Fall was in the air. The trees were changing into vibrant bursts of yellows, reds, oranges, and browns. The air was crisp, and it was chilly at night.
Sallie had spent her life in the forest (with, of course, the exception of being stuck in that stupid tree for a couple of years), but away from the fairies, everything was different. It was a different world. She went outside first thing in the morning to see what was new around the clearing. She loved going outside to see trees that had changed colors overnight. There was frost on the grass in the mornings and she wasn’t expecting it to be cold. Harold watched in amusement when Sallie would fly about looking at everything and giving a running commentary on the changes.
The part of the forest where Sallie’s family and the other fairies lived was a magical place where it was a perpetual spring. Out here, in the clearing, in the rest of the forest and in the village, the seasons changed. “It’s like BAMB, overnight, all these colors. This happens every year?”
The room mates were in the living area of the main room, Harold sitting in his favorite chair and Sallie pacing up and down the fireplace mantle. He had fixed soup for lunch and was about to get up to refresh Sallie’s small cup of ginger ale.
Harold said yes and found Sallie's awe of Mother Nature amusing. “I thought fairies were in tune with all this nature stuff.”
“Well, yeah, but…. where I grew up, it’s…. always so GREEN. I almost wish you could see it for yourself.” They both knew that would never happen. Harold just nodded and took her word for it.
Harold poured more ginger ale for both. “We’ve got things to do around here to make sure we’re set for winter. I’ve got plenty of wood chopped up for the fireplace. It’s all in the shed. We need to start canning some of these vegetables to store in the cellar. There are a few that I’ll take to the village to sell at the market. I’ve got plenty of meat and fish fixed up for me to cook. And I need to kill the pig. I’ve lived out here too long to know that it’s better to have more food on hand than not.” Harold ignored the eye roll and face his roommate made. Sallie loved pointing out her disdain for eating animals.
“The cabin is fine for this year, no matter how bad it gets. I fixed the roof a couple of years ago, and with the attic being cleaned out, I will move the packaged meat up there. It will keep better than in the cellar.”
“What else needs to be done? Are you going into the village soon? Can I come with you?” Sallie knew Harold only went into the village when he needed to, but he had mentioned the other day about riding his bike over there. She discovered that she enjoyed trips to the village and was thinking up ways to get Harold to go there more.
“I need new canning jars, as a couple broke over the summer. I need to stock up on some spices and herbs that I can’t grow here. And I’d like to find out the predictions for the upcoming winter. If we have a hard storm or two and a lot of snow, we are out here on our own. I’m used to it, but it will be a change for you.” Harold paused.
“Do I need warmer clothes?” Sallie had made a tunic and pants for herself from scraps of material Harold had on hand. She thought she might need to make some warmer clothes if she would be able to keep warm. “And what is snow like? I know it’s white, but is it cold?”
Harold had to laugh at this. Ignoring another eye roll and dramatic sigh from Sallie, he said, “I’m sorry, it’s just interesting to explain it to someone who has never experienced it. Yes, the snow is cold. Let me put it this way, you know that burst of cold air you feel when I open the refrigerator door? Yes? It’ll be like that outside for a few months. But maybe colder. And there will be snow everywhere.”
Sallie was quiet for a bit, trying to think of what to expect for winter and then realizing that she had no clue what to expect. She focused on a trip to the village. Maybe she could convince Harold to just roam about and show her around. The times they had gone there before, it had been just quick trips to specific places. Harold had a stubborn mindset. It was time to change that.
Harold looked up from the book he was reading. Sallie was sitting on the edge of the mantle, holding the picture of the previous owner and his wife in her hands. “You’ll have to fill me in on that later. I know there’s something that happened the other day when I was out. I’ve got a list of things to pick up in the village, but if I had to guess, you just want me to show you around.”
Sallie couldn’t help but let her jaw drop. “DUDE. I think YOU’RE the one with the magical abilities.” Sallie hadn’t mentioned that she had been practicing, but she suspected that he somehow knew that.
She flew over to Harold and perched on his shoulder. “Let’s go!”