Out of the Garden - Part Twelve

by Heidi Dru Kortman

(Catch up on the story here.)

“Hector,” I muttered, lest Peta overhear. “Where did you put the Her?” He hadn’t behaved like this since he was a six-month-old kitten. Then, he’d made off with Bree’s doll, “Soo-Z Sprite,” though it looked nothing like a sprite to me, and I’d had plenty of experience dealing with the real ones.

So long ago—I’d set much aside to marry Don. And nearly forgotten.

Hector rolled onto his back, stretching one paw to bat the bedspread fringe. Then the cat sat with his back to me and washed.

“If you’ve left the Her behind the living room sofa, Peta will take her.”

 He hissed.

“Cat, I dislike Peta myself. She took Don from me once, and I won’t give the Her away. Bring Her to me now, before she gets thirsty again.”

“Tá mé anseo.” The Her stepped between the bedspread fringes, climbed the chenille fabric, and walked to the far end of the shoe box, where she crossed her arms on the edge. “Tá mé anseo, I am here.”  Whispery, like wind in tall grass, the síog’s voice I heard carried a hint of annoyance.

“I regret needing to move you from pillar to post. Peta is persistent.”

As the Her cocked her head, obviously considering my words like any person would, the door knob rattled hard. That had to be my grandson. “Callan, stop that,” I said.

“Gran, where are the sweets?”

“The price was too expensive.” I tipped one of my throw pillows, and gestured the Her to hide in the cavernous space. The Her sprinted from the shoe box and ducked into the sheltering darkness. 

I heard Callan stomp away. Spoiled child.

I lifted the throw pillow, grinning. “Dia dhuit. Hello,” I said as the síog emerged. “Peta believes you’re a French fae, but you’re speaking Gaelic.” Neachtar, the word this síog had whispered, rolled back time to my years in a Donegal village.

Nodding, she braided her hair. “Dia dhuit. Sive Orlagh is ainim dom.”

“A hundred thousand welcomes, Princess Orlagh. Maeve is ainim dom.”

Thank you, Heidi!

Heidi Dru Kortman, CWG Apprentice graduate and ACFW member since 2004, has devotionals, and poetry in Breaking Barriers, Disability Concerns, Christian Reformed Church in North America, a devotional in One Year Life Verse Devotional, Tyndale October 2007, a short story in Harpstring, vol. 1, issue 2 Written World Communications. She writes flash fiction on AvenirEclectia.com. She is also an active member of Toastmasters International.