A Fairy Tale for Jason.

It was a once upon a time house, so small that you could pass by and not see it. A roof of thatch crowned it's sleepy windows. The wooden front door opened into a hallway whose tiled floor was covered by a colourful rug. The living room had cosy armchairs and a big squashy sofa, a large sideboard and a bookcase filled with books. A battered violin case sat on a carved wooden chest. Carpet and curtains were a faded pink and green.

Opposite the the living room was the kitchen. An old fashioned range held shiny copper pans. The shelves were filled with homemade jams and preserves. Bunches of dried herbs hung from the beams of the ceiling, filling the room with the faint smell of summer. On a thick rug by the range lay Skip, a big dog of many breeds. Two bedrooms and a shower room nestled under the eaves.

The front garden was filled with flowers and behind the house was an orchard with trees laden with fruit. There was also a long wooden bench. A path winding through a copse of trees led to the river, wide and sandy, at times calm and peaceful reflecting the sunlight in thousands of twinkling diamonds, at other times running fast as if desperate to reach the distant sea.

The house belonged to a tiny woman with snow white hair piled on top of her head. She had the bluest of eyes hidden behind glasses that invariably slipped down her nose and the kind of smile that always held a welcome. Her name was Laura Grey.

Laura Grey had been a famous violinist, playing for many years in concert halls all over the world. Time came when weary with all the travelling, the rehearsals and the fever pitch of concert nights, she had retired to the little house by the river, happy to enjoy its peace and quiet. She still played her violin but now it was for her own pleasure.

She had been to town to do some shopping and paused at the music shop to chat to the owner, Bob Reynolds, who had become a friend. A large poster adorned the door of the shop, advertising a forthcoming music competition involving several schools in the area. She commented on it.
"Ah yes," said Bob "our local school is taking part. They have a gifted youngster who plays the violin and have high hopes for him. I live next door to his grandparents and I've often heard him play. Jason, that's the boy's name, lives with them during the week as his parents and his uncle ply the river with their barge. He joins them at the weekends and for the school holidays."
"Who is his music teacher?" inquired Laura.
"A Miss Winter. She's excellent and Jason has made remarkable progress under her tuition. Why?"
"Nothing. I'm just interested. Can anyone attend the competition?"
"You'd be welcome" said Bob "especially if they know who you are!"

Laura went home and sat for a long time on the wooden bench in the orchard, Skip at her feet. Laura, she said firmly to herself, those days are over. Besides you musn't meddle! Skip barked and wagged his tail.

When Bob went home that evening, as he walked up the garden path to his front door, he saw Mrs Peters, Jason's grandmother picking roses in her front garden. From an upstairs window came the sound of Jason playing the violin. They greeted each other.
"Do you know who came into the shop today? Laura Grey." said Bob.
"The Laura Grey," said Mrs Peters "I didn't know she lived in this area."
"She lives in the little house by the river. She saw the poster of the music competition and I think she might attend."
Mrs Peters looked thoughtful for a moment, "I wonder" she said softly.
Bob looked at her and said, "Do you think she might want to hear Jason play? I mentioned him to her and told her how good he was."
They looked at each other like a pair of conspirators. "But how," they asked each other.

The Jason in question was 10 years old, a bit small for his age with a head of tousled hair that no matter how it was brushed never really looked tidy. He had blue/grey eyes and a sprinkling of freckles over his nose. Like all the boys of his age he loved football and had a favourite team that either brought him joy or despair on a Saturday afternoon.

He had wanted to learn a musical instrument from the time he had started school, hoping that his grandparents wouldn't object if he learned to play the drums. But for a reason he couldn't explain when the time came he chose to learn the violin. He took to this instrument as a duck takes to water, progressing rapidly through the music exam grades. Because of his undoubted talent he had been chosen to represent the school at the forthcoming music competition. He was proud but terrified all at the same time, as he had been told that success in this competition could lead to others with an eventual scholarship to a famous music school. It all sounded far away and complicated but, as his granny said - one step at a time.

His granny was a gentle person blessed with much tact and diplmacy but, when she wanted something, she had the determination of a bulldozer. Grandpa had discovered this early on in their long married life. When she told grandpa of the idea that had germinated in her mind, he was appalled. He couldn't see the point. Who was this woman? Jason had an excellent music teacher so why involve this Miss Grey? He wasn't too happy about the competition as it was. Jason was too young for all this pressure!

Granny pushed as far as she could go. Jason was gifted, very gifted, he could go far. Why not start him on the bottom rung of success and see how far up he could climb. If he fell off no harm would be done. Miss Grey had been a famous violinist, perhaps she could give Jason some ideas that would make all the difference.
"What about his parents?" inquired grandpa "what do they think? And Miss Winter? She might be offended."
Granny had already thought about all of this.
"I'll go and talk to them" she said "but first I must speak to Jason."
With any luck thought grandpa, he won't be happy about this idea at all. Come to that perhaps Miss Grey wouldn't be keen either, or his parents or Miss Winter. Comforted with those thoughts grandpa went back to reading his newspaper.

Granny lurked by the front door until she saw Bob leaving for work. She explained the idea to him. He nodded and said "You tackle his parents and Miss Winter. I'll get in touch with Miss Grey. What about Jason?"
"You leave Jason to me" said his grandmother.
Granny went and found Jason in his room. She outlined her plan to him. He was horrified.
"But granny, it's the holidays. I always spend them helping on the barge!"
"Precisely" replied his grandmother. "Miss Grey lives in that little house by the river. They can drop you off."
"What about Miss Winter? She's my music teacher. She might not want someone else interfering. Anyway, I don't know this Miss Grey. Suppose we don't get on!"
Granny smiled at him and said "I'm putting the cart before the horse. I haven't asked Miss Grey yet. Bob told me that she's interested in the competition so he told her all about you. As a famous violinist she might be able to make a few suggestions that could be helpful. I'd like her to meet you, listen to you play and tell us what she thinks. You can still spend your holiday helping on the barge."
Jason was dubious but he knew his grandmother. Once she started she was hard to stop.

Grandmother set out to convince everyone else. She had no problem with Jason's parents. They were agreable to anything that would help him. Miss Winter surprised her. She told grandmother that she had booked a holiday in Greece and had been concerned that she would not be available to give Jason extra tuition. If Miss Grey could help it would be wonderful.

It left Miss Grey. Granny phoned her, explained her idea and Miss Grey, secretly delighted, invited her to tea, with Jason, the following day. Tea was a great success and, by the time they went home Laura and Jason were friends. She had been impressed with his playing and had offered to help.

At the start of the holidays Laura and Skip went down to the river to wait. Round the bend came the barge, gaily coloured laundry fluttering like flags from the washing line and pots of bright red geraniums filled the window sills. A small figure sat on the cabin roof clutching a violin case. The barge came to rest against the river bank and Jason lept off. They went back to the house together. Lunch was a boy's delight, second helpings available, third helpings regretfully refused. That afternoon they took their violins out to the bench in the orchard and played together. Skip lay down between them and thumped his tail. In the late afternoon the barge came back for Jason. This was to be the daily pattern of these holidays. Laura helped Jason prepare for the competition.

The day of the competition dawned bright and sunny. Granny helped Jason to get ready. Grandpa got in the way. When they reached the school it was a hive of activity. Jason went to the music room to wait until he was called. When his turn came he walked out on to the stage, tucked his violin under his chin and lifted his bow. A wave of stage fright threatened to engulf him but his eyes found his smiling family in the audience, Laura sitting with them. The sight of them steadied him. He played his best and was astounded by the torrent of applause that greeted him when he had finished. He was even more surprised when he was named as the overall winner at the end of the competition.

Many years later when his fame as a violinist filled the world's most famous concert halls, as he tucked Laura's own violin under his chin, he would remember with love the once upon a time house by the river, and the fairy godmother who lived there.