Thursday was so jam-packed with activity,I have been recovering my zest for life ever since. The whole day was an emotional roller coaster,from the afternoon assembly with the sprites of Dingley Dell,to the evening meal with my former staff. In between I retrieved my old scarlet jalopy from the Fixing Shed.I seriously grudged the amount of elven geld they took for repairing it,but those feelings were soon replaced by my sheer pleasure at being behind the wheel again.
I dressed carefully for the afternoon.The sprites had only ever seen me in some highly tailored outfit,and I did not want to wear any of them. I wanted to be smart,but fashionable,and wasn't sure my present wardrobe could cope with that.However I chose a matching pretty, navy, summer top and billowy skirt,and dressed them up with white gold necklet and ballerina pumps.The mirror said I looked rather elegant,so I settled for that picture,and headed for the hallowed halls of Dingley Dell Academy.
The older sprites conducted the assembly,and I duly carried out my presentations to those little ones who had won one of the awards,dedicated in the name of Amarantha Willow.My very own Achievement Awards. I feel so honoured that Dingley Dell wanted to set them up in my name.
Anyway the assembly went well and I got thousands of hugs,and waves from my wee charges before I left the building. A small tear did creep in ,as I climbed back into my four wheeled motor carriage .Not because of any regret for having left it behind, but just because the sprites did mean a great deal to me.I saw the evidence that they miss me and I miss them. But we all need to move on,and it will take time.
The evening dinner was held in a nearby country house. We were a very jolly party,and enjoyed a great evening of laughter,reminiscing, and eating copious quantities of gourmet food. I enjoyed meeting all my erstwhile colleagues again,and in truth they remain immensely warm towards me. We went through many critical times there over 27 years, and no matter the difficult momments,we held together and stayed strong.
I didn't get home till the stroke of midnight,and was too tired to even check whether Pendragon was still awake.Wally the cuckoo looked at me disapprovingly as he marked the hour,clearly indicating that no respectable elven type would be abroad at this ungodly hour. I quietly and meekly climbed the stairs,dropped my vestments somewhere on the way,and crawled in beside the lump that surely was the sleeping Pendragon. I lay awake for a while,listening to his rhythmic breathing,and reflecting on the day,before my eyelids closed and sleep took me to the land of dreams.Twenty seven years at my old academy did flash before me in sedate lumps,throughout the rest of the night, but untroubled by regret or any unpleasant recall.
On Friday the toadstool saw quite a bit of sunshine,but for the most part I was away,on my usual hunt for used parchment bargains. I came home with four bags full of interesting finds,and have had to spend most of Saturday sorting them out,and putting their details on my electronic box.
I was working in the Blue Room,when something large and lumpy came into view from my window. It was Weedy Primpole from number 6,climbing up a ladder all the way up to his toadstool roof. I could not resist having a peep to see what was going on. Weedy,white knotted hankie on his head,and khaki cut off hose on his legs,was climbing to the rooftiles to fix his digital aerial. Not an easy job I may say,but one that is certainly overdue. Theit picture box aerial has been hanging in their rowan tree for weeks. I have always presumed that it must have worked from there,or they would not have left it dangling in the wind. It does raise some questions as to what their reception has been like in the last few months if their aerial was not much more than a target for passing blackbirds.
Weedy was up high,while Severity down below,called out instructions to him as to where all the wires went. He was having difficulty picking up the information, and balancing the aerial in one hand, drill in the other, and a fist full of masonry screws in his mouth. Definitely an accident waiting to happen. He kept tipping over,threatening to launch the ladder and himself down onto the concrete beneath. The slight gale force wind in the background wasn't helping matters either.Eventually Severity became so anxious about the perilous situation,that she climbed up behind him and supported him with a swift push to the derrier,and grabbing him round the waist...... ........
Weedy clearly thought his luck had changed, as he wriggled and jiggled,and oohed and aahed, pausing to twist round in a very dangerous fashion to give Severity the Primpole version of a light grope. Severity,definitely didn't want him to think his luck was in,judging by the hefty slap to the head she gave him.He reeled for a minute,then got back to the job in hand.Well there they were,like two dandelions in the wind ,swaying for the next half hour. But the job got done,probably more by good luck than good judgment,and possibly a timely calming of the force four gale.They staggered down the ladder,hanging very unceremoniously on to each other,and disappeared back into toadstool number six. They haven't emerged since ,so I suppose their aerial is now bringing them renewed high definition images and quality sound.
Tomorrow I travel to Metropolis for my second rehearsal with the Theatricals. I am hoping that Remindur will be able to define further my possible role in this intrepid venture. I know we are to present it in several theatres,and possibly a Festival event or two.
Lots of sleep tonight,as I rise early. Got to look my best for an afternoon of soul searching, and playmaking.
Have a wonderful weekend of July frolicking,my trusty friends,even if the sun is little and you need to re-find your winter weeds. Be cosy, and bask in the love of your close ones.From Amarantha Willow,the Rainbow Faery.
