The Gypsies and the Other Realm-Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Gnomes
The men of the tribe herded their livestock into the marketplace early the next morning at sunrise. There was a section of corrals and hutches set up with nice grazing pastures at the edge of the market for the gypsies to buy, sell and trade their animals and birds. Viktoria went with Victor to tend to the horses, and give Oberon, and Blossom a break for their night long vigilance taking care of the fortune telling tent and their neighbors wares. She had left a large basket of food for breakfast and a clay jug filled with goats' milk for her children inside the caravan. Badger had offered to drive her children in on a wagon after their breakfast. He had been sleeping outside in a bedroll with Stefan and Raj by the campfire.
The weather was briskly cold, but the sunrise was beautiful. Badger went into the woods nearby to scout around some and saw something small but odd-looking scurry across his path. Curious he followed it. Badger heard laughter and singing and saw at an extremely large mushroom patch at his feet, he bent down to pluck a few of the larger mushrooms when an excited male voice begged “oh please don't pick these mushrooms they are our homes! "Startled, Badger looked around and under his scrutiny discovered a tribe of gnomes banded together a distance away from him. Patsy had told him fantastical stories about gnomes when he was younger, so he recognized what they were right away. They each had a little colorful hat on, work clothes and boots. Some carried baskets of flowers, seeds, and vegetables and some carried rakes, shovels, hoes, and saws. Badger apologized profusely to the little fellas. The gnomes were a happy bunch and invited him on a tour of their little gnome village. He was amazed at their village of mushroom homes, he had to be careful as to not step on any homes or gnomes. Badger decided he had to get back to camp and see if anyone was awake. He promised the gnomes he would come back to visit, and he might bring a friend.
When Badger returned to camp everyone was awake and at Viktor’s caravan the children were happily eating their breakfast on the porch. Mariska was still inside the caravan and was feeling confused as to why Selena and Jupiter had not yet appeared and then just like that Selena and Jupiter appeared on her shoulder. Selena explained that she and Chip had spent some time investigating the area and had made some new friends. She mentioned the gnomes in the mushroom patch to Mariska that she had met, and she and Chip had spent some time with them. Mariska offered Selena and Jupiter food and they quickly ate and flew into their fairy hut snuggled together and fell asleep. Mariska quickly ate and then grabbed a basket of soap and cloths and fresh clothes for the twins, and they headed to the nearby stream to wash up.
Livia had offered breakfast to Badger, and they were eating together on the porch and discussing magical creatures, each not revealing that they had a secret of their own.
Badger went to hook up the horse, to the wagon, and Livia joined the others at the stream to wash. Livia had taken a wooden pail to bring back water for Badger to wash up. The twins were playful this morning splashing water on each other and Mariska as well. They were all well rested and happy.
Badger loaded fresh baskets of food for the midday meal, that Mariska and Livia had put together also, jugs of water, juice and a wooden crate of plates silverware and tin cups, then everyone climbed up into the wagon Badger, with Livia by his side on the driving bench snapped the reins and the wagon jolted and off they went to market.
Raj and Stefan met the wagon by the street entrance of the market to escort them to the fortune telling tent. The street was packed with English tourists and the men brought their families. Their wives, and daughters to shop while they in fact were there to look over the livestock, sometimes their sons would stay in the marketplace to look after the women, or sometimes go with the men to look at the gypsy livestock. In the street there were jugglers, clowns, belly dancers, gypsies playing music, one gypsy had a cute little monkey that played a small accordion. Hats and baskets were passed to the tourists for tips during their performances. The smell of deliciously cooked food permeated the air.
When the wagon reached the fortune telling tent the twins climbed down out of the wagon along with Mariska and Livia. Raj and Stefan quickly tied their ponies to the back of the wagon and unloaded the midday meal and stored the baskets, jugs and a crate behind the soaps, perfumes, candles, and herb table. Rosalie and Lilith were hard at work selling their families goods.
Livia took the twins Robin and Rudolpho’s little hands and they stood and waited for some patrons to come out of the fortune telling tent before entering to see their mother. Viktoria hugged them all and asked Mariska to take over while she attended to the twins. Livia offered to stay outside helping Lilith and Rosalie while encouraging tourists and escorting them into the tent to get their fortunes told.
Violet snuck in to say Hi! In between Mariska's patrons. She inquired about Selena and Jupiter. Mariska said that Selena and Chip had met a village of gnomes in the woods. Violet thought that was incredible. She said Selena makes friends everywhere. Then poof! Off she went to help her mother Angela, sell her scarves, clothes, threads, and fabrics. Raj and Stephan had mentioned their families were doing very well at the Sheffield market selling leather goods and wood crafted furniture and toys. Mariska peeked into the fortune telling tip basket when no one was in there and saw that it was full of dollars and coins. Victor and Viktoria brought the twins into the tent and Bavaro and Maerie, they closed while they all ate their midday meal together. When they were done Bavaro asked Livia, Lilith, and Rosalie to come in and take a break and eat. Maerie took over outside and Viktoria repacked a basket for Valentino, Oberon, Blossom, and Badger. Victor took the boys and the basket back to the corrals. Lilith and Rosalie went back to work at the tables with Maerie. Viktoria did a few readings and then got in the tip basket grabbed a few bills and left to shop at the market She had a large basket shoulder bag to put her treasures in.
She bought two wooden gnome toys for the twins ,a new silk Top hat for Valentino, a pretty light blue shawl for Livia, a colorful bead necklace for Mariska, an English pocket watch for Victor, a new dress and scarf for herself and a box full of candies for all. Apparently, Bavaro had the same idea. She saw him at the candy vendor, and he was buying candy for his twin girls, and he showed Viktoria what he had bought Maerie a colorful new skirt scarf, a gold armband and blouse. Bavaro confessed that he also bought each of his girls a gnome doll. They laughed and talked together as they weaved in an out of the vendors shops. They both bought canvas bags and filled them with fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, and cheese. There was not much time for preparing food.
When Bavaro and Viktoria got back to the tent, they surprised their families with their newly acquired purchases. Victor was pleased with the pocket watch; the boys loved their wooden toys that looked like gnomes. Livia thought her new shawl was exquisite, and Mariska marveled at the colorful beads. Viktoria and Maerie modeled their new outfits together while Bavaro gave his twin girls matching gnome dolls. Viktoria peeked in her shoulder basket and teased them all by saying,” oh! I forgot just one more thing.” Candy! She exclaimed as she pulled the box out of the basket and passed it around. Bavaro also offered his box of candy to Maerie, Rosalie and Lilith. Everyone was delighted and exhausted from the day. Viktoria handed a few bills to Mariska and Livia for their hard work to spend this evening.
Badger, Stefan, and Raj offered to tend the livestock and sleep on the cots in the tent tonight. Victor appeared and said he was planning to stay in town tonight with the others. Victor had an unusually good day selling some of his gypsy van horses to an aristocratic English man that wanted them to pull his family carriage. He offered high dollar for those two beautiful horses Bavaro, had sold a few of his horses for high dollar also, to a local English horse breeder. Valentino had the best day of all and handed out bills to Oberon, Blossom. Stefan, Raj, and Badger for helping with all the livestock.
Valentino harnessed a horse to the wagon, to take Viktoria, Bavaro, Maerie, Oberon, Blossom, the twin boys and girls and the produce Victor had told him his wife and Bavaro bought. When he got to the tent everyone came along except Mariska and Livia. They wanted to stay a little longer, they were waiting for Violet.
Victor promised he would stay with them until Badger, Raj, and Stefan came back to the tent to escort the girls through the market, to shop, have some semblance of a meal at least some market food, and then when they were done the boys would ride them back to camp on their ponies.
