More Unfairy Tales

by T F Carthick

  “Now coming to my escape, you might be wondering how I pulled it off. I had been suspicious of your behavior right from the time when you had cut my tresses and brought me down from the tower so suddenly. So, I remained watchful. When you brought me to your cabin, I pretended to fall asleep and waited for you to leave. As soon as you left, I got up and began to look around. I found that you had locked me inside. But I was not perturbed. My eyes immediately fell upon the windows. You will realize how easy it is for me to think of a window as an egress having lived most of my life in an abode whose sole entry-cum-exit point was a window. A cabin is no tower, you know. All I had to do was unfasten the catch, open it and jump out. That was how I escaped from the cabin.

  “But before that, I thought of all that you had done for me and did not want to just disappear leaving you high and dry. So, I decided to write this note before I left; I had to leave something to let you know it was not that I loved you less, but I loved freedom more. I was able to guess what your plan probably was—you probably do not realize how well I know how your mind works. I am much more your daughter than you have ever realized. I had to escape before your plans came to fruition.

  I thought for a while and have made my plans. I shall now head towards your tower. I know you can summon telescopic vision through your magic. But you will not see me till it is too late as all your attention will be towards the sea and you will not be looking in the direction of the cabin. Once I am under the tower, I shall wait there to warn the prince when he comes and flee with him right under your nose.”

  “I shall be gone by the time you find this letter and you will probably be seething in rage. But I beg of you to see things from my point of view as well. I bear you no ill will or malice. I fully understand your concern for my safety and that you have always acted in my best interests. But I am grown up now—I want to be free to make my own decisions. I might make a few wrong ones along the way, but I am willing to face the consequences, content that I have at least been in full control of my life. And as far as the prince is concerned, let me assure you I am not infatuated or beguiled by him. I saw him only as a means of deliverance from this captivity and nothing more. I may of course marry him if I find him a good man. But let me assure you I shall take no hasty decision. If I don’t find him suitable, I shall find a way to get away from him and survive on my own. You will by now have got some estimate of my competence from my escape. You have brought me up well. I can take care of myself. Do not worry about me. I do hope to see you again soon under better circumstances.”

  Your loving daughter,

  Rapunzel”

  My eyes fill with tears as I read the letter. She is not such an ungrateful girl after all. Probably it was I who overdid the brooding mother-hen act. I should have trusted her more and given her more freedom. But now it is too late. The bird has already flown. And I have to live with the empty nest for the rest of life, unless one day she decides to come back to see me.

  But come to think of it, on the positive side, I have not done so badly after all. Cinderella found a prince; so has Rapunzel. It is a different matter I did not send pumpkins and rats along to aid her. However, when it comes to upbringing I shall be the winner hands down—poor Cinderella had to have a childhood filled with slavery and penury; Rapunzel on the other hand had had all the comforts of the world and lived like a queen. No wonder she has grown into a strong independent woman unlike Cinderella who probably would have ended up as nothing more than a piece of decoration in her Prince’s palace. So, in the final analysis, I guess I have done better than Mathilda after all.

  I have raised an independent woman who took her own decisions and will exercise her agency all her life. All Mathilda did was hitch a couple of rodents to a damn vegetable to help hers get married to a prince.

  I feel a touch of pride in my girl.

  Rapunzel is my daughter, and I know she will be all right.

  Shoes and Man

  Do you believe in elves? You don’t? Uh oh! That is tragic. Just now a little elf somewhere dropped dead. But that’s fairies, not elves you protest! Fine. Point taken. So, do you believe in fairies? Why the hesitation? You are ok with a fairy dying somewhere? No, right? So, you do believe in fairies after all. Wise choice. And no. It is not superstition. It is in fact the most rational thing to do. See it this way—there are two possibilities. Either fairies exist, or they don’t. If they don’t, your believing or non-believing in them is going to make no difference. On the other hand, if they do exist, you not believing in them is going to cause one to die somewhere. So, wouldn’t you rather believe in them to be on the safer side? The famous scientist Pascal had something on similar lines to justify belief in God. If one were to believe in Gods and fairies, why not elves as well? If that is not enough for you, they are mentioned in the Great Book. No, no. I didn’t mean the Bible. I meant Harry Potter.

  Anyways discussions on beliefs are never ending. Let us get on with this story. It is about two elves—Binkle and Flip. Now what? Binkle and Flip don’t sound like names of elves? Who said so? You were just now refusing to believe in elves and now you insist you will believe in them only if they have fancy names like Aegnor, Legolas and the like, eh? Come on. Binkle and Flip are names as good as Dobby and Winky. And it makes not a whit of difference to the story what they were called. You can think of them as Aegnor and Legolas if you like. Happy? Good. So…let’s get on with it then:

  * * *

  “So, we have finally discovered a human settlement,” said Binkle.

  “I almost feared the Elders would not let us go,” replied his friend Flip.

  “Those old coots are just too set in their ways. If elf-kind has to flourish, it needs young ones like us to shake up things. We must be the pioneers who must take elves on a new path. Ouch!”

  Binkle had been so lost in his vision for elf-kind, he had rushed headlong into a stone that lay in his path.

  “These humans! Why do they leave stones lying around for people to stub their toe on? They don’t seem to be able to do even these simple things on their own.”

  “I hope you remember the promise to our Elders not to interfere in the affairs of humans, Binkle.”

  “Of course, of course. Where did I mention anything about interference? We will just watch and learn. From hiding. As we had promised our Elders. Happy?”

  Flip nodded his head.

  Now what is all this stuff about Elders, councils, promises not to interfere in affairs of humans and all that? Let me try to explain in a simple manner. Are you familiar with Star Trek? Have you heard of something they call the prime directive which prohibits them from interfering with internal and natural development of alien races? Where do you think this idea originally came from? Yes. The elves. The elves who are often also referred to as the Elder race are a sentient race that evolved much before humans and hence are more advanced in their technological, scientific and cultural development. When the humans evolved they decided to recede to the background and let them evolve at their own pace. That is why we never encounter them. But from time to time, there have always been elves who have out of curiosity, a mistaken sense of altruism, or plain malevolence, engaged with humans. And that is how the various myths around elves were born. All their science and technology that was too advanced to be comprehensible began to be called magic. Binkle was one such curious elf who sought to go among the humans much against the wiser counsel of the elven Elders. Flip was just his sidekick who went along wherever Binkle went. Yes. Sidekicks aren’t just a human phenomenon—elves have them too.

  They walked around for a bit and then came upon a dilapidated old hovel complete with a little window that was just asking to be peeked into. The two elves yielded to the temptation and perched themselves outside the window, from where they saw an old man sitting inside, at his desk, stitching up what looked to be a sorry excuse for a shoe.

  “The fellow has such a forlorn expression on his face. I wonder what has made him that way,” said Flip.
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  Binkle nodded his head. “Indeed. We should find out more about him. Let us climb up that tree yonder and watch him from there. It gives a good view of the front door of the house. We can easily observe the comings and goings at his house. He might be a good specimen to begin our study of humans.”

  So, for the next few days they began to watch the old fellow as he went about his life.

  * * *

  Then, one of the days, Binkle suddenly had one of the bright ideas that he was prone to have. Flip, who only knew too well the direction in which Binkle’s ideas led, was far less enthusiastic.

  “No, Binkle. I can’t agree to this. This is blatant disobedience of our promise to our Elders,” he said.

  “Come on, Flip. You are just not seeing the bigger picture. What is a mere ‘promise to Elders’ in the larger scheme of things?”

  “I don’t know all that. I only know we promised our Elders that we will not interact with humans and I intend to stick to that.”

  “Don’t be so pig-headed. I know imagination is something that you lack, but surely you at least have a heart! Didn’t you see how the poor old fellow toils day and night? Don’t you feel an ounce of pity for him? Doesn’t he deserve even a small bit of happiness? Imagine his joy when he gets up tomorrow morning and sees his work done for him. Would you deny him that?”

  “Well…”

  “I can see it on your face. You do want to help him, don’t you? I know your kind heart. Now look, if you want to satisfy yourself, see it this way—what I am proposing does not involve any direct interaction with humans. We are not going to appear in front of him and talk to him or anything. The only thing we will interact with is that piece of leather. So technically, we are not even disobeying the orders of our Elders. Did we promise them we would not interact with leather?”

  “No, but…”

  “It is such a small thing, Flip. What harm can possibly come of it? Come on! Don’t be such a wet blanket.”

  “Hmm…I tell you, Binkle, I am not getting a good feeling about this whole thing. But what you say does make sense. And it’s not like I don’t agree that the poor fellow does deserve a bit of happiness.”

  Having convinced his friend, Binkle immediately grabbed the piece of leather and started uttering some strange words. Initially, nothing seemed to happen. Then the leather began to twist and turn in his hand as if it were a bag full of snakes. It seemed as if it would just pull itself apart into pieces. But thankfully, that did not happen. Instead, the shapeless pieces of leather began to take shape and in a matter of moments, transformed into one of the most beautiful pairs of shoes ever seen.

  Binkle placed it gently on the table. “There you go. Now we are done. All we have to do is wait for the sun to rise tomorrow morning and the old fellow to come in and find these shoes.”

  Do you see how things are beginning to escalate? From mere curiosity to interference. Altruistic, the intent might have been. But that did not matter. The end outcome of almost every human-elf interaction has always been tragic irrespective of the intent of the elf in question. Which was the reason for the Elven Elder Council’s prohibition of engagement with humans. But whether be it humans or elves, when have young mavericks listened to the better wisdom of their elders! They have to learn their lessons through their own experience only at great cost not only to themselves but to others.

  * * *

  Old Josef could not believe his eyes when his eyes fell on the most magnificent pair of shoes he had ever seen in his life time.

  “Martha, where are you? Come here at once.”

  The shoe maker’s wife hobbled in.

  “What do you want, Josef? I was busy in the kitchen.”

  “Come and look at this pair of shoes.”

  Her eyes almost popped out at the sight of them. “Don’t tell me you sat through the night and made them. I have never seen shoes like these before. How did you manage to make such grand shoes?”

  “Me? If I made them, I carry no memory of doing such a thing. But who else could have? I am completely befuddled.”

  “Maybe one of your friends did? Adolf, Winston, Ben or Frank may have wanted to give you a surprise?”

  “No way, my dear. Haven’t you seen the shoes they make? Are they anything even close to these?”

  “I guess not. If not them, then…?”

  “I have absolutely no clue. I came into the workshop today morning and found them on the table in place of the leather that I had left last night.”

  Suddenly her eyes widened in fright.

  “What if…this is not the work of a human hand? What if some deviltry has been at work? They say folk of the faerie roam wander about in the night wreaking mischief upon innocent folks. Who knows what evil spell these shoes contain? Throw them away at once.”

  Binkle and Flip were watching from behind the window.

  “See, I told you,” whispered Flip. “You have gone and frightened those poor humans”.

  Binkle motioned to him to be quiet as the old man spoke up.

  “I fear what you say could possibly be true, Martha. But that was my last piece of leather and we have no money left to buy any more leather or even to buy food. So, if I don’t manage to sell these shoes, I am out of business and we shall starve to death. So be it devil, faerie or demon, we have to sell these pair of shoes.”

  So saying he picked up the shoe and put it on the window of his shop. It was not long before a portly fellow dressed in fancy clothes came by.

  “That’s a nice pair of shoes you got there, Josef. How much do they cost?” Before Josef could reply, the fellow spoke again,

  “Here, I will give you two gold coins for them.” He flung down two gold coins in front of the old man and picked up the pair of shoes.

  Flip looked quizzically at Binkle. “What just happened? Why did that fat fellow take away the shoes we made for the old man?”

  “He gave him money. Didn’t you see, Flip?”

  “Money? What would that be?”

  “You have never heard of money, Flip? Money is the life-blood of human societies. Like magic is to elves, money is to humans. These tiny pieces of metals are sources of power in the human world; they can be used to obtain anything one wants. Humans live for, die for and even kill for, these pieces of shining metal.”

  I know what you are wondering. If the elves are as advanced as I said they are, how come they don’t know about something as simple as money. Now think about it. Money is just an idea. It is not a technology or physical object. To us who have been brought up with the idea from the time we were born, it may appear obvious. But not to other beings who don’t have this concept. If the elves don’t have money with what do they pay their bills? Well, they have no bills either. No bills? Then how are things bought and sold? Things aren’t bought and sold. Then? See, this is a story- not an economics text book. Have you seen the size of this book called Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith? That is one of the most basic books on human economics. If human economics that you seem to think you know as well as the back of your hand requires such bulky tomes to expound, how do you expect the economics of the more advanced elven race to be explained within a brief paragraph of a short story? So just take my word for it and let’s get back to Flip and Binkle.

  They were interrupted by footsteps—a tall man was walking towards Josef’s door. He walked with a swagger and he wore a rather stern expression on his face.

  “I saw the shoe you sold to Julius,” he said. “I want one like that too.”

  “Well…I had just one pair.”

  “Then make another. I will come for my shoes tomorrow.”

  “But…”

  “I want no buts. If I don’t have my shoe tomorrow, I shall have you skinned alive.”

  “This fellow does seem mean,” remarked Flip.

  Binkle nodded.

  In a little while a pair of short, plump gentlemen looking exactly like each other came along. “Well Josef. What do we hear, my friend? You have made some
special shoes for Julius and are now making a pair for Alexander as well? What about us?”

  “Well…”

  “Don’t you think we are worthy of such shoes too. “

  “I…”

  “How much did that miser Julius pay?”

  “Two gold coins.”

  “We will pay three each. Have two pairs ready tomorrow.”

  “T…t…tomorrow?”

  “Yes. Tomorrow. If you don’t have them ready by tomorrow, we will have you stripped and paraded naked around the town.”

  Eight more people came along with similar requests accompanied by threats of bodily harm on failing to satisfy the request. He had a total order for twelve shoes for the following day.

  The man slouched down in a corner, his face buried between his knees. “What am I to do?” he wept. “Where will get all those shoes from? I should have listened to my old woman and thrown away those accursed shoes.”

  Flip looked at Binkle. “See what has come of your meddling. Didn’t I warn you not to meddle in the affairs of men? You have got him neck-deep in muck now.”

  In a little while, the old man’s wife ambled in. A look of concern came over her calm, round face seeing him sitting like that. “What happened, Josef?”

  He poured out his tale of woe. “What do I do now? If I don’t have twelve pairs of shoes tomorrow, they will have my hide, parade me naked on the streets, cook me in a cauldron of boiling water, hang me by my toe for an entire day, cut off my ears, pluck out my eyes or have me impaled with a blunt spear—depending on who gets to me first. I doubt if anything of me would remain after they all have been through with me. I can hardly make two to three pairs of regular shoes in a day. Now I have to make twelve and that too like the one that had appeared today morning? How can I make that happen?”