Wolf Dentistry

 After Hansel and Gretel trapped the old hungry witch in her very own oven, and ate her for their dinner. They stayed in the house to live and fed off the house made of sweets, little by little.

Every day Hansel set out into the woods in hopes of finding his father. Each day he set out, he left markers in the ground to help him find his way back. He used stones, branches, pieces of clothing he torn off to tie to branches, anything to help him get back to his sister.

The day came when Hansel's search proved successful. His father was thrilled to see his son and hugged him tight. His father told him his step mother was no more and asked after his daughter Gretel. 

"Gretel is alive and well, father. She is staying in the only home we've known since we lost you".

Father was overcome with tears and demanded to be taken to her right away. So Hansel took the hand of his father and led him deep into the woods, farther than his father had ever dared to venture. Then the house of sweets came into view and Father was flabbergasted seeing the house before him. As he stood in awe taking in the sight of the house, Hansel ran ahead and called for his little sister to come out.

Gretel hearing her brother, she stepped out to see her father standing there before her, tears of joy in his eyes. He opened his arms to her as she made a dash to her father and embraced him. They all hugged each other as one unit. Then Father broke away to ask the children how had they survived this long alone. The children exclaimed how they'd been eating off the house of sweets for some time after eating all the food the witch had, had  in storage. The father marveled at their story and dared to walk closer to the house to inspect it. 

"I see you rascals aren't the only ones doing some nibbling", Father joked as he pointed out some missing pieces to the side of the house. The children giggled.

Father turned to face his children knelt down and opened his arms again to welcome them back in. 

"Come now, all that indulging in sweets cannot have been good for your teeth. Let me see them".

The children both displayed their teeth that definitely showed signs of lasting decay. Father stood up resting his fists upon his waistline. Thoughtfully, he looked to them both and sighed.

"Well my children, it's definitely time for you both to return home, so if you have any belongings here, gather them to you and follow me out. They did as they were told, grateful to have their father back in their lives.

As they followed, Father lectured them, that they were never to return to this house again, in fact forget it's very existence. Life was about to get way better for all of them. 

"But !! First order of business" he said holding up his index finger and stated " is to take you both to the village dentist. I heard the old lady who lives in a shoe, no longer runs an orphanage but now has converted her home to a dentist office". The children looked to each other, both their mouths shaped in an O. Father turned to quickly look at his kids and saw their worried little faces. 

"No worries children, this is only a check up" he told them then turned back to continue leading them out of the forest and onto an old familiar dirt trail that would take them to town.

Upon arriving at the office, the lobby had a few other patients waiting. The old woman was at the desk and welcomed Father and the children in. The children looked around the office and how it was decorated with canvases of bright colorful paintings clearly done by other children that hung on light colored blue walls. Toys were scattered on the floor and books lined the tables and bookshelves. Father instructed the children to have a seat while he talked to the old woman. 

When Father finished signing the kids in for their visit, one patient was escorted out by a very tall wolf. His snout was covered by a face mask. Hansel's eyes looked to the child patient with tears streaming down his cheeks. Hansel's eyes darted to the wolf as he spoke to his receptionist, then back to the sobbing child.

The child was clearly upset about the work done on his teeth. His teeth seemed to have all been sharpened into canines, and were freakishly too large for the child's little mouth. The upper teeth hung out long and heavy out of the child's mouth as drool dripped from his lower lip and sides of his mouth The mother of the child tried to console the child as she gathered her belongings then led the child out.

The Wolf looked around and called out "Next !!" 

"Umm Father?" Hansel called as he pulled on his father's shirt sleeve. Father had been deeply engrossed in a magazine when he turned to see his son in obvious distress. "It's your turn my boy, run along now and do what you're told. They're gonna take good care of you", Father urged then returned his attention to his magazine. The Wolf laid his huge sharp paw upon Hansel's shoulder and led him down the hall to one of the exam rooms. One of the pigs came trotting in behind the Wolf ready to assist him.

The Wolf told the pig "Prep him for me, I'll be back in five".

The pig answered "Yes sir, Doc'' and set to work laying out tools that would be needed for the exam. Hansel began to breathe fast and hard and dared to ask " What is he gonna do to me?".  The pig smiled and said "Not to worry, the exam won't hurt a bit and you'll be asleep for  it" then winked. Before Hansel could protest further and hop off the chair, the pig had already strapped Hansel's wrists down to the arm rests then started on his ankles. Hansel started to holler for help, when the pig covered his nose and mouth suddenly with a rubber mask attached to a long hose connecting to a long skinny tank nearby.

Oh dear me, what is this thing? Father can't possibly hear me now, Hansel thought as his panic exploded by leaps and bounds. The pig seeing the fear in the boy's eyes, tried to reassure Hansel all would be well "These straps are for your safety and the dentist while he works on you. This mask will just help you to smell something pleasant to relax you" he said as he began to turn the knob over and over . Hansel's eye lids became heavy, and as much as he tried to fight the drowsiness that was coming over him from inhaling the fresh pleasant mix scent of flowers and honey, his eyes closed, his body relaxed and stilled.

                                                                                               *****************

Sometime later, Hansel began to slowly wake. The voices around him were not clear to him sounding muffled and far away and the figures of the two bodies standing near him were blurry. "Call me when he's fully awake" the deep gruff voice said. The little pig began to loosen the straps then removed the mask from Hansel's face. The boy was coming back around more but still felt too weak to move about. Something didn't feel right, Hansel noticed. His face felt heavy and numb. Just what was this, they did to him, he wondered. He reached up to feel his face. 

Oh no  the boy thought. His fingers traced his bottom lip till he felt something sharp. Hard like bone...teeth...But, how? This can't be right.  

Tears began to well up in Hansel's eyes. He was clearly distressed by his condition. His teeth were just like the kid before him. He traced one of his canine teeth that protruded out. He pricked his finger at the tip and immediately drew blood. He raised his finger to see a droplet run down the side of his finger. 

The pig noticed Hansel awake and smiled grandly "Oh good, you're awake now". The pig turned to grab a hand mirror that sat on the counter behind Hansel's seat and presented the mirror up to Hansel so he could see his teeth. "Whaddaya think ? Not bad, right. Who needs a knife and fork with chompers like this?" the pig pressed for a response. It was then he noticed the blood running down Hansel's finger. 

"Uh oh, we better clean that up and cover it before the dentist gets back. We don't want to tempt him. He's been on the wagon for quite some time now after a long stay in rehab, we don't wanna set him off again" the pig said nervously and chuckled as he began pulling out alcohol swabs and band aids from a drawer to quickly clean up and bandage the boy's finger.

The music that played over the radio low enough just for the patient to hear played a Broadway tune to Jack and the Beanstalk. It was the thunderous voice of the giant singing "Fe Fi Fo Fum, I smell the blood of an English man".  Hansel began to openly weep " I want my father". 

The pig hopped off the seat he'd been sitting on and mumbled "Be right back". He returned shortly and told Hansel "The Dentist will be with you shortly, just wait here".

"Why did you let him do this to me?" Hansel moaned. 

"Hey kid, better you than me", the pig retorted and scampered off.

"My father will have your head for this, Pig !!" Hansel yelled behind him.

The Wolf made his entrance into the exam room and asked "What's this with the threats, kid? The Pig's head is already on the chopping block tonight, not that you'll benefit much from it. Go home and have your father make your own meal. You're done here, I'm gonna see you out". He escorted Hansel back to the lobby, scanned the room resting his hungry eyes on Gretel. "Next !!' he bellowed.

Hansel ran to his father's waiting arms as Father examined the Wolf's handiwork on the boy's teeth. Father became enraged and challenged the Wolf where he stood.

"Mr. Wolf , what is the meaning of this ? Look at my boy ? What have you done to him?" Father demanded.

"What? I don't understand what you're getting so excited about" the Wolf responded innocently shrugging his shoulders.

"Clearly, you see the damage you've done to my boy. Exactly what kind of business are you running here? He can't even close his mouth" Father yelled.

"Whoa there, Pops!! I'll not have you trying to shame me, I'm in the business of providing healthy teeth care, here. And I did!! Didn't you see our slogan on the wall?' he pointed out to the wall space over the receptionists desk. "The Better To Eat With" The Wolf read aloud. For your information, kids his age have a hard time keeping their mouth shut as it is, so I don't know what your problem is here, PAL !!" The Wolf barked back as he gave Father a shove. Father being forced to take a step back. The Wolf turned to go talk to the old woman at the desk who watched the exchange nervously until he looked out the window at something that caught his eye. 

Father was still raging as the old woman tried to appease the angry father. The Wolf  turned his gaze away away and  yelled again, "Next!!" watching Gretel as she stood up to go to him and join his hairy paw with her own small hand. Father pulled Gretel back to him and huffed at the Wolf , "I think not". The Wolf dropped Gretel's hand dismissively and returned his attention to outside the building, watching something intently. Father pushed past The Wolf leading his children out promising Hansel he would find a way to help him restore his teeth to normal. 

"Whatever!!' the Wolf growled. He did another scan of his waiting area and saw his other patients gazes fixed in horror, holding fast to their own children. The Wolf turned to his receptionist and spoke softly into her ear "Cancel the rest of my appointments for the day. I see an old friend I plan to have an early dinner with". 

The Wolf burst out thru the office doors to run on all fours to catch up to Jack as Jack struggled to pull his cow with the rope towards town with business of his own in mind.

The End

Fly

 

                                   It was out there, I just knew it.

      It was up to me to find it, or let it find me.

        That all encompassing love, that would be my forever home.

I woke up to find myself free of the shackles that had held me down for so long.

I could hardly believe it.

I cried, but not for the reasons many would think.

I was given another chance at life, to live it on my own terms. 

Isn't that a good enough reason for tears?

 After all, it was like the rain; it washes away the old and makes way for the new. 

Just like the coming of dawn after a midnight storm. 

It brought me hope and promise, and come what may, I knew I'd be ok.

All that was left for me to do was get out there; and to think this journey would start with the simple turning of a door knob and for me to...

FLY

Back To You

 

You were a sailor when I met you, off for one night before heading out to sea again. We spent the night talking about the temperamental seas and the struggles of working under such conditions. 

As we walked along the shore passing by a dock, we spotted one dock in the shape of a canoe. Spending time around it, admiring its design, you suggested to me if I ever wanted to wait for your return, this could be our meeting spot. You said you'd always come to look for me here first. Or even if I passed a lonely moment and was thinking of you, I could come out here and call out your name into the wind. You were sure my voice would sail across the sea with the wind, no matter the weather and you would hear me and know that I was near. Oh, what a romantic you are.

With the rising of the sun, we parted ways. I knew not for how long. I did not wish to think it would be our last meeting. But so as not to take chances. I hugged you close to me tight, taking in the salty fresh scent of you. Please bring him back to me I implored the sea gods, hoping against everything they would hear me and grant my wish.

Soon days became weeks, and you still had not returned. I would walk along the beach and stare up to the lonely dark lighthouse that stood solid and sure upon the rocks. I watched it's light reflect across the gentle waves of the sea. 

Still no sign of you. 

I walked back to our meeting spot and sat there waiting by flashlight, as I wrote poems and songs about you, while the sound of the waves crashed against the shore and the birds that flew by night together, created a lovely tune to follow.

It was there that my eyes grew weary with sleep. It was also there that I first dreamed of you. There was a girl that held a magical star-dusted book in hand, ready to tell your story. 

When she blew out glitter upon me, something happened  and I became part of the sea. I went in search of you. The waves of my hair tossed and rocked many a boat at sea that I came across, but none belonged to you. The turbulent waves became my impatient desire to find you and bring you back home.

Instead, it caused the whales to rise to the surface and leap out of the sea and crash back in as they took a quick moment to breathe. The waves tossed and curled, crashed and twirled within each other. 

 I spotted a small boat in the distance resting peacefully still. But when I reached upon it, there hanging on to the sides of the ship, were a few sirens that spied upon all the men on the boat. Some were even singing an enchanting tune that seemed to seduce one man and claimed him for their own, pulling him to a watery grave.

I became jealous and the violent ripples in the waves I caused, tossed the boat about causing yet another whale to rise to the surface, slam its tail upon the surface of the sea that sent the sirens flying thru the air only to land upon some distant shore.

My gusts of air I caused to stir about, enveloped the whale into a hug of gratitude. The whale spurt a fountain of water from its blowhole then submerged itself back into the deep. 

I saw your gentle smile play upon your lips letting me know you knew somehow it was me trying to gain your attention. Indeed I had it. For come the next morning, I heard the sound of a distant horn. You found me in our meeting place deep asleep. You woke me with a sweet kiss. 

"Oh, what an extraordinary last night I passed at sea" you said. "You came for me by force of the winds. The sirens told a story of a maiden tried and true, who waited by the shore for my urgent return." 

"Oh but this maiden had command of the sea and winds and sent them far and away. Curious of this tale, I turned my boat around in hopes of learning the truth of the matter, and here I find the sea was for once a friend to me, that brought me back to you".

 

Tale Of The Missing Dancer

 

I was a dancer that held my pose on pointe, atop a small jewel case. I lived in a small, magical antique store called "Old Friends For Sale" run by an old gentleman by the name of  Mr. Henley. He would open shop every morning and pull my box off the shelf and put me to display either by his register or the front display window of the shop. 

Mr. Henley loved all of his antique pieces he owned. He wanted to find us all proper homes, so he was particular about who he sold us to. As for me, he favored quite dearly because he said I reminded him of his late wife Emma, who loved the ballet and loved to collect musical figurines such as myself. He kept me near him and would wind the key to play the sweet tune of Fur Elise, as I danced in time to the music. My dancing was limited however and there was no one else of my kind through out the small shop. So I kept Mr. Henley entertained.

But after the store closed for the night, and Mr. Henley returned me to my place on the shelf after spending the day showing off my talent for a few hopeful buyers, he would always tell me "great job, mi lady. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day". 

Soon the lights would turn off but for a few small ones, and I would step off my pedestal, someone else would turn the switch on for a tabletop fan that would blow air in my direction. That's when I felt most free. I'd dance and pirouette, swirl then leap and fly. I'll be caught for a safe landing by action figures like G.I Joe or Marley the the stuffed puppy. A thunder of applause I would hear from all the other trinkets and dolls and such who've also came alive on their own. It's always music to my ears.

Then on one such night, I stayed away longer than I should have. Oh what a magical night it turned out to be. I'd met another dancer from a distant part of the shop, I do not ever recall his arrival to the shop.

He found me dancing alone at the store front window with only the beam of the moon to light the way. He waited patiently till I finished and then approached me. He said his heart longed to dance with me when he would watch from the shadows. 

The moon shone directly upon us when he asked me to dance. So for many more moon lit nights that passed, we danced together .

Then Magic descended down upon us one evening we were dancing.  She made us human with the sole promise that we would continue to dance. She made my partner promise that he would always dance with me, so he promised again. We were given passage to the outside world. He and I smiled at all our friends as we bid them goodbye. Then as we held hands, we slipped out into the night.

The next morning Mr. Henley would come to find my music box alone, yet still playing the tune I'd always danced to. A single teardrop escaped his eye as he nodded quietly to himself then returned to the front of the store. There he would find Magic sleeping on her side. He'd gently scoop her up and return her to her home on the shelf and deliver unto her a kind scolding saying.

"You must stop that now, Magic. I lose many beautiful dancers to you''.

With her impish grin upon her lips, she'd dare a wink. Mr. Henley would walk back over to my music box, wind it up one last time to play and whisper "Then dance you shall". He'd then smile then go on to continue his morning ritual of opening the shop.

Thorns of My Rose

 

I found what I thought to be the most beautiful rose, so I plucked it from the ground. In return for plucking it, it's thorn pierced my skin and I bled. I dropped the rose instinctively and a droplet of my blood followed close behind and landed upon its soft petals.

The rose was quite extraordinary,  unlike any I've ever seen of it's kind. I thought it may even have a bit of magic to it. 

 If you pluck a flower from the earth in a few days hence, it will die. But that cannot be said of my rose.

My rose continued to thrive, and each time I was taken by its beauty I'd reach to hold it, it's thorns would pierce my skin and I would bleed.

My rose refused to die. Instead, it stood tall and proud, like it knew these rules regarding its own life expectancy, yet it held itself strong; defiant even.

Over the course of time, this flower never wilted, it never lost a petal, nor lost the beauty of its color. Instead it changed color often, like that of a chameleon. And again every time I reached to hold it, it reminded me why I shouldn't. Like it was angry with me. It seemed to no longer permeate its scent just held fast in its determination to make me bleed.

So what do I do with it now? I admired it still, but it seemed to treasure its freedom from me, so I left it alone.

In my sadness, I'd went for a walk. During the course of my walk, I came upon a bed of carnations. Learning my lesson from last time, I sat amongst them instead and enjoyed their scent, and was even allowed to caress their petals, until I took solely to the company of one in particular.

My visits with this carnation became an almost daily occurrence.

 It seemed to appreciate that I let it be instead of taking it from its home. When I confessed my story of the rose, the carnation listened with a sympathetic understanding. It made a suggestion to me in regards of what to do with this rose.

 So I returned home with the hopes of reasoning with the rose and giving it, its freedom from me if it so chose. But when I got home, to my regret I found the rose had wilted.

I spent the night trying to foolishly get the rose to speak to me, but it refused. It had kept its silence since the moment I'd brought it home. Giving in, I told the rose I would return it to where I'd found it and replant it.

But by morning's first light, the rose had withered and died. I took it out to bury it and when I laid it down for the earth to reclaim its own, the rose's thorn punctured thru my skin again, causing me to bleed.

It didn't surprise me this time, as it had in the beginning.

I was used to the bleeding by now.

 

Time

 

Time, why do you punish me?

Taking me where I don't want to be?

I haven't lived enough yet.

Still, I'm seeing the sun set

Upon my life half done

Time, I've only just begun.

 

See, I did what I was supposed to for everyone else

Rarely was I able to make time for myself

But you sped up and took away from me

My chance to live life free

 

This morning I found a grey hair in my head, and my hands were all worn 

This is what I've come down to, since the day that I was born.

 

Time, why do you punish me and take me from where I am ?

Your speeding up even more

I can't take much more, damn.

 

I woke up with a weird notion, that today would be my last

Can I say my goodbyes, if I promise to make it fast?

Cause you've been pushing me all along

When I'm just trying to finish this song

 

Time why did you have to punish me and take away my breath?

 

But I guess I won't complain

I made it thru quite sane

I got what I got

Whether it was enough or not

 

Time, when next I come around, don't rush me to my next death.

Twilights End

By twilight we've shared
Some special moments there
Under the sky, watching the stars
Compete in twinkling brighter wars

We'd tell our most fervent desire
That would catapult us higher
Into this thing we share
Enjoying this night time affair

Play me that song of ours
You taught me once on our old guitars
Then hold me fast and close
And chant the tune with loving prose

I'll meet you here again, lover
Far away from prying eyes that hover
With you deep in my heart and mind
Is where I keep you, you shall find
Exactly how much you mean to me
And let future nights like these, show us what we can be.

Then let us meet thru request I send
Where we unite till Twilight's End.