143.The Third Harvest

Fall arrived and it would soon be time again for Michael’s annual Halloween Party. One day we ran into him on a road to Minced Forest. We greeted Michael merrily, for we were a in very good mood that day.

                                        

              “Who are you and what are you on?” he said squinting at us.

“We’re Heather, Thistle and Arley, riding on Donatus, a donkey,” we said in one voice. Sometines we like to speak in unison. Fairies often do this when in groups and with the same words in mind. “Where are your glasses?” We realized Michael was squinting because he didn’t have his glasses on.    

“They were shattered when I got kicked out of the infernal school.The wizard Casimir, my ophthalmologist, will  take a while to make me new ones. Magic spectacles have to be charged under the light of two waxing moons before they can work properly. I am on my way to see Moth, who is also shortsighted, and says she can lend me a pair of old glasses because she prefers contact lenses. I hope I can see with her glassses. Right now I can’t distinguish you three riding on the donkey. Hi, Donatus, pleased to meet you.”

“Me too,” said Donnie.

“Then there won’t be a Halloween party this year because of your lost glasses?” we said still speaking in one voice.

“One is shortsighted but also foresighted. I have everything I need to celebrate Halloween ready since July. I hired a caterer and an exterior decorator for this event way back then. Branna has sent the invitations for me. You should get them before the end of the week.With the help of a kind soul or two, who will have to deal with the unexpected, for everything else has been seen to, there will be a Halloween party on the night appointed if everything goes according to plan.”

“We three are kind souls. We’ll help you with the party. In fact, Donnie is taking us to the woods to gather blackberries. We want to make one last blackberry cake this year. It will be for your party.”

We said goodbye to Michael and rode off, guided by the Leafies. When we got to the part of Minced Forest where the finest wild blackberries grow, the Leafies Malcolfus and Vincentius gave us some advice.

                   

“Pick these, for they are the biggest and juiciest to be had here. But remember, children, that this is the third and last harvest. Those who wish to gather berries have to do it before the first of November.”

We thanked the Leafies for reminding us that the forest offers three free harvests. The last ends at twelve o’clock p.m., on the thirty-first of October. Anything left in the forest after that belongs to the forest creatures, so they can make it through the cold winter. But there was someone coming up behind us who did not think the way we did.

                                  

“Who says we can’t pick berries after Halloween? First come, first served,” said Alpin.

                                                

“I say!” hissed Garth, the Pookah, appearing out of nowhere, just as Alpin had. “You’d better watch it, kid!”

“Well, if it isn’t Mum’s least loved nephew,” retorted Alpin, undaunted by Garth. “Why aren’t you under some bridge waiting to assault a passerby?”

“It’s you and your like I’ll be waiting for,” said Garth. “Pick  what you need today, but take care what you do in November.”

And Garth vanished as he had appeared.

“You heard the tough guy, girls. So pick every last berry in the forest. Don’t leave a single puny, bruised, sour, wrinkled or dry berry unpicked. We won´t waste them. You can make jams and jellies for me.”

                             

                                                                  

“We’ll only take what we need to bake a cake for the Halloween  party,”said Heather.

“But are you considering I might want a taste of that cake?” asked Alpin.

                                      

 “I’m considering throwing it at your face, Alpin,” said Thistle.

But again Alpin would not be daunted.

“If it tastes good, that’s fine by me,” he said.