Thumbelina

“Not that way!” I giggle, tapping Hansel beneath his chin as Gretel topples over.

“She fell down,” His big brown eyes are wide and bright. We sit before the fire, it crackles brightly. 

Mother took Goldie shopping in town, Jack’s out cutting wood for all his father’s old clients. Ella is in the garden picking berries for the pie she plans to bake. I love them all very much. It’s been three weeks since we moved in here, the best three weeks of my life.

Ella left me to watch my new little siblings, Hansel and Gretel, we’re trying to teach Gretel to walk, she’s not a fast study. She lays on her tummy giggling happily. Hansel pats her head.

“I used to be that tiny,” Hansel says solemnly, his hand rubbing Gretel’s back gently, “But then I grew up,” He pauses for a minute, “I think mama would have had more babies, but then she died.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, picking up Gretel under her arms and placing her on my lap so she doesn’t get too near the fire. She coos and reaches her teensy hands out to clasp my cheeks.

“It’s okay,” Hansel says staring into the fire, he’s young to be so solemn, but I guess that’s what happens when you see both your parents die.

Hansel’s a sad lad, young and small and quite too serious for my taste. I hope he grows out of it, mama says most things are phases; emotions come in seasons and the seasons change.

“Lina?” Hansel asks, cocking his head and turning his gaze from the fire to me.

“Yes?” I find the nickname quite endearing, Hansel can’t say my name so everyone started calling me Lina and I quite like it.

“Li-uh!” Gretel screeches happily, clapping her hands together. She’s been trying to say my name for a while, but she’s not quite there yet. She can only say ‘lla for Ella and Ja for Jack.

“Did you have a father?”

I sit for a second, holding Gretel close to me. She yawns and rests her little head gently on my breast. Her eyes flutter shut while I stare intently into the fire.

“I did, but I never met him. He left before I could walk or talk. But mama says that when he was around I loved him very much and he loved me. My first words were papa. But he’s long gone now,” I say slowly.

“Did he die?” Hansel asks.

“No, no he didn’t. Mama never told me exactly what happened, only that he left. She never said why…” I trail off. The crackle of the fire fills the room with a warmth that I cannot feel.

“What’s that book?” Hansel asks, pointing to where I left the book Jack’s teaching me to read with. I found it on mama’s dresser and she said I could read it if I liked.

“It’s about a silly old man named Rumplestiltzkin-”

The door opens and mother walks in with Goldie laughing. “Goldie be a dear and put the vegetables in the kitchen for Ella to put away-where is that girl? Ella! Ella!” She barks.

Hansel covers his ears and Gretel jolts awake. She shakes her head fitfully. “She’s out gathering berries for a pie tonight mother.” I call.

“Hmm, alright, she can put them up when she gets back,” Mother says.

She enters the family room and, dropping my book on the floor, plops herself down on the large arm chair. “What a day,” She says, “Did the mail arrive?”

“Yes mama,” I say, “Can you fetch it Hansel?”

Hansel nods and scrambles to his feet. He disappears into the kitchen as Gretel nestles back into the crook of my arm. Hansel bobs back into the room on his tiny legs. “Here stepmother,” He says.

Mother takes the mail from him and begins rummaging through it. But Hansel stands before her with his arms nervously twisted behind his back. Mother notices after a moment and raises an eyebrow, “Yes?”

Hansel takes a deep breath and then presents a drawing to my mother. It is exquisite. I catch my breath as I stare into a perfect drawing of Hansel’s father. Mother licks her lips and stares at the sketch. It looks like it was done with ash taken from the fireplace, it is the perfect likeness of Mr. Woodsman. Mother takes it in her hands and tears begin to form in the corners of her eyes.

“Thank you,” She breathes.

Hansel smiles proudly, “Do you like it?” He asks.

“Yes, darling, I love it; it’s wonderful.”

“It’s papa!” Hansel cries happily.

“It is, it is,” Mother whispers, her voice hushed.

Her hands are shaking as she draws Hansel into a tight hug. “You precious boy, you wonderful wonderful boy,” She brushes tears from her eyes as she holds him away from her and sniffs, “Now go play with your sisters before you make a mess of me and get me crying really hard.”

Hansel smiles and drops onto the floor next to me, he lays his head on my shoulder. Mother opens the letters and hums quietly to herself. I breathe in the scent of the fire and wrap Gretel close to me. I’ve never felt so loved and so happy before. Mother tries, and Goldie and I were friends at one time, but they like each other better than me; I’m Hansel and Gretel’s favorite though.

Suddenly the sound of the letters tearing open stops. Mother gasps sharple and I turn around. Her hand is over her mouth as her eyes weave back and forth over a short letter. She looks distressed. “Are you alright mother?” I ask.

She gulps as if she didn’t hear me, her eyes are wide. She gets up and walks to the fire. She stands there for a moment and then throws the letter into the flames. The fire quickly laps up the dry page and swallows it whole until there is just a pile of sad black ash left behind. Before the page is gone I read one word: Rumplestiltzkin.

Mother stands still for another moment. I feel uncomfortable, as if we are witnessing a private moment, “Mother?” I say again, more cautious this time.

She turns around, the distress has disappeared and she smiles brightly, “Yes?”

“Are you alright?” I ask slowly.

“Of course…” She pauses, her eyes lingering on Gretel for a moment, “Have you been watching the little ones all day?”

“..Yes,” I say slowly.

“Hmm,” She hums slowly, “I believe I shall take them for a short stroll, would you like that Hansel?”

Hansel jumps to his feet smiling widely, “Yes! Please!”

“We’ll go explore the forest and we can get to know each other better! How does that sound!” Mother says bending down to look him in the eyes.

“I’d love that!” Hansel cries, “Please!”

“Of course, go put your coat on, shall we bring Gretel with us?”

“Yes! Yes!” He yells brightly, bolting for the stairs to fetch his coat.

Mother holds her arms out and I hesitate. “Give me the baby, Thumbelina,” She says smiling.

I don’t move, it feels odd, as if somethings wrong, I’m not sure what yet. 

“I said give me the baby,” She repeats, her eyes are darker this time and I know that it is dangerous to resist.

But something inside me screams and I clutch Gretel closer to my chest. “What is wrong Thumbelina? Give me the baby now,” Her eyes are wide and serious.

Suddenly she lunges out and snatches Gretel from me. She turns away from me and rubs a startled Gretel’s back to soothe her. I jump to my feet.

“Why are you taking them to the woods?” I ask.

“Because I think I should spend some time with them, afterall I am their new mother,” She says.

“That’s not why,” I accuse, “There was something in that letter wasn’t there? What’s going on mother?”

“None of your business, now go read a book or something-”

“I saw the name in the letter!” I yell suddenly.

I don’t see her move but my head jolts and my face stings. Her hand shakes in the air. She’s slapped me. “Don’t say another word,” She says, her face serious as a stone statue, “You do not understand what is happening here, and you are messing with forces beyond you and I.”

I stare into her eyes for a long moment, they are large and stern, but they are also sad, as if she is pleading with me to understand something that she knows I won’t understand. It’s like she’s screaming for help. 

“I’m ready!” Hansel yells, bounding down the stairs.

Mother’s face turns on a dime and she smiles brightly, “Wonderful, say goodbye to your sister and come along now!”

“Bye Lina!” Hansel yells.

I catch him in a hug and hold him for a long time. I hold him tightly, for a long moment and then he pushes me away and laughs, “I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.”

He turns to mother and takes her hand. She leads him out the door, Gretel cooing in her arms. Hansel closes the door behind them. I stand staring after them, I’m not sure what I want to do or what I’m supposed to do.

I feel as if I just missed the last opportunity to prevent something very bad from happening, only I’m not sure what exactly is about to happen.