Anam Cara Forest
A Spiritual Wonderland
Welcome to Bella Rose Cottage!
*Bella's Faery Garden*
For when the stars are shining clear
And all the world is still,
They float acress the silver moon
From hill to cloudy hill.
-Robert Bird, The Fairy Folk
*Bella's Faery Garden*
When Mom and I stand to wait for my bus before school we always make up stories; so we came up with Bella's Bus Stop Stories. Here is our second story we wrote for Bella's Second Grade Class 2007!
Bella's Bus Stop Stories: A Chipmunk in my Backpack
"Did you brush your teeth and wash your face?" Mom asked as she put on her sweater.
"Yes!" Said Bella .
"Do you have your orange homework folder and something for show and tell?” Mom asked again.
“Yes, yes, Mom, “said Bella in a hurried voice. Let’s go, the bus will be here any minute!”
“Honey, the bus comes at 8:15. We have time.”
“But I’m ready! Can’t we go now?” Bella begged.
“Oh Okay, let’s go!” Mom agreed.
Bella and her Mom walked down the gravel driveway and Bella plopped her princess backpack down on a stone near the young hydrangea bush!
Bella could never stay still while waiting for the big yellow bus #5 to arrive! She began to play a hand game in the air, clapping and slapping her legs…Miss Sue…clap clap clap…Miss Sue…clap clap clap. Miss Sue from Alabama, they call her Susiana…
“What is it that you’re playing, Bella?” asked mom curiously. “Is it like Miss Mary Mack?”
"Yeah Mom, but this is way cooler…all the kids are playing it in second grade!” Bella giggled. You want to learn it?”
“Sure!”
“Okay! Here’s how it goes: Miss Sue, Miss Sue, Miss Sue from Alabama, they call her Susiana. Hey you! Scooby do! Sittin in a rocker, eating Betty Crocker…watching the clock go tick, tock. Tick, tock Chihuahua. Tick, tock. Tick, tock Chihuahua. Mushka, Mushka…I know Karate. Mushka, Mushka, I’m so sorry. Mushka, Mushka… please, freeze!
Mom tried to keep up, “Mushka, Mushka what?” Mom laughed.
Bella got distracted from the clapping game. “Wait Mom did you see that? Said Bella excitedly.
“See what?” Mom said.
“Over there on the tree stump! It’s a chipmunk! He’s so cute!”
“Yes he is, and very mischievous too!” Mom smirked.
Bella became very curious of her new animal friend. She walked over to him very quietly. She smiled at the little guy and whispered, “Will you be my new friend? I have to go to school now, but I will meet you here at 3:45 pm, okay?” The chipmunk stood up on his hind legs and said, “Yeep, yeep!” Bella ran over to Mom and asked, “Mom do you think chipmunks can talk? I swear he just talked to me!"
“I wish I could take him to school for Show and Tell,” Bella sighed.
“Bella, chipmunks make noises sure, but talk? Don’t be silly! And listen, they are wild animals and shouldn’t be in a classroom running amuck!
“What’s running amuck?” Bella asked with a raised lip.
“Oh forget it honey, the bus will be here any minute!”
While Mom and Bella looked down to the next driveway on Route 66 for the red flashing bus lights, the little chipmunk scurried around Bella’s backpack. There was a small worn hole in the bottom and the little one snuck inside.
The bus arrived with a screechy halt! Rrrrrt! The doors flew open, Pshooop!
Bella hugged her Mom. “Bye Mom, I love you.”
“Bye Sweetie, I love you too! Have a great day!”
Bella walked up the bus stairs still thinking about her little chipmunk. “Good morning, Bella,” said Steve the bus driver.
“Hiya Steve! Hey, have you ever heard a chipmunk talk?”
“Umm, I can’t say as I have, but please take your seat and we’ll be off!” Smiled Steve.
It didn’t take long before bus #5 arrived at Memorial School. Bella threw her backpack over her shoulders and followed the line out of the bus!
Her classmate Jake was walking along side her from another bus line. “Hey Jake,” said Bella.
“Hi Bella!” Hey, what’s that in your backpack?” asked Jake.
“What do you mean?” Bella asked with a curious look.
“I just saw something move!” he said.
“Oh don’t be silly. Let’s hurry, we don’t want to be late for D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language.”
Bella walked to her classroom #23 along the curved hallways of her round blue school!
She noticed TJ fussing with his homework papers.
“Psst, TJ what’s wrong?” whispered Bella.
I think I lost my reading list.” he sighed.
“Here let me help you,” a voice called from behind them. Carter scurried through the cubbies and flipped through all TJ’s papers. “Here ya go, said Carter with pride. “It was just stuck in between everything!”
“Thanks, Carter!” TJ smiled in relief.
Bella placed her backpack in the cubby. “Hey Bella, did you see that?” asked Kieran.
“Oh no, not you too!” sighed Bella. See what?”
“You’re backpack just shook!” said Kieran.
“There’s nothing in my backpack but my usual things, silly!” insisted Bella.
But something made Bella look inside just in case. Before she could open up her backpack, the little chipmunk ran out the worn hole and ran over to Victoria’s cubby! “Hey, did you hear that, Rachel?” asked Victoria as she turned to her friend.
“Nope, what was it?” Rachel asked.
“I don’t know!” she shrugged.
The chipmunk hid himself in the pocket of Victoria’s jacket.
“Okay class let’s get moving on to our morning routine!” called Mrs. Davidson. She returned to her desk and scanned the room with her soft brown eyes. What an efficient class I have, she thought proudly.
Everyone settled into their jobs nicely. Alexis ran over to place her lunch clothespin in the round tin and turned quickly to the cubby room. “Hmmmm, I feel like someone’s watching me!” said Alexis with chills running down her spine.
The chipmunk had snuck out of Victoria’s pocket and was glaring around the corner to watch what was going on. He pulled out an acorn from his cheek and began to chew it.
“Jack, will you stop making those silly noises!” said Alicia.
“I’m not making noises!” You must be dreaming!” said Jack.
“Well who’s making that crackling sound then!” asked Alicia.
“It’s not me,” interrupted Daniel from behind her. Maybe it’s just something stuck under your shoe!” Daniel advised.
Mrs. Davidson walked to the front of the classroom. She clapped a 1,2...1,2,3 beat to bring silence, and the children repeated the tune! Everyone’s faces were now turned towards their Second Grade teacher! Well almost! “Chase, eyes up front please!” Mrs. Davidson said in a firm kind voice.
Chase was more interested in his mini binoculars he brought from home. He hid them under his desk. “I’m sorry Mrs. Davidson, I was just checking on something!”
Seby noticed what Chase was doing and whispered, “Hey Chase, what are you looking for?”
“Well I overheard Alicia before about some unusual crackling noises. I was just investigating with my binoculars!”
“Maybe it’s a mouse!” said Seby with a big grin.
Alyssa sat beside Chase and tapped him on the shoulder. “Ya know,” she said quietly, “I think I saw something over there under Mrs. Davidson’s desk, but I can’t be sure!”
Bella started to wonder if something really was in her backpack. But what could it be?” she thought.” Did Mom give me a wiggly jiggly jello sandwich?” Nah, I hate those,” she grimaced. Did someone play a joke on the bus and put a snake in there? I hope not! I’ll faint right here on this spot! That’s it, now I’m going to pay attention and figure this one out!”
It wasn’t long before all of the class knew something was up or down. The word spread quickly.
Kassandra passed a note to Rebecca; Hey I think we have a mouse somewhere in the classroom, the note read. Signed Excited in seat 4!
In that moment, Kienan raised his hand. “Mrs. Davidson, Is it okay if Troy and I brought down the notes to the office?”
“Sure, but hurry back.”
“Hey Troy, so what do you thinks going on in the classroom?” asked Kienan.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s a ghost! Troy shivered.
The boys ran to the office in fright!
Back in the classroom, Mrs. Davidson went to pick up a stack of scholastic news on the back desk and noticed an opened acorn. “Hmmm I wonder how that acorn got there!”
Ashley whispered to Lindsey Dickerman, “Hey, did you hear what Mrs. Davidson said?”
“Yeah,” said Lindsey. “Oh boy, we must have a squirrel living in here with us!”
Mrs. Davidson turned to the class and said, Time for Show and tell…today it’s Damon, Lindsey DeBrito and Bella’s turn. Please go get your things.”
Okay Damon, what do you have for us today? Asked Mrs. Davidson.
“Well, said Damon. This is a picture of my super duper heavy duty fishing pole. My Dad gave it to me for my birthday!”
“Wow!” said everyone.
Do you go fishing a lot?” asked Alyssa.
“We go every Sunday when the weather’s nice,” Damon grinned.
“Lindsey, and what is it that you brought in?” Mrs. Davidson smiled.
Oh, this is my stuffed panda bear! I got it at the zoo!” Her name is Zoe!”
“Awww,” the class sang in unison.
“Do you sleep with it?” Jake asked.
“Yep, every night!” Said Lindsey.
Bella got up and was about to reach in her pocket to get out her show and tell, and something jumped on Chase’s desk and hopped over onto the window sill then scurried back over Carter’s feet and landed smack onto Mrs. Davidson’s desk! Screams and giggles and chuckles and wiggles filled classroom 23!
“Settle down, everyone!” yelled Mrs. Davidson. “Sheesh, things have certainly run amuck in this classroom!”
Bella stood there in shock as the little chipmunk sat quietly perched up on his hind legs looking around at all the surprised faces, then up at Miss Bella. “Ummm well, I guess this is my show and tell today?” Bella said in a broken voice.
“Whoa, Bella,” the class said. That is the coolest show and tell ever!”
“Well, Ummm, I can’t tell a lie. This little guy was at my bus stop this morning and he must have snuck in my backpack!” I really have a purple stone in my pocket I was going to talk about.” Bella said trying not to laugh.
Everyone giggled with Bella!
Right then, the chipmunk made a sound. “Yeep, yeep!”
“Hey, he talks,” said Kieran.
“Sounded like he said Yippee!” said Rachel.
“He did, he did,” said Bella and right in that second the little guy hurried out the open window.
Bella was very sad to see her friend go, but she knew it wasn’t going to be easy to take that little chipmunk back home. She remembered Mom saying that chipmunks are wild and should stay in nature.
Little did Bella know that the chipmunk was waiting at the buses to leave for home. She walked with her head down to bus #5 and placed her backpack on the ground to tie her shoe. The little chipmunk then scooted back in the worn hole and off they went.
Bella’s Mom was waiting for her when Bella arrived home.
“How was your day, Bella?”
“Oh Mom, I need a hug!” Bella threw down her backpack.
The chipmunk ran out of the backpack and sat on the stump once again. Bella caught him in the corner of her eye and whispered, “See you tomorrow, my little friend.”
“What did you say honey?” Mom asked.
“Oh I said my day was great!” And ya know what? Chipmunks can talk and Um, I think I know what running amuck means now!” Bella giggled.
Mom patted Bella on the head, “You do, huh?”
They winked at each other and walked back to the little brown cabin.
The Gold Forest
Dedicated to the Memory of Susan Rothballer
Inspired by her Irish Great Great Grandmother
Thank you Susan for sharing your spirit with me and the gift of healing as you flew off to the land of eternal butterfies and magical ladybugs!*
The Leprachaun of Clare County knew the story plain and clear! He had heard it one day from the wee folk in the middle of the forest. He pressed his scruffy cheek against the knotty oak tree and listened with his crooked pointed ear! Magical stones, they had said…each buried on the farms of our Emerald land...five farms total along the windy loamy road.
He remembered when he overheard it how he burst a belly laugh that echoed through the mist! Collect two stones from each farm with the chosen family names(the Nolans, Evans, Aberdeens, Mulqueens and Hughes), pick the stones with the mark of a tiny golden knot …bring them to the forest clearing and bury them. The song of the faeries played over and over in his cone-shaped head…What will then be created will reach far beyond the human eye and be eternally gold.
The tiny man in the green tattered plaid could not resist the calling to this endless wealth and began his quest. He came at night over the grassy mounds dragging his long red beard along the rich tilled soil...quietly plucking and picking the stones, one by one…carefully looking to find the special marks.
Now in this town of strong gentle farmers, lived a little a girl named, Mary Mulqueen. A fair-skinned one with reddish brown hair! On her face she wore what some described as a smile within a smile! She loved her ecclectic land of wavy hills and edgy cliffs, but it was the forest that called her most!
The green trees of the magnificent wood lined the village to the right, kitty-corner to the valley of thatched roofs and Irish brogues. No one truly paid attention except for Mary. She always loved the enormous patch of leafy dancers and made it her playground as often as she could between chores!
She often wondered about the little man for she caught a glimpse of him one day while drawing swirls on the forest floor. “Hmm, what is he carrying? Sneaky little fella. I’ll find out what he’s up to!”, she thought gazing carefully as she tip-toed out of the wood.
So her plan was set, stay awake all night and see what goes on with little men and red beards!
Now Mary didn’t quite know that her farm was next for stone plucking!(Although she wished it to be!) She had heard from her friend Nora that the Nolans, the Evans, the Aberdeens, and the Hughes, had already been visited by the little man for he always left a scurrying mess of a trail on his path!
So that night Mary waited quietly by her window and suddenly she heard the whoosh of tiny feet and a whimper of indistinguishable sounds! “It’s him!”, she thought.
The Leprechaun was so caught up in his treachery he didn’t realize anyone was following him. He snatched his marked stones and ran back into the forest. Mary was so curious she could hardly keep herself from giggling madly!
She hid behind the bumpy elm as the man buried his stones.
“Ah the last two! I did it! I did it!, he smirked.
“But what did he do?”, thought Mary.
Just then a faery with wings of gold flew by her nose. “Come here, little Mary with the inquisitive eye.”
“So tell me,” Mary said. “What is he doing?”
“Oh, he’s trying to make gold out of stones. He thinks he knows of the magic,” yawned the Faery.
“What magic?”
“We don’t have time, just listen closely. While the silly man sleeps, dig up the stones and run as fast as you could…follow my friend Layla…her dust will guide you!”
Mary did as she was told. (That wasn’t always the case with Miss Mary, but we must carry on with the story).
She dug up all 10 stones and placed them in a sack that was left by a large mushroom.
Just then the man awoke, and Mary froze.
“Run!”, said the Faery! Hurry, hurry!"
Mary’s feet never moved so quickly! Soon she was where the Faery guided her…in a patch of forest she had never seen before.
“Give me my gold back, you thief!” yelled the little man.
“Open the bag Mary, hurry!“, said the Faery. “Now toss the stones in the sky.”
Mary threw the stones as fast and high as she could.
“Stop,” yelled the man! "Give me my gold! You'll ruin everything! "
In that moment the faeries sang their song one more time…The magic stones were thrown in the sky, from the land of our people, far and wide. From forever and now let it be told that this is once more the Forest of Gold.
It was then the stones opened in the night air bursting into a golden rain that fell on every leaf of every tree! The Light could be seen for miles and miles. Some say that day every soul in Ireland, from the eldest red-haired Nana to the tiniest freckled child felt it’s magic!
The Leprachaun scurried away in the midst of the golden shower and tripped over a sparkling boulder. "I'll be back, dont you worry. You haven't seen the last of me!"
The faeries then threw some magic crushed acorns at the agitated man and uttered, "Leave this land for you are done! Now be gone with the next morning sun!"
Mary ignored the commotion behind her and stood in awe of her golden wonderland! "I will never forget this night," Mary sang as she waltzed the forest floor. She then sat quietly below the wise old oak and as a tear fell slowly from her eye the faeires flew around her and whispered. "The story of the Gold Forest lives deep in you now... it is your gift to share and forever pass on to the generations of County Clare!"
By Victoria DOttavio