A Spot of Tea
A Harold and Sallie Story
A Spot of Tea
Harold was picking the last of the vegetables out of the garden. There was a hint of frost in the air, and he thought the first light snow might fall soon. Sallie was sitting on a stool nearby, sewing a flannel piece purchased from the other day to turn into a blanket for herself.
She saw the lights before Harold did. “I think we have company.” Sallie darted over to where Harold was raking and pointed towards the forest. The pair saw the faint glow of lights approaching. “If I had to guess, it’s about our trip into the village last week. Someone must have seen us and told my father.”
Harold nodded. “I know you’re trying to get me to be more unhermit like and I appreciate the effort, but I also like my privacy. And while I don't know when fairies are considered 'adult' because I've never asked, and you've never explicitly stated. Nodding toward the approaching lights, “They need to mind their business. You made your choice. No disrespect.”
Sallie stared at Harold for a bit. That was the most forthcoming he had been on anything personal she’d ever heard from him. “None taken. And yes, I wish they’d leave me alone.”
Harold sighed. “Well, it is a tad chilly out. Give me a minute or two and I can set out some tea or ginger ale on the table. I can at least be hospitable.” He turned and walked into the cabin.
Sallie started picking up her sewing materials and the flannel she was working on. Her mind was racing with various scenarios about how this could play out. She knew she would have to watch her temper. Every scenario she thought of didn’t end well.
She stood on the stool, watching as her father, her sister, Mabel and two Elders approached her. “Hi.”
Mabel flew over and looked at the sewing. “What are you working on? Those are pretty colors.”
“It’s a blanket.” Sallie was trying to think of what else to say without flying into a rage. Her older sister was the main reason she had been stuck in that stupid tree. She knew that now. Mabel's resentment towards Sallie had always been evident. Getting Sallie in that tree was the perfect way to rid Mabel of the issue.
Her father spoke up, “Sallie, we need to talk. There’s been…”
“I know why you are here. I know I have not been a well behaving, dutiful fairy. But YOU LEFT ME IN THAT STUPID TREE FOR YEARS. I WOULD HAVE DIED. How could you just leave me here?” Sallie was on the verge of tears. She missed her family. She missed the friends she had. But she didn’t know if she could forgive and forget. And she didn’t know if she was ready to air her family issues in front of Harold.
Harold picked that time to stick his head out of the door. “I have tea for you if you would like to come in from the chill. And Sallie loves my ginger ale.” He opened the door wider. “Please come in. I’ve got a small fire going.”
Sallie gathered up her sewing and flew to the door. “He makes great ginger ale,” Sallie said over her shoulder.
Harold had set out the doll sized table, chairs and tea set. He motioned Sallie over to the kitchen area. “I’ll be just out back, checking on the chickens if you need anything. And yes, I know fairies don’t eat or drink human food, but I thought tea might be alright.” Seeing that his roommate was upset, he asked, “You ok? I can stay in here if you’d rather.”
“No, I’m…. I’m fine. Thanks. I can stamp my feet if I need anything.” That comment made Harold laugh.
Harold slipped out the back door and Sallie flew over to the kitchen table where Harold had set everything up. She turned to her father, Mabel, and The Elders. “Anyone for tea?”
Mabel was the first to sit. She reached for the small container of Harold’s ginger ale and took a sip. “Oh wow, that is good! Dad, you must try this!” Looking at Sallie she said, “He makes this stuff? That’s great.”
“I’ll pass that on to him.” Sallie looked around at her sister, father, and The Elders. In a tight, controlled tone, she asked, “Ok, why are you here? Why, after all this time? I thought I’d made it clear I’m living here now. I’m not going back.” Looking at Mabel, Sallie said, “Why did you trick me? Why did you leave me in that stupid tree? You can at least explain yourself. And don’t apologize. You did this on purpose, and you know it.” Sallie sat in one of the doll chairs and waited. She wished she had asked Harold to stay inside.
No one said anything. Sallie guessed there was nothing else to say. One Elder spoke up. “If you are choosing to live here, you cannot come back. You are aware of that, correct? Not even to visit.”
Sallie stamped one foot on the table. “Don’t you think I know this? This is YOUR doing. I miss you all. I miss my family. I miss my friends. But when my only sister trapped me in a tree and left me there, and then this amazing stranger frees me and opens his home to me, what was I supposed to do?” Harold walked in at that point.
From Mabel, “Harold! That ginger ale is amazing! Thank you!”
“Um. Yeah, thanks. Everything ok in here? Is there anything I can get for anyone?”
Sallie glared at Mabel. “You still have nothing else to say? You can’t even apologize? Or what, you’re happy now that you have our father all to yourself?”
“Sallie! That is no way to speak to your sister!”
Sallie stamped her feet hard on the table. “OUT! ALL OF YOU, OUT!”
Harold stood up from his chair by the fireplace. “I. Um. I think it might be best for you to leave. You’re upsetting Sallie and, honestly, pissing me off. You are no longer welcome here. Please leave.”
The fairies looked at Sallie and Harold for a moment. Her father finally spoke up. “We will go. Good day to you both.”
Sallie waited until they were gone before bursting into tears.