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Did you wonder where Uncle Bob’s new
Firekeeper came from? I did.
You remember she just came walking along one day. Uncle Bob saw her and was pleased by what he was seeing. He had been a loner all his life. He had been too hazy to seek a mate, though he had admired various girls in his past. He couldn’t settle his mind enough to try to talk with any of them. But now, being sober, he was able to ask her if she was alone and he received a goodly answer.
Back to Suzy, not her Saslingua name, which is impossible to pronounce, but sounds vaguely like Suzy.
When she appeared to him, she was matronly. Being alone was odd for such a mature looking lady Squatch. Why was she just traveling by his Stump House? A good question.
This is how the story was told by Deirdre, the white Raven, who was staying near Uncle Bob, to help him remember things, and that sort of stuff. I believe that she discussed it with her sister, Maeve. And then the story got around, because it was just too good, and wouldn’t you just know it! A fine mystery!
As it happened, after Suzy and Uncle Bob met, they talked a lot. You know. Just getting to know each other. Deirdre stuck around, tidying the campsite and such. Keeping things nice, while they talked. Of course she couldn’t help overhearing the conversation. Fortunately, Deirdre was adept in Saslingua, or we would never have heard the tale.
Once they got through the required formal greetings and acknowledgments, Bob wanted to know how it was that such a beautiful one was walking alone through the meadowlands and forests.
Suzy told Bob that she was, in fact, a widow. Her lord had died in his sleep not long before they met by the Stump House. He had been very elderly and was the father of ten. He was buried in a secret place among his fathers. She had been left in charge in his place. This matter did not please his eldest son, who was not her own son, but from a previous pairing.
This eldest son, who hungered to rule in his father’s place, initiated plans for Suzy’s demise! His own wife was very much in on the plotting, whispering and gossiping with Suzy’s own children. This wife sowed a lot of discord in the kingdom. Life became unpleasant for Suzy, as she didn’t know who was loyal to the old lord’s will, or who was loyal to his son.
“Are you a queen, Suzy,” asked Uncle Bob, rather in dismay.
“I was, Bob. I was,” admitted Suzy.
“But, Lady, how do you come to be here, walking by my Stump House,” said Bob.
Fascinated, Deirdre stepped quietly closer. Suzy pretended not to notice.
“Three of my younger children arranged a way for me to safely escape. My youngest boy was very learned. He had studied with Wise Counsel. He was able to devise a temporary window in time. Together the three, two sons and a daughter, brought me to the window, and weeping, sent me away to live. Then the window closed. Perhaps someday they will be able to seek me, somewhere in time, when it’s safe to go home. I pray that my children are well.
“They didn’t know when I would appear, but only that it was a way. So, I am deposed, but alive, Bob,” said Suzy.
“How can this be,” cried Bob.
“I don’t know if I came to you from days past, or days to be,” said Suzy. “Forests look much the same in whatever time.”
“But. Lady, how can I allow you to keep my fire and make my food? This is uncool!” said Bob. “I should be the one doing all for you!” He really didn’t know what to say or think. That’s just what came out, off the top of his thinking.
“Lady, I don’t know how to live with a queen tending my fire!” said Bob.
“Before ever I was a queen, dear one, I was a girl. I learned at my mother’s fire. You need not fear my ways! I can cook like any girl,” smiled Suzy.
“I didn’t think that,” said Bob, in distress. “Oh, I don’t know what I mean! You are too fine for me! I am nothing before you,” cried Bob.
“No, no, no! You are the answer to prayer. You are my shelter when I had none. You are perfect. I am not your queen. I am your Firekeeper, as long as you will have me,” said Suzy.
Suzy turned her gaze to Deirdre, who was listening mesmerized. Seeing that she was noticed, Deirdre fluttered up into the air, as if to fly away.
“Shall I go?” said Deirdre, ready to vanish.
“Please stay,” said Suzy. “Every fire needs a Raven!”
So, Deirdre stayed with Uncle Bob and Suzy, the deposed queen, of a kingdom somewhere in time.
It turned out that Suzy was a fine cook. She got Bob to make some improvements around the place, and she actually had a great time being in charge of such a little kingdom. Like the human queens of old who liked to pretend not to be the queen sometimes, Suzy felt like she was attending an extended picnic. And she genuinely respected Bob.
Uncle Bob was genuinely surprised and quite happy.
You remember she just came walking along one day. Uncle Bob saw her and was pleased by what he was seeing. He had been a loner all his life. He had been too hazy to seek a mate, though he had admired various girls in his past. He couldn’t settle his mind enough to try to talk with any of them. But now, being sober, he was able to ask her if she was alone and he received a goodly answer.
Back to Suzy, not her Saslingua name, which is impossible to pronounce, but sounds vaguely like Suzy.
When she appeared to him, she was matronly. Being alone was odd for such a mature looking lady Squatch. Why was she just traveling by his Stump House? A good question.
This is how the story was told by Deirdre, the white Raven, who was staying near Uncle Bob, to help him remember things, and that sort of stuff. I believe that she discussed it with her sister, Maeve. And then the story got around, because it was just too good, and wouldn’t you just know it! A fine mystery!
As it happened, after Suzy and Uncle Bob met, they talked a lot. You know. Just getting to know each other. Deirdre stuck around, tidying the campsite and such. Keeping things nice, while they talked. Of course she couldn’t help overhearing the conversation. Fortunately, Deirdre was adept in Saslingua, or we would never have heard the tale.
Once they got through the required formal greetings and acknowledgments, Bob wanted to know how it was that such a beautiful one was walking alone through the meadowlands and forests.
Suzy told Bob that she was, in fact, a widow. Her lord had died in his sleep not long before they met by the Stump House. He had been very elderly and was the father of ten. He was buried in a secret place among his fathers. She had been left in charge in his place. This matter did not please his eldest son, who was not her own son, but from a previous pairing.
This eldest son, who hungered to rule in his father’s place, initiated plans for Suzy’s demise! His own wife was very much in on the plotting, whispering and gossiping with Suzy’s own children. This wife sowed a lot of discord in the kingdom. Life became unpleasant for Suzy, as she didn’t know who was loyal to the old lord’s will, or who was loyal to his son.
“Are you a queen, Suzy,” asked Uncle Bob, rather in dismay.
“I was, Bob. I was,” admitted Suzy.
“But, Lady, how do you come to be here, walking by my Stump House,” said Bob.
Fascinated, Deirdre stepped quietly closer. Suzy pretended not to notice.
“Three of my younger children arranged a way for me to safely escape. My youngest boy was very learned. He had studied with Wise Counsel. He was able to devise a temporary window in time. Together the three, two sons and a daughter, brought me to the window, and weeping, sent me away to live. Then the window closed. Perhaps someday they will be able to seek me, somewhere in time, when it’s safe to go home. I pray that my children are well.
“They didn’t know when I would appear, but only that it was a way. So, I am deposed, but alive, Bob,” said Suzy.
“How can this be,” cried Bob.
“I don’t know if I came to you from days past, or days to be,” said Suzy. “Forests look much the same in whatever time.”
“But. Lady, how can I allow you to keep my fire and make my food? This is uncool!” said Bob. “I should be the one doing all for you!” He really didn’t know what to say or think. That’s just what came out, off the top of his thinking.
“Lady, I don’t know how to live with a queen tending my fire!” said Bob.
“Before ever I was a queen, dear one, I was a girl. I learned at my mother’s fire. You need not fear my ways! I can cook like any girl,” smiled Suzy.
“I didn’t think that,” said Bob, in distress. “Oh, I don’t know what I mean! You are too fine for me! I am nothing before you,” cried Bob.
“No, no, no! You are the answer to prayer. You are my shelter when I had none. You are perfect. I am not your queen. I am your Firekeeper, as long as you will have me,” said Suzy.
Suzy turned her gaze to Deirdre, who was listening mesmerized. Seeing that she was noticed, Deirdre fluttered up into the air, as if to fly away.
“Shall I go?” said Deirdre, ready to vanish.
“Please stay,” said Suzy. “Every fire needs a Raven!”
So, Deirdre stayed with Uncle Bob and Suzy, the deposed queen, of a kingdom somewhere in time.
It turned out that Suzy was a fine cook. She got Bob to make some improvements around the place, and she actually had a great time being in charge of such a little kingdom. Like the human queens of old who liked to pretend not to be the queen sometimes, Suzy felt like she was attending an extended picnic. And she genuinely respected Bob.
Uncle Bob was genuinely surprised and quite happy.
💚
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