A “Jester and Hector Tale” from the 2012 “Canadian Magic Forest Tales.”
By Gypsy Joy
Jester and Hector
live in one of the wonderful magical forests in Ontario, but their forest and lake are only known to a few cottagers. The fairy folks like to keep it that way, thus Jester and Hector venture usually not far from their own surroundings and seek their adventures wandering on the pretty trails of their beloved forest and kayaking on their serene lake.
One day while they were singing a happy song in their kayak while paddling on the blue water of their lovely lake enjoying the stillness and the beauty of the trees, shrubs and flowers along the shore, a bewitched cycloon lifted their kayak into the air. In a matter of seconds they found themselves being swept on the shores of a totally different and noisy world. If that were not enough they were scooped up again by a stormy wind and this time without their precious kayak they landed in a Fairy Park in Victoria, Australia.
Jester and Hector felt very forlorn in their strange noisy surroundings and somewhat bewildered in the open space, but not for long. Both liked adventure and they had often talked to each other about the many fine adventures they would be able to engage in, if they happened to travel beyond their own magic forest. Now it finally had happened and although they felt a bit startled they were overjoyed as well for this unexpected adventure and hugged each other. “First we have to find out where we are”, Jester whispered into Hector’s ear. Hector being a magic dog whispered back: “I think we are in the land of the mere mortals.” Jester nodded and chuckled, he knew that much, but in which country had they landed and how far where they from their own magic forest and where to find their kayak. They would have to go back home and there did not seem to be a faery in this place to help them. All Jester saw were people, old and young, who talked rather loudly and seemed to have a lot of fun and the surroundings looked like Jester and Hector had landed in a fairy park. “Let’s try to mix in with these fairy people that are animated but don’t seem to be real,” suggested Hector. Jester nodded, “We are in a fake fairy land Hector” he whispered back, “but perhaps we can make one to talk to us. Let me pull three of your magic hairs.” Hector who always was kidding, chuckled: “One of them might work like Tinkerbell’s magic.” Jester just glanced at Hector and said nothing but went smiling and bowing to the public around them until he and Hector entered the place where they found Red Riding Hood talking to the dressed up Wolf who had earlier swallowed Red Riding Hood’s grandmother as we know from the fairy tale told around the world. “Look Jester, there goes Bo Beep with her sheep,” giggled Hector. Jester waved smilingly at Bo Beep and her sheep.
“Now we know where we can find Red Riding Hood we just will wait till all the visitors to this Fairy Park have gone home and then we go back to Red Riding Hood and get her to help us find our way back home,” whispered Jester to Hector, who eagerly agreed. The two went off to find a quiet place and stretched out, for a well deserved nap, on the grass beneath a huge tree with many overhanging branches. It was dark when they woke up and hastened themselves to Red Riding Hood’s place. There Jester touched Red Riding Hood with Hector’s three magic hairs and in no time they had a nice conversation with Red Riding Hood who told them that they where stranded in Victoria, Australia.
“How are we getting back to Ontario, Canada,” gasped Hector. “No problem,” Red Riding Hood laughed, “everyone is magic here. We all come alive after darkness. When the visitors have gone home we visit each other to chat about the adventures of the day. Let me introduce you to Cinderella’s Godmother.” Red Riding Hood had just finished talking when Cinderella’s Godmother arrived and told Jester and Hector to hold her hand and off they flew to look around for the kayak. It did not take long before they spotted the kayak somewhere along Victoria`s shore and Cinderella’s Godmother dropped Jester and Hector gently into the kayak. They had almost no time to thank her before she flew back to Victoria`s Fairy Park.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVj7Y5OgEd8
“What now”?
Exclaimed Hector as he looked bewildered around. “No idea!” replied Jester as he picked up the paddle and gestured to Hector to do the same. Slowly they started to paddle not knowing how to go from where they were to their beloved forest and lake in Canada. It seemed hours had passed when they saw a great number of Canada Geese flying above them keeping up with them. Jester gestured to the leader of the Canada Geese to land on the kayak and since Canada Geese are magic birds, Jester and Hector told him about their predicament. “No worries, we will help you to get into Canada safe and sound,” said the leader of the Canada Geese. “All we will need is to build a net around the kayak with you two in it and a number of us will hold the net in our beaks during our flight. When we are tired, others in our group will take over, as we are on our way to fly to Fairy Lake in Ontario.” “That would be wonderful” sighed Jester and Hector both at the same time. Jester continued: “We know our way home from there to our magic forest and lake.”
“How will you accomplish getting a net strong enough to carry the kayak and Jester and I” said Hector in a worried voice. “No problem”, replied the Canada Geese leader, “you know how safely the Storks deliver the babies. Well, that’s how we will make sure you are safe and sound while we carry you and Jester. Just wait and see.” He gave a sign to the geese and the flock flew away. It did not take long before they were back with a strong net that was a perfect fit for the kayak and its two occupants, and away they flew to Canada. It was the most smooth, relaxing and wonderful kayak trip under the stars Jester and Hector ever had experienced. They did not have to paddle nor look out for rocks and had never been closer to the twinkling stars. What a safe and splendid trip, they said to each other. Even the changing of the geese went smooth. The kayak did not even swing during the flight! Naturally the Canada geese needed to rest a few times as it is a long and tiring flying trip from Australia to Canada.
When they finally arrived at Fairy Lake in Ontario, the last visitors were leaving the park. What a beautiful lake and so quiet, thought Jester. It certainly was a very beautiful summer place for the ducks and geese. The Canada Geese told them that Fairy Lake was a manmade lake and aka Wesley Brooks Memorial Conservation Area in Newmarket, Ontario. The leader of the Canada Geese introduced Jester and Hector to the other geese and ducks who had landed earlier. They all had a good time watching the ducklings swim and walking over and under the bridge. Hector even went to try out the children’s slide and swings while Jester had a look at the amphitheatre and both admired the Inukshuk at the park. Jester made a scetch and a note in his diary how to build an Inukshuk for their place after they would be safely back in their magic forest.
Thereafter they had a short nap. When Jester and Hector woke up they watched the sunrise and said goodbye to their new found friends who promised to visit them one day. After arriving in their own magic forest Jester and Hector started searching for all the stones that they needed to build an Inukshuk. When they could not find a stone they needed, Jester just pulled a hair from Hector and magically the stone would appear. They could have build the Inukshuk completely by magic alone. However, that would not have been as much fun and it may have backfired. You never know what magic can do to you. Sometimes nice things happen but at other times magic will spin around and many things may go wrong. It’s therefore that Jester exclaimed to Hector after building the Inukshuk: “I hope I have pulled the right magic hair from you for some of the Inukshuk stones.” Whereupon Hector barked:
” Oh No! The Inukshuk is a spoof…
Oh Oh my wild hair may be on the go go… Woof… Woof.
I am running away… faraway from here I go!”
As always Hector had to tease Jester about his magic tricks.
“But what if I am right,” Jester mumbled to himself looking at the Inukshuk. As he walked away he suddenly thought about the Tom Tailor Trail Sign in the Fairy Lake Park :
“Truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”.
“That’s it” he gasped out loud “if something should happen I just take a walk and I shall find the answer I need.” Very contend now, he walked quickly away to catch up with Hector. “All is well that ends well.” He grinned when he caught up with Hector who was sniffing around a tree as most dogs always seem to do.
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