EDENVILLE

The Frog Crossing

By @silenttomorrows

On the edge of the village, where the deep woods wove towards the hills, Japonica met Edith.

'Hiya Jappy, how are you and how we gonna do this. I've brought my digger in case we need it.'

'That's great hun', Japonica answered, 'can you dig a trench across the road near the brook? Then we will board it over so the traffic can pass over the top whilst the frogs can hop though underneath.'

'I sure can', said Edith putting her arms around Japonica and kissing her passionately'.

When they came up for air, Japonica said, 'I can stay over yours tonight if you like.'

'Ok, we can get some nibbles on the way home.'

Edith Churn, mounted the digger, gunned up it up and stretched out its arm so that the bucket clawed up a furrow, breaking through the tarmac making a trench across the road. She placed the excess earth at the side of the road.

From the corner of her eye, Jappy noticed a run down wooden cottage amongst the trees. '

'Is that deep enough'Edith cried out.

'Yes that's wonderful. Let's get some planks of wood and slap them over the frog crossing. Then the traffic will be able to safely travel over it, while the frogs cross without getting squished.'

'Good idea'

They worked tirelessly for half an hour and thought the road looked good enough with its kinda decking modification. Presently Eli came along the road in his half truck. Although the planking dipped in the middle it held pretty well. They cleared up their tools and neatened up the edges but as they did Edith put a gash in her finger.

'Darn', she said looking cross with herself'

'Ooh, that needs attention dear'. Japonica swung around trying to think of the best course of action. Back to the village? Then she spotted the ramshackle cottage again. 'Come Eddie, lets see if they got a bandage then I'll get you to the doctor.'

They walked over rough ground to get there. The cottage was more like a big hut surrounded by a broken and crumbling ancient stone wall. It's roof was covered in moss. Wooden wind chimes clattered gently in the breeze. There was a vegetable garden with a weird looking scarecrow; it had the head of a pumpkin.

They walked to the door. Japonica raised her fist to knock but before she did a croaky olde voice said, 'Well come in then'

Japonica placed her hand ready to push the door, but it swung open by itself on creaky hinges. It was dark inside, a small fire flickered in a chimney breast. There was a small cauldron bubbling away whilst the flames licked around its shape. In a corner there was movement.

Within the shadows a figure wrapped in a shoal, with a blanket on her legs, rocked like a metronome in a rocking chair. The face of what seemed an old woman looked down into the flames. 'Well, why do you disturb me?'

Edith gripped Japonica's arm and gently tried to lead her out the door again.'

'Very sorry, very sorry to disturb you. My friend cut herself and...'

'And you sought charity from an olde woman with nothing but a poor fire to keep her warm?'

'Sorry. We'll leave.' Edith replied.

But with a swift movement and nimbleness that belied her age and stature, the olde woman got up and grabbed Edith's arm. 'Yes, let me see'. She cackled. 'That needs seeing to. 'Sit down at the table'

As their eyes become more accustomed to the light they could make out a table with single wooden chair, pots and pans dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. The olde woman disappeared behind a curtain that stuck out into the room a short way.

'Thank you for helping us' Japonica said quietly. She wonders if some of the items here would be of interest at the up and coming junk roadshow. Then she admonished herself for being rude and unkind. 'Er, this is Edith, I'm Japonica'. She thought she ought to introduce themselves to her.

The olde woman came out from behind the curtain clutching some some herbs. 'What's that', Edith said alarmed.

The old woman stared at them and they were able to discern her sharp features, piercing eyes and whispy white hair.

'This is shepherds purse, yarrow, you might know it better as Millfoil and cayenne. You want to stop the bleeding; this will do it.' She dropped the ingredients into a mortar and pestle and ground a paste. 'Hand' she ordered, then placed the mixture on the finger and found a piece of rag to hold it there.

Edith and Japonica were transfixed as the old woman treated Edith in this peculiar manner. Truly they had expected just a bandage or a sticking plaster.

'That'll do, you're fixed.' The old woman went and sat back in the rocking chair. A mouse scuttled across the floor.

'Thank you' the words burst out of the girls almost in unison, as if they had been holding their breath. They moved towards the door. As they hastily left, Japonica thought to turn back and ask, 'Sorry we don't even know your name, but thank you.'

The voice from the shadows barked, 'Morag'. And the door slammed behind them, again without anyone touching it.