Muddy Puddle Muddle Chapter One - The Muddle

Muddy Puddle Muddle

By Hannah Hepton

Chapter One - The Muddle

I’m sure you’ve heard it said before that when black storm clouds gather,
soon follows great big drops of rain that make a pitter patter.
When the rain and wind combine they make an awful din,
which makes you glad you’re safe inside, curled up and snuggled in.
The sky turns dark and gloomy and a there’s a nip of cold in the air,
with sometimes a roll of thunder and sparks of lightning flare.
But amidst this noise and kafuffle our story shall begin,
because when such moments happen, a certain person enters in.

His name is little Oren of the Elf and Fairy Wood,
his skin is pale and stature small, three inches when he’s stood.
Now Oren is a happy Elf and wears a suit of yellow,
and with his emerald Elfin hat he is a handsome fellow.
His boots are made of leather in a lovely chocolate colour,
and when he walks you hear the sound of bells sewn in his collar.
Oren isn’t very brave, courageous or even plucky,
he is of course a little Elf and we know them to be lucky.

Oren has a special tale he’d like to make a secret,
because you’re now a friend of his, I’m sure you’ll vow to keep it.
And now we have been introduced to our little Elfin friend,
he can take you on a journey that starts at Rainbow's End.
It began one autumn stormy day, it rained all afternoon,
and Oren sat and watched it pour, eating porridge with a spoon.
As he sat beneath a toadstool his thoughts began to wander,
to the games he’d love to play today, if the weather was not so somber.

As Oren slurped his porridge he suddenly had a thought,
he should try the welly boots his Aunt Olinda kindly bought.
It had been little Oren’s birthday and Aunt Olinda knew,
that splashing in great big puddles was what Oren liked to do.
The boots were made of rubber in a glorious shade of blue,
and Oren had one thing in mind, can you guess his plan here too?
So up jumped little Oren and pulling on his coat,
he grabbed his brand new wellies and his boat he liked to float.

Oren ran and dodged the raindrops as he is only small,
and scampered beneath the leaves the wind had caused to fall.
He heard the wind start howling, and Oren began to quiver,
for the cold and rain you see can really make you shiver.
Oren pulled his coat round tighter and his hat down nice and low,
so all you could see now were his eyes and nose pop out on show.
He took a few more steps along and guess just what he saw,
a great big muddy puddle lying on the floor.

Oren was excited, and with a great big jump,
he sprang into the puddle, landing with a bump.
Oren looked down confused and where there should be puddle,
was nothing but a hole with dirt, this was a little muddle.
And as Oren sat and scratched his head he heard a tiny cry,
“Coooieee, little Elf, I’m here you see, I moved in the blink of an eye!”
Oren looked behind him, and there what did he see,
his great big muddy puddle sat beneath the nearby tree.

Oren stood up on his feet and brushed off his muddy clothes,
and walked towards the puddle to try again we shall suppose.
But when the Elf got closer he started to really see,
that this muddy puddle was not what it had first appeared to be.
Little Oren was a clever Elf, he really was no fool,
because he had gone everyday and listened lots in school.
In Elf and Fairy Wood magic was forever brewing,
but Oren was bewildered at what this puddle should be doing.

“Hello” he said, “I’m Oren of Elf and Fairy Wood”,
he really hoped that as he spoke he would be understood.
“Hello, my name is Asrai”, said the muddy puddle,
“I was hoping instead of splashing I could have a little cuddle.”
Oren was amazed to see a pair of beady eyes,
a nose, a mouth and ears that trembled as the puddle began to cry.
“Why are you so sad” said Oren, he felt a little sorry,
that he had made the puddle glum with his puddle splashing folly.
So Oren listened carefully to the doleful little stranger,
as she sat and told her story and her alarming brush with danger.

“I used to be a fairy with wings all made of glitter,
and when I flew in moonlight my body used to shimmer.
I was young and very pretty with hair all spun with gold,
and as my fairy sister’s like me I never would grow old.
I’d dance and sing in the wood, and play with all my friends,
and frolic amongst the flowers right here at Rainbow’s End.
I was so very beautiful and small and mild and dainty,
until I met an Imp one day who asked me “May I paint thee?”
The puddle looked so troubled that Oren surely grasped,
that any meeting with an Imp was not a happy task.

He’d never met an Imp before but Oren had heard it said,
that Imp’s were very naughty in the story’s he had read.
An Imp is a mischievous creature with a scrawny little body,
and he wears old rags and scraps of cloth that look a little shoddy.
His fingers are long and wizened and his face is small and wrinkly,
but if you looked into his eyes you’d find them rather twinkly.
Oren carefully listened as she outlined her tale of woe,
and sat down right beside her on a mossy little stone.
“What happened next?” he asked Asrai, he was in fact intrigued,
to hear the story further and the Imp’s fiendish little deed.

“Well” said the muddy puddle “I’ll warn you to remember
that Imp’s are prone to jealousy and have a nasty temper.
The Imp asked if he could paint my likeness, but I’m afraid to say
I thought him to be ugly so asked him to go away.
I was so very beautiful and such a sight to see,
that I didn’t think him worthy of speaking then to me.
I did not like his scrawny hands or misshapen little face,
and I said that such a creature should not look upon my face.”

Oren could not believe his ears for he thought everybody knew,
that to insult a prankish Imp was the last thing you should do.
Asrai saw Oren’s dismay and then began to swallow,
she knew she had to carry on and report now what did follow.
“The Imp looked very angry and he began to mutter,
that he had thought it right to be kind to one another.”

“And then as he spoke he looked me in the eye,
and started to chant a spell raising his arms up to the sky.
The air went very black and the wind began to muster,
and sticks and stones and dirt and leaves all swirled round in a cluster.
The chanting then got louder and with a deafening clap,
a lighting bolt came from the sky and hit me with a slap.
The Imp he started laughing and before I could reply
the Imp leapt up and hollered in a booming, blaring cry.”

“Now you are no fairy with wings all spun with glitter
and you shall not be beautiful and have a radiant shimmer.
Instead of being dainty with hair all touched in gold,
you shall now be ugly and forthwith you shall grow old.
A muddy little puddle is what you now shall be,
and you will forever rue the day you were so rude to me.
This is to be your punishment for being oh so vain
and now you can’t come out in the light, but only in the rain.”

Oren was in dismay and felt such pity for this puddle,
who’s being rude to the Imp had found her in this muddle.
But as the tears rolled down Asrai’s face on telling of this drama,
Oren had known straight away he had to try to help her.
“How can I help?” he asked her, “What is there I can do?”,
for Oren had learned of magic whilst at Elf and Fairy school.
“Have you learnt your lesson, do you feel a twit,
do you know now to be vain is to be a huge nitwit?”

Asrai looked straight at him and said now to her friend,
“My remorse and true repentance will never, ever end.
If only I could say sorry to that naughty little Imp,
but I’m afraid of where to find him as I’m now a timid wimp.
Would you really help me, do you think it tragic,
that I am to live here like this because of Impish magic?”

Now when we began this tale I think I endeavored to say,
that Oren was no courageous Elf or heroic in any way.
Oren took a deep breath in and then thought in a flash,
that it was Aunt Olinda a Fairy Queen he would have to ask.
Olinda was a noble Queen, so kind and very tender
and surely had the magic that could really truly help her.
Oren closed his eyes so tight and looked so deep inside him,
and called on Aunt Olinda to quickly come and find them.
And as he said his wish inside himself there was a puff of smoke,
that was so thick that he began to cough and choke.

There then, stood before them was a truly ravishing creature,
who’s silken skin and dazzling eyes where clearly her best feature.
Her gown it was exquisite in hues of pink and gold,
and with gossamer wings she was a true sight to behold.
Clasped between the fingers of her dainty small left hand,
was a magic wand of silver with gems that looked so grand.
Her hair was spun with moonlight with a sparkling golden crown,
and it framed a youthful face that had never seen a frown.
Olinda flourished her arms out lavishly to clear the smokey air
and quickly saw her nephew and the puddle sitting there.
And then she sat beside them on a pillow of pink vapor,
while she listened to the puddle and thought on how to help her.

“I know this Imp of whom you speak” said Olinda to the puddle,
“but it will take much more than spells to release you from this muddle.
His name is Povoloki, and it’s true he is an artist,
and to be so very rude to him was clearly not the smartest.
He is a sullen rascal who is easily offended,
but I’m sure that if you visit him this misunderstanding can be mended.
I’m afraid you must say you’re sorry and show him your remorse,
and as Imp’s are greedy creatures a gift would help of course.”
Then Olinda turned to Oren who’d been listening very carefully,
and gave advice of which he should take very heedfully.

“I will send you on a journey to find this naughty fellow,
it will take you far from Rainbows End, a place called Whirling Willow.”
Olinda waved her magic wand and the tip began to glow,
then as she gestured to the ground there showered a glittering snow.
Then as the sparkles faded on Olinda’s pillow of vapor,
was a tiny little parcel wrapped in ribbon and brown paper.
“This parcel is for you Oren, it contains the things you need,
to ward off any danger and give good luck and even speed.
I know you are a little Elf of only three inches high,
but I know you can help your friend, you only have to try.
If you look deep inside yourself and trust in what is good,
you’ll find all the help you need right here in Elf and Fairy Wood.

Oren opened up the parcel tied with a silver ribbon
and looked upon the objects Olinda had kindly given.
“You can see there is some fairy dust to use if you find trouble,
just sprinkle when you need it most to summon a magic bubble.
The bubble will protect you and keep you safe inside,
you can also use it for travel if you need a hasty ride.
I know you’re not brave dear Oren so here’s a thing to do,
be sure to have this silver coin tucked in to your left shoe.
Now lastly we come to the present you should offer for forgiveness,
Here’s a truckle of cheese, as Imps do really love this.
The cheese is made from the creamiest milk and infused with the finest saffron,
and as this is known by the Imp to be gold, I know at once he will want some.

I can see as an Elf and a puddle you will need help on this long journey,
so I’m lending you my Snail Coach who’s name is Pearly Sterling.”
And with that Olinda vanished with a cascade of sparkling luster
and in her place stood a giant snail who seemed in a bit of a fluster.
“You must be Pearly Sterling” said Oren to the snail,
and he began to tell the story of the puddle’s disastrous tale.
The Snail then interrupted “Forget this hocus-pocas,
I was sleeping very soundly on a bed of delicious crocus.”