She had once heard somewhere, though she couldn’t remember where,
that people had a saying, ‘poor as a church mouse’, but she couldn’t understand it at all. She supposed it had something to do with the fact there wasn’t much in the way of food to be had in a
church. But every church had a vicarage and the meals there were good and plentiful.
And Sage, ahh! She missed Sage most of all. A wise and loving mouse, and very much in demand in his younger days, she had never understood why he had chosen her. Her eyes softened, filling with tears.
Sage had been everything to her and the pain of losing him was still as sharp now as it had ever been.
Who could have known back then how things would change? She didn’t know why, but slowly people stopped coming to the church until, finally, no one at all came any more.
She missed the singing and the sound of the organ. She missed the children’s choir; their voices had been so fresh, so full of hope.
Mistflower loved children, her own and the sons and daughters of men, even though she knew full well she and her kind were not loved in return. She had particularly enjoyed Christmas. She loved the joyful Christmas hymns and the magical story of the wonderful, special, baby.
She thought someone like that, someone so gentle and kind and so great, would surely have found love in his heart, even for a despised mouse. After all, it was The Great God of all living creatures Himself whohad put her kind in the world. Mice were in the weave of the pattern and had their part to play.
Finally, when the very last creature had arrived and an expectant hush had fallen over the assembly and all eyes lifted to the heavens, Mistflower saw the pale shape of Ghost glide in on soundless wings.
No sooner had Ghost arranged himself comfortably in a deep V of the oak than he began to speak.
‘So, the wheel turns and brings us once more to Walpurgis Eve. And a clear, crisp one it is. Night has spread her dark shawl over Father Sky and her brothers and sisters, the Stars, have come out to decorate it.‘See how they sparkle and how Mistress Moon lights our path.’
Ghost turned his head surveying the creatures, great and small, gathered before him. ‘Welcome all.’ He blinked his big, luminous eyes. ‘Welcome. ‘First, as always, we will pay respect to the Great God of All Things and give thanks for life. After that I will listen to any matters of disagreement, as well as any crimes against our Law.’
The Law had been put in place at the time of Creation; it commanded every creature not to take more from any other creature, or from Mother Earth, than they had need of. It was a serious thing indeed to break the Law.
‘Lastly, when all has been dealt with satisfactorily, we will have some sharing time.’
Mistflower curled her tail, content. Settling herself comfortably she waited for events to begin.
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