I have stalled at the writing of the next Mia Tale. You will see why when it is eventually published here. In the meantime pancakes sweetend with honey, a dollop of Greek yoghurt on the side, and some lovely marking in a wee coffee cup – I see a woman standing in profile. I think she is with child.
A Winter’s Tail
After the arrival of Boro and so much other goodness, Mia’s pantry was fully stocked. There was plenty to get both of them through winter.
There were days when wood and milk were left on the doorstep, other times Boro pulled the cart to fetch and carry.
The house was always warm. Mia kept up her reading and writing daily. She heard about the Annexation from Deda Boshko who said that the troubles were going to continue throughout winter months, perhaps spring too.
One day Mia stepped into the pantry pondering what to bake for her woodland friends. Vegetables and grains with a nice onion gravy, perhaps a good old-fashioned cottage pie with greens on the side.
It had to be a good size. She and Boro could have cheese with it. For dessert, apples, walnuts, dried fruit.
Mia turned over the cheeses on the pantry shelf to air them and check their maturity. One rotund cheese had a chunk missing. Maybe it had fallen off thought Mia.
She returned to the kitchen table to write invitations to her friends.
‘You are invited for a Solstice Feast at midday on the shortest day of the year. I hope to see you!’ Much love and new light, Mia and Boro.
She walked over to the woodland and pinned the invitations to a tree. Owl looked on, winking and watching Mia walk back to her home.
Mia of course secretly hoped her woodland friends would come and not be afraid of Boro who was a good type of dog and wouldn’t eat any of them.
Soon the shortest day came and the meal was prepared. Plenty for all.
A tap on the door. Mia opened it with excitement then calmed herself as Boro wagged his tail and barked loudly.
‘Shh,’ said Mia, ‘We must be careful.’
She opened the door carefully to her three pensive guests. Hare with holly, fir, mistletoe, snowberry, all bunched up in his paws. Goose had a basket of forest berries, bright and frost-kissed. Deer, a collection of pine cones to help Mia know what weather was coming, she said.
Mia bid them all enter as she took their fine gifts from the woods. Boro sat quietly at the back of the kitchen waiting til everyone sat down and for Mia to beckon him over to the table.
A loud belch resonated round the room. Everyone turned to look at Boro who raised one eyebrow then the other quizically as he looked at the pantry door. Mia giggled.
‘Pardon you,’ she said to Boro who shook his head in response. It absolutely wasn’t him, he was certain.
The woodland friends felt comfortable to have the big dog with them at the table, they thought he was funny, even if he did look big and scary.
‘No need to be afraid, ‘ reassured Mia. ‘Boro is here to look after us all.’
He gave a gentle soft bark in agreement as Mia put dollops of pie and greens in bowls.
‘Who’s for gravy?’
It was a resounding yes from everyone except Goose who declared it would be a bit sticky for her.
They ate and they ate til their tummies were round and full, their hearts were warm and they all felt sleepy.
‘It would be good to have an afternoon siesta, wouldn’t it,’ said Mia.
Everyone agreed.
‘Do make yourselves comfortable by the stove. I shall join you once I’ve washed up.’
Mia let Boro lick all the bowls clean.As he finished, another burp was heard. He turned his head to look at the pantry. Mia did too. This time she knew it wasn’t Boro.
Mia picked up the rolling pin and gingerly opened the pantry door. Boro, directly by her side. There was no one to be seen. Boro gave a low woof as he sniffed the air, discerning all the smells on the shelves.
He walked over to each shelf, sniffing. Then gave another woof as he detected something moving. Mia looked around the cheeses and suddenly a tail appeared. She started to move each cheese over to another shelf looking out for the tail which moved quickly.
Boro became excited as Mia grabbed the tail and pulled out a small grey mouse with large pink ears.
‘Hey you!,’ she said. ‘Leave some cheese for us!’
She took the mouse and placed him on the kitchen table under the cake dome so she could see him and talk to him. Her woodland friends awoke at all the commotion.
Everyone stared at the mouse intently. He was unsurprisingly rotund. He belched loudly. The onlookers laughed. Such a noise for a small animal.
‘If you keep eating like that, you will explode!’ exclaimed Mia.
Mouse looked round everyone sheepishly.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Can I stay if I eat less. I have a family. We would like to move in til spring.’
Mia was somewhat surprised by the request. A family of mice could be difficult to live with. Mice eat so much and make many babies.
Mia turned to her woodland friends and Boro. What did they think, she asked. Hare said he would like to move in too. Deer and Goose agreed. Boro was bemused by the thought of a menagerie in the house for the next few weeks.
‘It would be good company,’ said Mia. ‘But I don’t think I can feed you all every day.’
She felt sad. Would she be able to look after everyone.
Woof said Boro.
‘Yes, of course, you’re right.’ replied Mia.
‘We can all contribute,’ agreed Hare. ‘We don’t mean we should come and stay and eat your food all day, every day. We would do our share of bringing in, doing chores. We would be good friends for each other.’
‘Then that’s what we will do. We will spend the winter together.’
Mouse jumped and cheered as Mia lifted the dome lid.
There was a knock at the door.
Mia wasn’t expecting anyone.
She put on her dressing gown, peered through the peephole.
No one could be seen.
She walked back to her room, shaking her head.
Another knock at the door.
Maybe it was a small being. Perhaps a dwarf or elf, thought Mia, anything was possible.
She took a deep breath, opening the door slowly whilst holding a rolling pin in her left hand.
Her gaze dropped to a pair of beautiful brown eyes. Mia couldn’t help but smile at their gentle softness.
‘Hello,’ said Mia.
‘Woof,’ came the reply.
Mia shook the giant paw then bid the rather large animal into the kitchen. Mia glanced outside, up and down the street, across to the woods. No one else could be seen or heard. She closed the door.
‘You’re a splendid-looking dog,’ said Mia, admiring his dignified posture and glossy coat.
Mia noticed he had a pouch round his neck and asked to remove it.
‘Woof.’
Mia took that as a yes. The dog waited patiently as she undid the strap and opened it.
Therein was a letter addressed to her, money and a bar of nut chocolate.
Mia, thinking of the dog, found a bowl, filled it with water, placing it by the stove. She then took a seat at the kitchen table to read her letter.
Warm tears ran down her cheeks. The dog was named Boro. He was sent to stay with Mia from the city, with love.
The letter was not signed, but she had a feeling it was from Papa.
‘Hello Boro. Welcome. How nice to have you come stay awhile. I hope I can feed you. You are a big powerful dog.’
Boro grinned, placing his paw on Mia’s knee. He wanted to be her friend and protector.
Then another knock at the door.
‘Busy morning!’ exclaimed Mia.
A cart and horse stood directly outside the kitchen door, blocking out the view and rising sun, taking up the entire cobbled street by the house.
‘Special delivery!’ shouted a man.
Mia looked on with excitement, Boro by her side. He was already her guardian.
The man unloaded box upon box, bag after bag into the kitchen. He placed some items in the pantry, some under the stairs.
Mia, speechless, looked on in wonder.
Boro barked as if he was ordering the delivery man around. Mia couldn’t help but notice his strange pointy ears peeking out beneath his cap. Then his hands were not hands but furry paws, and a tail at his behind! The more she looked the more fox-like he seemed. A fox in overalls, coat, kerchief about his neck.
Mia blinked. Pinched herself. Blinked again, Boro barked.
Everything unloaded, the cart now empty and the kitchen was full.
‘One last thing,’ said the fox as he placed a box on the table. ‘Please sign for delivery.’
He handed Mia a paper and pen.
As she signed she noted the inventory heading: Little and Big Things Company. City of Gradov.
The fox nodded at Mia and Boro, leaving, promptly riding the horse and cart away rapidly down the cobbled street.
‘Woof.’
‘Yes, you are right. I need to check it all and decide what to do. At least I have a copy of the inventory. There is so much,’ said Mia in wonder.
But first she wanted to open the box on the table. She took a pair of scissors from a kitchen drawer, cut the string, folding back the flaps. Inside was another box wrapped in glittering paper.
Mia removed it slowly, not wanting to spoil the special wrapping. On opening the box, she pulled out a most glorious object – a glass globe filled with water, inside it, a white deer. There was a key at its base. Mia turned the key and then the globe upside down. She knew what it would do. As snow fell on the winter wonderland inside, a tune she loved and knew, Clare da Lune, rang out.
There was a printed card in the box. Always believe in magic was all it stated.
Mia and Boro watched the snow slowly descend. Boro sensed his companion’s sadness and placed a paw on her knee again, nuzzling her arm. She patted his head, giving him a hug.
‘Well, we won’t be hungry,’ she said to him.
‘It’s me and you Boro dog. There are others too. You will meet them. We won’t be alone.’
‘Woof,’ said Boro.
Mia closed the door. Autumn was turning slowly into winter. Snow was coming soon.
Everything would be fine thought Mia. She dressed, made breakfast for them both.
She was so very glad Boro came to stay.
Image credit: Getty Images
Gabriel & Hare 