Will’s mouth gaped. What had just happened?
Willa used her wand to stir the drops of potion that remained in the cauldron. Everything was as it should be: she could see tiny pieces of daisy petals, willow bark, nettle leaf and yellow buttercup pollen. She ran to the door to look at the forest of daisies that was growing at an alarming rate, not only in her garden but also the rest of the village.
‘Will! Did you bring me ox-eye daisy petals?’
‘I don’t know,’ replied Will, ‘I thought daisies were daisies.’
‘No. They are not. I wanted the ones that grow in the lawn.’
‘I picked them from the flowerbed. What’s so special about them?’
‘They are fairies that were enchanted by a garden witch. I’m keeping them here until I discover a spell to release them. If another witch or goblin were to find those daisies by accident, we would be overrun with fairies. I don’t think the villagers are ready for that yet. We must reverse my growing spell.’
Willa collected the ingredients for another spell herself. She didn’t want to risk another mistake, and time was of the essence. Will watched as she dashed about brewing and stirring – there was no time for a trance.
‘Will, run as fast as you can to the village green and make sure all the villagers are still celebrating May Day. I might have to tie them up for a while, until you’ve grown to the right size.’
Will clicked his fingers on both hands and found himself behind the May Queen’s throne. The villagers were performing a tricky dance around the maypole, weaving the brightly coloured ribbons as they skipped. Just as he was about to click his fingers again to return to the cottage, the ribbons suddenly twisted and writhed until the all the villagers were neatly tied to the pole. Time stood still. Birds stopped singing, butterflies and bees froze on flowers, and the villagers closed their eyes and fell asleep. Willa’s magic was certainly being tested. Why couldn’t he keep his goblin size and pretend he was a child? He could promise to shave his whiskers every day and always keep his hat on.
Kim M. Russell, 28th June 2020
Another episode of The Willow Tree Goblin for Poets and Storytellers United Writers’ Pantry
I wrote this episode last Tuesday during Shut Up and Write hour.
writing in north norfolk 
https://tushar55krutika.blogspot.com/2020/06/women-entrepreneurs-to-play-big-role-in.html
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Loved it This good become a great book. I looked up ox-eye daisies as I didn’t know of their existence. I was already in the mood for fairies as my husband made an amazing fairy door and windows for someone today. Now I want them too lol.
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Thank you, Marja!
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Thoroughly enjoyed this. I’m not doing very well with my garden this year – I think I may have upset quite a lot of fairies.
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Thank you, Anthony. Don’t go upsetting fairies!
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Very exciting! And the ending made me smile.
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Thank you, Rosemary.
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Loved this! What are the fairies going to do? *waits wide-eyed for the next installment*
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Thank you, Wyndolynne! Wills has to keep the fairies under the spell, while sorting out Will. Not easy!
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The enchanting tale goes on! Where will it end? Only the storyteller knows!
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Not the storyteller, the characters!
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I so understand Will’s wishes. The idea of having to change so drastically in order to fit in never seems all that fair. Besides, one can do wonders with strategical shaving and a good hat. 😀
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Oh, and the tying of the villagers to the pole certainly increased the tension.
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It’s only for a while, until Wills sorts out the spell.😊
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😀
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Your stories are enchanting!
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Thank you, Bev!
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This is incredibly riveting, Kim! 😀 I love the gradual brewing of anticipation and moral in the story and agree with Marja! It has the makings of a best-selling book! 💝 Especially love; “Birds stopped singing, butterflies and bees froze on flowers, and the villagers closed their eyes and fell asleep. Willa’s magic was certainly being tested,” can’t wait to read what happens next!! 🥰 🥰
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😀
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Another wonderful magical episode. Willa does seem to be a powerful witch but Will really seems to think all this size changing is unnecessary.
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Thank you, Namy!
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i liked this edition of your ongoing story about the daisies. great write! you have the right storytelling skills for a full length book. best of luck!.
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Thank you so much!
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Love it! Oh, please tell me it will be a book or in a book?
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Thank you, Susie! I’m not sure where it’s going yet, but it has taken on a life of its own.
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It’s not fairies that have muddled our garden but rabbits. They may be just as bothersome. These have been fun to read, Kim.
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Thank you, Joel. I hope you manage to get those rabbits under control!
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Aah the enchanted village- i think I can see an illustrated book!!!
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I’m considering it. I have a few more episodes brewing. 😉
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