A Goblin’s Halloween: The Party

Sweek woke up to a fine autumn morning. She could see how sunny the day was from her kitchen window. She hopped out of bed and started her day. Today was Halloween and tonight there would be a party. After dressing, the tiny goblin ate a quick breakfast and went to her pumpkin patch. She picked three plump pumpkins and set them aside. She brought out her hamper and started to pack. The tiny goblin gathered a table cloth, some napkins, a few towels, a wooden cup and a wooden plate. She also included her travel cutlery and a warm blanket. Since the weather was warm, Sweek decided to pack her green cloak in the side pocket of the hamper for later. She made a lunch and filled a flask with cider. These went into the side pocket too. The tiny goblin went out to fetch the pumpkins and placed them at the bottom of the hamper. She took out a small square basket and filled it with the fruit tarts. This was covered by a clean dish cloth. The tarts went into the hamper followed by a small bag of raisons and a little jar of spices for mulling. When she was done packing, Sweek brushed her bushy hair and tied it back with a colorful autumn scarf. The last thing she needed was her papier mache mask which she had made last year at Wistful Acres.

When all the packing and preparing was done, Sweek started out on her journey. She walked to the signpost, and saw a paper sign pointing the way to the party. “I wonder if I’ll meet anyone headed to the party”, said Sweek. The path was empty and nothing stirred not even the wind. The tiny goblin enjoyed the warm sunshine as she turned down the path to the party. She thought about the fun things she and her friends had done to get ready for Halloween. She had met up with Lilly Squirt again and they had made a splendid banner. She had visited Granny Krunch again to help her finish the autumn quilt. Sweek looked forward to meeting them at the party and she walked happily along until she reached Bracken Vale.

Sweek looked up the path and saw how dark and dreary the vale was. The trees were thick and the bracken grew everywhere. Leaves were caught in the weeds growing by the side of the path. The place was dark and creepy; just the right atmosphere for Halloween. A soft rustling came from the trees above and soft spooky moans drifted through the air. Sweek wanted to hurry through the vale, but the narrow path and the thick bracken wouldn’t allow that. She trudged on until she started to feel hungry. Sweek looked for a place to rest and found a small log to sit on. After taking off the hamper, the tiny goblin took out an apple, the flask of cider and a ham and cheese sandwich. She was wary as she took a bite of her sandwich. She could hear something crackling through the woods and the branches above her gave out occasional squeaks. Suddenly a voice asked, “Can I have some of that?”. Sweek jumped and looked around. “Who are you?”, she asked because she couldn’t see anyone. “You can’t see me”, said the voice, “I’ll move around”. At first Sweek saw nothing, but then she detected something moving around her face. Suddenly she saw who belonged to the voice; it was a spider!

After Sweek explained about the sandwich, the spider decided she didn’t want a bite but was very interested in why a goblin would be in the vale. When Sweek told her about the party, the spider asked to tag along. The tiny goblin welcomed the company and soon they were walking down the path. They talked about Spider Spinney and Trembling Glade. The spider hadn’t been to either place because she was lost in Bracken Vale. However, the tiny arachnid was full of gossip about the weird doings that happened after dark. As the daylight was starting to wane, Sweek found this news a little frightening. The woods were getting darker as they went deeper into the vale. It was then that they heard an odd noise. It was sort of a buzz and like a chirp, but it wasn’t anything that either of them had heard before. Sweek walked cautiously along and searched the woods for the source of the noise. The trees seemed to become thicker, and twilight seemed to be happening sooner. Suddenly there was a weird buzz and a strange glow. “Greetings earthling”, said an odd looking creature, “I am Lerz from the planet Zilt. I have lost my friends and I don’t know the way back to our spaceship”. Sweek and the spider both let out a sigh of relief. “We’re on our way to a party”, said the tiny goblin, “Follow us and we can ask the other goblins to help find your friends”. Lerz thanked them and followed them as the path took them out of Bracken Vale.

The three friends walked along and talked. Sweek learned that Lerz and his friends had traveled to Earth to find candy. They had figured out that Halloween was a time when many people had candy. He was somewhat ashamed because they hadn’t planned out their mission very well. They were approaching the last part of the journey when Sweek noticed the bridge ahead. It went over Mourning Dove creek and was the spookiest bridge in the woods. Not only was it narrow, but the water running under it made a mournful sound. She took a deep breath and prepared to cross. Halfway there was a terrible moan. “What was that?” asked Lerz. “It’s just the water”, said Sweek, doubtfully. Another great moan came and it was followed by a voice saying, “Oh, can anyone help me? I’m in such a state”. The tiny goblin looked around, fearing to see a ghost but the space visitor took out a complicated instrument and began scanning. “I’ve found a life form trapped in the trees”, Lerz exclaimed. “Yes, right, that would be me”, said the voice, “Now can you help me get untangled?” “How are we going to help this thing?” asked the spider. “A thing?” said the voice, “I’m an owl!” The spider sent out an apology and to everyone’s surprise Lerz started to float upward. The tiny goblin heard him talking to the owl in hushed tones. There was a squawk and a scuffle and then the space visitor slowly descended with a great owl perched on his head. The goblin explained that they were going to a party and asked the bird to join them. The owl hooted gladly and they walked the rest of the way to the party spot.

At last they reached the little clearing were a bonfire was already blazing. The mayor and Granny Krunch were there to welcome Sweek and her new friends. Farmer Frumble and his family arrived soon after and with them was Lilly Squirt. They also brought two strange creatures that looked similar to Lerz. The space visitor was overjoyed to be reunited with his friends. The spider quickly made a fashionable web between two trees. Sweek helped Lilly put up the Halloween banner and then she set the pumpkins in the bonfire to roast. Many of the other goblins began to show up and they had picked up curious new friends too. There were black cats, bats, more spiders and one black shuck. Burp had a raccoon with him. The goblins cooked up sausages and ribs. They had fish pies and honey buns, gourmet goblin eggs and sharp cheddar cheese, fruit tarts and baked pumpkin, and many other wonderful treats. The mayor made a stuffy speech and concluded it with thanking the space visitors for giving the goblins the honor of entertaining them. The space visitors in turned played music out of the instruments in their utility belts. They were accompanied by the hooting owl and the howling black shuck. The goblins danced and sang and they told stories about the spooky things that happened on the way to the party. They decided to stay in the clearing all night because no one wanted to face the spooky places that night.

A Goblin’s Halloween: Burp’s House

Sweek was up early, again and bustling about her kitchen. Two large ceramic jars held last night’s apple sauce and the pot of honey. A thick quilt sat folded beside them to act as cushioning in the hamper. The tiny goblin had put most of the rhubarb into her marinated fruit mixture. This was in a small jar on one of the shelves. “It will need some time before I can put it in my fruit tart”, said Sweek, “And I didn’t use all of the rhubarb. I’ll take the two stalks to Burp”. She put them in a small bag and then pulled out the hamper. The quilt went in first, then the two jars, followed by the honey pot with the small sack set on top. The tiny goblin grabbed her green cloak and the hamper and closed up her tiny cabin. The day was grey and chilly. Sweek fastened the cloak about her throat and hefted the hamper on to her back. She also took her walking stick. Soon she was walking briskly into the woods, heading for Trembling Glade and the home of her brother Burp.

The trees were decked out in full autumn splendor. Yellow, red and orange leaves were scattered all over the path. The recent rainfall had brought out the mushrooms. Sweek saw them, but she didn’t have time to stop and pick them. She also knew that Burp would have plenty at his house and she left them for another day. The squirrels barked at her from the branches and sparrows flitted in the tree tops. Only a few tattered spiderwebs remained near the path and Sweek saw no insects. Autumn had definitely arrived in Haunted Woods. The tiny goblin reached the signpost and took the path to Trembling Glade.

This path was always dark even in summer due to the heavy growth of firs and overarching branches of a species of oak tree that refused to drop it leaves until the end of winter. This particular oak tree didn’t drop good tasting acorns either. “I wonder why no one chops them down”, said Sweek, “They make the path so gloomy and even the squirrels dislike them”. The tiny goblin knew that the birds avoided them too and she never saw cobwebs in them. There was, however, something that did like those oaks and stomped through them making the trees tremble. As Sweek walked under the gnarled branches she kept alert for any sound but there was only silence. She was still some way from her brother’s home and she knew the woods would get darker before she reached Trembling Glade. She pulled her cloak tighter around her, more for comfort than warmth. Although cloudy, the close forest was somewhat warm and yet the tiny goblin had no desire to remove her cloak.

The wooden fence post was the first sign she was getting near to Burp’s home. It was a fence post, but there was no fence to go with it, nor was there a gate. There was only a lonely lilac tree, but there were no flowers on it because this was autumn. The next sign was a pile of bricks that had once been a chimney. Grass and wild flowers were growing in the cracks. The flowers had gone to seed. “Just a few more steps”, said Sweek and she carefully scanned the side of the path until she noticed the mailbox. It was perched on a piece of old timber and parallel to a small path. She went down this path, brushing aside hawthorn and alder branches. As her brother’s home came into view, Sweek could hear the distinctive rustling of the trees in Trembling Glade. “How can he stand that?” wondered the tiny goblin.

Burp was outside preparing some willow wands to use in making baskets. He also had a collection of tree trunks and wood blocks piled under a hovel to keep them dry. Burp made baskets for most of the goblins in Haunted Woods but he also made wooden bowls and spoons. “The apple sauce is here”, announced Sweek as she greeted her brother. “Two jars full and some rhubarb for you” she added, “As well as the honey Amber and Ember promised you. After greeting the tiny goblin, Burp helped her off with the hamper and together they brought it into his home. Burb lived in an old shed which he had converted into a house. He had added a fireplace with a chimney and filled it with furniture fit for a goblin. It was almost as cozy as Sweek’s cabin. After unloading the hamper, Burp eyed the quilt that had been protecting the jars. “You want that don’t you?” asked Sweek. “Well”, said her brother shyly, “My old one is falling apart”. “You can keep it”, said the tiny goblin, “I have plenty and I’ll be making another one with help from Granny Krunch this winter”. Just as Sweek had predicted, Burp had a big basket of mushrooms and he was planning to fry them with bacon. He also had a loaf of whole wheat bread and a wheel of cheddar cheese. He put a percolator on the coals of his fireplace to make coffee. As Burp cooked, Sweek talked with him about the Halloween party. She told him what the others were planning to bring and about the banner she and Lilly Squirt were making. She also told him about the wood troll in the graveyard. Burp laughed about it and the other scary things his sister had encountered on her deliveries.

When the meal was ready, they sat down at Burp’s table to enjoy it. They drank black coffee with the mushrooms and bacon which was followed by bread and cheese. Sweek wondered what Burp had planned for the applesauce and he told her it was his secret. “You’ll just have to wait until the party”, he hinted. “Have you figured out what is stomping through the woods?” asked Sweek. “I haven’t see it”, said Burp, “Maybe it’s the wood troll having a stroll”. “It’s big, whatever it is”, said Sweek, “I didn’t notice it moving around when I was walking here”. “It prefers sunny, warm days to do its stomping”, said Burp, “On days like this it sits and rattles the tree branches. I’ve sometimes heard it moan, but it could have been the wind”. They talked about some of the spookier places in Haunted Woods and where they would least like to walk. “I’m fortunate in that most everything I use is close by”, said Burp, “And most places don’t scare me, but you couldn’t get me to go to Pixie Pond for anything. They do something strange to the water that gives it a weird sheen”.

Soon it was time for Sweek to head back to her cozy cabin. Burp gave her three more baskets and the top one was filled with mushrooms. He also gave her one new bread bowl and three small bowls. He helped Sweek pack her hamper and heft it on to her back. The tiny goblin said good-bye and went on her way with her walking stick clutched tight in her hand. The woods were just as dark as before and oddly silent. Sweek could hear her boots swishing through the gold and orange leaves on the path. She kept a steady pace but stayed aware. Once, she had stopped when she heard a creaking noise and found out it was coming from the branches of the oaks. Another time she thought she heard a groan, but that was more tree noises. “No wonder the squirrels don’t live here”, said the tiny goblin, a little too loudly because something seemed to answer her. There was a stomp, and then another stomp which caused Sweek to start running. Was she ever glad she no longer had jars in her hamper! She ran all the way to the signpost and then stopped to catch her breath. She turned to see if anything was behind her, but there was nothing. Not even the trees were moving. She turned and walked quickly away in the direction of her own cozy home.

A Goblin’s Halloween: Perils of Whispering Ridge

When the tiny goblin, Sweek, looked around her kitchen, she let out a mournful sigh. There was so much to do before the party and she was up early so that she could make her delivery to Amber and Ember. The hamper was already loaded with a bag of flour, three small empty baskets and two empty bags. Sweek needed some rhubarb from the twins and she thought they may need some baskets for the rolls they planned to bake for the party. The easy part of her day was done. She still needed to make apple sauce for her brother, Burp. On the fireplace crane was a pan of water not yet at a boil. Sweek went to her cupboard and pulled out two ceramic jars and set them on the table. She took out soap flakes and several towels. Soon the water was boiling and she took the pot off the crane. She set it on a trivet that had been placed near the jars. Sweek went through the careful process of cleaning the jars and their lids. When this was done, she left the jars upside down on the towels to dry and covered them with more towels to keep them clean. She planned to work on the apple sauce after she returned from Wistful Acres, the home of Amber and Ember.

At last it was time to leave and Sweek placed the hamper outside. She decided to check the weather before setting off. The day was sunny, but there was a nip in the air. The tiny goblin decided her green cloak was needed and she grabbed it off it’s peg before closing up the cabin. After fastening her cloak and hefting her hamper, Sweek set off in the direction of Whispering Ridge. The Haunted Woods were strangely quiet that morning. Sometimes the leaves rattled, but the air was still. The tiny goblin supposed that birds or squirrels were out but even they seemed a little subdued. Even with the sun out, the forest didn’t warm up. Clouds were floating by and occasionally blocking the light. As for the sun, it’s warmth was blocked by the thick trees. As the tiny goblin climbed the hill to Amber and Ember’s farm, a large cloud covered the sun, leaving her at the crest of Whispering Ridge in a deep gloom.

“Oh how spooky!” exclaimed Sweek, “This would happen just as I got here”. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and marched on. She was almost past the edge of the wood when there came the spookiest whistle noise ever. This made Sweek run the rest of the way to Wistful Acres. She was panting when she met Amber at the garden gate. “What’s going on Sweek?” asked the other goblin. “That ridge”, panted Sweek, “What a whistling”. Amber chuckled, “I would think you were used to that sort of thing. Spider Spinney whistles too”. “Not like that”, protested Sweek, “At least the your flour is here and I brought you more baskets”. “Oh”, said Amber, “Thank you for thinking of those. Ember is planning to make her famous honey buns for the party. Do you still need rhubarb for your famous fruit tarts?” Sweek told her yes as Amber open the gate and helped the tiny goblin with her hamper. They stopped to pick several stalks of rhubarb. Sweek commented on the abundant crop of the plant. It had been a good year and that was a good thing because goblins really love rhubarb.

They packed away the rhubarb and then took the flour and the baskets into the farm house. Ember was inside making papier mache masks. “The flour is here”, said Amber, “Let’s have some tea and ginger cookies while we talk about the Halloween party”. That is what they did. Sweek told them she was bringing pumpkins for roasting and other goodies. The twins had a bumper crop of cabbages and made sauerkraut. “We heard that someone is bringing sausages to the party”, said Amber. “Maybe it’s the mayor”, offered Ember, “We’re also going to bring honey butter. Our hives have been very productive this year. That reminds me, can you do us a favor?” “Certainly”, said Sweek. “I promised your brother a jar of honey, can you take it to him?” “Of course”, said Sweek, “I’ll be going to his house tomorrow”. “Well that works out very nicely”, said Amber, “We’ve been very busy and I didn’t know how we were going to make time to deliver the honey”.

Although Sweek wanted to stay longer, she knew that she needed to be heading home. She looked out one of the windows and saw that the sky was full of clouds. The day had become gloomy while the three goblins were visiting. “Oh I really must go”, said Sweek sadly. “Here”, said Ember, “You can have a pot of honey too for helping us”. The twins packed up the hamper and helped the tiny goblin heft it to her shoulders. They waved good-bye as Sweek headed to the gate and back to the Whispering Ridge.

Despite the tea and ginger cookies Sweek felt cold. The green cloak was little use and she thought that she would pull out her winter clothes when she got home. The ridge was silent when she approached and uncommonly dark. She shuddered a little. “Get home”, she said to herself, “And then you can sit by your fire”. The thought of her cozy kitchen was replaced by the thought of all the peeling and paring she needed to do when she reached home. She could even picture the large bowl of apples waiting for her. She sighed and then heard a whispery reply. “Probably the wind”, said the tiny goblin and she promptly heard a hoarse series of whispers. A shudder went up Sweek’s spine. She quickened her pace, but the whispers came from all directions. She wanted to run, but didn’t want to risk breaking the honey jars. On and on the tiny goblin walked, shaking in her little boots. Finally she reached the bottom of the hill and the eerie whispering faded away. An evening of apple sauce making was ahead of her, but it wasn’t so bad after the perils of Whispering Ridge.

A Goblin’s Halloween: Hidden Dell

Sweek sat in her fruit loft picking out apples and sorting them into sacks. She would bring two sacks to Granny Krunch and use the third sack for making apple sauce. When she finished with her tasks, she lowered all three sacks to the main floor of her cabin. After climbing down from the loft, she pulled out her wicker hamper and loaded the two sacks into it. She also grabbed a small empty sack and put it in the side pocket of the hamper. Sometimes she found walnuts on the way to Hidden Dell where Granny Krunch lived and she wanted something carry them in just in case. She thought about what else to bring and remembered to check her supply of cinnamon for the apple sauce. She discovered that she was almost out. It was a good thing that she was going to Hidden Dell that day because Granny Krunch always had a good supply of spices. The old goblin lived near Pixie Pond and was on good terms with the pixies who travelled outside the Haunted Woods frequently. The pretty little people brought back exotic spices and other strange, unusual items.

The tiny goblin put her almost empty tin of cinnamon into her hamper along with a paring knife and a small sewing kit. She supposed that Granny Krunch may be planning to make apple strudel and might need help with peeling the apples. She also wanted to help the old goblin with finishing her latest autumn quilt. Sweek put the hamper outside and prepared to close up her cabin when she noticed a nip in the air. She swiftly went back into her cabin and snatched up her dark green hooded cloak. She threw it around her shoulders and fastened the big button at the neck. She then paused to consider if there was anything else she needed before closing the cabin. Finally she was on her way to Hidden Dell.

The day seemed to be sunny, but clouds were gathering ahead of Sweek and she pulled the cloak a little tighter around her shoulders. When she reached the signpost she took the path to Hidden Dell and Pixie Pond. The day became greyer and a chill breeze swept through the forest path. Suddenly there was a thump on the path ahead. Sweek stopped and peered forward. She saw nothing but walked slower. She jumped when there were two more thumps. “Who’s there”? asked Sweek. There was no answer, but she really didn’t need one because in the middle of the path was a walnut. The tiny goblin pulled out her empty sack and put the prize inside. Soon she was picking up several walnuts and had her bag full in no time. “I’d better get going to Granny Krunch’s house before it decides to rain”, said Sweek. She quickened her pace and made it to the old goblin’s home just as the first raindrops fell.

Granny Krunch opened the door just as Sweek was about to knock. “I’m so glad to see you”, said the old goblin, “And I was just about to made my famous apple strudel”. They unpacked the hamper and set up the apples for peeling. Granny Krunch also took the walnuts and put them in a wooden bowl for later. The two goblins began peeling apples and sharing gossip. They talked about the upcoming party and Sweek told the old goblin about the banner she and Lilly Squirt were making for a decoration. Granny Krunch had some scraps that the tiny goblin could have. They played the apple peel game and laughed about the “futures” they predicted. “Let’s just say we are going to have fun at the Halloween party”, said the old goblin lady and Sweek agreed. They also had a mess of apple peels to clean up, but they laughed about that as well.

After the apples were peeled and cut up, Granny Krunch got out the dough she had prepared for the strudel while Sweek squeezed a lemon over the apple pieces to keep them fresh. They scrubbed the old goblin’s wooden kitchen table with salt and washed it thoroughly. Next they stretched out the dough on the table. The tiny goblin had seen this done many times but always marveled at the way Granny Krunch could get the dough into a thin sheet without tearing it. “I’m glad to have your help today”, said the old goblin, “My children and grandchildren live too far away. They are busy with their farm and can’t visit me often but they do bring me butter and vegetables. It’s too bad they can’t grow any fruit trees”. “I’m glad the apple harvest was so plentiful this year”, said Sweek, “Only last month I was there picking apples for my winter store”. Granny Krunch made the filling for the strudel and put it on the dough. When that was done, both goblins rolled the dough up and placed it on a baking sheet. The strudel went into the oven, and the two goblins cleaned up the kitchen, again.

Granny Krunch filled her kettle and put it on her stove. While the strudel baked and the water warmed up, the two goblins set up the quilting frame. The old goblin showed off her latest project, a crazy quilt done in autumn colors. Here and there the fabric had been cut into various shapes. There was an orange pumpkin, a black bat, a lacy leaf and a white ghost. These had been places in a mosaic of reds, moss greens and yellows. Most of the work had been done, but the ornamental embroidery was only half finished. This is what the two goblins work on although they mostly talked about what they thought the other goblins would be doing. Sweek told the old goblin about her trip to the graveyard and Granny Krunch chuckled about the wood troll. The old goblin asked if Spider Spinney was still whistling when the gales blew. They told each other spooky stories about some of the other places in the Haunted Woods. Granny Krunch said she wouldn’t go to Witch’s Ditch for anything and Sweek said she never wanted to be on Whistling Ridge at night. “And I will have to go there tomorrow because I promised Amber and Ember a bag of flour”. They took a break to have tea and to sample some of the strudel. As the visit came to an end, Sweek asked for some cinnamon and the old goblin was happy to help her. The metal tin was filled and the old goblin lady handed Sweek a small pile of fabric scraps. After saying good-bye to Granny Krunch, the tiny goblin put on her cloak and shouldered her much lighter hamper.” The rain had stopped, but the sky was very grey. The sun had not yet set but the forest was already dark as the tiny goblin made her way home. As she walked along she thought about the stories she and Granny Krunch had talked about. She tried to convince herself there was nothing to fear because she had traveled that way many times and she knew the path very well. She tried to move faster and suddenly she stepped on something, twisting her ankle in the process. “Ouch!” cried Sweek as she attempted to keep from falling. When she finally found her feet, she leaned on one of the trees to rest and heard a giggle somewhere in the trees. She didn’t want to know who was out there but she did want to know what had tripped her. Looking down, she saw a round lump. It was a walnut. She wasn’t as keen to pick them up and hurried, the best she could, back to her tiny cabin where there was light and a place to put up her ankle.

A Goblin’s Halloween: Briar Trail

The tiny goblin Sweek was busy that autumn morning. The night before there had been a wind storm and her front yard and garden were now covered in orange and yellow leaves. “I’ll keep the prettiest ones for the party”, she said as she collected the maple and sweetgum leaves covering her vegetables. The wind was down to a slight breeze and only a faint rustling came from Spider Spinney. This was the small woods near Sweek’s home. All her friends wondered how she could live so close to a spider infested woodland and the whistling sound the branches made on windy nights. Sweek liked spiders and always had a few living in her cabin. The whistling in the branches was appreciated as a special kind of music.

Sweek hurried through the cleanup and prepared to go to Briarburg, the nearest goblin village. She opened the hamper and put two big bags of acorns inside. She took out a small wooden box filled part way with fine sawdust. “I’m going to get eggs at Farmer Frumble’s and this will keep them safe for the trip home”, she said, “I hope Lilly Squirt has enough flour at the store, I don’t want to disappoint Amber and Ember”. Sweek opened the door and set the full hamper outside. She then went back to collect the two baskets with the graveyard moss and the lichen. After closing her door and hefting the hamper on to her back, she grabbed up her baskets and started on her way.

The day was sunny, but white puffy clouds floated through the sky. The wind was moving them quickly across the blue sky. Sweek saw that the spinney had become somewhat bare after the wind storm. A few spider webs were sadly drifting in the breeze. “Poor spiders”, sighed Sweek, “They’ll need to start their work all over again”. Only last week Sweek’s best friend, Lilly Squirt had been terrified by an enormous web in the path and the enormous spider that lived in it. “After Halloween all the spiders will be gone”, said Sweek sadly and she thought about how lonely the spinney will look in the winter. The musings of the tiny goblin kept her occupied until she reached the signpost telling her which way to Briarburg. It also gave directions to other places but since Sweek knew where she was going on this morning, she turned left and headed down Briar Trail.

The main path of the forest was called Briar Trail because of the abundance of blackberry vines, thorn bushes and trailing vines with thorns. The goblins hired an ogre to keep the briars at bay and she was very good at clearing the path. Sometimes Sweek would come upon the ogre with her crew as they were working. The first time it happened the tiny goblin had been afraid, but the ogres were mostly pleasant and they had stopped to let her through before going back to the task. The goblins gave the ogres cider and turnips in return for their work. On this morning Sweek could see that the ogres had cleared briars recently and like the spiders, the tiny goblin knew that the briars would be gone after Halloween too. The Briar Trail wasn’t a particular spooky place, even when it wanted trimming, but Farmer Frumble’s apple orchards definitely were. As Sweek approached the wooden railed fence that bordered the trail, she stopped to look at the gnarled old apple trees now mostly stripped of their leaves. No one would think that these were the same trees of springtime with the lovely white blossoms and the promise of apples. Only a month before, the tiny goblin had come to pick apples when the trees were lush and full of juicy red fruit. Even the memories of what had been could not dispel the gloom of autumn. “Perhaps the orchard feels that it should put on a costume for Halloween”, mused Sweek and gave a slight shudder reminding herself that it was just an orchard.

As Sweek walked along the trail, she came to another part of the orchard that bothered her. For some reason the trees here were too sparse and too open. She could see the mountains beyond and it made her feel as if she was in a very high place. She held on to one of the fence posts for support. Farmer Frumble had tried to grow more trees in this area, but they refused to thrive leaving him to take out several. The holes left by the stump removal had grass over them now but the area looked uneven and goblins walking in it were prone to wobble. At least the farm house was nearby and Sweek turned from the weird place to make her delivery to the farmer.

Farmer Frumble was outside his barn setting up his scarecrow decoration. “Hello”, cried Sweek, “I have the moss”, and she brought the two baskets to the small bench by the barn door. “Is it genuine graveyard moss?” asked the farmer. “Oh yes!” answered Sweek and she told him about her adventure in the gloomy graveyard. “A wood troll!” exclaimed Farmer Frumble, “Too bad I’m so busy here or I’d go see him”. They talked about what they were going to bring to the Halloween party and the farmer was certainly going to provide cider but hinted at some other treats. Sweek guessed that one would be gourmet goblin eggs and found she was right. She told the farmer she would bring some of her small pumpkins for roasting and possibly a few pies. When she was ready to go, Farmer Frumble had his son, Freckle, fill Sweek’s wooden box with eggs. The tiny goblin carried it in her arms as she headed to Briarburg and the general store.

The walk wasn’t far, Lilly Squirt lived in a small cottage next to the orchard. The general store was next to her home as was the mill. Sweek entered the small wooden building and saw Lilly stocking shelves with goodies for Halloween. “Hello”, said Sweek and her friend turned quickly and gave her a goblin smile. “Oh Sweek!” said Lilly, “I’m glad you made it today, the fairies are almost out of acorns”. The tiny goblin set down her box of eggs and took off her heavy hamper. Together the two goblins removed the two bags of acorns and set them near the door that led to the mill. Lilly knocked three times on the door and a tiny fairy opened it. “Here’s the acorns”, said Lilly and jumped back as a swirl of fairy dust enfolded the bags. Sweek blinked in astonishment and asked, “Where did the bags go?” “The fairies took them”, said Lilly, “They work their magic on the acorns and turn them into flour. I’ve seen them do that magic trick many times but I still can’t get used to it”. While Sweek waited for the flour, she and Lilly sat down in the cafe part of the general store for blackberry tea and raison scones. They had a very good talk about the upcoming party and shared what they were planning to bring. Lilly was bringing cheese muffins, blackberry jam tarts and a large ball of butter. She also wanted to bring some decorations and she and Sweek planned to make a banner. While they were planning this the fairy returned with two bags of flour. The two goblins loaded the hamper and placed the box of eggs carefully inside. “I’ll be back next week”, said Sweek, “And I’ll bring the old scraps left from the crazy quilt project”.

The clouds had gathered during Sweek’s visit to Lilly Squirt. Briar trail was darker and the orchard gloomier. The tiny goblin recalled that her friend’s kitchen window looked out on the apple trees and on one evening in October Lilly thought she saw a ghost. Although Sweek didn’t want to look at the gnarled branches and trunks of the orchard, her eyes kept straying to the bumpy, uneven grass. Suddenly there was a white thing fluttering in the branches. The tiny goblin suppressed a scream and then she laughed. It was only a piece of laundry caught in the trees. The trick seemed to lighten the whole world and Sweek skipped off to plan her next adventure.

A Goblin’s Halloween: Friends in Need

Sweek sat at her table staring at a pile of letters. “I have my answers”, she sighed, “And it is as I thought. They all want me to visit and they all have a request”. Sweek’s brother, Burp, wanted her to bring apple sauce. His house was near Trembling Glade, where the trees are constantly rustling even when there is no breeze. Amber and Ember, the twin goblins who lived under Whispering Ridge, asked her to bring them a bag of flour. Granny Krunch needed apples. Her home was close to Hidden Dell. “I wonder why Farmer Frumble needs graveyard moss?” wondered Sweek, “Oh! I know. He’s going to make gourmet goblin eggs for the party. I will go find it first because he told me that it takes a while for the eggs to marinate and since he lives near Briarburg, I can stop at the general store and visit with Lilly Squirt.

Sweek went to her shelves and looked over her collection of baskets. She selected a large one and then remembered that Farmer Frumble also wanted some lichen and picked a smaller basket for that. He specifically asked for the kind that festoons the trees and looks like an old man’s beard. Sweek grabbed her baskets and her walking stick and walked out into a sunny autumn morning. It was a good day for walking in the woods and the bright blue sky made Sweek feel brave. She wasn’t afraid of the old graveyard, it was a place she had visited many times, but it was the dense growth of alder and maple that surrounded the place that made the tiny pause at her garden gate. Every time she went near that area of the forest she was bothered by curious sounds coming from the trees. Would she just hear sounds this time or would whatever was making the sounds show itself?

For most of the walk Sweek enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the fall season. Autumn colors were already showing up on the trees. Birds still chirped in the trees and flitted among the path looking for seeds. Here and there asters bloomed and Sweek stopped to watch a group of autumn colored butterflies fluttering on the tiny flowers. The tiny goblin met no one on the path, but the bright sunshine and warm air made up for the lack of company until she heard a crackle. Sweek jumped and let out a yell. She looked around and saw she was in the thick maple and alder woods. She couldn’t see far into the trees. “Is anyone there?” she asked in a quavering voice. There was only silence. Sweek started to walk quickly. She was almost at a run when she suddenly came upon the graveyard gate. She opened the gate and cringed as it gave a protesting screech. As she closed it the trees bordering the gate began to shake as if a squirrel was climbing quickly through the branches, but there was no squirrel chatter. Sweek backed away from the gate and turned to look for the moss.

Long ago the graveyard had been abandoned and it was not full of former goblins but the people who had once tried to start a town in the forest. They gave up and moved away leaving nothing but the graveyard behind. The goblins began calling it the gloomy graveyard because no matter how sunny the weather, it always had the look of a grey winter day. This was what Sweek found on this day. There was blue sky above, but the old oaks with their twisted branches and the surrounding woods gave the impression of gloom. “I’ll do this as fast as I can”, said Sweek, “But where is that moss?” Despite the gloom, most of the tombstones had very little moss and most of that was dry. There was one place in the graveyard where the moss grew thick but it was also the creepiest place in the graveyard. Sweek sighed and resolved herself to going to that spot. The scariest thing about it was the bazaar statue on top of the grave. If it was an angel, it was the weirdest looking one Sweek had ever heard of and she didn’t like to be under its gaze. With a quaking heart the tiny goblin approached the large stone grave and was relieved to find an abundance of lush graveyard moss.

After filling up her basket, Sweek turned to leave the graveyard and noticed a long beard of lichen hanging from a maple branch. “That will be enough to fill my basket and my task will be done”, said the goblin. She quickly made a grab for the beard and gave a hard yank. She yanked and pulled but the lichen wouldn’t come down. “Let me go!” said a voice and Sweek was so surprised she almost let go, instead she tightened her grip. “Who are you?” she demanded. “I’m a wood troll” said the voice and suddenly a face appeared attached to the lichen beard. “Are you the one who has been scaring me every time I visit the graveyard?” asked Sweek. “I didn’t mean to frighten you or the other goblins”, said the troll, “I’m very shy and I was afraid to talk to you”. “Well”, said Sweek as she let go of the lichen, “Now that we’ve met just say ‘Hello Sweek’ when you see me coming instead of crackling and crashing in the trees”. “Yes Ma’am”, promised the troll and Sweek left the gloomy graveyard. She marched back to her cozy home only stopping to pick the real lichen growing along the path.

A Goblin’s Halloween: An invitation arrives

For the spooky season I’m offering a gentle story about a tiny goblin.

Sweek the tiny goblin lived deep in the Haunted Woods. She had a small, rustic cabin made of logs. The roof was covered in green moss and the chimney was made of river rocks. Her home was small but cozy and there was a place for all her favorite things. She had a warm hearth, a tiny bed, a useful table, and two practical chairs. There was room on the walls for pictures and a set of planks that served for shelves where she placed her jars of spices. Sweek also kept homemade baskets, crocheted towels , candles and a few knick-knacks on those shelves. In one corner of the cabin was a wicker hamper that Sweek used for hauling supplies to and from her home. The tiny goblin had a good supply of quilts, afghans and blankets as well as warm shawl. Her tiny closet was packed with goblin clothes in shades of green, orange and yellow.

In the early part of Autumn, Sweek was gathering blackberry leaves from the vines near her home to make tea with when a messenger arrived. She recognized him as the postal goblin, Boxer, and he was bringing mail. “Hello, Boxer”, she said, “How are you doing?” “I’m very busy”, he replied, “This time of year there is lots of mail. Here”, he handed Sweek a fancy scroll, “When you read that, you’ll know why I’m busy”. Sweek took the rolled up paper tied with a raffia bow and decorated with a felt bat. She knew what it was before opening it; an invitation to a Halloween party. She said good-bye to Boxer and went inside to look at the letter.

After removing the ribbon and unrolling the paper, Sweek quickly scanned the letter. This is what was printed on it. Hey! All Goblins! Don’t miss the best party of the season. We are meeting at Hobb’s Dale on Halloween night to celebrate. Be there at sundown for games, music, dancing, feasting and a bonfire. The invitation was printed on distressed paper made to look like old parchment and darkened at the edges. At the top was a note saying it was from the desk of Mayor Snortford and it was signed by the Goblin council. Sweek laughed at it a little and wondered if the party was just for goblins. She set the invitation down, there was no need to RSVP because no one missed the annual Halloween party and went outside to her pumpkin patch. She grew these pumpkins for baking and roasting. “They will be ready just in time for the party”, she said, “At least the Goblin council gave us enough time to figure out what to bring to the party. I think I will ask my friends what they plan to do for the party”. It was then that Sweek remembered that the way to her friends homes were through the spookiest parts of the Haunted woods and she shuddered. This time of year made the woods even more spooky and last year she was terrified by several uncanny happenings. She thought of sending them a letter, ” I will write and ask if I can offer to help them. Maybe they will just be content to tell me what I want to know”. But Sweek knew her friends too well and knew they would want her to visit so that they could have a long talk about the party. The tiny goblin gave a weary sigh and fetched her writing paper and ink. She dipped her goose quill pen in the sepia ink and began writing. There would be more work for Boxer in the coming days.

watch for the further adventures of Sweek the goblin as she treks through the forest in the spooky season

Rain’s Result

Cabin near a swamp at sunset

Spring is truly here. The other day there was a thunderstorm and there was rain. Two days ago there were alerts about flooding. The air is heavy with moisture and standing water is everywhere. The sun has made an appearance too with the help of the wind. March is a blustery, damp month and I can’t say I’m disappointed by it’s appearance. The flowers have returned and the trees are getting fresh green leaves. The birds offer their songs in the mornings. The season of Spring has arrived with clouds, rain, wind and sun.

Spooky storm

Treasure in the Lawn

violet

I found a violet blooming in the backyard. It is the first I’ve seen this year. It is a delight to find them because they are scattered around the yard. Perhaps they belonged to a flower bed at one time or they are from seeds blown in from the violets growing on the side of the house. Last year I found a white variety growing in the neighborhood. The violet appears to be alone, but there are dandelions and wild strawberries blooming nearby. The small flowers are just the preview of what is to come.

Wild strawberry blooming in the yard

Dandelion

Harbinger of Change

Rogue hare or March Hare?

The season of Spring approaches and with it signs of the eventual change. Some trees are already blooming. Small flowers have popped out on the lawn. Birds are gathering in the trees and twittering loudly. The crows have returned to the neighbors trees but I’m not sure what they want. They do not nest in the small wooded area, but they gather in the branches while cawing to the worid. I haven’t seen a March Hare in this area nor do I expect to see one. I have seen cottontails in the patch of woods a few blocks away. They come out at night and make dog walking a dangerous activity especially if you are with a wolfish dog.

The above picture is my interpretation of the image of the rogue hare. It is a legend about a wicked leader who was transformed into a hare and doomed to spend eternity spooking travelers and causing bad luck. The legend states that if you see this apparition you will soon suffer a minor accident like dropping a freshly baked pie, stubbing your toe or dropping your phone in a toilet. The bad luck isn’t fatal (mostly) but it is inconvenient as well as embarrassing to the experiencer. The oddest part of this curse is that you will never hear the sorry results directly from the person who saw the rogue hare. The stories will always be told by someone who had a friend who had an uncle who had a client who had a sister who saw the odd creature and had some irritating piece of bad luck. The tale will always be at least 3rd hand but the chain may even be 8 to 9 people long.

Of course this legend must be just a work of fiction, created to warn travelers about the dangers of using a lonely road. It may also have been a marketing device to promote the sale of cheap charms in the shape of a hare. Whatever the reason, it is much better to hear the stories about the rogue hare then to see it.