House on a Rock

Eek, run, it’s Matilda,” the children would scream whenever the old crone brought medicines to the village.

Living in the forest alone, the homely old woman forgot she frightened children. She tried not to think about it, for her heart was filled with love. Fate, however, had dealt her a poor hand.

Born the only child to a powerful wizard and gifted wise woman, Matilda grew up surrounded by magic. “I want to be just like you,” she often told her parents.

As she grew up, it became apparent she did not inherit her mother’s beauty; instead, her father’s hard-cut facial features showed upon her face.

“Perhaps they will soften with age,” said her father. They did not. The young lady kept to herself, avoiding the village children. Matilda learned that children can be callous.

Rather than cry and fret, the young witch threw herself into understanding alchemy and its benefits to human health. Soon, Matilda could heal broken bones, eliminate blurred vision, and even cure arthritis.

Her parents were proud of her accomplishments but were constantly aware of her physical shortcomings.

Once, the Duke visited the wizard to seek counsel on a very delicate matter, and when he saw Matilda, he asked, “Is that wretched creature your servant?”

He did not wish to embarrass the Duke, so he suggested they retire to the sitting room for port wine and cigars. Later, her father found his daughter sobbing in the attic.

“Why did you not tell him who I was?” the girl asked. Her father said nothing, feeling too ashamed to try to excuse his behavior.

The young witch packed her trunks and left her home without saying a word. “I will go where they judge me not by my face but by my healing arts,” said Matilda.

When she found the rock in the forest, she knew straight away it would be the perfect home, so she built stairs and placed a hut at the top, ideal for one.

Word soon spread of a healer in the forest with incredible powers. In a fortnight, Matilda had folks lining up to see her, and not one ever cared about her looks,

The witch relieved their suffering, and as far as they were concerned, she could have been an ogre. Everyone who Matlida attended remembered her kind heart.

“That healer has a heart of gold. We all could learn a lesson or two from her about being better people,” the Burgermeister was often heard to say.

The children still run and hide, but now Matilda smiles, knowing she’ll see them in her little house on the rock and make them feel better sooner rather than later.