Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes - 1. Part 1

Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes

Come and gather round young and old! Settle in while I spin me yarn. This is a tale of good and evil, of goats and toads, and magic. Pray thee listen as I tell ye true …

Mr. Willy Jack Black-Ears who owned the only canteen in the fair town of Hollydownville wished to marry. He had set his heart on the fairest goat in the valley. She was sweet in nature, with a silver coat and lovely delicate hooves of pink—Willy Jack was smitten.

Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes was a goat of many talents, a lovely temperament as well as being easy on the eye. She lived in the Green Leaf Forest down the road from the town of Hollydownville. Each Monday in May she visited the market there to sell the lovely blankets she had woven from meadow grasses and spring flowers. They were soft and gentle against the hide, for they were birthing blankets for the spring-born kids. Miss Silver’s blankets were known far and wide to be the finest quality.

And each Monday in May, Mr. Willy Jack Black-Ears watched from his canteen’s windows, waiting for the object of his desire and affection to tip-tap by. His desire to have her for his wife was unmatched and unhidden. All the townsgoats knew he wanted to marry her, and they pitied Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes.

On this first Monday in May, Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes—known to all as Miss Silver—pulled her little blanket-laden cart into Hollydownville. Her plan was to sell them, buy her supplies, her little luxuries, and then take tea in Willy Jack’s canteen. She adored the angel food cake and lemons served there. She had heard the rumours of Willy Jack’s desire to marry her, but he had n’er approached her, so she feared not visiting his establishment.

The Hollydownville market square was busy, filled with vendors and shoppers. Miss Silver set up her stall and waited for her customers. She was not disappointed; they came in droves to snatch up her wares.

“Oh, Miss Silver, tis lovely to see ye back, tis so.” Mrs. Rumble Berry-Beet-Red smiled as she bought four blankets. “Me next batch of kidlets shall be forthrightly born. Your blankets are perfect for me babes’ rest.”

Smiling humbly, Miss Silver gave Mrs. Berry-Beet-Red her change. “I wish ye good fortune and easy birthin’. Thank ye for thy custom.”

“Oh, tis I who thank ye, Miss Silver.” Mrs. Berry-Beet-Red placed the precious blankets in her wagon and then sidled up to Miss Silver, her voice was soft as the dew. “Take care, me sweet Miss Silver. Tis said round the streets Willy Jack is wanting to marry ye. Tis said he’ll not take nay for his answer true, my dearie.”

Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes blinked and gasped. She thanked Mrs. Rumble Berry-Beet-Red for the warning.

The morning continued in a similar manner until all her blankets had been bought and paid for. Trade had been so good that Miss Silver came away with a number of orders to be filled over the next few weeks.

Then, needing some supplies, she wandered up and down the market, buying some lovely, shiny red apples, bold yellow lemons, fresh tea leaves, precious raisins, and a bag of fat ripe figs. As she made the purchases, she decided she’d not take her tea at Willy Jack’s canteen. The decision made, Miss Silver packed her cart with the fresh goods, which were tidy in their net bags, and started on her way out of town.

The path home led her by Willy Jack’s canteen. He heard the familiar tip-tap of her tiny pink hooves and rushed out to greet her. She had just gone by the door with her cart; he was surprised as she’d never missed taking tea and cake each Monday in May.

“Miss Silver, Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes, pray, are thee ill?” Willy Jack’s deep rusty voice called after her. He admired her soft silver coat and petit pink hooves.

Stopping politely, Miss Silver took in a deep breath and turned to face Willy Jack. His visage was not a handsome one. He was missing one eye, with a torn ear and a broken horn. He smiled at her crookedly; she smiled sweetly in return. “Good day, Mr. Black-Ears. Thank ye for thy thought of me, though I do not be ill.”

“Ah, tis wonderful news. Pray then, why do ye not take tea? My angel cake is fresh and the lemons, just picked.” He smiled but his light blue eye was cold. “I wish to speak with thee, Miss Silver. Pray, come in.”

“Sir, tis kind of ye to invite me, however I believe that tis best that I simply return home.”

Anger lifted its cold black head and began to stir deep within Willy Jack. “Do ye fear me? Have I done wrong?”

“No, Mr. Black-Ears, ye are polite and kind of thought to me. Tis ….” Miss Silver hesitated speaking her fears, but then in a moment of brave foolishness she said what she felt in her heart. “Tis only … rumours have come to my ears about you, sir. Rumours saying you wish me to your own, as wife. Sadly, I cannot agree if tis true.”

“So ye have heard of my deep wish. And ye think thee are of better character? Ye think I to be lower than thy pretty pink hoof?” Anger swept through Mr. Willy Jack Black-Ears, like a whirling wind through the Hollowflats. “Foul hoofed are ye, thy meat would poison the fairest of the land. Ye heart be black and dank, Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes. A curse upon ye! Thou will pay for the wrong done me on this day, to be sure!”

Horrified, Miss Silver pulled her cart quickly away, the packages bouncing, her precious raisins spilling out. Her ears rang with the horror of Willy Jack’s words and curses. Tears blurred her vision as she trotted and stumbled back to the Green Leaf Forest and the refuge of her sweet cottage.

Willy Jack tossed his head in anger, and spit. He watched the wet spread into the dry dust of the road. He hated Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes, and he would have his revenge and he would have it this very day!

His anger was such that Mr. Willy Jack Black-Ears closed the canteen during the mid-day meal. Kicking and hollering, he told his customers to leave. Frightened, angry and disgusted they did leave—promising not to return anytime soon.

Willy Jack stood in the centre of his empty restaurant, tables filled with unclean dishes and half-eaten meals. “Donald Tim! Get out here!”

Donald Tim Grey-Beard limped slowly into the main room and stood before his master. “Yes, Mr. Willy Jack, sir?”

“We are closed. Pray clean this pigsty and then be gone!”

“Y…y…yes, Sir.” Donald Tim watched in shock as his master left the building, for he had never before closed the canteen early.

Willy Jack trotted down the main street toward the Green Leaf Forest, where the road forked. Willy Jack took the left road south, away from the Green Leaf Forest, toward the Living Lake.

****

It was a journey that would take an hour at full trot. Willy Jack’s anger didn’t dissipate—it became more robust and full, as he travelled the twisting road. As he drew closer to the lake the smell of rot grew stronger and the twisted black trees seemed to move as he trotted by them.

The Black Tree Woods surrounded the Living Lake. The trees’ black bark shone like polished jet and obsidian; it crunched and cracked as the trees swayed in the breeze. This place frightened even the horrid Willy Jack Black-Ears.

Finally, the Living Lake lay before him, its waters covered in slime and algae. Insects of an unheard size buzzed around Willy Jack’s ears. Shaking and tossing his head to chase off the huge bugs, he walked forward and climbed upon a large flat rock. He turned clockwise four times and back three, then he said the Calling Rhyme:

“Come have I, to beg thy ear.
A favour great I beg ye hear.
Gold will cross your home and hand, if ye listen to my command.
Cast thy spell and send the worst, upon the one I’ll pray thee curse.”

Willy Jack waited, standing still on the quartz encrusted stone. After several minutes the waters began to roil and he watched, his heart hammering with fear, as an immense snapping turtle carried a giant gray toad through the sludge and slime. The turtle climbed the greasy bank, its long claws digging in to support the duo’s great weight.

“Stop!” The toad croaked in its thick, wet voice. “Who calls the Warlock Tepalsuzon?” Bloated and huge, it slid from the turtle’s back, landing with a slimy plop.

“I do, Willy Jack Black- Ears.”

The toad cast its yellow eyes over Willy Jack. “You wish my services, goat?”

“Yes and gold enough I have to pay ye.”

“A curse ye said. That’s 20 pieces, goat.” Laughter shook the toad’s fat, distended body.

Willy Jack paid with glee, and told the Warlock Tepalsuzon who was to receive the curse. The toad agreed. Willy Jack left the Living Lake sure in the knowledge the Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes would rue the day she turned him down.

Warlock Tepalsuzon climbed onto the turtle and watched the goat trot away. Idly he flicked his huge dripping tongue, and pulled in a mammoth dragon fly and swallowed it whole.

He smiled and watched the goat disappear from view. “My curses stick, my dark friend, though if it’s broken—”

Tepalsuzon’s laughter rang across the Living Lake as the turtle carried him home.

*************************

Slowly, Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes worked through her orders, weaving the scented grasses and wild flowers into pretty birthing mats. She loved her work; it filled the days and brought her peace and contentment. Little brown birds sat in her window and sang to her, in turn she spoke to them and shared angel cake crumbs. On this day though, an unexpected knock at her door broke the peace.

An odour, rank and foul met her as she opened the door; however, her manners prevented her from gasping. Looking down, she saw the huge bloated gray toad. “Yes, how can I help ye?”

“Pray, are thee the goat Miss Silver Pretty-Pink-Toes?”

“Why yes good toad, I be she.”

“Miss Silver, pray may I enter and slake my great thirst?” Warlock Tepalsuzon had to gain entry to cast his curse. He knew her fine breeding and manners wouldn’t allow her to refuse him.

Miss Silver felt a pall and dread, but the toad was correct; she could not say no. “Of course sir, pray thee enter.”

As soon he was over the threshold of the pretty cottage he began the Unholy Curse of Transformation:

Pretty goat of silver, thee
Are cursed for all eternity
Turn ye now, fair of face
To one of the human race

To end the curse
And turn ye back
A young man’s love ye must not lack;
No less than twenty must he be
No more than a quarter century.

No sooner had the words been uttered when dark violent clouds gathered over the cottage and a cold wet fog rose from the floor and ground. Miss Silver shrieked and her body began to warp and twist. The evil toad laughed as he watched the transformation. After several minutes, the clouds disappeared and the fog burned away under the sun; the toad smiled as his handiwork lay upon the dirt floor of the cottage.

“Goodbye Miss Silver, mayhap Willy Jack would have been the better choice.” Chuckling, the evil Warlock left the silent cottage and returned to the Living Lake.

Miss Silver awoke cold, in the dark. She shivered and sat up. Her stomach rolled and her head ached. Attempting to stand, she found she could not and fell back to the floor. Dragging herself to the centre of the room, where the moonlight was bright, she looked at what she could see of her body. What happened to her legs, her pretty hooves, what were these five stubby fleshy things and the longer ones on her forelegs?

She put her face in her new hands which were soon wet with her tears. There she sat, shoulders shaking, her long silver hair flowing down her back reflecting the pearly light of the moon. Soon she slept, curled up on the dirt floor.

The morning sun brought no comfort to Miss Silver. The change in her brought with it some ability to use the new body she’d been molded into. But it was still strange to her.

She had fine damask in her trunk of cloth, and she quickly made a rough fitting garment to cover herself. Humans were rare and disliked in Hollydownville. She had seen them before and she knew she had been cursed.

… cursed for all eternity…To one of the human race

The words rang in her head.

To end the curse
And turn ye back
A young man’s love ye must not lack

Lack? She had to make a young man love her, but how did one do that? What was the rest of the rhyme? To break the curse she would have to remember. So many questions were in her head. Now though, she was hungry and needed to refresh and sate that hunger. It would not do to lose the strength she now needed so badly.

She set about to make a small meal. She made tea from her fresh leaves and settled down for a feast of raisins and figs. Thinking of what to do, she knew she would have to travel away to find other humans, to find a man—the young man who would love her and end her curse.

Miss Silver packed some of her fruit and a cup and began her walk to the human’s town Beestite, which was north and a long distance from her home.

End of Part 1