Under the Blue Moon

The sun is shining in the clear blue sky over the market awnings in the village square. To the small bot standing at his mother’s side it seems as though everyone who lives in his village is on the cobblestones around him. Bartering over the prices of the items on the stalls and chattering as they meander amongst the other shoppers. It’s been a long cold winter for the little village, so this first pre-spring day of sunshine and clear, crisp air has brought out the crowds, to stretch their legs, looking forward to a warm and productive summer. The small boy’s eyes are sparkling as he sweeps the crowd looking for anything of interest. His hand slips unnoticed from his mother’s as he steps away from her side in search of adventure. He skips on the cobble stones, trying to balance on the darker coloured stones, jumping from one to the next. He slips, ungainly as he leaps too far for the next dark grey stone, landing heavily on his knees, yelping as the skin rips together with his trousers. He sits rubbing the sore scraped flesh, prodding at the seeping blood as he watches the skin knit back together. A deep sigh shakes his shoulders as he moves to stand up and return to his mother. Will she be cross about the torn trousers? With his head hung low he doesn’t notice the tiny red headed girl in front of him, a good three inches shorter than him, she is spinning on the spot giggling as her girls bounce around her cheeks and her skirt catches in the breeze she is making. They crash together and bounce backwards onto their rears. The little redhead looks up with tears budding in the corners of her bright green eyes, to see the boy, long limbed with jet black hair falling over his face rushing to scoop her up. She giggles as he clumsily grabs at her torso to pull her to her feet. “S-s-s-sorry Gwynny” he stammers “I didn’t mean to”. She smiles shyly at the bigger boy and shrugs holding out her hand to him. Their tiny fingers interlace briefly as she leans into his shoulder. “It’s OK James” she murmurs, reaching up on her tiptoes she kisses his cheek before reaching out her hand to conjure a small red-brown stuffed Wolf before pushing it into his arms. “Wow” he gasps, watching as her cheeks flame red before she turns and runs back to her mothers side. James feels his mother arrive at his side, looking up he presents the stuffed toy with pride “from Gwyny” he announces. His mother softly smiles at her son before waving brightly at Gwyny and her mother. “Come on Son” she takes his hand once more “We need to get home now.”