The Twig People of Mossdown Woods Read online

  ‘We shall’ said Joe. ‘We will come back tomorrow and tell you what it is’.

  Queen Laura touched each of the children’s hands. A warm glow filled them with a great feeling of love for her. Then all the twiglets crackled as if they had been touched too.

  With her rod, she again tapped upon the ground. Suddenly, two white doves appeared and sat upon the children’s shoulders. ‘Let these doves of love and peace and goodness remind you of your promise’ she told them. ‘Until tomorrow then, think not of the dirty demon in your sleep, but your friends of Mossdown Woods’.

  Following Queen Laura, the children made their way back to the clearing of the moss mound. They could see their bikes where they had left them.

  Again a silence came over the woods as Laura tapped her rod upon the ground. Then appeared the same beautiful rainbow mist they had first seen when she appeared. Laura blew each of the children a kiss with a loving smile from her emerald green eyes which sparkled like jewels. Then suddenly she disappeared into the air. When the children looked around all the twiglets had gone too. Yet they could still hear their whisperings as the tree branches crackled above them. Still perched upon their shoulders were the two white doves. They now knew it was not a dream.

  As they got on their bikes, they could hear a long menacing shriek coming from Dirty the swamp demon. That was a good enough reason to hurry back to the campervan before darkness came. Now they cycled hurriedly back through the woods with the doves perched upon each of their shoulders. Lots of pretty bluebells, marigolds and daffodil flowers made a path of pretty pictures as they passed them. The sweet smell of the woods filled their nostrils as rabbits, badgers, foxes and squirrels ran alongside their bikes while birds flew over their heads. It was so nice to see many other different creatures and animals too. Joe would have a busy time with his note book that evening, Lucy agreed.

  6

  As they reached the edge of the woods, both the doves flew up into the air and sat in a tree by the camp site.

  As they arrived back at the campervan, Dad was pacing up and down beside the camping stove. ‘Where on earth have you two been?’ he asked them. ‘Your food is all cold now’. Joe and Lucy looked up at the two white doves in the trees.

  ‘We’ve been bird watching Dad’ said Joe with a smile. ‘Look! There are two white doves in the tree up there’. Dad looked up to where Joe was pointing. Lucy took hold of his arm. ‘We saw lots of animals and creatures this afternoon and met Laura the nature queen’ she told him.

  ‘Oh yes, and I suppose you saw a dragon too?’ he smiled.

  ‘Not quite’ added Joe. ‘But we did see Dirty the swamp demon and the twig people’.

  It was no good trying to explain to dad. He was already looking at them in a strange way. ‘Swamp demons! Twig people and a nature queen!’ he exclaimed. ‘Whatever next will you see? I think you have both been out in the sun too long. Go and wash your hands and mum will do you a fresh meal’.

  Mum stood smiling at them. She knew they could always charm dad with a story. He never knew what to believe. Just then, the two white doves flew down and circled the campervan. They both dropped a twig on to dad’s head which made the children giggle. Dad gave a grunt and walked away whispering to himself.

  Both Lucy and Joe sat down to eat their meals in the campervan. This time it was a meal of fish and chips with baked beans with two slices of the children’s favourite fruit cake to finish it off. They could see lots of other campers playing ball games outside. Some children skipped while others threw sticks for their dogs. AS they were eating, mum and dad looked in to say they were going for a walk. ‘Now we can make our plan to get rid of Dirty the swamp demon’ said Joe. ‘Yes, and help save the trees and flowers from the nasty demons gob spits’ added Lucy.

  7

  Once mum and dad were out of sight, Joe put his plan to Lucy. ‘We can frighten him away with a mirror’ he told her. ‘We shall lay a trail of juicy marshmallow sweets which he will be tempted to eat one by one until he comes face to face with himself in the mirror. We shall place it beside a tree. Then when he finally eats the last sweet by the mirror, he will give himself such a horrible fright on seeing his ugliness. Then he will believe there is someone more ugly, evil and horrible than he is. It will frighten him away for ever!’

  Lucy smiled at her clever brother Joe. ‘That’s a brilliant plan’ she told him. Joe puffed out his chest. ‘It’s easy’ he replied. ‘We can take the big long mirror from the campervan. After we have laid the sweetie trail, we can hide in the bushes in Mossdown Wood then watch the coward run away’. Both the children were excited. They knew Queen Laura would like their plan.

  As they finished their meal, the children looked through the campervan window. Up in the trees the two doves were singing happily. ‘Coo-coo Coo-coo’ they sang.

  Now the children were talking about the creatures and animals they had already seen when mum and dad returned. Joe was still writing in his note book. There was plenty there for Mr Squeeze to see when they went back to school, they agreed. But for now their holiday had only just started. There would be plenty more to write about yet.

  ‘Did you enjoy your meal?’ asked mum. The fish chips beans and fruit cake was delicious, they told her. ‘I see you’ve been writing your ‘I spy’ creatures down in your book’ said dad. ‘Yes, and we’re going to see lots more’ they told him. ‘Tomorrow we are cycling to Mossdown Woods again’. Both mum and dad smiled. It was nice to see the children enjoying themselves, they thought.

  Later that night after a goodnight kiss from mum and dad, they went to sleep thinking of the plan they had made for tomorrow.

  8

  The Thomson family awoke to another bright sunny day. They had all slept well and were soon tucking into a nice breakfast. The cornflakes were followed by eggs and bacon.

  With breakfast finished the children reminded dad where they would be going again. ‘Alright’ said dad. ‘Mum and I will go fishing while you go I spying again in Mossdown Woods. You will know where to find us if you need too’. The children assured them they knew where Fishermans bay was.

  It was now almost midday as mum and dad left the children to do their own thing. Joe took the long mirror from the campervan and strapped it onto his bike. Lucy had already been to the camp site shop for the marshmallow sweets. It was all so easy as they got on their bikes and cycled to Mossdown Woods. As they rode away, the two white doves flew down from the trees to land upon their shoulders.

  It wasn’t long before they arrived at the woods. This time, they were lucky to see a fallow deer nibbling at some Hawthorne leaves. They also saw a sparrow hawk, then a jay bird and some plump wood pigeons. As they cycled along the winding path amongst the trees, a chorus of bird songs filled the woods. All the pretty flowers they had seen the day before seemed just as beautiful again. It would be nice to have bluebells, marigolds and pink orchids in their garden, they agreed.

  Both Joe and Lucy played some more ‘I spy’ games with squirrels, rabbits and a slow old badger that was hiding from a fox. Lucy nearly fell off her bike to avoid a wood rat. This caused Joe to swerve nearly falling with the mirror. Apart from that, it was a pleasant ride through the woods with the doves still sitting upon their shoulders all the way to the moss mound.

  No sooner had they parked up their bikes again when they heard the crackling of the twig people whispering to each other, which soon turned into an excited greeting. Like yesterday, in two’s and three’s, the twiglets emerged from the trees. Their thin twiggy bodies crackled as they gathered in a circle around them. All their different shades of colours shimmered in the afternoon light and their dusty brown eyes gave a welcoming look to the children.

  Suddenly, like the day before, a beautiful rosy mist appeared before them. Lovely shades of pink, yellows, blues and greens settled like a rainbow of soft cotton wool. Then a shape began to form. Once again, they saw her. It was Laura the nature queen!

  She was as beautiful as ever. Her warm l
oving smile melted into the children as her emerald eyes twinkled like jewels. The ringlets of her long wispy golden curls hung like garlands around her high cheek bones. Then just at that moment, the twiglets crackled her greetings of sweet whispers.

  As Laura tapped her jewelled rod upon the ground, the two white doves flew away up into the trees. The sweet smell of the woods and her fragrance filled the air around them. Again, the magic of yesterday had returned.

  ‘Greetings dear children’ said Laura. ‘My doves tell me you have a plan?’ The twiglets crackled with excitement.

  ‘Yes Laura’ said Lucy. ‘We can frighten him away forever with a trick’ Queen Laura’s eyes sparkled with pleasure. ‘Then tell me of your plan, dear children’ she asked them.

  Joe then told her how they planned to lay a trail of delicious marshmallow sweets from the swamp leading up to a mirror against a tree. Then when Dirty the swamp demon saw and ate them up one by one, he would see his ugly self in the mirror and frighten himself away forever.

  Queen Laura looked admiringly at the children. ‘It is indeed a perfect plan’ she told them. Both Joe and Lucy felt proud of themselves while the twiglets crackled with delight.

  ‘And we have brought the mirror and marshmallow sweets with us’ added Lucy. The nature queen’s eyes twinkled with pleasure. Now was a good time to do it they all agreed. Joe began to untie the mirror from his bike while Lucy pulled out two big bags of marshmallow sweets from her pockets.

  9

  All together, Laura, the children and twiglets made their way as before to the edge of Mossdown Woods. Once again, they saw the sickly green muddy bubbling swampland. It was oozing with slime, froth and steamy brown bubbles for as far as the eye could see.

  Dirty the swamp demon was wallowing in his smelly sewage bed howling with pleasure as he splashed around in its filthy goo. He would soon be looking for something to eat, they thought. Now was their chance to lay the trail of sweets.

  As they stood watching from behind some bushes, Lucy went to choose a tree to place the mirror against. Away she went carefully holding the big mirror so as not to drop it. Joe followed after her until the chosen tree was agreed upon. From there, they began to place a sweet every fourth step of the way from tree to swamp. It had all been done with great speed while Dirty the demon continued to howl with pleasure.

  It was some minutes later when they noticed the dirty demon climb up the slope from his sewage bed. Stretching and shaking himself, he let out an almighty scream to show off his dripping purple tongue and jagged sharp teeth. Then as if a sweet had spoken to him, he looked slyly around before he snatched the first one up to eat.

  Opening his big cruel mouth, he dropped it in. It must have tasted delicious. Rubbing his slimy fat belly, he searched the ground until he spotted the next one. Then like a hungry wolf, he followed the trail of sweet marshmallows, eating one after another. Faster and faster he went snatching them up from hand to mouth until suddenly, he arrived at the last one by the mirror. As he bent down to pick it up he saw himself!

  Up he jumped into the air in a great fright! Down he landed and caught sight of his complete ugliness again! Then in fearful fright of what the mirror showed him, he ran and ran so fast from the swampland until he could not be seen anymore.

  ‘Hooray! Hooray!’ shouted Joe and Lucy.

  ‘Good riddance’ agreed Queen Laura.

  ‘Whoopee! Whoopee!’ chorused the twiglets with a very laud whispering sigh. It was indeed a moment of great joy. Then quite suddenly, as if by some magical command, the trees of Mossdown Woods began to sway with relief as if they knew what had happened. Now appeared all the creatures of the woods to howl, squeak, grunt, bark and bellow with delight as a variety of birds sang along with them. Now that the dirty demon had left the swampland, at last a new peace and love had returned to the trees and flowers and creatures of Mossdown Woods.

  10

  Before turning back towards the clearing, Lucy went to collect the mirror. On her return, they made their way back to the moss mound and their bikes. It had been a great victory over the swamp demon.

  As they stood in the clearing, the children listened to good Queen Laura. ‘You have shown great kindness to the trees and creatures of Mossdown Woods’ she told them. ‘You will be welcome here forever and be known to the woods as Queen Laura’s friends. Let not too many days go by before you visit us again’.

  Both Joe and Lucy smiled. They were pleased they were able to help and it was an exciting adventure for them too. They would of course return again, they told her. Mossdown Woods was a beautiful place.

  ‘But you are beautiful and kind too’ Lucy told her. Queen Laura smiled with her lovely green eyes.

  ‘All of nature is beautiful Lucy’ replied Laura. ‘And so are you and Joe. Thank you for all you have done for us. May love peace and joy be always with you? The memory of your kindness will be remembered in these woods’.

  ‘Thank you Laura’ the children replied as the twiglets crackled and whispered excitedly.

  Once again, the nature queen Laura touched both the children’s hands. A warm glow filled them with a feeling of intense love. Then suddenly like before, she tapped her jewelled rod and the beautiful rainbow mist appeared in front of them. Again, Laura blew them both a kiss and smiled with her sparkling emerald eyes. Then suddenly she disappeared before them. As the children looked around them they noticed the twiglets had all gone too. Yet they were left with a feeling of great joy.

  11

  Joe strapped the mirror onto his bike again. The children cycled leisurely back along the path they now knew so well. It was a lovely surprise to see all the creatures greet them along the way. Both sides of the path were lined with badgers, rabbits, squirrels, deer, foxes, wood rats, beavers, and a variety of birds chirping merrily. It gave them an enchanted feeling to see them all. The children felt a little sad they were leaving but knew one day they would return to see them all again.

  On reaching the end of the woods, the children saw the two white doves again. ‘They are my eyes’ said a magical voice as a warm scented breeze brushed their faces. Both the children knew it could only be the now invisible wood queen Laura.

  At the camp site, they were just in time to see mum and dad returning from their fishing trip. ‘Quick Joe, put back the mirror’ said Lucy with a cheeky grin. Joe put the mirror back and pulled out his note book.

  ‘Did you have a nice day?’ asked dad.

  ‘Brilliant’ ‘Great’ they both answered.

  ‘I expect you are both hungry now?’ enquired mum.

  ‘Yum Yum, yes please mum’ they answered in turn.

  After washing their hands, they all tucked into a nice meal. The children asked if dad had caught any fish. ‘Nothing’ he answered ‘except lots of seaweed’. The children giggled and whispered between themselves. Dad gave his usual grunt and opened his eyes even wider when the children told him about Queen Laura, the Twig people and Dirty the swamp demon again. As usual dad scratched his head and smiled. There always seemed to be an adventure when they went on holiday, he told them.

  12

  That evening, Joe and Lucy made more notes of everything they had seen. At the end of the page Joe had written, Dirty the swamp demon, Laura the nature Queen and The Twig People of Mossdown Woods.

  For the last few days of the holiday the children continued to play ‘I spy’.

  When finally they arrived back home and went back to school, Joe showed his teacher Mr Squeeze his note book. Mr Squeeze was impressed. But when he saw the names Dirty the swamp demon, the nature Queen Laura and the Twig people, he asked Joe to explain why they were written in his note book?

  Lucy sat smiling as Sir asked him to tell their story to the class. It took him quite some time to do so. All the children sat quietly listening as even Mr Squeeze became excited to listen with his eyes now as wide as saucers. When Joe had finished, his teacher said, ‘I must take the class to Mossdown Woods one day!’

  This book
is published by

  Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd

  28-30 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3HY.

  www.grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk

  The book cover picture is copyright to Joe Thomson-Swift

  ISBN: 978-1-908105-17-2 in epub format

  All rights reserved

  Copyright © Joe Thomson-Swift, 2011

  All rights reserved. You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  Joe Thomson-Swift is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a book reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any similarity to any person, living or dead is purely coincidental.