21 September 2012
Mr Wizard frowned.
The apples were almost ready for the pies. The pears almost ripe for crumble.
But the hearts, oh dear, Mr Wizard shook his head. His snow-drift beard flew out about his sides.
He gazed with glum green eyes up at the branches of his Heart Tree. The hearts were so small, still green and hard.
Mr Wizard thought back to the autumns of the past. When the beating of the hearts could be heard by the whole village.
Now though, he barely heard a weak thud.
Underneath his snow-drift beard he muttered another hex on the scrumpers that had stolen so many hearts last spring.
"May they grow a purple wart on their nose for every toad they see."
He places a tender hand upon the knurled bark of his Heart Tree, sighs then turns back to head inside his crooked little house.
"Mr Wizard!"
The voice made him jump, his snow-drift beard waggled about before he noticed the little girl peeking over the neighbours fence.
"Ah, good evening Little Polka-Dot, you gave me quite the fright."
"Sorry Mr Wizard, but please tell me what is wrong with the hearts, they look so small and green!" Her little face looked as sad as he felt.
"I'm not sure, little one," Mr Wizard replied, "I've tried everything but they just won't grow."
"Mr Wizard?"
"Yes?"
The girl peeking over the fence in the red polka-dot dress suddenly looked nervous, "If I fix your Heart Tree, will you give me one to keep?"
#hearttree (2 of 3)
Mr Wizard's Orchard • Opuss № I