With a Witch & a Smile by C. S. Edwards

Author:C. S. Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C. S. Edwards

8

The Mistake

Gnomelder scurried out of the gnome-sized door hidden in the folds of the largest tree in Rabbit Hash. The Dawn Redwood stood 89 feet, while its fluted trunk splayed out in all directions, the braided and twisting tentacles disguising many dark hollows in their shadows. Towering over Betty’s cottage, the gentle giant’s soft, feathery, bright green needles rustled and shook with the wind. Gnomelder patted the tree’s truck as he stood in her cover. The gnome’s entrance to his tunnel to the rock mine was hidden on the back-side of the tree and faced into the woods behind Betty’s dental delivery station. He closed the small arched door and locked it with one of several skeleton keys dangling from a bulky metal ring. Skipping from the safety of the redwood, he sprinted across the cottage’s yard to the back patio, where his wet footprints followed him on the brick pavers.

Capering up to the cottage, Gnomelder planted himself against the brick wall. He poked at the flap on the bottom half of the door with his shovel, lifted the corner, and squatted to peek inside.

“And little gnomes stay in their homes, eating, sleeping, drinking their wine.” Ginger poked her head out, singing her favorite Pink Floyd song, ‘The Gnome,’ and bumped Gnomelder on the noggin.

“Flibber giget mush Inger. Ba. Na na.” Gnomelder scolded and rubbed his forehead. “Pleg gog. Pleg gog. Ima muchi specie, BetBet.”

Ginger beamed and stepped aside as Gnomelder hopped through the opening. The big dog stretched her long front legs out in a downward dog pose to allow her friend to jump on her back. Trotting away, the two creatures headed down the hall toward the Containment Lab. They were a mismatched pair, because of gnomes’ natural fear of big dogs, but had become fast friends when Betty, Birdie, and Ginger arrived in Rabbit Hash. Prior to that time, Gnomelder and his army of gnomes spent many nights tunneling through the earth, gathering up discarded stray teeth. Even the teeth meant to become fairies were cast off as homeless creatures. It wasn’t until Betty was born and she discovered a small baby tooth fairy in her mother and father’s garden, struggling to survive. She took the small creature in, nurtured it until it was grown, and set it free. That fateful finding set Betty, Ginger, Birdie, and Gnomelder on a collision course.

Triggering the double glass doors open, the pair entered the clinical space. Gnomelder dismounted with a bounce and splat his wet shoes on the concrete floor. Dashing to a large tote full of small boxes, he whistled as he rummaged through the unopened mail.

“He’s a rebel and he’ll never ever be any good.” Ginger crooned The Crystals classic.

Popping out of the tote with three small boxes balanced in one hand, Gnomelder sniffed the packages, beamed and bobbed his head, “Elpin em, Ingerg.”

Stepping on the familiar’s head, the gnome exited the tote. He jumped to the floor, juggling the boxes. The two shuffled and danced through the lab, singing, oblivious to the silent glide of the re-opening glass doors.

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