A week with Peter 1/17

Sunday

Jennifer Jane came down to breakfast full of ideas for things to do during Peter’s stay with the family.

“I thought we could make a start by going over to the Witches’ Home and introducing him to the locals. There are the dragons and Gordon the Troll. We might even meet Sir George and I’m sure he’d be interested in the timber mill. We could also make a trip to the giant’s castle.”

Peter was looking a bit bewildered as he listened to this list of events while trying to eat his breakfast.

“Don’t try and do too much at once,” said Mary, “the poor lad doesn’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

Jennifer Jane was still describing the things they could do together, as she lead him along the garden to the wood.

“First things first I suppose. We’ll have to go to the Witches’ Home on a puff of wind, or a cloud.”

Peter couldn’t understand what she was talking about, so he waited patiently while Jennifer Jane stood in a clearing amongst the trees and asked for the Witches’ Home. He was still a bit overcome by seeing so many trees in one place.

His puzzlement grew as he saw a cloud approaching against the wind, getting lower and lower as it came nearer. He found it even harder to believe his eyes as Jennifer Jane took his hand and lead him into it and then introduced him to a snowman who appeared to be flying the thing rather like an aeroplane.

He looked carefully over the side as they flew off and gained height and was able to recognise the garden of Jennifer Jane’s home. The view was certainly wonderful. So many trees, so few houses, green open spaces and colourful gardens everywhere. It was a very different world from the one where he’d grown up.

The cloud eventually flew into a foggy area and then descended towards an old mansion house with a river nearby. They landed on a lawn between the house and the river and then following Jennifer Jane, he got down onto the grass and walked towards the house. A lady came out to meet them.

“Hello,” called Abigail as she got nearer, “you’ve chosen the right day to visit the village. Today’s the annual fair. There’ll be lots of people to talk to and things to see and do.”

She chattered away to Peter as they walked through the house and then laughed at his look of surprise as he looked back at the castle side of the building. Jennifer Jane came out of the guardhouse clutching her broom and ran to catch up.

“You hop on behind me, it’s much more comfortable than it appears. We’ll save a lot of time if we fly.”

Peter was so amazed by now that he did as he was asked without a second thought. He looked back at the castle as they flew off. Jennifer Jane saw where he was looking and laughed.

“It’s all magic of course; the Witches’ Home mansion isn’t really in our world at all. I can only reach it by using one of the magic transport systems. When you walk through to this side you come through a Gate to another world. Some of the people who live here used to be a bit rough, so this side was built as a castle. It’s a similar sort of effect to that which your father is trying to achieve.”

She was rather surprised not to see Esmerelda and Dulcibella at work and then pointed out Lurgin’s bridge as they flew over.

“If we were walking we’d have to give Gordon, who’s now the resident troll, a riddle to cross over and then the answer to get back. Flying is much easier as well as being quicker.”

The village looked very different from usual as they approached. Most of the village green was covered with large tents. One of the nearby fields was crowded with villagers playing games on hoopla stalls. There were lucky dip barrels, while proud parents were giving their children rides on small slides and hand turned roundabouts.