For the Twins; a serial story, part 9

The spirits come to visit me on occasion. They lay the groundwork for the mischief I play.

The earth is a place for all to live, it is not to be owned, only borrowed. Humans seldom get this right. The pranks I play on humans help them understand there are greater forces at play than they can comprehend.

After college, Danielle and Taylor were the first to tie the knot. Ben and Audrey followed suit within a year. They remained close friends as young adults, but lately long periods went by without a visit. Ben hoped to remedy this with an invitation for their old sidekicks to come see the new house, the neighborhood at Dewy Dewy Grass and give the kids a play date.

At the sound of the doorbell, Bunny and Fawn ran to greet their guests. Everyone hugged and talked at once. The children quickly ran through the house and out the back door. Oakland and Dara were excited to play games with the twins. While enjoying drinks on the patio, Ben watched the kids as they played Freeze Tag. Three youngsters stood statue-still at the command from Fawn. Beyond the play area, Ben's gaze studied the woods and he remembered a picnic he and Audrey shared with Danielle and Taylor years ago. Lyrics began to play in his thoughts just as Danielle started singing. " … I laughed, I cried, I well near died, all because of the foggy, foggy dew …" They used to call it their “theme song of the 4 Woodland Nymphs” Oh, those were the days!

Aurelia watched the human festivities from her perch in the large White Oak. She was intrigued by the little ones and their odd activity. They seemed quite happy and carefree running hither and yon, and then suddenly they were planted in place like trees in the earth. At first, she thought they were shapeshifting, but that would be impossible. Could they possess a bit of magic? Her musings were disrupted by a haunting melody. She squinted her big nymph eyes and spotted the female human with hair yellow like the sun. The lyrics, “all because of the foggy, foggy dew” wafted across the draw. “ Yes, yes,” Aurelia said. She remembered a group of young people singing that song and frolicking about in her woods some time ago.

The women, seated in patio chairs, chatted about work. The men enjoyed cold beers at the picnic table and kept an eye on the children. During a lull in conversation, Danielle crooned the familiar song again as the women reminisced about a summer full of youthful fun. As the melody filled the air, Ben noticed the sky was no longer clear, only a few stars remained visible. The moon was full but covered in a wavy green mist. He looked toward the children and called them to join him at the picnic table.

"Hey kids, come over here and I'll tell you a story," Ben said in a more commanding voice than he intended.

"Aw Daddy, we want to take Oakland and Dara to see the fire ring. Please, please, please?" the twins begged in unison.

Suddenly Audrey leaped to her feet and twirled around with her lime green sheer skirt flowing in a circular motion.

"Yes, Benny boy, don't be a nymph. Let's all take a hike in the woods! Ben, remember the little rhyme you told the girls and me at the fire ring?" Dramatically, she recited, "When the full moon shines on the forest deep, wonders await you while others sleep. As moonlight and stardust fill the skies, the forest comes alive right before your eyes.' Let's check it out. Alright everyone, follow me into the woods."

Ben stood frozen, flummoxed by Audrey's performance. How did Audrey know about the note he found along the wooded trail? Did she write it; and the other one on the fridge?

When humans claim forests as something they've won, the full moon will trade out the damage for fun. While some homes sleep soundly with snores of the child, your home will tremble with magic gone wild.

"Magic gone wild," he repeated to himself as he turned to follow the others.