The story

The Garden

By Katherine Anderson

Inspired by Josephine Wall

I would like to dedicate this story to my Grandmothers, Mothers, Little Sisters, Daughter, Aunts, and Great Aunt.  May those that are still here share it with the many children that their lives touch!  For those that have gone before us may they each find their place in The Garden.

I would hope that this story helps young and old alike to remember how important it is to pass on, and receive the teaching and stories of our families.

Katy was awakened in the night by strange sounds and smells.  She had gone to bed in her canopy bed and read a fairy story just hours before, but now as she gazed up there were stars above her, not the familiar flora print.  Katy had often dreamed of a fairy place so she pinched her self to see if she was really awake.  "Ouch!" she said and heard some one giggle softer than soft.  "Who was that?" she said with caution. 

"Me!"  A small whisper of wind or grass tinkled in her ear. 

"Who's me and where are you?" she asked not quite sure if she had heard anything or if it was just the night breezes playing tricks on her.

"My name is Blue Bell and you can't see me because you're too big."  Then the air filled with the sound of hundreds of tiny bells tinkling all around her.

Just then the moon, which had been hiding behind a cloud, popped out filling the night with a sudden unexplained brightness.  Katy who had been lying quite still sat up, straining to see where the beautiful tinkling was coming from.  She saw no one at all.  She gazed in wonder at this place, for the moon seemed to strike every dew drop causing them to sparkle like a stars sending out little beams of there own in every direction.

"Be careful! Don't move!"  Katy froze, almost scared, by now she was still not sure what she heard but listened and did not move.  A soft breeze touched her ear again and tickled her.  "Don't move.  Let us help you.  OK?"

"How?" Katy asked in a whisper half to her self. 

"We will make you small like us" answered the voice "then you will be able to see us and come to the party." 

Katy liked parties.   But smaller!   She was already quite small.

You see Katy was 4 almost 5 years old and had worked all summer on growing up for her first year in school.  Her mother had said over and over if you want to go to school you have to grow up and act like a young lady.  The acting like a young lady she thought she had done quite well on, but the up growing seemed almost impossible. Every day she had someone mark on the wall to see if all the stretching to the sky and hanging from the clothesline had helped any at all.  She had only grown up about the length of an inchworm.

"Well!"   The voice asked with impatience.  "Do you want to come and join in the fun or not?"  

With hesitation Katy answered.  "Well for one night it might be all right."  

Laughter came again from all around.  "Good!" said the voice.  Then in a high pitched yell which sounded more like the squeak of a mouse "come on and help me I don't want to use all my magic up. If we all give a little she should get small enough."

The air suddenly filled with gold and silver swirls of pollen like dust. Katy was gazing with such awe for a second she forgot to breathe. As the dust fell on her it felt so comforting she sighed and took a deep breath in.  "A--choo! A--choo! A--choo!"  Katy sneezed. "That's enough!" The voice said with force. "That's enough! Don't waste it!"

Katy could hardly breathe and her eyes filled with tears from the dust.  "Oh dear," she thought this must be what Daddy says is allergies.  Many times she had seen her Daddy all choked up with what he called allergies.  She closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands.

"Hello! You can uncover your face now the dust is settling.  Sorry!  We sometimes forget that humans are not accustomed to a great deal of our magic dust or pollen as you call it."

Still gasping a little, Katy slowly moved her hands, and blinked her tear filled eyes to focus on a small round glowing face.

"Hello! I am Blue Bell.   What is your name?"  

"I am Katy. A-Choo! What happened?" 

"You are small. Come on, we have to go, or we will miss it," Blue Bell stated with

excitement.  Grabbing Katy by the hand she started to drag her along half running.  "Come on! Come on!" 

"Wait! Wait! Where are we going?  Miss what?"  Katy was trying to keep up, but was not sure if she should follow this overly excited person or not.

Blue Bell slowed a little to answer her question "The calling of the Great One and the beginning of the Fair.   It is so pretty! Hurry! Hurry!"

Blue bell tugged and pulled Katy down a small path.  Still blinking and trying to focus, Katy saw what looked like a thick forest all around her, except the trees were funny shaped, looking more like large blades of grass and flowers then trees.

"We are almost there, just one more Minch." 

"Minch! What kind of word is that?"  Katy asked Blue Bell. 

"Well, you know like one of your… what do you people call it? Umm a mile, yes it's a mile only smaller for you, the size of an inchworm.  That is if you were still big, tee-he tee-he."  Blue Bells laugh was still like a little bell ringing only louder now.

Katy didn't have time to think about it and wondered how small she was. A mile compared to an inch?  It was just under a mile to the school were she would soon be going, and her Mother had taken her there and back to show her the fastest safest route to walk when she started.  Mother had said she was always to walk the same way.  Just in case she needed to find Katy, she would know were to look.  That trip one way had taken about thirty minutes to walk, but they were running now.  Soon they came upon a group of child looking people going the same way.

"Wait for us!" Blue Bell squeaked.

"Hurry!"  The group answered back. "Come on slow pokes!"

They joined the group, and Katy was introduced all around.  There was DewDrop, a pale, almost opaque girl with a watery brook sounding voice.  Then Watermelon, a boy with bright red hair, who seemed to be trying to cover it up with what, looked like an acorn cap.  He preferred being called Melon.  Next was Pansy a girl with the face of a pansy, all bright and happy.  Jumping beside her was Pansy's brother Johnny Jump-up.  Quite the bouncy bobbing fellow he was.  And finally Iris with all the beauty, dignity, graces, and height that one might expect.  Iris seemed to be the group leader; she was after all the tallest. 

"Enchanted to meet you Katy, I am so overwhelmed with joy that you decided to join our little Gala!" Iris said as she curtsied in a most elegant way.

"Thank you for inviting me, I am so pleased to make your acquaintance," Katy said as she tried to curtsy and act 'lady like', the way she had been taught by her mother.

"Oh, enough with all that fu-fu stuff. Let's get going.  We are going to be late, and I don't want to miss the start!"  Melon stated with impatience.

Then out of the thick forest a slow moving gray-faced boy approached.  "Hello my name is Oak," he said in a low slow voice. 

"You are always last" Dewdrop trickled out. 

"Well what would you expect from the slow growing steady Oak," he replied. 

"Slow growing is right, how are old are you?   Twenty or so and still shorter than the other trees," Melon said.

Katy thought what a strange conversation, he was a boy, and not a tree, wasn't he?

As they walked along Katy asked Blue Bell about the conversation and what they had meant.

"Well that is what we are, the essence of or the spirit of the plants and things in the garden."  "Oh I thought you were fairies." 

"Oh no!"  She tingled, "though we are often confused with them, you will get to meet some at the fair tonight.  They preside over it, and put it on for us, because they care for us."

This place sure was strange Katy was thinking, when they reached a small clearing and joined a large group under the umbrella of a starry sky.

"Well, are we all here?"  A very dignified and prickly voice said. 

"That's Rose Red," Dewdrop trickled quietly.  "She starts the dedication."

"Quiet now!  Quiet! Join hands and make the circle."  Rose Red was beautiful with dark red hair and the reddest lips and cheeks.  "My sister Wild Rose Yellow will be calling our fairy friends this evening."

Wild Rose Yellow started chanting and all joined in:      

You left us here all alone.

Come home, come home

To your own.

Spinning, spinning through the air

Your fairy wings are so fair."

The circle of little people started moving counter clockwise slowly at first then faster and faster.  Katy noticed her feet had left the ground and they were all now running in mid-air. Then with a sudden flash of brightness, a swirling light with all the colors of a prism formed in the middle of the circle.  The light grew brighter and brighter in the center as the circle rose higher and higher and stared to slow.  Katy was now able to see quite a long ways off and thought she knew this place.  It was a garden full of trees and flowers and plants of all kinds.

"Do you know where you are now," Blue Bell whispered.

"Yes. I know this place, I think?  It's my grandmother's garden."   As she said this the prism of light broke sending shards of light out in all directions.  At its center appeared a fairy. She seemed to be dressed in all the colors of the rainbow and was spinning around and around.  As the fairy spun more fairies joined her.  Each one had its own color. They were red, green, yellow, blue, purple, and many other colors, each one just a little different than the last so no two were alike. 

They were all floating high above the garden now and Katy wondered how high they were.  She looked again at the garden all around and below her.   Yes, she said to herself, this is my grandmother's garden. 

A couple weeks ago Grandma had been working in the garden. She was showing Katy and some of the children that lived in the neighborhood a few of the secrets of the garden. 

She was telling them stories of the different plants and how each had a little spirit.  Wanting to play rather than learn about the everyday work of tending a garden, Katy had not listened very well.  Grandmother had told the children many times that the garden was full of magic but Katy had never seen any of the garden magic she spoke of and certainly had not seen any of the little people she told stories about.  Grandmother would love this, Katy thought, as her feet touched the ground.  She had not been watching and had not noticed how they had all floated back down.

The Great Fairy spoke now:

From far and near

We come to you dear

We brighten your night.

Why have you called us so early this year?

We come for an answer to enlighten our ears.

The Great Fairy spoke every word as if she were reciting a poem.

Rose Red answered, "We know it is not quite time for the fall festival but we had to start early this year because the Lady Katherine is near."

"Yes, I have seen her.

Where has she flown?

Katherine dear

Come out to your own."

From out of nowhere a small fairy tumbled; she was smaller than all the rest and had almost no bright color around her at all. 

"I. . . I. . . I'm here.   I am…ooops…here."   She almost fell tripping over her wings.

"Why are you here?

Your time is not near,

You haven't passed on

Your happiness and cheer."

"I am sorry great one. I fear I have not been able to pass on the secrets of the garden.  It is so hard in today's world of T.V. and video games to keep the children's' attention for any reason, let alone a garden."

Katy was thinking how much this fairy looked like an old picture of Grandmother Katherine she had seen, when Grandma was a young girl not much older than Katy was now.

"Katy! Jamie!"  The Great Fairy called.

"Katy and Jamie

Where have you hidden?

Don't be afraid,

You are forgiven."

Jamie was Katy's twin brother, but she had not seen him until now.

"I am here," Jamie said, as he popped out from the crowd, "I am here," bowing low.

Blue Bell pushed Katy, "step up." 

"I am here also," Katy stammered with a curtsey to the Great Fairy.

Jamie ran to Katy "Oh good!  You have finally come.  Isn't it beautiful, isn't it grand?"

"Finally?" Katy asked.  "What do you mean?   You act as if you have been here before!" 

"Oh yes, many times," Jamie stated with pride.  "I have even seen Grandpa and talked with him about Mom and us and Grandma.   Especially Grandma, he likes to talk about her." 

"Grandpa here? But he's . . ."

"Oh no,"  Jamie interrupted. 

Someone cleared their throat.  "Uuum" 

"Well in our world he is gone.  But here he's quite well and happy," Jamie finished.

Katy thought this was all very strange.  Grandpa had 'passed on' as the adults called it and gone to heaven, so she was told about a year ago.  She sure missed him and missed sitting at his feet as he peeled an apple in one big spiraling circle.  Then he sliced off pieces giving them to her off the tip of his pocketknife.  And she missed him at Christmas cracking walnuts by putting two in one of his great big hands and squeezing them until one of them 'popped.'

"Grandpa here?  Where is he?"  She had tears in her eyes as she looked around in all directions.  Katy remembered that Grandma had not called him by his name very often so that the children would not be confused.

The Great Fairy spoke: 

"Little farmer Blue you can come out now and give us a bow."

From out of what looked like a high branch came a bright blue fairy, most handsome indeed.  He landed with grace between the Great Fairy and the two children, bowing so low that the tips of his wings touched the ground in front of him.  "At your service, my lady" he stated with great dignity.

"This is your garden, your farm,

You must fix this before any harm.    

Yes my lady, I see your point,

My family seems to be out of joint."

The little fairy ran toward him, turning pinker as she drew near.

"Stop!"  He said and she seemed to fade as she did.  "I love you my dearest with all my heart and soul, mind and body, everything I am or ever will be . . ." She brightened a little as he said this.  "But it is not time for you to join me."

"I miss you," she whispered.    

"Yes I know, but I have been here with you all along.  Think, Katherine, when you are out in the Garden haven't you felt as if something touched your face?  It was I, giving you kisses to brighten your day."

Katherine seemed to fade a little more this time, but without the sadness as before.

"You must go back and teach our young grandchildren all that you can, for you gave the garden life and without your teaching it cannot survive."

"I understand," Katherine said with determination and faded away.

'Where did she go?" Katy asked with excitement.

"Home." Jamie answered.        

"But why?'

"To get well, what else!"

Grandma had been quite ill for about a week now and had not tended the garden or even risen from bed.  Mother had told the children to water and Jamie had tried weeding, but he needed help and Katy did not like getting muddy and dirty.  She was a girl after all.

"Jamie, what will happen if she doesn't get well?  Will she come back here?"  Katy asked.

The Great Fairy answered for Jamie. 

"Yes Katy. That is what is to be,

Someday if the Garden it tended most tenderly."     

Grandpa wrapped Katy in his arms and said, "you see for now Grandma must stay with you and teach you.  My sweet Katy, you do understand the Garden will die without your loving hands?"

            Katy cuddled up close remembering his soft, strong embrace. "And you Grandpa?"  She whispered stroking his face.

"I would fade away until someone came to brighten my day."

"Oh no!  Just the thought of you here is enough reason for me to help.  I'm sorry for not helping before, but I did not understand what Grandma was trying to show me."

"Hooray!  Hip-hip hooray!" Katy had all but forgotten the little people all around her.  Jamie ran hugging both of them than turning to the Great Fairy said thank you and bowed.

"You're quite welcome young man,

Now let us celebrate our new loving hands."

Everyone cheered and began singing and dancing all around.

The Great Fairy floated down to Katie and Jamie, touching them with her wand.

"My children 'til dawn you can stay.

Than hurry, hurry you must away."

You are always welcome

Back to this enchanted place. 

Remember always our warm embrace. 

As she finished her wand sent warm feelings like pure love all through them.

Jamie and Katy stayed the rest of the night playing games with the garden people and tasting all kinds of garden treats.

As Katy was tasting some honey suckle nectar out of the red, cone shaped flower, the sun crept over a far off hill and its' brilliance blinded Katy.  She could not see anything for a few seconds, but heard far off voices saying, "good-bye, come again soon . . ."

The voices faded and when Katy could see again she was home in her room.  She ran to see if Jamie had come home also.  "Jamie, Jamie," she shook him awake.  "Do you remember, do you?"

"Yes, yes," Jamie yawned. 

"I'm going to see Grandma," Katy said, "come on!"

Katy ran to Grandma's room, but she was already gone.  Katy ran to the kitchen.   "Where is Grandma?" 

"She has been up for hours already and is out in the garden," replied Mother. 

Katy tried to run out, but her mother stopped her and reminded her she was still in her pj's.  "Ok," Katy said with excitement and ran off to get dressed.

In a few moments she was back in the kitchen and her mother handed her six oatmeal cookies in a bag and told her to please share with her grandmother, because her grandmother had not eaten any breakfast.

Katy's mother knew something was special about today and she would not be able to keep Katy in for a 'sit-down' meal.  Since oatmeal cookies had the same thing in them as a bowl of oatmeal they would work on a special day.

Katy ran to the garden, "Grandma, Grandma," she called.

"Yes," she heard coming from the other side of the garden.

Katy saw her straighten up out of a bed of roses and wave.  She ran to her and hugged her.  "You are all better now and you can stay and teach us all about the Garden's secrets and the Great Fairy said we can go and visit and we can see grandpa anytime we want . . .

Grandma stopped Katy and pushed her back from the embrace to see her face.  "You remember," Grandma said with sparkle in her eyes.

Katy hugged Grandma again saying yes and squeezing her tight.  A light sound of garden music circled around them and both held their breath to hear it better then it faded away.

The End