The Storyteller and The Wishing Well

The Storyteller and The Wishing Well  

by Paul McCann

One summer night as he was on the road to Castle Hill, he was singing a song to the moon walking at night underneath the light of the moon that was keeping him company as he went .He often would drift off into a trance when with lyrics streaming into his head like a water flowing from  a tap . The storyteller loved the silence at night in the open spaces in the countryside . It was a sanctuary for him where he felt

connected  and at peace with the world . He spoke to nature as if they were living people . Some female and others male . He liked the idea that the moon was a female and would tell her how beautiful she was stranded up there in the night sky .

She lit up the road where he walked and she listened as he talked but never once did she answer back . As he walked along the road he spoke to the marble and granite stones that lay scattered on both side of the road . The stones never interrupted when he spoke and he felt like he was King of the road .

As he arrived at the top of Castle Hill, he lay himself down on the soft turf there and looked up at the moon shinning down like a spotlight where he lay and he softly  whispered .

Well if you don’t mind Lady Moonshine I’d like to spent some time here with you tonight unless you have something better top do .You might think I’m little crazy but I have no one to keep me company here but you and the big night sky all around us so until the new dawn comes along I’d like to sleep with you here tonight .

 He suddenly drifted off into a deep sleep where he met the hermit lady who lived on the moon and in the dream, she took him to a place where no one had ever been deep underneath the ground the sea of tranquillity in a cavern where the echoes of ancient stories filled his mind  with colourful visions of another time and another place . The storyteller sat with the hermit lady who offered him some golden moonshine to drink and sweet moon cakes to eat . They shared what seemed an eternity together there together .

The light of the morning sun awoke him from sleep and as he opened his eyes, he felt like he had lost a friend . He looked around for her but she was gone .

He felt sad and alone for a moment but then a raven from the sky flew down and rested upon his shoulder and spoke to him .

“Storyteller don’t be sad looking for the hermit . She cannot be found unless she makes herself known and she cannot tell others what you have been shown  Only you have been selected to share the ancient stories that have always been there from the beginning of time  You are to make others aware of what you have  been shown . Go now .”

The raven flew away into the sky as the storyteller watched until the raven disappeared from sight . He made his way down the road from Castle Hill to the

village of Bright Hope that was cradled between the two mountains in wanderers  valley . The silence was broken by the sound of a horse and cart trotting along the road behind him . He turned around and waved at the man on the cart . who spoke with a happy lilt in his voice .

“ You’re welcome to a ride if you want to jump up on the cart. “  

The cart was loaded with shoes and the man introduced himself as the cobbler of

Clontarf . He in turn introduced himself as the storyteller of no fixed abode and the  man at the reins smiled and nodded his head .

Lady luck had always provided the things the storyteller needed ./

He sat beside the cobbler and they shared the road with the light summer rain .

The storyteller and the cobbler got on very well and both enjoyed the ride into the next village where the cobbler was off to sell the shoes he had made in the markets after many months of hard work .

The Storyteller was off to share his stories in the marketplace to anyone who wanted to listen ,

It was a good day for everyone at the markets . There were so many merchants there with all kinds of items for sale but the busiest person there was the storyteller who sat surrounded by people of all ages .He had a magnetism that drew people to him . He sat beside the well in the village square , He noticed a blind lady making her way through the crowd towards him .As she drew near, she spoke to him  .

“The hermit lady wants to remind you of the story of the wishing well and she said for you to ask everyone to make a coin donation for the story“

Then she said goodbye using a stick to guide her way through to some of the market stalls . The storyteller suddenly went into a trace and recalled the story he had been told . He started to wave the people to come closer to him and he urged him to donate a coin which they all did .

The storyteller began to speak .

This is the well of lady Bridget from the island of Romance where once people had lived long before the sea rose and claimed the island forever into its keep .

The only wish that can be made here is for love . If there is anyone here who is lonely and looking for love then this is your lucky day . Before you make your way to the well think about the Island that was lost to the sea and whisper the name of Lady Bridget before you make your wish . Tell her what it is you’re looking for but remember what kind of love it is that you’re looking for . For those who have lost in love look to find a new love that is true and kind , for love is seen and also blind so look with the eyes of your heart and find the love you need to make you happy .

Love is life and everything nice . It gives and takes .It looks over our mistakes .
Its richer than gold .It’s young and its old .It cares and it shares but love also  demands . It understands . See all the things that love can bring . Its patient and trusting . It can bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face or laughter .
in your heart . It can bring people together with forgiving and healing .
Love is the light that can never fade away . I wish love for everyone who has come here today in the village of Bright Hope .  .

Everyone who listened to the story had become touched by the spark of passion which set a new flame of love into their hearts and one by one people came to the well and they took their turns to sit in silence as they made their wish .

A child approached and asked the storyteller if the sea will every give back the island to the people and the storyteller replied  ,

“ Deep beneath the sea of tranquillity there is a cavern and it’s there where the Lady Bridget rests . The island  is her home and the sea would never disturb her from her sleep so dear heart the sea cannot give the island back .”

The child went and sat and made her wish then waved goodbye to the Storyteller.

At the end of the day after all the wished were made he started to pick up all of the coins that were left at his feet . That evening he had enough to pay for a room and he ate well in the tavern there where he stayed for a week and a bit before making is way to the next village . During the week he was there he saw people come to the well every day to make wishes for love to come into their lives .

He was happy to have brought hope to those who were lonely and searching for love .

The End