‘THE WANDERING GIRL & THE STAY AT HOME BOY’
In a time like this one yet still very different there was a girl who grew up wandering the world. Her feet were always moving and it seemed she could never stay in one place for very long. Before you knew it she was gone, dancing her way down the road to her next adventure, with barely a footprint left behind to tell if she’d been there at all. The girl was very happy as she danced but there were some days when she would stop at the top of a mountain and stand still. She would look down to the valley where the villagers gathered by their fires to share an evening meal and sigh. Then slowly she would turn her face, set her back to the wind and let her feet lead her away.
Somewhere else in the world lived a boy who rarely left home. All who knew him loved him for he was quick with a smile and happy to lend his strong back. There wasn’t a place in the valley his feet hadn’t trodden and though he might walk away he would always return. The boy was very happy tending his fire but there were some days when he would stop at the window and stand still. He would look up to the mountains where roads led to places he’d never been and sigh. Then slowly he would turn, set his back to the window, settle into his chair by the fire and let familiar flames warm him.
One day the girl’s feet brought her to a mountain. The road through it was rocky and she struggled and stumbled until she heard a tiny cry. The girl peered into the shadows and saw a torn and tattered creature, huddled on a rocky shelf. It was so weak it could barely hold its head up to make a sound. She gathered it into her arms and held it gently, talking in calm and comforting tones. It wasn’t long before it fell asleep there and she walked as smoothly and carefully as she could manage, letting her feet guide her into the valley below.
It was grey light turned to dawn when she finally reached it and shuffled to a stop. And it was there she saw the boy. He was whistling in the early morning light as he walked on his way to the town square. She found enough voice to call out and stop him, asking if he knew somewhere she could stay for a while. Before he could reply the creature in her arms woke with a start and in a flurry of claws and teeth, scratched and bit its way free. Ignoring the pain of her bleeding arms and face the girl immediately turned and coaxed the panicked creature back till it crept warily to her side with its tail between its legs. Realizing the boy was watching she covered her face in shame but instead of moving away he placed a gentle hand on her arm. Looking into her tired eyes he offered her a seat by his fire. The girl gratefully accepted and, with the creature in tow, her feet followed his home. The brightness of the boy’s fire and of his company warmed her till the pain and the need for sleep were forgotten.
The next day came then the next followed that. He showed her his town and everything in it so she could find her way through the twists in the streets with ease. Everywhere she went the boy went too and when evening came they’d share a meal by the fire. The girl would tell tales and, with his back to the window, he’d sit and watch. Sometimes he would laugh, sometimes he would sigh but always, eventually, she would rise to dance. She danced whirling dances, mournful dances, plodding dances and joyful dances and all of them she danced for him. By the week’s end the girl realized her wandering feet remained still and quiet. She looked at the creature and realized it was content. She looked at the fire and felt its warm glow. She looked at the boy and saw him still there. Finding her voice and her courage she turned to him and asked him how long she could stay. Without hesitation he said “always” and she smiled as he bent to take her hand.
Hand in hand their days became adventures; they would dance, they would travel and return to the valley. Wherever they went she knew she was home and wherever they stayed he found an adventure - for from that day forward the boy and the girl were always together and from that day forward they were together always.
THE BEGINNING…
All images copyright Emily Forgot. You can see a larger version of the image at the artist’s website by clicking on the pictures.
