Folksburywoods

Miss Elly loved growing things. Her green thumb made the gardening miracle easy, whether it was a pea plant or an oak tree. Along with her dog, Silas, the two would spend each day in her gardens or walking through the woods. Some days, Miss Elly would find a flower that needed her help, dig it up, and bring it back to her home, where she would apply a hefty dose of tender loving care. After a few days, the plant would be ready to return to its home in the forest.

One day, however, she and Silas were shocked to encounter an unusual flower. At first, when Miss Elly heard the tiny voice, she thought it must be a prank by one of the local village children. Upon closer inspection, she soon realized the flower was calling her.

“Please, Miss, may you help me?” said the plant.

“Help, how?” replied the woman.

“I have escaped from the realm of the fae where I was engaged to a wicked sorcerer who desired to gaze upon my beauty every day,” answered the flower.

“Do you have a name?” asked Miss Elly.

“It is Trifle, and unless you can get me to safety, I will perish in this environment,” said the plant. 

“We won’t let that happen, will we, Silas?” said the woman, quickly picking up the flower and transporting it back home.

After carefully washing the dust from her delicate leaves, Miss Elly placed Trifle in one of her favorite pots beside a window. “Will this suit your needs,” asked Miss Elliy.

“This will be perfect, and thank you for saving me. I would not have lasted much longer without soil and water in this realm,” Trifle told her savior.

“Why is that?” asked Elly

“In the Fae realm, we don’t need soil and can freely walk where we wish, but here in the human world, we must be planted just like your plants, or we will perish,” said the flower.

Over the next several days, Trifle regained her strength and was as healthy as ever. Time passed, and soon, the magical flower seemed to be just another family member, with Trifle riding on Silas’s back during their daily outings. 

All seemed right with the world until the sky darkened one day, and a whirlwind sped toward their home.

“It’s him. The dark sorcerer has found me. We must hide,” pleaded Trifle.

“I am not letting any crazed magician tell my friends who they will or will not marry,” snapped Miss Elly. Then she disappeared into her potting shed and, a moment later, returned with a strange-looking device.

Outside, a voice boomed, “Give me what is mine, or I will destroy everything precious to you. Do it now,” said the sorcerer.

Wrapping the device in a cloth, Miss Elly stepped outside with Silas close behind. “Here she is, but she has become frail in this realm. I am not sure she will make it,” said Elly.

“It is of no concern to you; her health will return once I take her back to my castle. Give her to me now,” demanded the wizard.

“Careful now; here she is,” said Miss Elly. She then turned the bundle toward the sorcerer’s face and gave the device’s handle a firm push.

“Eeeeee! You have blinded me. What is this magic that is powerful enough to stop me?” cried the sorcerer.

“That would be old-fashioned insecticide. It kills bugs dead. Now leave here, or I will give you a larger dose, which will most certainly end your life.” demanded Elly.

“As you wish,” said the wizard, then vanished in a puff of smoke.

“I never knew you were a powerful magician,” said Trifle.

“I’m not. That’s just some old bug killer I keep around when I need to eliminate unwanted pests,” replied Elly. From that day forward, the three friends enjoyed life without the fear of the evil wizard, and as far as I know, they are still growing the most amazing plants in the world.