Gimme shelter.

Luckily overlooked and unseen, some bits have learned to hide in plain sight. (1915 fairy tale from Ukraine/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

A little bit of magic shouldn’t have to be looking for sanctuary.

The grandfather was having to hustle – and watch not tripping in the pasture – but he was able to keep up with the two young kids holding either of his hands – maybe working his shoulders a bit like a see-saw fulcrum – but certainly keeping up with the Running of the Littles. “Pamplona’s bulls had nothing on them,” he thought.

Yet he went down. Clutching his chest.

“Run, Addie. Run get mom. Now,” screamed the five year old boy as he shoved his younger sister back up the the hill.

Purposefully, he rubbed his hands together until warm, then wiggled them over his grandfather’s heart. “It will be OK, Paw-paw. Our hearts will beat as one. Beat together. As one. It’s gonna be OK, ” he said closing his eyes and feeling the sun in his cheeks.

His mother somehow avoided the numerous gopher holes as she flew down the hill followed closely behind by two men. The older man’s eyes were open and he seemed calm – objecting a bit to being loaded onto a rough canvas stretcher. Much slower did he ascend the hill suspended between the two men.

The little boy’s mom pulled the little boy back as the followed. “What happened?” she asked with concern.
“What did you do?”

He struggled to twist free of her hold as he answered, “Paw-paw fell and made a terrible noise and then was sort of breathing like a fish on the dock. I just told him to wait – you were coming. It would be OK.”

“What else?”

“I rubbed my hands together until they were really hot – like when Grandmother does when she says her eyes are very tired – then puts her warmed palms over her closed eyes and says they feel better. I rubbed my hands together really hard  and put my hands under his hoping to make him feel better.”

“Anything else? Did you see anything when you closed your eyes? Was it like when the tiny kitten got kicked by the horse? Did you say anything?”

He thought for a minute. Uncomfortable in the tight grip on his shoulders. “Just the sun –  it was really, really bright. As hot as summer. I said ‘Our hearts beat as one’. I have a very good heart, Mom.”

“Yes, you do,” she replied kissing the top of his head and releasing him. She watched as he raced up the hill and worried. How could she tell him? Make him understand. How to keep him safe. The world was changing. Knowledge was dangerous. “Yes, you have a good heart – and it will probably be what betrays you.”

Surely there’s sanctuary for this little bit of magic somewhere.

Someplace where little miracles can wait until called.(1909 Russian Empire fairy tale/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

I never know whether to hope no one ever finds the shelter or to hope someone does.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Until the World comes searching after realizing what was lost. (Russian Fed.1927 Fairy tale, ill. Ivan Billibin/USPD/ Commons.wikimedia.org)