The day nothing much happened 2/4

Mr. Kernell led the way along the forest paths to the goblin village. He knocked on a door let into one of the largest trees and Mary followed him down a spiral staircase into the Oldest Goblin's sitting room.

He really was old. What little hair he had was snowy white and he was sitting on a high-backed wingchair with his feet up on a stool. A much younger goblin was sitting cross legged on the floor just in front of him. Mary noticed that he wasn't wearing any boots.

"You must be Jennifer Jane's Mum," said the Oldest Goblin, "I think your family are the only humans round here who can see the fairy folk. Isn't that right Kernell?"

"Yes Sir, quite right."

The Oldest Goblin smiled happily. "You'll have to speak to me my dear, I can't hear grown up thoughts, only children's and not too many of them I'm afraid these days."

Mary quietly heaved a sigh of relief; she'd forgotten that Jennifer Jane had told her that the oldest Goblin could hear thoughts. She'd been thinking that he really was very old and must be getting a bit past it.

"Mr. Kernell said you might be able to help me with my housework problem, although to be honest I don't see how."

"Nothing easier," he smiled, "meet Jumping Jim."

The young goblin with the bare feet got up and shook hands.

"Only too pleased to help," he said, "there's not too much work around these days. People don't seem to know about the service I offer any more."

Mary looked round to see where he'd put his seven league boots. No, three and a half league boots Jennifer Jane had said, because he was so small. When she spotted them they didn't look very much more than a slightly elaborate version of an ordinary pair of goblin boots.

The Oldest Goblin saw where she was looking and laughed. "He's not the original Jumping Jim but the job's stayed in the family. Villages these days are so close together that young Jim only needs half league boots now."

"Even then I can easily go right past my destination," said Jim, "I have to work out where I am on a map and make jumps at different angles to get near where I want to go. It takes quite a long time to work it all out."

"Sounds rather like tacking a sailing ship against the wind," said Mary, "you never quite point where you want to go, but you get there in the end."

Mr. Kernell had been feeling rather left out of the conversation.

"Do you think you can fit Jennifer Jane's Mum into your busy schedule?" he asked rather sarcastically.

"How about once a week for starters and see how we get on from there," said Jim.

"Sounds fine to me," said Mary "and I think I might be able to help you with your navigation. Would you let me give you an electronic calculator as part payment for your services?"

"Gosh, yes please. I've always wanted one ever since I saw an advert in a newspaper some human had dropped in the woods, but of course I can't just walk into a shop and buy one can I? I'd like to start right away if you don't mind."

Everyone said their goodbyes to the Oldest Goblin who was beginning to nod off anyway and crept up the stairs closing the door quietly behind them.

Jim put on his boots and then studied his map. Mary showed him where she lived and he got a scrap of paper and a pencil from his pocket and started drawing lines and working out sums, using a very old and battered book of log tables. It all looked very complicated. At last he pointed in a direction a long way away from Mary's home.

"First jump that way, then one more should put me in your back garden."

He took a step and went sailing off over the trees.

"That was fascinating," said Mary, "I think I'd like to go and see the Tooth Fairy next if you can show me how to get there."

"You can't walk there," said Mr. Kernell, "you'll have to make a wish, come with me and I'll show you where to go."

He led her off once more until they arrived in a clearing.

"You can make a wish from here," he said "but I must leave you now, I've got work to do."

He hurried back along the path and was soon lost to view.