Above Us

The fire crackled in the damp living room. Water fell threw the ceiling into metal buckets. The hardwood floor creaked as a little girl ran around the room. The deep, velvet coloured walls silhouetted her pale face and beautiful ginger hair. She skipped and jumped around the room, making tracker sounds. She imitated the wheel with her hands, driving it this way, driving it that way. Her grandfather slowly padded to a plush armchair before the fire. He collapsed in it and sighed as he rubbed his back. The little ginger haired girl made her way to sit next to him.
"Ay, Papa today they told us about the pollution of the air in school. Apparently it's the downlings fault."Her voice was sweet and thoughtful, if a bit squeaky. She looked down at her hands, "I don't agree. They aren't that bad, are they?"
Her grandfather shook his head gently, "I don't think all of them are, Mary. But some are, like some Euna are."
"They can't be, they're so small." Mary giggled.
"Let me tell you a story, to prove my point, ok?" Mary nodded. "Once open a time long, long time ago a horrible downling grew some beans, and grew them high. He climbed this makeshift rope upwards towards the beautiful Euna. Our governor at the time found a miracle; a goose that would lay golden eggs. He shared out the gold between his people to do with as they choose; buy provisions, look after children. It was how Euna stayed rich, but not in gold, people bought that, but in happiness, with full stomachs and well children. But this horrible, greedy man stole the goose and all the eggs it had been making for the past 18 months. But before leaving this man even raped the governors wife! And so the governor started wilting, and the people of Euna started starving. Does he sound good to you,Mary?"
Mary shook her head, "No, he does not."
"That man's name was Jack, Mary. So don't trust any Jack's."
Mary giggled again, "That sounds silly!"
Her grandad smiled, "It does, I suppose."