Mother Goose's Academy for Untrained Tales » Places

         The bright sun hits your eyes. Where are you? What is this place? Why are there so many kids around as well- and why did the gate swing open and admit you when nobody was there to unlock it? So many questions, and, as of yet, no one around to answer them. You and the others set off down the dirt path. The entire yard, almost, this side of the huge, crooked castle, is a garden- every visible inch filled with gorgeous, well-kept flowers. Tulips, roses, forget-me-nots, bleeding hearts, magnolias, daffodils, sunflowers, lilies...

And then you see her. Sitting on a rocker at the far end of the path, down at the base of the steps. A massive light green dress coating the ground around her, a bonnet sitting atop her head, and small spectacles on the end of the bridge of her nose. She looks kind. She looks like your grandmother- sitting there so sweet you'd swear she were about to offer you cookies and milk. Upon her lap rests a large book.

"Hello, my darlings!" She greets you with a simple smile. She speaks to you by name. Your defenses are dropped around this little old lady. You find yourself enthralled by her, and, perhaps, slightly in love. When suddenly, she stands up, and leads you inside. "You must meet your teachers!" She tells you, "And of course get something to eat! No child of mine will ever go hungry, my little goslings!"

And so here you are! Seated firmly at long tables, close to every one of your new classmates. Piled high are sweets of all sorts, as well as meat, grains, vegetables- whatever else you could ever want, here it is, right here and now, and you can stuff your plates to the brim with whatever you want.

The nice old lady comes to the front of the room.

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, my dears!" She cries, holding a wrinkled cheek, "I'm afraid I forgot to tell you a few things."

The lights gave a small flicker. A few other people were coming out to stand with her now, all adults.

"You may call me Mother Goose. And this is my school."