by Vita Murrow
“Not to worry, I can fix this,” the king said and laid a hand on the shoulder of each of them. As he did so, their clothing instantly became woven of golden thread and their hair and skin glittered with the kiss of the sun. Their very posture and disposition shifted too.
“What were you saying?” the king encouraged.
Safiye scrutinized her documents with wonderment. “Why, everything is … grand today.”
“Only good news from me too,” Halide confirmed, perplexed.
“Wonderful, take the rest of the day off, and tomorrow too!” beamed the king. “I’ll see my visitors on my own.”
The two advisors looked stumped, but accepted the king’s wishes.
King Midas found a long line of citizens queued up to see him. Each had stress and urgency written on their faces.
“This morning, I shall greet each of you with a handshake!” the king proclaimed.
He trod down the line of visitors and shook each hand. As he did, each member of the community who had come seeking the king’s help was graced instead with a new golden glow, and clothes of fine gold thread. Most importantly, they no longer had anything unfavorable to say. There was no heartbreak, no difficult conversations, no painful decisions, or sad news.
The visitors quickly dispersed, and the king sat in silence at his desk. He reached for a pear as a snack. The skin of the fruit turned quickly to a matte gold. King Midas took a bite, expecting to find a sweet, juicy center. But he was repulsed to discover the flesh of the pear was sandy and tasteless.
“Huh,” the king said to himself. “Maybe my taste buds are asleep.” He spied a sweet fig with salty cheese inside. His favorite! “This will wake them up!” But once again as soon as King Midas touched the treat, the auburn fig turned a deep gold and the white soft cheese took on the appearance of gold leaf. When he bit into it, the sweet and savory morsel had a bland, pasty taste.
The king began to consider that there might be drawbacks to his magic touch. But his thoughts were interrupted by Altin who came to join him. Not thinking, the king drew his son near for a big bear hug and Altin too fell under the spell of Midas’s magic touch. Altin’s skin and hair glittered gold and his clothes turned a bright metallic. The king felt pleased when he considered that Altin might never again be burdened. But Altin hardly noticed, he seemed distracted.
“What are you up to today?” the king asked his son.
Altin just shrugged.
“Oh, come on, you must have something fun on the books. Friends coming to play?” the king asked cheerfully.
Altin looked glum.
“I usually have plans with other kids,” he started. “But … recently they haven’t been … ?” As Altin reached the end of the thought, his voice disappeared with a hiss like a candle being extinguished.
“What is it, my child? You can tell me anything!” King Midas said, alarm in his voice.
But when Altin opened his mouth, no sound came out.
King Midas realized with horror what had happened. “Oh no!” he cried out. “My son, you have a worry, something that has made you sad, and I, your loving parent, have taken away your ability to share it!”
With this realization, all the feelings King Midas had pushed away came rushing back. He felt sadness, just as his people had. He felt fear, just as his people had tried to share with him. A great swelling cry erupted within King Midas. His face scrunched, his eyes watered, and his mouth opened. He moved his hands to wipe his cheeks and tears marked his palms.
Next, a curious thing happened. Midas felt the words his son wasn’t able to speak form in his own mouth. For like his son, he too had once been teased.
“They haven’t been treating you like a friend,” the king said.
He reached out to hold his boy’s hand. As he did, Altin’s clothing returned to its original form and his hair and skin to their natural color.
“That’s right, Father. How did you know?” Altin admitted, his voice breaking free.
“Because I too have been teased, and it hurts,” the king reflected. The two sat quietly, together with their feelings.
“I was afraid to connect with the people of our kingdom. With their sadness and their worry,” King Midas said. “I wanted to make it all go away and cover it with a pretty finish. But I know now that I can’t stop life’s peaks and valleys. I can’t stop people feeling hurt. What I can do is be there, to feel with them and show them they don’t have to be alone. Starting with you, my son.”
The king and Altin shared a big hug. “If you share how you feel with your friends, I suspect they will want to do better. Now come, I’ve people to see!” The king swept Altin with him through the palace grounds and out to the streets of the city.
King Midas walked with purpose. He shook the hand of everyone he passed and sought out those on whom he’d bestowed the golden touch, restoring them to their usual selves. Then he pulled a few chairs about him in the town square.
“Sit with me, my people, your king is here to listen. I’ve felt the same feelings as you and I am right beside you,” he said as he sat down.
The king’s trusted advisors Safiye and Halide heard the commotion in the streets and came right away. They found King Midas most out of character. He looked as if he’d been crying. He held his son upon his lap and was sharing from his well of experience with a young man whose mother, a ship’s captain, was far away at sea.
“I too get lonely,” he said softly. “I miss my queen so much when she is away.”
When he saw his advisors, he rose to place a hand on each of their shoulders, so that they too were returned to their natural form.
“Are you turning over a new leaf, dear King?” Safiye asked, wide-eyed.
“Yes! The leaf of empathy!” the king announced. “Even though it can be difficult to hear people’s pain, I’ll never wish it away, not for all the gold in the world.”
“We are here for you, King,” Halide assured him.
“Actually,” King Midas suggested, “let’s be here for each other.”
“Sit with me my people, your king is here to listen.”
The Pied Piper
Centuries ago, when the land was dotted with tiny villages, there stood the town of Hemelin. In the town lived a family called Pappenheim. Perry Pappenheim traveled often as an ambassador of the minister’s office. Pip Pappenheim was an at home parent and maintained a rad collection of instruments, specifically flutes and pipes.
The couple had ten lively children called Cuthbert, Corinne, Cory, Carlos, Corcoran, Carmen, Catriona, Casey, Culligan, and Caspar. Each had a sweet cat of their very own to form a special bond with. As a bonus, they kept vermin away. The cats were called Kit, Kerry, Klutch, Kwik, Khrys, Kepnes, Kipper, Koffee, Kaia, and King.
At the start of each day, Pip fed the kitties, coached the children to do chores, and styled their hair. While the children were at school, he selected books from the library and sewed toys for the cats. When the children returned from school, Pip sat among them as they did their homework. He peeled children off the floor when they roiled in frustration and plucked cats from the furniture.
Pip taught the kids to swim, cycle, dance, wrestle, tie their shoes, and cook an egg. He was there for every dinner and dessert. Every laugh and tickle, scrape and scream, doctor’s visit and fever dream. Pip never missed a performance, competition, or recital. The kids could always spot their father cheering them on since he wore a rockin’ pied jacket.
Once the children were tucked in bed, and the cries of, “Father, I need help,” faded to the sleepy words of, “I love you Father, good night,” Pip’s bonus work began. He did the dishes and the laundry. He heated an iron and pressed the linens. He prepped special lunches to suit quirky diets. He settled bills and took care of repairs. And when the kitties brought the gift of a mouse, Pip would take care of that too.
When the day neared its end, Pip and Perry relaxed together: reading, making music, and making each other laugh. Pip played his pipes an
d made up funny songs about the imperfections of the day: “Today the weather was so grim, I had to take the kitties in, they spilled their food across the floor, so each kid slipped coming in the dooooooor.”
The cats liked to circle Pip’s feet and sway to the tune. They’d follow him in a little train as he traipsed around the house, perfecting his composition. It became the talk of the town as people loved sharing cute cat anecdotes. The talk even made its way to the minister’s chambers.
One night, as Perry put the kids to bed before a business trip, there was a knock on the door. It was the minister.
“You must be looking for Perry,” Pip said. “Shall I get her?”
The cats liked to circle Pip’s feet and sway to the tune.
“It’s not her I need, it’s you,” the minister stated.
“Me?” Pip was surprised.
“Our town requires your help! A menace of rodents has befallen Hamelin. They are festering in the schoolhouse and nibbling in the cheesemongers. Contaminating the well and nesting in the eaves. Good swift exterminators are needed urgently,” the minister explained. “Cats that can catch vermin.”
Pip didn’t understand at first.
“Play your pipe,” the minister prompted.
So, Pip put the pipe to his lips and began to play a tune. As he played the cats climbed down from railings and ledges. They came out of nooks and from under couches. They swooped and danced at Pip’s feet.
“I think I know what you have in mind,” Pip said, putting down his pipe. “You want me to use our cats as exterminators?”
“You and your cats are the only ones for the job. Plus, you’re just at home all day, right?” the minister said.
“Who will take over for me at work?” Pip asked. “With Perry away too?”
“Work? Ah, we’ll send someone to help with the kids. It can’t be all that difficult. We’ll even throw in a little payment in return for you stepping away from your ‘work,’” the minister offered.
“Well, alright then,” Pip replied reluctantly. “I’m glad to help our town.”
Early the next day, Pip put on his jacket, gathered his pipe, and went into the streets of Hamelin. He put the pipe to his lips, and a train of cats followed him.
Kit snagged a rodent near the clock tower. Kerry corraled one near the well. Klutch, Kwik, and Khrys rounded up a few near the cheese shop. While Kepnes ran one off the pier, Kipper and Koffee cornered vermin by the schoolhouse and Kaia pounced on one in the market. Silly King just batted one in the town square like a toy.
Pip played on and the cats fell into a tidy procession. They propeled the rodents ahead of them and traveled over a day until they reached a muddy mountain. There Pip ceased the piping. He and the cats left the rodents to relocate and began the long journey home.
Pip and the kitties returned to a warm reception from the citizens of Hamelin. The minister offered a hearty hug and whispered,
“Grateful for your service. I hope you’ll accept this gesture as payment.” The minister gestured to the crowd.
Pip was confused. “Gesture? I thought you were going to pay me for the time I was away?”
He shelved his quarrel however when he saw the street lined with smiling children eager to shake his hand. At the end of the receiving line Pip found his own children. He was delighted to see them after a few days away but noticed right away that something was amiss.
Cuthbert had no socks. Corinne had matted braids. Cory was covered in jam stains and Carlos held soaking wet school books. Corcoran and Carmen were wearing the wrong glasses. Catriona was eating her breakfast in the afternoon. Casey and Casper had singed eyebrows and Culligan had sewn his needle-point craft to his pants, hoop and all!
“What happened while I was gone?” Pip wondered to himself.
It was even worse inside the Pappenheim home. Pip came home to a sink piled high with dishes. Every child had a project that needed immediate attention, and not one had brushed their teeth or eaten a vegetable.
“I can’t be gone for two days without this place falling into ruin?” Pip’s temperature rose. “I must have a word with the minster!” And off he stormed.
“Oh rats!” Perry exclaimed when she too arrived home and surveyed the mess. She asked a neighbor to watch the children, and went after Pip, to be by his side.
The Pappenheims barged into the minister’s chambers and demanded to be heard.
“I thought we were meant to have some help,” Perry said. “Pip did this great favor for the town and it doesn’t look at all like anyone was helping our family.”
The minister looked taken aback.
“Pip, Sir, I am very grateful for your efforts ridding us of rodents,” defended the minister. “I didn’t think your flock required much. I mean, how hard can it be? Surely they can’t fill all your time?”
“I work morning to night so that our family can succeed!” Pip steamed. “I’ve done a great service for this community. Not only in driving out the rodents, but also in supporting all the endeavors of my children. They are the future of this place!”
“Oh …” began the Minister.
“It’s not OK to trivialize Pip’s job,” Perry said. “Running our home is just as key a profession as anyone else’s and Pip deserves recognition for it.”
“I wonder what the town would make of a walkout. If all the parents that kept homes were to leave like the rats from the streets,” Pip said sternly.
“Well now, let’s not be hasty,” the minister tried.
But Pip was hasty. In fact, he was out of the door and down the road. He drew a small pipe from his pocket and blew furiously. Doors opened around Hamelin, and busy hard-working parents of all kinds joined in the streets. At-home parents, grandparents, business people, soldiers, farmers, teachers. They stood together in solidarity.
“People of Hamelin!” Pip announced. “There are unseen anchors in this town. Parents who work in our homes, without whom our town would float away. If you too wish to recognize their contribution, join me in a strike!”
“We stand beside you!” said a lawyer, putting down his papers and robe. “I’ll gladly support my husband so he can strike with you!”
“Count me in,” the postal carrier’s partner spoke. “Forget the mail, I’m the one en-route now.” And they too put down their work.
More and more stay-at-home parents joined the cause. They threw down their aprons, clipboards, and kitchen gloves. Perry distributed instruments from Pip’s collection and the hard-working men and women strode off together in harmony, music trailing behind them.
“Let’s see how you last a day without us!” Pip called back.
“Come back!” shouted the minister, chasing Pip down the street. But it was too late.
The next day fell off course quickly. Children arrived at school per usual, but the adults ran late, disorganized and tired. They could scarcely keep the town afloat. Mail went undelivered, shops went un-stocked, the milk was delivered so late it went bad, and everyone was cross.
The minister was especially affected. Few of the staff were on hand since many were filling gaps at home. Perry was only able to make one meeting before she had to take a child to swimming then help with a rehearsal and ref a game. Not to mention the fact that she always had something in her hands, from sewing buttons to decorating cookies to cleaning up spills in the kitchen.
The minister was really concerned. They couldn’t have a successful town under these circumstances. The strike with the families needed resolving. With a fresh perspective, the minister rose early the next day. Foregoing town business, he instead visited each house in Hamelin with a warm message.
“We are all equally worthy of recognition. What I thought was ordinary is in fact extraordinary.” The final visit was at the Pappenheims, where Pip had returned in the wee hours to be reunited with his loved ones.
“Your absence allowed my heart to grow and my perspective to broaden,” the minister explained. “I’d like to offer you a paid r
ole in on-call pest control. With a parent support team to step in whenever you are away providing this important service.” The minister stretched out his hand.
“Parent support team?” Pip queried.
“I see how amazing the network of parents is in Hamelin,” the minister said, nodding in Perry’s direction. “I want to make it official, so every townsperson can participate in raising our children, serve the community and lead a balanced life.”
Pip agreed to the new terms with a strong handshake.
So it was that the town of Hamelin came to have an official town-wide parent cooperative. Because of Pip and his peers, no family went without support when they needed it. The town flourished with a long tradition of music too. With the help of some friends, Pip formed a stellar band and wrote a lot of cute cat tunes. To showcase Hamelin’s built-in pest control, the Pappenheim kids painted a new town sign that read: Welcome to Hamelin, Proud Home of the Pied Piper. It featured the town mascot “King the Kitty.”
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Once upon a time, in a tiny shop in a fusty corner of a brooding metropolis, a great mystery occurred.
The city was bustling and demanding. Its streets burst with people from all over the world. The tiny shop of note was sandwiched in an alley known as Cobbler’s Row—a street lined with stores that offered footwear. One had shoes for fitness, another for business, another for sport. There was a sandal shop and one for special occasions and costumes. One carried slippers, another only boots.
But the shop that lay host to the mystery made one-of-a-kind slip-on shoes. They were leather and extensively embroidered with gold and silver thread. The design had been a trade secret for hundreds of years. The shop always shared its prosperity, donating shoes to the Children’s Society, and to people who called the streets their home.
The shoemaker in the tiny shop was called Lyman. He had a smooth line for a mouth and wore a hat low over his brow. He whistled melancholy airs to himself while he worked, because sadly, in recent years, visitors to Lyman’s shop never stayed long enough to buy anything. What had once been a thriving brand was facing extinction, and Lyman was quite poor.