would never kiss anyone again.

She gathered her dress and walked up to the booth to peer inside. What she saw was the hideous goblin smiling at her and then he threw her a kiss. She stumbled back in shock.

Once recovered from the blown kiss the witch thought of turning him into a toad but he was uglier than a toad so that wouldn't do. She thought for a moment before she approached the booth again. When she did, he winked at her. That got her anger stirred up.

The witch gathered herself up and walked up to the booth once again,"You're the ugliest creature on earth. How can you live with yourself being so ugly? Why don't you jump off a cliff, you hideous thing you."

The goblin laughed and then patted the chair next him, "Come here and let the most hideous thing you ever saw give you a kiss."

"Kiss you," she said, "Why I wouldn't kiss a creature so ugly as you. You could give me warts."

"You're afraid aren't you. The meanest witch that ever was is afraid of kissing an ugly goblin."

Now the witch was really flustered. "I'm not afraid of you. You should be afraid of me. I'm so mean nobody likes me."

"I like you," and with that he blew her another kiss.

"Stop doing that this instant."

"I won't until you kiss me." Then he blew her several more kisses."

The witch grew so furious that storm clouds formed overhead and lightening flashed. She stomped her feet and the ground turned black as coal before she humphed and puffed herself to twice her size.

Once the witch got control of  herself and straightened her dress, she turned again to the goblin, "Alright, I'll kiss you and watch if you don't turn to stone because I'm so mean."

"Go ahead and try if you like."

The goblin patted the seat next to him and beckoned the witch to sit for a kiss. She smiled and sat next to him. He puckered his big slimy green lips with warts and moles before he leaned over and planted a kiss right on the witch's lips.

At first she almost gagged, feeling the warty lips and the slime that oozed from them. But then something strange happened, the goblin's mouth felt warm and comforting. She felt a strange tingle in her toes that went all the way up to the top of her head. Her witch's head felt a bit dizzy and her witch heart beat faster than ever before.

The goblin broke off the kiss and stared, dreamy eyed at the witch as she smiled at him. They had fallen in love. Suddenly, where the earth beneath her feet had turned black, it now was green with fresh grass. The storm clouds above vanished and everyone seemed more at ease at the fair.

The two spent the day at the fair making wreaths of flowers for the children and dancing to the music. They spent that day and the day after together. They hugged and laughed and played with the town's children whom they taught lessons in making the world a better place.

And above the cottage where the smell of mushroom and wildflower soup floated in the air, was a sign. 'All you need is Love.' That's where the ugliest goblin and the meanest witch lived for ever after.