by Cameron Jace
“No. It’s someone’s name that is written on the paper.” My mother lowered her head, looking serious.
“And?” Ok. I didn’t think it was an elephant’s name, mother. Go on.
“This tree outside in the garden is a very special tree. It’s called the Tree of Life.”
“The Tree of Life?” I repeated after her like a dizzy parrot. Why all the seriousness in her tone?
“The Tree of Life sends us a name everyday. A name of someone we should take care of. It’s a blissful and honored doing.”
“So that’s why you pick up cakes and wine, and go to the forest? You mean you give it to someone in the forest? Someone with the name from the cookie? This is amazing, mother. I am so proud of you.” I was almost tapping my feet.
“It’s not exactly like that,” My mother said. “But it’s close. You’re a big sixteen-year-old girl now. And since it’s your first day, you will have to bring cakes and wine to the person with the name in the fortune cookie.”
“Are they poor, mother?” I lean forward, feeling for them. “They must be poor, right? Or why would we be helping them?” We were poor, but I heard there were poorer.
“We don’t know if they’re poor. We just do our part in the universe, and we don’t ask. It’s a noble job. I inherited it from my mother, and now you inherit it from me. Still, you have to do this the right way. If you mess this up, you will not be worthy of the job, and we won’t be able to bring bread to the table. Understood? You will have to deliver the wine and cakes today.”
I nodded as she released my hand.
With cautious fingers, I flattened the paper on the table. Why did I feel uneasy about this all of a sudden? It’s just a name of someone I never met before. Someone I didn’t know.
But I did.
I did. I did. I did.
With an open mouth, I turned to look at my mother who had read the name with me.
“I don’t believe it,” I said. “Isn’t this a little strange?”
“It is very strange.” My mother folded her arms in front of her, gazing at the Tree of Life outside, as if longing for answers.
“But it is also amazing,” I clapped my hands, feeling a surge of excitement lifting me up. “I am going to finally see my granma. Finally. I haven’t seen her since I was six.”
“It’s grandma, not granma,” My mother sighed, sitting down as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders. “I didn’t expect this,” She looked up to me. Wait. She was looking a little higher. She was almost talking to the ceiling. Whom was she talking to? “But we always obey the Tree of Life. Are you sure you can do this?” She asked.
“Bring cakes and wine to my granma in the forest? Absolutely!” I couldn’t think of an easier job to do. Mother, your job wasn’t that hard.
“Your grandma hasn’t seen any of us for many years,” My mother explained, sounding as if warning me. I wondered from what. “In fact, she hasn’t seen anyone for many years, living in her isolated small house in the forest. A house that is too hard to find.”
“Oh?” I swallowed. I heard the forest itself was like a huge maze where kids lose their way everyday. A house that was hard to find in such a forest sounded a little too complicated for a girl’s first day on the job.
“But you can do it,” My mother patted me. “Right?”
I didn’t say a word. Of course, I can do it. But the way my mother held my hands worried me. She was too gentle, as if sympathizing with me.
“Why doesn’t grandma live with us?” The thought popped in my head. She was my father’s mother, and I had never seen my father. “Why did she leave? And why does she live in the forest?”
“Your grandma has her reasons,” Mother was a bad liar. Something wasn’t right. “Now listen to me carefully. It’s important that you don’t talk to strangers on your way to her. Understood?”
“I know, mother,” I puffed. “You’re not going to warn me of wolves again.” Did I ever tell you that I scared them in my room?
“They are nasty and sly creatures,” My mother said. “They could deceive you. You have to promise me to walk your way to your grandma without stopping for anything. Anything. You understand?”
Understood? Do you understand? Do as you are told. I hated these phrases. Didn’t she know they were all the same?
“I understand, mother. Don’t worry,” Then another idea came to me. An idea I liked very much. “Can I wear a red hood on my way?” I asked with eagerness. That would have been so amazing. Besides, the wolves were scared of the color red.
“What’s wrong with you?” My mother snapped, letting go of my hands. “Second thoughts, it might not be a good idea for you to go out,” She sighed. “But you have to.” She changed her mind twice within seconds, looking at the tree outside again.
“What did I do wrong?” It seemed like whenever I was about to finally leave the house, I always did something wrong, stopping me from seeing the beautiful world outside.
“Don’t you know that red is a forbidden color now in the Kingdom of Sorrow?”
“It is?” I looked sideways at one of my squirrel friends. It occurred to me that I wasn’t ready to go outside today. Staying at home for too long made me ignorant of many things in life.
“It is,” My mother nodded with lines of embarrassment on her forehead. “The color red is prohibited for reasons I shall tell you about later.”
“Is it because it’s the color of blood?”
“No. I said I will explain later.”
“Ok,” I shrugged. “So what should happen if I wear the color red?”
“You will be hunted and killed,” She approached me and shook me by the shoulders.
“Killed by the good people or the bad people?” I said, one eye closed, trying to imitate her seriousness.
“Does it even matter? Red is the color of…”
“What?” I wanted to know about the color that scared the wolves away.
“It just prohibited. That’s all you have to know.”
“But wine is red, mother.”
“The wine is hidden in a bottle, and goes straight to your stomach. It’s forbidden to pour red wine in transparent glasses. If wine is spilled on a dress, it is considered forbidden too. The kingdom is facing hard times, and we have to follow the rules.”
“All right, mother. Then what should I wear?”
“You will wear a white hood. The one you used to wear when you were ten.”
“But that one is too small.”
“I’ve sewn new clothes to it. It’s bigger now, and you will love it.” She said, approaching me with serene eyes. “You remember that hood?”
“I do,” I said as she buried my face in her chest. I was much shorter than her. “The one I used to wear when I hid in the snow from you, playing hide and seek when I was a kid.”
It was true. Whenever I played with my mother and wanted to hide from her, I wore the white hood and buried myself in the snow. It was a perfect hiding place. Even when she walked right over me, she couldn’t find me. All I needed was to hold my breath as long as possible, and it seemed like I could hold my breath forever. My mother never questioned how I did it. I was gifted.
“You should get dressed, and prepare for a long journey now, Ladle.” She said, brushing my hair.
“Please don’t call me Ladle,” I moaned, brushing my cheeks on her chest. “I hate that name. This is a ladle,” I pointed at the ladle I used to crush the fortune cookie open with. “My name is—“
“Shhh,” My mother stopped me gently. “I promise you that if you accomplish your duty and come back from grandma, I will call you by your real name for all times.”
“Really?” I was surprised. All I ever wanted was to be called by my real name. Even though I was told it was really weird and creepy. “Thank you, mother.” I pecked her on the cheek, and ran back to her room.
“What are you doing?”
“I am going to wear my white hood, ready to visit granma.” I said while in
her room, opening the drawer, searching for my new white hood.
I did find it, but I also found a red one underneath, one that I had never seen before. Whose hood was that?
Examining the red hood, I found out that it was double-faced. One side was yellow, and the other was red. I was so curious to ask my mother about it, but was afraid that she’d stop me from my journey for asking too many questions.
I wore my white hood, preparing for my journey into the forest, not knowing that it will change my life.
On my way out, my mother gave me money to buy the wine and cakes, a map to granma’s house, and even more money for a carriage, so I don’t walk alone in the forest.
“Carriages are too expensive,” She said. “but consider it a birthday gift for your first day as a responsible girl.” She hugged me with tears in her eyes.
On my way to the local market, I kept clicking my feet together, singing songs that didn’t exist. Staying alone in the house, I had created my own rhymes. It was puzzling how I always forgot the tune.
Even though the land was covered with thick layers of snow, I was happy with everything around me. The animals danced and trotted next to me. Since I had no friends, the animals were my best companions, and we shared a big secret: they could understand and talk human language.
When I reached the market, everyone greeted me and smiled. Well, not everyone. Youngsters were kind to me, but the elders seemed to avoid me, hissing words I couldn’t hear behind my back. The older the people, the lesser they liked me. They weren’t rude, but it was as if they just preferred to walk away from me.
I bought cakes from a middle-aged woman who was neither kind nor worried. Then I went to buy the wine.
“Wine is red,” A funny voice whispered behind me. I turned around and saw a young girl with brown dreadlocks. She was about twelve years old, and she had an unusual happy aura around her. Her smile was fantastic. “It’s prohibited.” She said, covering her mouth with her tiny hands, and giggling.
“Never mind my sister,” A young boy stood next to her, eating a big loaf of bread, the breadcrumbs falling at his feet. “She is always so ridiculously happy.”
“Why ridiculous?” I said, putting the wine in the basket, covering it with a white piece of cloth. “You know about the red color thing?” I bent down and talked to the girl.
She nodded, still giggling with her hand on her mouth.
“I don’t know what is so funny.” Her brother took another crunchy bite.
She pulled me closer from my hood. “It’s because of the evil that lurks in the forest.” She whispered, trying to make an unconvincing ugly face.
“You know what that evil is?” I asked.
“She doesn’t know anything,” Her mouthful brother interrupted. “Besides, we’re not supposed to talk about it.”
The girl pulled me closer. “There are wolves in the forest,” She whispered. “Many of them. And they want to eat us.”
“Wolves?” I knotted my face.
“No,” Her brother interrupted. “It’s vampires, not wolves.”
“As if you would know,” She stuck out her tongue at him. “You’re busy eating all the time.”
“What’s a vampire?” I asked.
“It’s a demon that sucks the blood of a human.” He insisted.
“Hmm,” I sighed. I needed to get going so I get back home before dark. “I am going to the forest. Will you be there when I get back?” I asked them.
“Really?” The girl’s eyes widened. “You’re going alone?”
“I will get a carriage and a coachman. My mom was generous and gave me money.”
“We would love too but,” The girl sad. “Our parents sent us on a mission. How about we meet here in the market tomorrow?”
“Would you like to ride a carriage with me? I can get wherever you’re heading.” I offered, knowing that I sounded desperate, but I wanted to make friends badly.
The boy and the girl exchanged looks. “No,” The girl said reluctantly. “We’re not supposed to talk to strangers.” She looked away, the tip of her fingers on her lips.
“Tell me about it.” I sighed. So everyone’s parents were like my mother, preventing their children from talking to strangers. Even though the girl was the one initiating the conversation, I understood her concern. She probably didn’t want her parents to see her with strangers.
“But it’s not like we can’t be friends,” The girl said. “I mean we just don’t want our parents seeing us riding with someone they don’t know.”
“Alright. Tomorrow then.” I waved goodbye.
Leaving them behind me, I paid a coachman to drive me into the forest. He didn’t hesitate, but the map seemed to confuse him. He said that he didn’t remember seeing a house in that area. He also said something about breadcrumbs, which I didn’t get.
“I think it’s because my granma, who lives there, didn’t have visitors for about ten years.” I suggested.
“So you are delivering the basket to your grandma,” He rose an eyebrow. “How thoughtful of you on a lovely Christmas Eve.”
Once the carriage entered the forest, heavy curling trees nested above us, darkening the forest like huge spider webs. The only thing that lit the surroundings was the white snow covering the earth. It glittered like crystals at certain spots.
The driver was masterful, avoiding hedges and uneven parts in the snow. His horses were strong and fast.
I rested my head, relaxing as he rode through.
Suddenly, a heavy thud caused me to leap to my feet in the bouncing carriage. A huge face of a wolf grinned at me behind the glass in the door. I wondered how it balanced itself on the board of the carriage, with its face flat to the window.
Looking it in the eye, I knew it was one of those standing by my window at night.
The driver whipped the horses away, yelling that I should stay inside the carriage no matter what. As the howling grew louder outside, I told him that I could help.
“Show them something red!” I yelled.
“Red is the color of blood. It is forbidden,” He yelled back, whipping away. “If they see it, more wolves will arrive.”
“No. You got that wrong.” I had to explain. I knew what to do. I was about to drink some wine, spill some of it on my white hood, and then scream at the wolves. But I had not time. One of the horses tripped on a fallen tree in the snow, and the carriage flipped on its side.
I blacked out, thinking I was never going to wake up again – or maybe wake up inside the stomach of a wolf.
An hour later, my eyes flipped open to the sound of a squirrel. I was still alive, and the weather was colder than before.
Standing to my feet, I picked up the bottle of wine and the cakes. I put them back in the basket. My heart pounded against my chest as I went to check on the coachman…
He was dead, next to one of the horses, which was dead too, both half-eaten by the wolves. The other horse ran away. The blood on the snow spread around me. Even though the scene was appalling, I didn’t feel that scared.
I was lucky, having been trapped inside the carriage with the door closed. That’s why the wolves couldn’t reach me. Even though the window was broken, it was too small for them to get inside. I was extremely lucky.
I wondered if the wolves still lurked somewhere in the dark. It would have been better if kept standing in the middle of the blood on the snow. I knew how much they were scared of the color red. Standing here wasn’t a good idea though. I was going to freeze this way, and I had a job to do.
How dare I disappoint my mother and the Tree of Life?
I had to run away. If not before the wolves came back, then before whatever evil lived in forest found me, attracted to the scent of the forbidden color.
Run, run, run. Pant, pant, pant.
With the basket in my hand, I trotted on the snow, confused and losing direction. I still had my mother’s map to my granma’s house, everything looked alike in the forest. The map was also confusing. It sa
id to follow the breadcrumbs from a certain tree to another. How was I supposed to follow breadcrumbs to get to my granma’s house?
Wait for me, granma. I know it’s Christmas Eve, and you must be waiting eagerly for the cakes and the wine. I am coming, granma.
When I stopped to catch my breath, I heard a voice. It was a boy reading a book out loud. Alone in the forest?
“Wants pawn term,” I could hear him read aloud. “dare worsted ladle gull hoe lift witter murder.”
What looney words where these? But his voice was sweet. I felt safe. Whatever language he read, it sounded funny. What did these words mean?
Finally, I saw him standing behind the bushes. He was a cute boy who looked like prince, lying back in a hammock between two trees, wearing heavy boots, and reading a book. He looked out of this world, enjoying his time in such a scary forest.
“Pssst,” I whispered, afraid the wolves would hear me. “Pssst.” I repeated, pressing my teeth tighter.
The boy jumped out of his hammock, thudding on the snow with the book in his hand, as if it were his gun. “Psst?” He wondered, looking around, not seeing me.
“Yes. Pssssst,” I repeated, stretching the word, so he could locate me. I guess I wasn’t easily visible, wearing my white hood in the snow.
“Pssssssss…?” He wondered again, posing with a fist now.
“Ttttt.” I added.
Then our eyes met.
He smirked shortly, as if it was just ordinary for him to get pssst by a girl. Then his smile eased, “Who are you?” He asked.
“I am—“ I was eager to tell him my real name, but then I changed my mind. I didn’t want to scare him away. I loved my name, but people said it was scary. Why would my mother name me after something scary? “They call me Ladle.” I used the silly name my mother called me.
“They?” He titled his head.
“It’s my name.” I wasn’t going to explain the whole story to him.
“What a silly name,” He said abruptly. “Ladle reminds me of soup.”
“I know,” I bowed my head, holding the basket with both hands. “My mother likes to call me Ladle. Just like the sentences you were reading. I think I heard you say my name in that insane language you were talking.”