Gather round children, I would like to tell you a tale, of when the earth was young, younger than some of you. When Magic in the Water ruled, and harmonious things happened. But mark my words, there was badness, and only the wicked were banished to the outer reaches of the land. This was a place of Witches, Dwarfs, of innocents and bad animals. So snuggle in, and don’t be scared. Let the story commence.
*****
It had been a hellish morning. Grumpy had stood on Happy’s foot and made her cry.
“What’s the matter with you.” he snapped at Sneezy.
“I hade this tibe of year,” the salty tears streaming down his face, “I lob wider”
“Roughly translated means?” Grumpy questioned.
“His hay fever is playing up.” Doc replied.
“Great, and so who was on vitals this week?”
“Vitals?” Dopey asked.
“Vitals, equals essentials. Who forgot the coffee?” Grumpy complained.
“Sleepy.” Bashful replied.
“Hey Sleepy,” Grumpy shouted, looking at the heap in the bed, “We gonna get any work out of you today? As I ain‘t watching your six down the mine.”
“Mmmmmmmmm” Sleepy announced, turning over.
“Ok, he doesn’t get paid. But if anyone wants to drag his body to the pit, they are very welcome. I’m going to work.” as he stormed out the room and into the yard.
“Done it now Sleepy,” Dopey said, “Better get you up.”
“Now that is the best offer I have had all morning,” Sleepy replied jumping up and pulling the covers back, “Jump in.” as Happy and Dopey threw a pillow at him, and turned to find Grumpy.
****
The day had started badly for Snow White.
“You not tidied your room, you pesky little child.” her stepmother had shouted.
“I have.”
“Well do it again. And when you’re done you can start on the kitchen.”
Snow White just sat in her room and cried. What was it Rapunzel had done, oh yes let her hair grow, no she had added some extensions, and some prince had climbed up her hair and saved her. Bet that hurt. The hair, not the Prince. No she would run away. She couldn’t wait that long, for her hair to grow. So she packed a bag, and waited until the old witch was having a nap, and sneaked out the door. But where was she to go. She had heard of a place in the woods, where all lost children went. She would go there.
****
So Snow White let herself out the back door. She didn’t look back, but headed for the coach station. She wondered which way to go. There was a wonderful golden coach but it looked full, so she walked on up the platform until she saw an empty vehicle.
“Where are you going.” she asked the driver.
“Never, neverland” he replied.
“Is it nice there?” she enquired, “As I was thinking more of the country, you know fields, and trees and birds singing.”
“In that case,” the driver replied, “You want the stage-coach, it goes that way.” now pointing over the platform.
Snow White thanked the guy, because she was a polite child, children, and as you know a friend in need is a friend indeed, and you never know when a little politeness might help you. That and giving a thank you present to people.
So she made her way over to the coach. And got on. She was the only one aboard. She wasn’t worried, she had her thoughts and she watched the scenery. Her thoughts were broken by the drivers voice.
“End of the line Snow White. Hope you find happiness here.”
She got off the bus.
“Take care and watch out for grandma.” he shouted after her.
Funny she thought, why grandma…….
****
“So where is Sleepy?” Grumpy shouted at Happy and Dopey, “Gonna call you Dippy , if you’re not careful Dopey.”
“Sleepy said he would work twice as hard at the weekend but he was having a day off.” she replied.
“He knows that’s not how we work, so unless he appears prompto……..he’s…….”
“It’s ok Grumpy, I decided that I was better off in this pit, than my pit…if you get my drift.” Sleepy replied stumbling into the hole in the ground.
“Good,” Doc replied, “Now we are all here, we can maybe start some work.” as he turned and followed Sleepy into the mine.
****
Snow White skipped thro’ the woods. She talked to the animals, and to the trees, to the flowers and the bees, well something had to rhyme with trees, children, until she saw the village in the valley. It looked beautiful. Yes she thought I’ll go and see if I can find work there, as she skipped her way into the village.
****
“Can I help you?” a voice asked.
“Hello, who are you because I was told not to talk to strangers.” as she zipped her mouth shut.
“I am the Sharif.” the stranger replied.
“A Sharif, of where?” Snow White enquired.
“The Sharif of Washing done, or not-ting’ done.” the man now answered, “But who are you and what are you doing here?”
“I am Snow White and I am looking for my friend, she said I could stay with them for a while.” Snow White lied, not wanting taken to social services and sent home.
“Does your friend have a name?” the Sharif asked.
“The Doctor.” Snow White replied, thinking on her feet, well she was standing.
“Dr Who?” Sharif asked.
“Yes, that’s him.” Snow White smiled
“Well in that case it’s the cottage over there.” pointing through the clearing, “Just be careful of Grandma.”
“Thank you.” Snow White replied. Well she was a polite child, and skipped along, passed the police box and on towards the cottage. She wondered about grandma.
She stood in front of the cottage. The door was open slightly as if someone had hurriedly left and forgot to lock. She gingerly advanced and opened the door.
“Hello……hello.” she whispered and opened the door further.
As she stepped in side she saw the table and the tiny chairs. A small jacket lay flung where the owner had left it.She climbed the stairs and saw the two rooms, the smaller had a double bed, but the other had five little beds. The double bed had girly things scattered about. The other, boys.
“Oh tweeeee.” Snow White squealed, “A home with children.” and they didn’t look like they had parents. The place needed cleaned. She busied herself cleaning the house, washing the dirty clothes and ironing the one she found crumpled in a heap. Thumper and Bambi came in as did, some of the birds, they ate the crumbs and bugs. Snow White sang as she cleaned. As she looked about at her work she realised it would almost be dinner time, well tea time and she saw nothing for the children to eat, so she decided she’d better cook a meal. But when she looked in the cupboards they were bare.
“Oh, there is nothing to eat, so I’d better go into town and see if I can get some food,” she said to the animals, “Just as well I emptied my piggybank before I left.
****
Snow White. walked down the hill into the village. She passed a B+B it he shape of a shoe, there were lots of children playing outside. As she passed the bakers shop, noticing it was made out of gingerbread, she noticed the yellow ribbon round the building. The Sharif was standing outside. Snow White walked on and into the health store.
“Hello,” the assistant said, “You’re new in town.”
“Yes.” Snow White replied.
“Have you met the Sharif yet?”
“I did and he seemed quite nice. I see he is outside the bakers. What happened?” she asked as she placed the goods in her bag.
“Oh two children disappeared. Ari and Caitlin, they had run an errand for grandma, or as they say in Scotland, run a message. They had gone inside but were never seen again.” the assistant replied.
“Oh that is terrible,” as Snow White shivered, “I will be careful then.” as she waved goodbye and left the shop.
“You do that, but beware of grandma.” the assistant now shouted after her.
Snow White walked back up the hill to the cottage.
****
The team finished their shift, and made their way home. Sneezey sneezed all the way home. Doc said he would make up a tonic for him. Sleepy had dosed off on his pick, and the girls had annoyed Bashful, with their teasing. Grumpy, was just well grumpy.
As they walked along the lane, Grumpy spotted the smoke, and then the smell of cooking. He instinctively dropped to the ground and thought about louping a stick of dynamite into the cottage. But then remembered it was their home.
As the Dwarfs listened, and the smell of game pie wafted through the air, their tummies began to rumble. Food was better than fighting, but Grumpy wondered if it was grandma.
They followed Doc to the door. He opened it wide. There they saw this girl, she was singing to herself. The table had been set, napkins folded and the smell of game pie inviting. Grumpy coughed, and Sneezey sneezed, Snow White turned and squealed, “MUNCHKINS”
“We are nothing of the sort,” Grumpy shouted, “We are Dwarfs.”
“No Grumpy, we are vertically challenged people.” Doc retorted, giving him the Paddington Bear stare.
You must remember children that this is a politically correct world, and you can’t go around insulting people, even if they are shorter than you.
“Whatever,” Snow White replied, now looking at the Dwarfs, “Do you have names or can I guess?” clapping her hand together.
“Oh brother” Dopey replied.
“So let me think,” as Sneezey sneezed. “Sneezey, and you,” looking at Grumpy, must be grumpy. Bashful turned a pale red and Snow White looked his direction. He twirled his hands and turned away, not looking at her. “Bashful.” she whispered, blowing him a kiss.
“Ah MyGee, that was too easy,” he blushed.
“Now who do we have here,” looking at the girls, Happy was smiling.
“Happy?” Snow White asked.
“Yes thank very much,” snored Sleepy from beside the fire, their guest had made.
“Yes, and that if you haven’t gathered that is Sleepy.” Happy replied looking at Sleepy.
“So who are you?” Snow White asked looking at Dopey.
“That,” Grumpy relied, “Is Dopey, because she keeps mixing her words up and saying things wrong.”
“And I, my dear,” Doc now butted in, “Am Doc. I try to keep them together. But we still don’t know who you are, and what you are doing here?”
“Oh I am so sorry, I’m Snow White, and I have run away from home. I hope you don’t mind but the place was a tip, and I just thought it needed tidied. I thought you were children without a mother and father. I have made dinner. Game pie.”
“No, not Bambi and Thumper.” Happy wailed.
“No TVP. Textured vegetable protein, and plenty of vegetables.And I used stock cubes.”
“Not peas,” Grumpy replied, “I hate peas.”
“There, there,” Snow White now replied, patting his head, “You can have extra dessert. It’s apple sponge, aka Eve’s pudding.”
“Yuk.” Grumpy grumbled, folding his arms and going in the huff.
“Well I would like to say thank you, and maybe over dinner, and a glass or two of elderberry wine, you can maybe tell us your life story. Why you are here and what you intend to do?” Doc now enquired. As he headed for the table.
“’Scussy,” Snow White questioned, “Hands, have you washed them?”
“She’s gonna be trouble,” Grumpy grumbled as he headed for the sink.
Author's Chapter Notes:
How Snow White came to meet the 7 Dwarfs
Chapter End Notes:
This was written for a challenge over on NFA