On My Way Home - Part #2
Ariana Merrill
Issue #2 (April 2008)
Eleanor found herself yet again, lost in the woods, but this time it was extremely dark. What may have not seemed frightening in the daylight was terrifying under the gloom of night. She heard the howling of wolves and quickened her pace, though she did not know where she was going. Appearing out of the shadows in front of her a towering castle loomed ominously amongst many trees. Although she did not know which fairy tale she would encounter inside, Eleanor hurried through the unlocked gates. She much preferred the unknown to the known wolfish danger among the forest trees.
Knocking with a doorknocker in the shape of a lion’s head, Eleanor waited to be let in. Minutes passed and she knocked again, but no one came to the door. Like most fairy tale heroines, Eleanor presumptuously tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. She stuck her head cautiously inside. “Hello?” she called out, her voice echoing inside. “Is anyone home?” There was no answer. Eleanor made her way inside despite the pitch-black darkness.
Suddenly, the room burst with light and cooking utensils and other mechanisms of all kinds came out of the shadows singing and dancing as best a teapot or footstool can. They all sang a lively inviting song as platters of food filled a large dining room table. “Well at least now I know which fairy tale I’m in,” said Eleanor as she watched a candlestick and clock dance around in front of her. Even though she wasn’t very hungry, she sat down in a chair to eat and enjoy the spectacle performed for her benefit.
*~*
That night Eleanor found it hard to fall asleep. A welcoming candlestick had shown her to her room that night. The bed was very comfortable with silk sheets and fluffy blankets and pillows, and the room was lovely but for some reason she just couldn’t nod off. Instead, she put a robe over the nightgown that the talking dresser had leant her and began to wander the halls. The moon came out from behind the clouds it had hid behind earlier that evening and illumined the portraits of proud gentlemen and noble-looking ladies. She reached a winding staircase and followed it up into the highest wing of the castle. On the center of a table in the round room was a floating rose enclosed in a glass case.
“Oh yes, the Beast’s rose.” She bent down to further inspect it when she first noticed the sound of breathing. Eleanor rose and slowly looked around. To her right was an animal the size of a bear reared up on its hind legs, but with the mane of a lion. “Umm, hello,” said Eleanor cautiously. A low growl escaped from behind the Beast’s menacing looking teeth. “Don’t worry; I wasn’t going to touch your rose. I know you don’t like that,” Eleanor said, nervously wringing her hands together and backing towards the only door in the room.
The Beast let out a roar that shook the very ground on which they stood. Eleanor screamed and ran as fast as she could down the winding staircase and towards the front door. She was tired of constantly running for her life and made up her mind to leave as fast as her feet could carry her. The woods might have wolves, but they seemed like kittens when compared to such a beast. She flung open the front door and came face to face with a beautiful brunette young woman with her hand poised, about to knock. Both of the girls looked at each other with confusion.
“Are you all right? You look like you just saw a monster,” asked Belle.
“I’ll be fine as soon as I get out of here,” Eleanor murmured. “Oh, where are my manners? Would you like to come in?”
“Well, I was going to but now I’m not so sure. Are you sure you’re all right? You look terrified.”
“Oh nonsense. I always look like this. Please come in.” Eleanor looked at the surrounding trees, worried that they would begin to disappear if Belle didn’t come inside.
“I don’t know…,” Belle said uncertainly.
“You’ll love it, trust me,” assured Eleanor taking Belle by the arm and leading her inside. “The dinner entertainment is fantastic!”
*~*
The next evening Eleanor looked in on a grand ballroom. She could see the Beast and Belle dancing to a waltz. She sighed, if only real life could be as beautiful as this world. But the extremes between good and evil were so much more expansive. Eleanor had never been as terrified in her world as she had been here, but the joys people experienced seemed so much deeper, richer somehow. Maybe you can’t have absolute joy and happiness without true fear and sorrow, thought Eleanor leaning her chin on her hand. “Things at home are safe and familiar, but maybe I’ve somehow sacrificed a fuller life for the familiarity of things I already know. Belle struck out on her own and she found a prince. Granted he’s extremely hairy, but she doesn’t seem to mind.”
A clock waddled up to Eleanor and announced the arrival of a guest for her. She entered the study where there was a fire burning in the hearth, but she didn’t see anyone. Someone cleared their throat and Eleanor looked down, where she saw the white rabbit sitting in one of the armchairs, patiently waiting.
“You!”
“Hello Miss Eleanor.”
“What do you want?”
“Do I detect a hint of hostility in your voice Eleanor?”
“More than a hint. You left me alone in the woods again! And at night this time no less.”
“My apologies dear lady. I had pressing business elsewhere in the forest.”
“I don’t care. All I want to know is can you or can you not help me find my way back home?”
“Home is a relative term.”
“Just answer the question.”
The rabbit’s nose twitched. “Yes, I know a way that could lead you home.”
“You beautiful bunny! I knew you could help me!” She picked him up off the chair and hugged the little creature. “So what’s the plan?” she asked excitedly sitting in the armchair and placing the rabbit in her lap.
“You’ll need to meet with Glinda the witch. Rumor has it that she has a pair of ruby red slippers that possess the power to transport the wearer to wherever their heart desires.”
“That sounds perfect! How do I find her?”
“Follow the
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow morning we’ll leave for the
“We?”
“Aren’t you coming? I’ll need your help. I’m a stranger to your world, and besides, I get lost easily.”
“I was never one to refuse assistance to a damsel in distress. It’s very ungentlemanly you know. Moreover, who knows what havoc you might wreak without me.”
“Thank you so much!”
“The joy on your face is gratitude enough for me.” Eleanor leaned back into the armchair smiling to herself. Tomorrow she would be on her way home.
Early that morning, Eleanor and the white rabbit set off. The rabbit led them to the
“How are we supposed to get around that?” Eleanor asked.
“We don’t.”
“Excuse me?”
“The only way to stay on the
“On no, I’m not going in there. Hansel and Gretel can go right in if they want to, but not me.”
“But—,”
“No!” Eleanor stomped her foot, much like she used to do as a child when her mother wouldn’t let her have her way. “I’ve had enough of evil queens and monsters. I’m not going in there with a wicked witch. I’ve had quite enough running for my life lately thank you very much.”
“It’s alright to be afraid. Fear is a part of life. But you can’t let it control your decisions. You have to go through that house if you want to get home.”
“No I don’t. I’ll just go around through the forest and come back to the road on the other side.”
“Eleanor—,”
“No! I’ve made up my mind and I am not going in there!” Eleanor stomped off into the woods leaving the rabbit behind.
“He’s got to be crazy if he thinks I’m going into that candy house with a wicked witch inside. I don’t care what he says,” Eleanor muttered to herself as she trampled through the underbrush. The time she’d loose by taking the detour was well worth it if she could stay away from any evil characters from fairy tales. Besides, it was beautiful in this part of the forest. Many different colored flowers grew everywhere. Eleanor bent over and picked a periwinkle colored blossom and smelled it.
“Lovely aren’t they?” said a low voice from behind Eleanor.
Startled, Eleanor dropped her flower and turned around. Not too far away was a wolf slowly creeping his way towards the young girl. Eleanor’s heart seemed to drop down into her stomach and her eyes grew wide. Alone in the woods, completely defenseless, Eleanor had come face to face with one of the most dangerous fairy tale villains.
“Are you lost girl? Perhaps I could help you find your way.”
“No, no. I’m not lost. I’m actually meeting some friends of mine here. They’re hunters, big ones, with guns.” The wolf stopped abruptly.
“Is that so?”
“Yup. They should be here any second now.”
“Are you sure? These woods can be very confusing. It’s not uncommon for little girls to just go missing without a trace,” he circled Eleanor.
“Oh?”
“But maybe they’ll be able to find you or rather, parts of you,” the wolf grinned showing his long sharp teeth.
The sound of a shotgun echoed through the trees, surprising both Eleanor and the wolf. Eleanor took advantage of this moment to yet again, run for her life. Without looking back, she burst through the forest. She could hear the wolf behind her and felt as though she was going painfully slow. Tripping over the root of a tree, Eleanor fell to the ground. Grabbing a fallen branch from in front of her, she immediately flipped over onto her back.
The wolf leaped upon his prey and came flying through the air towards Eleanor. Without even thinking, she swung the branch with all her might, hitting the wolf square in the mouth. He whimpered slightly and fell to the dirt floor of the forest. When he looked back up, Eleanor was off in the distance quickly running through the trees. The wolf narrowed his eyes and growled. He was not one to let his prey get away from him. With a snarl he set off after the young woman.
Eleanor glanced behind her and caught sight of her undaunted pursuer. There was no way she could possibly out run this predator. The Beast may have been terrifying, but he never actively hunted her. Eleanor was sure she wouldn’t make it out of the woods alive. With every step she took the wolf gained on her. He was so close that she could smell his stench. She dared not look back, afraid of what she might see. Instead, she focused on what lay in front of her. She could even see the
Another shot rang through the air and Eleanor screamed. When she finally did reach the road, she fell to her knees. She looked behind her where the wolf had been so close, but now he was nowhere to be seen. The shot had either hit its mark or scared him enough to cause him to abandon the chase. Eleanor sat on the
“I’m sorry Eleanor. I tried to tell you not to stray from the path, but you wouldn’t listen. The scream we heard in front of the candy house was from the wicked witch. Hansel and Gretel had just killed her. I tried to tell you Eleanor, really I did. But you stormed off into the woods instead.” Eleanor buried her face in her hands and sobbed even harder, completely overcome by the rabbit’s words and her near brush with death.
Ch.6:
Eleanor sat on the red cushioned velvet of the couch sipping her tea, waiting for Glinda to enter the study. She was tired from the long walk, and gratefully took two of the cookies from a china tray on the coffee table in front of her. Eleanor was alone again; her friend the white rabbit had disappeared somehow when they reached the gates of the
The door behind her creaked and Eleanor turned to see a woman in a pink business suit enter the room. Gliding towards her, the good witch outstretched her hand towards Eleanor. “Hello deary. What can I do for you this afternoon?”
“Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me. I know how busy you must be running this entire kingdom.”
“It is a never-ending job, but I do what I can.”
“I know you’ve helped people find their way home before, and I was hoping you might be able to do the same for me,” Eleanor said taking one last sip from her tea and placing it on the ornately carved wooden table in front of her.
“Ah yes, you mortals always seem to have an ever-present need to find home. Well you are correct. I have helped a few lost souls find their way. When Dorothy dropped into our world out of that tornado I gave her magic shoes to transport her home. After she left I summoned all of my magical abilities and created another pair. Then those two Grimms brothers stumbled upon this kingdom and I helped them as well.
That was an interesting sight I must say,” Glinda remembered chuckling to herself, “The two grown men each crammed a foot into one of the ruby red shoes and just began knocking them together.”
Eleanor smiled, “I really do appreciate it. I wouldn’t be able to get home without your help. So I just need to put on the shoes and start clicking the heels together?”
“About that deary…you see, I’m not as young as I used to be. In my youth I had enough magic to simply create a new pair of slippers practically out of thin air, but I’m just not powerful enough to do that anymore.”
“What are you saying?”
“I need to start off with something already infused with nature’s magic. That is after all, one of the most powerful kinds. Now my royal advisors inform me of three different items in the kingdom which may possess enough power to re-infuse my magic wand. You will need to retrieve one of these.”
“You need me to get it? No offense your grace, but with all your royal power couldn’t you just go and get it yourself?”
“Well yes, but this is a favor I’m doing for you,” Glinda said patting the side of her blond hair which was pinned up on top of her head beneath a small but glistening silver tiara. “Like you said, I’m very busy and don’t have time to go gallivanting around after trinkets. And besides, the spell will be much more potent if you retrieve it yourself. Your youth and vitality will become engrained within it.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“And I do,” Eleanor got the sense that Glinda was used to getting her own way. “You’ll need to bring me one of three magical objects. A red cloak sewn with a mother’s love, three magical beans ripe with possibility, or a royal pea saturated with a young girl’s hopes and dreams.”
Gertrude, Glinda’s secretary, entered the study. “Excuse me Madam Glinda, but the head of your royal guards is here.”
“Tell him I’ll be with him in just a moment.”
“He insists that he needs to see you right away. He claims it’s very urgent.”
Glinda sighed and turned to Eleanor. “A Queen’s work is never done. Please excuse me for just one moment.” Eleanor smiled and nodded. Glinda left the room and Gertrude shut the door after her.
Eleanor took this opportunity to stomp around the room before shoving her face into a small pillow from the couch to release the pent up anger she had been harboring throughout Glinda’s explanation. “What is wrong with this world?! Why does there always have to be some kind of quest involved? Why can’t these people just say, oh you’d like shoes? That will be ten gold coins. Why does it always have to be something difficult and dangerous like pick the golden hair from the giant’s head or retrieve the toenail clippings of a righteous ogre?” She sat down onto the couch once again and began to rub her temples. “At this rate it’ll take me weeks to get home!” Eleanor felt like crying for the second time that day, but the tears just wouldn’t seem to come.
*~*
No sooner had Gertrude shut the door then both the secretary and Glinda heard the muffled yelling coming from inside the study. Gertrude glanced at the Queen in alarm. Glinda shook her head, “The people from that world are always so odd.” But she had more pressing matters then a girl throwing a tantrum at the moment. Entering the library of her mansion, Glinda asked the tall man dressed in a dark green suit with golden buttons up the front “What is so important? I was convincing the girl to bring me what I need to recreate the ruby red slippers.”
“I apologize for the inconvenience my grace, but it could not wait. He has been spotted in the city.”
“Cedric? Are you sure it wasn’t a normal white rabbit?”
“Yes Madam. It was definitely your son.”
“You were right to immediately inform me Bernard. You must recapture him. It is of the utmost importance and security! Spare nothing; I want him back dead or alive.”
“Dead or alive?”
“You heard me! He’s crossed me too many times. He’s brought this on himself. What are you waiting for? Go!” Bernard quickly left the room to complete his mission.
“You brought this on yourself son,” Glinda muttered to herself.
*~*
By the time Glinda reentered the study, Eleanor had composed herself and was calmly waiting her arrival with her hands folded neatly in her lap.
“So sorry to keep you waiting deary.”
“No problem at all.”
“I assume you’ve had ample time to consider my proposal then?”
“Yes,” Eleanor said standing and walking over to Glinda. “I will do as you ask and return here with one of the items.”
“Lovely. I’ll greatly anticipate your return,” Glinda held open the door for Eleanor.
“So will I.”
Ch.7: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
On the outside of the
“Nothing is ever completely hopeless,” said the rabbit hopping out of a burrow not very far from where Eleanor was sitting.
“You know, I don’t appreciate how you left me as soon as we got to the City. And without even saying goodbye or giving me any warning.”
“I had pressing business to take care of, I apologize once again.”
“I hate to break it to you, but you’re a bunny. How much business could you possibly have?”
“Very important business as a matter of fact. Something the quality of life here depends upon.” Eleanor looked at him skeptically. “Do you like the way the government is run in your land?” the rabbit asked.
“I’m not old enough to vote yet.”
“We’re not allowed to vote.”
“I don’t see why you would need to. It seems like Glinda has everything running pretty smoothly.”
The rabbit thumped his back foot angrily. “She is a cruel dictator with no thought for the opinions of others.”
“If you don’t like her so much, why did you take me to her?”
“Because regardless of the way I feel about her, she is the only one with enough power to help you.”
“Well thank you for putting aside your personal feelings long enough to help me.”
“You’re welcome Eleanor, but I must admit I needed to come to this area of the country again anyway for an important meeting.”
“With the squirrels and other woodland creatures?” Eleanor smirked. The rabbit twitched his nose annoyed. “I’m sorry, that was my last joke, I promise.”
“Actually it was a meeting of other citizens who are unhappy with the way things are run. However, due to an unfortunate turn of events, Dylan is now a frog, but he and I were the only animals present.”
“You know, I’m not sure Glinda is as powerful as you think she is. I met with her you know.” She began to walk off down the road and the rabbit followed after her. “Oh?”
“I have to go on some stupid quest to get her a magical object so she can make me the shoes and I can go home.”
“That’s interesting. Perhaps she is running low on her magic.”
“Ya, so I have to do the dirty work for her.” Three royal guards on horseback quickly passed as Eleanor was speaking. She looked over at her companion, but he was yet again, gone. “Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!” But this time, the rabbit emerged from behind a bush. “Stop that! Either stay and help me or leave and let me figure this out on my own.”
“I’ll help you Eleanor. What did she ask you to get?”
Eleanor eyed the furry little creature doubtfully, but told him anyway. “Either a red cloak, magic beans, or a royal pea.”
“Well that’s not so hard. Thanks to your excursion this morning we know the general area of where we might find Little Red Riding Hood and her cloak.”
“Except I’m not going back there.”
“Now Eleanor…”
“No! Don’t you know Eleanor me. I was almost eaten by a wolf earlier today. I’m not even 
completely sure how I got away, but I don’t plan on giving him a second chance.”
“It’s alright to be afraid Eleanor; fear is a part of life. But don’t let it keep you from going home.” Eleanor looked down at her furry friend. She did desperately want to go home.
“Okay,” she agreed softly. “We’ll need to find the Grandmother’s cottage then.” The two stood near the place where Eleanor had emerged from her first run in with the wolf.
“Lead the way,” the rabbit urged. Eleanor and the white rabbit started off into the forest as the sun set over their right shoulders.
*~*
After finding the remnants of a path in the woods, Eleanor and the rabbit arrived at a small cottage just as the day finally gave way to the night. Eleanor stepped up to the cottage door and knocked, but there was no response.
“Why does no one ever answer the door around here?” Eleanor asked, slightly perturbed.
“Perhaps there’s no one home,” the rabbit suggested. The cottage was dark inside.
Eleanor tried the doorknob and the wooden door creaked open. “And apparently no one locks their doors around here either.” By the light of the moon, Eleanor gazed around the inside of the cottage. To her left was a kitchen and fireplace, and to her right was a table with three chairs of different sizes. Stairs leading to the upper story were in the back. Eleanor climbed them and found two rooms, one larger than the other. Assuming the smaller room was a guest room of the grandmother’s, she tiredly collapsed onto the small bed immediately falling asleep.
*~*
The chirping of birds could be heard through an open window and Eleanor awoke to their melody. Stretching her arms out in front of her, Eleanor sleepily opened her eyes. She sat straight up in bed when she saw the little bear sitting on the end of the bed. She was wondering what to do when the baby bear smiled and said, “Hello, did you sleep well?”
“Umm, yes thank you,” Eleanor answered.
“You looked so peaceful that I didn’t think it would be polite to wake you even though you were sleeping in my bed. Mama Bear says it’s very important to be polite.”
“Well your Mama is a very smart wom— uh, bear. Where is she?”
“Downstairs with Papa Bear making porridge for breakfast.”
“Oh, I see. This isn’t Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s house is it?”
“No silly,” the little bear said laughing. Eleanor walked over to the open window and looked out.
“Would you happen to know where that house is?”
“Sure, it’s over the river and through the woods a bit.”
“Of course it is.”
“Just go south until you cross the river and it’s not much further after that.”
“Baby Bear!” a voice called from downstairs, “it’s time for breakfast!”
“Do you want some of my Mama’s porridge?”
“Thank you, I’m sure it’s…just right, but I have to be going soon.”
The little bear shrugged his shoulders and galloped out of the room and down the stairs on all fours. Scratching her head, Eleanor wondered how she was going to leave. Baby Bear was nice, but she’d rather not run into his full-grown parents downstairs. She remembered how they felt about uninvited guests.
“Time to go rabbit,” she said to her sleeping counterpart as she tore a sheet off the bed and tied it to the leg of the bed. Holding the rabbit in her left hand against her chest, Eleanor carefully used her stronger right arm to lower them both down from the second story window. The sheet slowly slipped through her right hand until about half way down when it began slipping faster. Eleanor lost her grip and fell the rest of the way, landing face up on her back, starring at the clouds drifting in the sky.
The white rabbit hopped out of her left hand, unharmed. “A bit unconventional I admit, but not altogether a failure.”
Eleanor groaned, “For you maybe,” she said and lifted herself off the dewy grass.
“Come now Eleanor. It’s off to grandmother’s house we go.”
“Haha, very funny.”
“Who was being funny?”
Ch.8: Chasing Little Red
“Do you think this will be the right one?” Eleanor asked. From a distance, she could see that this cottage had baby blue curtains hanging in the windows and flowers up the side of the walkway leading to the front door.
“Only one way to find out.” But then Eleanor darted behind a large oak tree and sank to her knees. “What’s the problem?” asked the rabbit.
“Shhh,” Eleanor pointed towards the side of the cottage. The wolf that had attacked her earlier was now sniffing around the front door.
“I guess that answers your question,” the rabbit whispered. The wolf pushed the door open with his nose and disappeared inside.
“You people really need to invest in locks,” Eleanor shook her head as the rabbit dashed to another tree. “Where are you going?”
“We have to get closer.” Eleanor grudgingly followed, hurrying from tree to tree until they were underneath one of the side windows. They heard the old woman scream. Eleanor peaked her head up over the windowsill and saw the grandmother trying to fend off the wolf with an umbrella.
“We have to help her!”
“Eleanor! We can’t. The story must play out as it was written.”
“I don’t care! There’s a woman in trouble in there. Yesterday that was me being chased. I can’t just let her be eaten!”
“Yes you can, you have to. Otherwise all will be lost. Life as we know it in this world will be over.”
“Ya well in case you haven’t noticed it’s not that great anyway. You’ve got evil witches and hungry wolves wandering around everywhere.”
“And you have murderers and robbers around every corner in your world, but you still want to go home.”
Eleanor paused for a moment. The rabbit was right, neither of the two worlds were perfect; she couldn’t disrupt the balance. She cringed as she heard the old woman scream again before she was cut off all together.
“That was wrong.”
“It was necessary.”
“We need to find the woodsman so he can save Red Riding Hood and her grandmother.”
“Stop interfering Eleanor.”
“Stop telling me what to do.” Eleanor trotted off towards the woods determinedly.
*~*
“Help! Somebody help me!” Eleanor cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted as loud as she could.
“The woodsman could be anywhere Eleanor.”
“I have to at least try and find him. Help!”
“This is hopeless.”
“Wasn’t it you that told me that nothing is ever completely hopeless? And besides, you’d think you’d have a bit more faith living in a world where the impossible happens every day. Good always triumphs over evil here.”
“Not always…” murmured the rabbit under his breath.
“Help, please!” continued Eleanor. A shot from a rifle came from the direction of the grandmother’s cottage.
“You see? The woodsman is already there. Hurry, lets go back.” The two rushed off, but by the time they reached the cottage the only person still there was the grandmother.
Eleanor rushed up to the old woman through the open doorway. “What happened?” She realized that was a silly question, she knew what had happened.
“Who are you?” questioned the grandmother.
“A friend of your granddaughter’s. Where is she?”
“She went down to the river with the woodsman. That horrible wolf ate me and tried to eat Little Red too. They took him down to the river to take care of him once and for all.”
“And that would be which direction?”
“South. If you’re going to see her would you mind taking this picnic basket with you? She forgot it in all the confusion.”
“Sure,” Eleanor answered hastily, she was anxious to go after Little Red Riding Hood.
The grandmother handed Eleanor the basket. “Be careful with it now, I filled it with cookies and goodies for Little Red.”
“Thanks for the directions!” Eleanor turned and ran with the rabbit following after her. When they reached the water’s edge they saw the large woodsman with his shotgun strapped to his back and cleaning off his axe blade in the water.
“Sir! Sir!” Eleanor called out rushing towards him. “Where is Red Riding Hood?”
“Why, she’s already gone,” he responded. “I remember you girl!” the woodsman said, his eyes lighting up with recognition. “You were running through the woods yesterday with the wolf after you.”
“Yes, that was me.”
“I didn’t get him then, but I sure did take care of him today.”
“You were the one that shot at him yesterday and stopped him from eating me?”
“Yes mam.” Eleanor threw her arms around the woodsman. He patted her head, surprised at this sudden display of emotion.
“Thank you so much. You saved my life.”
“No need for thanks miss, it’s all in a day’s work for a woodsman in these woods.”
“So Red Riding Hood went back to her grandmother’s?”
“No, no. She went home to her house near the marketplace.”
“And where might that be?” Eleanor asked disappointed.
“Just follow the river west. It flows through a mill at the edge of the market.” Eleanor sighed and looked at the river as it twisted out of sight. She thanked the woodsman once more and set off.
Ch.9: Jack and the Beanstalk
“If you had just listened to me and waited at the cottage we wouldn’t be going to Red Riding Hood’s house right now,” badgered the rabbit. “We’d probably even already have the cloak.”
“I told you, I had to help somehow.”
“But you didn’t.”
“But I tried.”
“You knew how the story was going to end; you knew everyone would be alright. Well, except for the wolf of course.”
“I thought maybe I could help save her faster.”
“I just don’t understand—.”
“What I don’t understand is why you talk so much to me but no one else.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You go on and on with me, but when other people are around you never say a word.”
“That’s preposterous.”
“No it isn’t, it’s true.”
The rabbit sighed, “Sometimes it’s just easier to get by without any problems if no one knows your special.”
“I see.” They walked along in silence for a while. “Well the market place isn’t too far now. I can see the mill from here. Would you like to ride in the basket? That way you’d be more inconspicuous and you wouldn’t be at risk of getting stepped on.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you Eleanor.
“My pleasure,” she said folding up the goodies from the grandmother in the red checkered cloth and put him gently into the basket. She draped her green jacket lightly over the top, but left a hole for air near one of the handles.
Walking into the town, Eleanor looked around unsure. The marketplace bustled under the mid-day sun. People were selling all kinds of trinkets and food. Eleanor passed a woman selling jewelry, a boy selling a cow, and a man displaying all kinds of vegetables. “So what should I be looking for?”
“How about a little girl in a red cloak?” answered the rabbit from under the lid of the basket.
“Thank you Captain Obvious.” Eleanor began to question the people around her about whether they had seen Red Riding Hood, but no one could help her. She sat down dejected next to one of the vendors. “We lost her.” Eleanor looked across the street. The boy selling his cow had finally gotten a prospective buyer, despite the sickly look of the animal.
With her head in her hands, Eleanor closed her eyes and tried to think of what to do next. She listened to the sounds of the busy market. Wheels creaked as wagons passed, chickens squawked, and a man muttered as he passed by her, “Stupid boy, he actually believes those were magic beans.” At this, Eleanor’s eyes flashed open immediately and she jerked her head up. The man who had just passed her was leading the cow down the road. Jumping up, Eleanor frantically looked around for the boy she had seen earlier.
“What’s the matter?” the rabbit whispered from beneath the jacket in the basket. Without answering Eleanor grabbed the basket and began to search the marketplace. She jumped up and down a few times, thoroughly upsetting her companion in the basket she was holding, in an attempt to see over the heads of those cluttering the marketplace. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“There he is!” Eleanor exclaimed excitedly, pointing down the way.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Jack,” she said dodging through the crowded market until she reached the young boy. She put her hand on his shoulder and spun him around to face her. “Did you just sell a cow?”
“Yes,” Jack answered surprised.
“And he gave you magic beans, right?”
“Maybe…”
“I need those.”
“No! They’re mine.”
“I’ll give you…this ring.” She held out her hand with a gold band on her ring finger.
“I don’t know. Is it special?”
“Of course! It, um, turns things into gold.”
“Then why aren’t you gold right now?” Jack is smarter than the story let on, thought Eleanor. Luckily, Eleanor always had a very active imagination growing up.
“Because you have to say the magic words.”
“If it really turns things to gold, then why do you want to trade?”
“I really like beans.”
“Well…okay!” agreed the boy. “Mother will be so proud of me!”
“Great!” said Eleanor while thinking to herself, maybe he’s not all that smart after all. Just then the white rabbit stuck his face out of the basket and bit Eleanor’s hand. “Ow!” She glared down at the animal that had dodged back inside the basket. “Excuse me for a minute I need to have a word with my picnic basket. Stay right here.” She walked off to a side street and began talking to the brown wicker basket. “Are you trying to give me rabies or something? That hurt!”
“I’m sorry, but I needed to get your attention so I could convince you not to do this.”
“What are you talking about? I need those magic beans to go home!”
“So you’re going to lie to an innocent little boy and trick him into giving you them? You’ll destroy his world Eleanor!”
“What about my world? Don’t I deserve to go home?”
“Yes, but at what price? You’ll cause him and all the people in his story to be erased forever. The consequences for your actions will be far too dire.”
“Listen to you, all gloom and doom. Nothing’s even begun to unravel and you’re freaking out. Just calm down and keep your teeth to yourself.” Eleanor picked up the basket and walked back to Jack. “I’ll take those beans now.” Jack dropped the beans into Eleanor’s waiting hand. She smiled and looked at her ticket home. When she looked back up she was startled to see that part of Jack’s hat was gone.
“What’s wrong? Can I have the ring now?”
Eleanor shook her head; she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t knowingly destroy someone’s life. Then she’d be no better than the wolf that had tried to eat her. “No.” She handed the beans back to Jack.
“You don’t want to trade?”
“No, I changed my mind.”
Jack looked at her confused. “Suit yourself lady.” Eleanor watched him walk away with a full hat sitting on top of his head. She sighed and plopped back down in the dirt on the side of the road. Once again, she had no idea what to do.
“I’m proud of you.”
Eleanor smiled half-heartedly and placed her chin in her hands. “I just gave up my only real chance at going home. I had the magic beans and I gave them back. What was I thinking?”
“You were thinking of the well-being of someone else. You showed great strength of character just now.”
“And what do I have to show for it? Nothing."
“Have a little more faith Eleanor. Things can still get better. We might still find Red Riding Hood’s house.”
“Maybe,” Eleanor sounded unconvinced. She stood up and brushed herself off. “We can at least look I guess,” she said picking up the wicker basket.
“That’s the spirit!”
They continued to walk past shops and vendors. Turning a corner, Eleanor spotted a pair of green poke-a-dot shoes in a store window. “I wish I could just buy what we need,” she said with one hand on the glass.
“Yoo hoo! Yoo hoo!” a voice called from behind Eleanor. She curiously turned around, the voice she heard sounded slightly familiar. A beautiful blond young woman stepped out of a carriage and daintily glided towards her before pulling her into a bear hug. “I knew it was you! I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Cinderella? You look so different in those new clothes and well, clean.”
“I know, isn’t it amazing?” she asked spinning around in the street. “And I owe it all to you. The prince came and I showed him the glass slipper. Then he asked me to marry him! Thank you so much for everything. How can I ever repay you?” Cinderella pulled her into another large hug. “But what are you doing here in the marketplace Fairy Godmother?”
“Oh, um…about that. I failed the test to become a fairy godmother.”
“So that’s why you don’t have your wings.”
“Sure, that sounds good.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry; it’s not a big deal.”
“You simply must come to the wedding. You’re the whole reason we’re even getting married,” Cinderella insisted.
“I don’t know. I’m kind of in the middle of something important.”
“Standing outside looking through store windows?”
“No, it’s…” Eleanor trailed off, not sure what answer to give Cinderella.
“Well it can’t be all that important if you don’t remember. Please say you’ll come! You’ll be my guest of honor.”
Eleanor thought for a moment, she had absolutely no leads on Red Riding Hood and no place to eat or stay that night. “Would it be alright if I stayed at the palace?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Then lead the way Princess.” Eleanor and the rabbit hiding in the picnic basket got into the carriage and it drove off towards the palace.
This story concludes in the next issue of Fantasy Gazetteer (May 2008).
