The Adventures Of Little Sham - Chapter 9 (Part 1)

The Adventures Of  Little Sham  

A Novel

by Paul McCann

Chapter Nine

The Singing Tree

Part 1

The darkness of the night had gone and the light of a new day shone through the window into Sham’s bedroom . In the room opposite his father called out  ,

“Sham lets go . its breakfast time “

He took Toby Woby and went outside the room where his parents were waiting and then they all went down the stairs together and sat down at the table . Morning sunlight streamed through all the windows of the dining and they say there absorbing the new day ,

Mrs Mc Dermott called out from the kitchen.

“Good morning , good people “

“Good morning, Mrs McDermott :”

Came the reply .

Then she brought over breakfast on a small wooden trolley to their table “

 “Mumm that smells nice Mrs McDermottt “

“Help yourselves and enjoy “.

The aroma of a full Irish breakfast wafted through the air with a hearty and delicious , taste , clinging to the ceiling , caressing the walls , teasing the taste buds and finally uncovering the aroma with a feast for the eye with an array of cooked food .

On the trolley there were scrambled and fried eggs, rashers of bacon, sausages  baked tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, white and black pudding and potato farls . There was treacle farls , barnbrek and small white and brown loaves .   

She left the breakfast trolley beside their table and went back into the kitchen while they ate .

Shep walked in and sat down near Sham at the table and said  , .:

‘Good morning, Sham , those sausages smell great  Don’t they “

“ The proof is in the tasting Shep .“

Sham secretly slipped a sausage to Shep.  

All the clocks in the dining room started to chime 7 O’clock . Everyone smiled and in all the din there was a funny kind of morning magic.

“I love this crazy place”  Mrs Greenacre said.

 .“It’s a slice of paradise “  Mr Greenacre said  .

“It’s magic. ”  Sham said.

Suddenly the ticking of all the clocks stopped and time stood still .

Toby Woby said ,

‘This looks exciting Sham.“

“Fear not, you are in a space between worlds. “

A voice said   .

 “Who are you ?” Sham asked.

“I am the unknown one , from no where in time ?”

Came the reply and Sham said,

“Well , nice to meet you . My name is Sham . Can you tell me what is happening ?”

“Nothing is going on  Sham. This is place is a shadowland of nowhere where you are suspended just for a moment “

“Why am I here”.

Sham asked  and the voice replied .   

“To listen and observe. Everything that you see here is transitional”.

Different characters passed by Sham . Some of them he knew as Santa Claus , the Easter bunny , the tooth fairy and others as well that he had a vague memory of .

  .The voice said ,

“ These images you see reside in the shadowlands as well as in nowhere . They are allowed to leave this space on some occasions to fulfil a mission in your world .”

Overhead streaks of different coloured light appeared . They passed through and then they disappeared somewhere beyond  .

“The lights you see are ideas and thoughts . They’re on a journey ” The voice said .

 There was music and other sounds all around and the voice said ,

“Your gifts have been  increased during your visit here in the shadowlands. You will return here again Sham but for now goodbye.”

In that moment everything had disappeared and the sound of all the clocks began  ticking away again.

“There’s a flower festival on here in Chapters End “

“Yes , I heard . Maybe we should go and have a look at that today. “

As Sham’s parents were talking Mrs McDermott made her way from the kitchen  and said ,

“ The festival of flowers is always worthwhile having a look at. It’s part of the national Lunasa time festival where single girls go off to pick wildflowers to give to the men of their choice ., They say it’s a perfect for finding romance and a new life .”

Somebody came knocking at the door . Shep started barking and doing his home security thing . Mrs McDermott opened the door to find a young girl there .

“Hello there , how can I help ? “ Mrs McDermott said ,

“Actually, I’m the one who has come to help you “  The young girl replied .

Then she ran into the house and started scattering flower’s petals from her satchel  bag everywhere she went . Upstairs and downstairs she ran , singing a little song on her way , .

“Something old,  something new ,  seeds a plenty  to sew , in the forests and fields  the wildflowers have grew. Feel the love that is there, there’s a chance for romance   come with me , now’s the time , for us to sing  and dance .”

 Mrs Mc Dermott  started laughing and clapping her hands and she urged the Greenacre family to follow the young girl who went skipping out the door and along the street . The Greenacres following behind as did some locals . Everyone gathered behind a street parade . There were horses pulling floats with musicians playing music . The parade made it way through the village to an open field where a stage had been set up . Already a small audience had sat down on some fold up chairs in front of the stage . The man at the microphone said.

“ Welcome one and all here to this year’s festival of the flowers . It’s a time to dream of the things we have never seen . It’s a time set sail on board ships to sail the sky on a voyage with a crew we never knew before . We have the chance to ride away on the waves to find new lands where fiends are green . We are young and we are old but just for now let us listen to the dialect of the ancients .”

Everyone applauded as a group of traditional musicians took the stage and played a set of tunes that had everyone mesmerised . There were entertainers there who had come  from all over that land to entertain for free all the people who were there to celebrate the festival of flowers .

All over the country at this time of year festivals were happening everywhere.  The festivals provided musicians and poets , storytellers and dances an opportunity to bring new melodies and stories from village to village . For many generations the festivals were part of a musical heritage and for centuries audiences have been treated to a wonderful  mix of entertainers who play for free to the audiences that are there . Many believe that the influence of all the music and dance that is shared during festival time has crept deep into the soil and nurtured the seeds they were sewn and in turn have formed a beautiful arrangement of wildflowers and sweet fruit  on all the stems and trees over all the land. From the past to the present the expression of ancient songs has bee3n translated  and recognised with all the  people  . It makes for a better future and that is the reason why these festivals will continue to survive . If anything is worth its salt then the taste of life will always be sweet 

All that day the Greenacres sat and enjoyed the free entertainment that was provided , the experience was exciting and mystical . They felt connected with all the audience as the bands played their reels and jigs with a rare passion that exploded on stage capturing the moment with wonder with original inspirations in music and song . The performances were hauntingly ethereal and appreciated as  the day progressed . After the show finished everyone went back to their homes much wealthier for the experience .

In the twilight people walked along hand in hand and linking each other with an innocence of a love for life . Sham and his parents felt part of that and walked among the crowd through the village .By the time they got back to the guesthouse they were hungry and looking forward to what Mrs McDermott had cooked . She had already anticipated there return and greeted them as they walked in the door ,

“Well now , tell me , how did you all like the festival ?”

“Oh, it was just wonderful Mrs McDermott . We have never been to anything like that before . We all loved it .”

Replied Mrs Greenacre  and Mrs Mc Dermott smiled and spoke .

”We have many festivals here in Chapters End you know but I’m sure you all must be famished .  I have some corned beef and cabbage that has just been cooked properly for your satisfaction and some potatoes mashed with a little secret of mine so,  when you’re already just get sated and I’ll bring it to the table for you .

Eventually the day came to an end as Mrs McDermott cleared the table and the Greenacres made their way up the stairs to their bedrooms .

Sham’s p[aren’t gave him a big hug and said ,

“Have a good sleep son”.

“Goodnight Mum and Dad”  said Sham as he went into his bedroom .

The sound of the waves came filtering through into his room from the ocean and the wind whispered softly melodies to him then he heard the echo of a voice calling out.to him .

"Come won’t you come to the land where your dreams come from , for its there that. you’ll  find  a place where you belong “

 

 

End Of Part 1

 

 

Part 2

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/adventures-little-sham-chapter-9...

.

 

 

.