The Woods

I went down there again, after all these years I went back to the woods. It took longer than I remembered; my feet hurt, and my high-heeled boots were far too impractical for such an enterprise.

What started off as a sunny day was now turning a dismal grey. As I strode further through the forest toward the glade, the blue sky seemed distant, bare branches, crooked and waving struck terrifying poses along the way.
I was suddenly Snow White running for my life, unknowingly toward the wicked queen. It was getting late and I knew I'd soon be missed just like I was all those years ago, no one believed me then, when I tried to tell them what had happened, what I'd seen.

"You're a liar!" they said, "Now tell us where you really were?"

Thirty years have passed and I was drawn back into the dark shadows, my very own personal quest.

I had something to prove, to myself if no one else.

My heart beat faster as I approached the clearing in the woods.

Suddenly everything was familiar, my breathing quickened, half of me wanted to see them again the other half quietly dreaded it.

As I got closer I recognised the big chestnut tree, bronzed conkers dangling like dull Christmas baubles and look there, engraved on the wizened bark, my initials, proof, proof that I was here.

Then I heard a noise, a slight rustling of leaves at first then that low murmur I remembered, I froze in fear and stood a deathly still. I could hear the laughter soft at first then louder, how many were there this time?

I saw them before they saw me. They had made a perfect circle just as I remembered.

Offerings were laid out before them, bread, cheese, wine, cakes, and oranges everything required for a sumptuous feats. I was right all along, I knew it, I hadn’t made it up.

It's true what they say -

Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.