Milligan's Mill by Hazel Goodman

Second Slice

“Tanzy. Lunch is ready” called Gramma from the house.

“Coming” she replied, quickly putting everything away.
She closed the shed door behind her and walked on her hands, up the garden path to
the old tree stump that Gramper had turned into a safe and comfortable home when he
married Gramma, many years ago.
To a Human Person, it looked just that, an old tree stump, but to a mouse person it was a
lovely house, protected from prying eyes by a Faery Spell of Treeness. The Spell had been
given for “Services Rendered”.
Tanzy knew that it had been given in return for keeping the Faery Ring nicely mowed.
A very fair exchange, she thought. It kept them safe from Owls and any other
creatures that might fancy a nice bite of mouse for supper.

The Farm Mice had to live by their wits and she felt very sorry for them.
On her feet now, she scampered down to the kitchen, where she washed her hands
and sat down at the table with Gramper and Gramma, who had just finished serving the
meal.
A little later, as Tanzy was wondering whether she could manage a second helping

of rhubarb tart with cream, there came a loud knocking on the front door!
“Now, who could that be?” wondered Gramma out loud. 
“Off you go Tanzy and see what’s to do.”
With a longing look at the rhubarb tart, Tanzy hurried out of the kitchen and up the
sloping passage to the front door.

“It must be strangers,” she thought. “ Everyone who knows us comes to the back door.”
She peeped through the little spy hole that Gramper had drilled, so that she and 
Gramma could safely see who was calling.
There, on the front step, stood an old, old muse, with a brightly coloured scarf tied
about her head and golden earrings dangling from her ears.
“Can I help you?” she asked politely, as she opened the door.
“Well, well, I doubt it m’dear,” chuckled the old one, “but I’m sure your Gramma can.
Would you be so kind as to tell her Gypsy Mouse is here, with a bundle of problems.”
“Of course,” replied Tanzy, turning to run back down the passage.
Then, remembering her manners she said, “Won’t you please come in?”

“Not just yet child. I’ll wait here, where I can keep an eye on my wagon, thank you.
Tanzy peeped out of the door and sure enough, parked right in the middle of
Gramper’s lawn, was a really, truly Gypsy Wagon! Harnessed in the front were two
of the biggest, blackest beetles she had ever seen in her life!!

“Ooooh….” She gasped and hurried off to fetch Gramma.
“Come quick.” She grabbed Gramma by the hand and tugged her up the passage, leaving 
Gramper to wonder what all the fuss was about.

“Slowly, slowly child. I can’t run like you can. What ever is the matter………?”

She stopped and a happy smile spread over her face as she saw their visitor waiting

for them.
“Gypsy…After all these years. How lovely to see you again.” Gramma threw her arms
around the old mouse and gave her a big hug.
“Come in, come in! Don’t just stand there. What ever was my granddaughter thinking
about?”
“Not yet” smiled Gypsy. “First I have something to show you. It’s in my wagon and a bit
of a problem that I am hoping you might be able to help me with. You too young lady.”
She smiled at Tanzy.
As they approached the Wagon, one of the big black beetles shook its head and hissed
at Tanzy, who quickly jumped back out of the way.

“He’s all right,” said Gypsy. “It’s past their lunchtime, is all.”
Reaching under the Wagon she pulled out two dishes, which she placed on the ground in
front of the beetles and then filled from a big, brown sack of something that looked
rather like squashed flies.

“Ugh” thought Tanzy. “I don’t like the look of that.”
She hurried round to join Gramma at the back of the wagon, where gypsy was opening

the top half of a gaily-painted door.

“Take a look,” said Gypsy to Gramma.

Tanzy stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck to see what was so much of a problem.

To be continued.
copyright © Hazel Goodman 2003 - 2008