Players:
Marlot
A witch with a warm heart, although she prefers people to think her cold
Jinx
A lazy cat, who would spend all of his days sleeping if it was up to him
Jack
The golem who’s recent love of fairy tales has unexpected consequences
Marlot sat up with a start, in the other room someone was screaming like she had never heard someone scream before. She hadn’t even gotten a chance to get up when someone forced himself through the door and Jack fell face first onto her bed. Jinx jumped up with fright and Marlot assumed hid under the bed.
“What’s wrong dear, what happened, did someone get inside…” He was crying, his face now in Marlot’s lap and he was shaking with fear. “Jack, please what happened?”
He didn’t speak, but continued to cry and she realized that there must not be any immediate danger or he would be trying to get away, or would have been followed. Marlot smoothed the green hair on his hansom head, eventually he cried himself out. “There were giants Marlot.”
“Where Jack?” She was trying to be kind and although she had spent most of her life trying to make people fear her, she found being kind surprisingly easy, as long as it was only to her golem.
“While I was asleep, it’s like all of those stories I read yesterday were true, but I wasn’t brave or strong, and then I ended up inside of a pumpkin and one of the giants tried to smash it…”
“You had a dream Jack, none of those things can hurt you.”
“What is a dream, is it normal?”
“Perfectly normal my dear, everyone dreams. It’s like moving pictures in your mind, sometimes you will actually be in them and other times you are just watching. Actually it sounds like you had a nightmare, they are bad dreams, still nothing to be frightened of but they do leave you terrified when you wake up.”
“Do nightmares happen often?”
“Usually not, maybe once or twice every few months or so, they might happen more often, I hear tell that people dream every night, they just don’t always remember them.”
“Marlot, I’m too scared to go to sleep.”
“I could read you a story, but I think all of those tales you read yesterday are what caused your nightmare.”
“But I liked them Marlot, please read another, a nice one.”
“Alright,” she got up and looked at Jack sitting on her bed, still wearing the robes she had given him the day he came out of the cauldron. “I think you need something to wear to bed, I know for a fact that robes are not comfortable to sleep in.” she dug around in a drawer until she found an old pair of breaches and a long shirt that she sometimes wore when working out in the garden. “Put these on, I will go fine a story.”
Marlot danced her fingers along the spines of her beautifully illustrated fairy tales. “Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White…no they all have wicked witches and fairies, I don’t want him to be scared of me too. Cinderella, perfect, a bad childhood and fairy god mothers, no bad magic there, or anything to scary.”
When Marlot walked back into her room Jinx was back on the bed, and Jack, who was wearing the long shirt she had given him, seemed to be having difficulties with the breaches. Marlot laughed at her poor clueless golem and she buttoned and tied them around his waist. “Now sit down, and I will read Cinderella.” Marlot lit a candle as Jack curled up under the blankets. “Once there was a gentleman who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen…”
As she read, Jack appeared to grow more and more tired, until at last he was snoring gently and she whispered, “And they all lived happily ever after. Good night Jack.” She couldn’t bring herself to wake him up and make him go back into the storage room where she had made a small bed for him, so she left him where he was, blew out the candle, and fell asleep next to him.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Part 10 In which a golem falls in love with fairy tales
Players:
Marlot
A witch who is more than happy to teach her overly curious golem
Golem
A creature who wants a name, and loves fairy tales
The Golem sat at the table peeling potatoes for dinner.
“Marlot, what are all of those things on the shelf, I see you looking at them a lot.”
The witch looked over at the bookshelves, “They are books dear, I used one to make you.”
“What’s a deer?”
“It’s a nick name.”
He sighed then looked back at Marlot, “What is a nick name?”
“I’m sorry golem, I should really explain more to you. A nick name is something you call someone other than their given name. A name is what other people call someone, like my name is Marlot, the cat’s name is Jinx, and Lilly’s name is…well…Lilly.”
“Is my name golem?”
“No, that is just what you are, you don’t have a name.”
“Because I’m not a person.” He looked so sad, like a puppy lost out in the rain.
“You are a person, a very special person, I just haven’t given you a name yet.”
“Other people give you names?”
“Usually parents give their children names before they can talk, but I guess in your case you can choose your own name if you want.”
“How do parents choose names?”
“They are usually something they hear somewhere, like in a story, or a family member, or a friend. I know, I can read you some of my books, the characters often have names, maybe you will find one you like.”
“Can I learn to read?”
“Of course golem.” Marlot walked over to her bookshelf, looking for a story with a name, surprisingly many of them didn’t. Cinderella had a prince charming, as did Snow White. Thumbelina married the king of the fairies, no name there, and the youngest son in Puss in Boots only had a title. “Here’s one golem, Jack the Giant Killer, he has a name.” She told the story of a young man who killed many giants until, with the help of some magic tools he had acquired, he killed the giant who lived in a magnificent castle with a wizard who had bewitched many maidens and lords and a dukes daughter and upon killing the giant the castle vanished and Jack rescued all those imprisoned there, married the duke’s daughter and was given a large estate by her father.
“He sounds brave,” the golem said, his brown eyes were wide with delight and Marlot realized he was seated on the edge of his seat. “Is there more?”
“Not of this story, but there are other stories and a whole lot of nursery rhymes about boys named Jack.”
“Like what?”
“Jack and the beanstalk, it has giants in it too.” The golem didn’t even say a word, he just nodded and grinned, his eyes still alight with fascination.
“Please Marlot, read more, or teach me, then I can read more.”
Marlot was amazed at how quickly he learned to read. They read through Jack the Giant Killer three more times before she moved on to Jack and the Beanstalk. After reading that twice he was able to read most of the nursery rhymes by himself and she wasn’t surprised to see him fascinated by Little Jack Horner, Jack the Piper, The House That Jack Built, Jack Be Nimble, and Jack and Jill.
Marlot had started cooking while the golem read out loud so that she could correct or help him when he got stuck. He also often stopped while reading the rhymes and asked Marlot to explain what they meant, which she did happily. She almost dropped the entire bowl of mashed potatoes on the floor when he gasped. “I have heard this one before.”
“Which one dear?”
‘What are little boys made of?
Snips of snails, and puppy-dogs’ tails,
That’s what little boys are made of.
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and everything nice,
That’s what little girls are made of.’
Marlot looked up at him in shock, “You heard that, while you were in the cauldron, I sang it while I added the final ingredients.”
“You made me out of snails and tails?” he looked a little grossed out and then gave her his trademark lopsided smile.
“Eat up Jack, dinner is served.”
The golem's smile spread to a full on grin. “Jack…” he thought about the name for a second, “Yes, and I will be just as brave as the hero’s named before me.”
“I’m sure you will dear.” Marlot lay his dinner down in front of him and pulled the book out of his hands before he could start another rhyme, “now eat.”
Marlot
A witch who is more than happy to teach her overly curious golem
Golem
A creature who wants a name, and loves fairy tales
The Golem sat at the table peeling potatoes for dinner.
“Marlot, what are all of those things on the shelf, I see you looking at them a lot.”
The witch looked over at the bookshelves, “They are books dear, I used one to make you.”
“What’s a deer?”
“It’s a nick name.”
He sighed then looked back at Marlot, “What is a nick name?”
“I’m sorry golem, I should really explain more to you. A nick name is something you call someone other than their given name. A name is what other people call someone, like my name is Marlot, the cat’s name is Jinx, and Lilly’s name is…well…Lilly.”
“Is my name golem?”
“No, that is just what you are, you don’t have a name.”
“Because I’m not a person.” He looked so sad, like a puppy lost out in the rain.
“You are a person, a very special person, I just haven’t given you a name yet.”
“Other people give you names?”
“Usually parents give their children names before they can talk, but I guess in your case you can choose your own name if you want.”
“How do parents choose names?”
“They are usually something they hear somewhere, like in a story, or a family member, or a friend. I know, I can read you some of my books, the characters often have names, maybe you will find one you like.”
“Can I learn to read?”
“Of course golem.” Marlot walked over to her bookshelf, looking for a story with a name, surprisingly many of them didn’t. Cinderella had a prince charming, as did Snow White. Thumbelina married the king of the fairies, no name there, and the youngest son in Puss in Boots only had a title. “Here’s one golem, Jack the Giant Killer, he has a name.” She told the story of a young man who killed many giants until, with the help of some magic tools he had acquired, he killed the giant who lived in a magnificent castle with a wizard who had bewitched many maidens and lords and a dukes daughter and upon killing the giant the castle vanished and Jack rescued all those imprisoned there, married the duke’s daughter and was given a large estate by her father.
“He sounds brave,” the golem said, his brown eyes were wide with delight and Marlot realized he was seated on the edge of his seat. “Is there more?”
“Not of this story, but there are other stories and a whole lot of nursery rhymes about boys named Jack.”
“Like what?”
“Jack and the beanstalk, it has giants in it too.” The golem didn’t even say a word, he just nodded and grinned, his eyes still alight with fascination.
“Please Marlot, read more, or teach me, then I can read more.”
Marlot was amazed at how quickly he learned to read. They read through Jack the Giant Killer three more times before she moved on to Jack and the Beanstalk. After reading that twice he was able to read most of the nursery rhymes by himself and she wasn’t surprised to see him fascinated by Little Jack Horner, Jack the Piper, The House That Jack Built, Jack Be Nimble, and Jack and Jill.
Marlot had started cooking while the golem read out loud so that she could correct or help him when he got stuck. He also often stopped while reading the rhymes and asked Marlot to explain what they meant, which she did happily. She almost dropped the entire bowl of mashed potatoes on the floor when he gasped. “I have heard this one before.”
“Which one dear?”
‘What are little boys made of?
Snips of snails, and puppy-dogs’ tails,
That’s what little boys are made of.
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and everything nice,
That’s what little girls are made of.’
Marlot looked up at him in shock, “You heard that, while you were in the cauldron, I sang it while I added the final ingredients.”
“You made me out of snails and tails?” he looked a little grossed out and then gave her his trademark lopsided smile.
“Eat up Jack, dinner is served.”
The golem's smile spread to a full on grin. “Jack…” he thought about the name for a second, “Yes, and I will be just as brave as the hero’s named before me.”
“I’m sure you will dear.” Marlot lay his dinner down in front of him and pulled the book out of his hands before he could start another rhyme, “now eat.”
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Part 9 In which Lilly’s mouth gets her into trouble again
Players:
Marlot
A witch who is very proud of what she has done
Golem
A cheerful golem who is happy to learn
Lilly
A girl who needs to learn to watch her tongue
Knock, Knock, Knock
“Come in Lilly.”
Marlot looked up from her book and laughed at the golem who was the one who had invited Lilly in, and she was still laughing when Lilly came in looking confused.
“It worked!” she said when she saw the golem. “Hello, I’m Lilly.” She sounded almost seductive and held her hand out to him as though she wanted him to kiss it. He looked at her confused, his head once again tilted to the side.
“Hi Lilly.” He looked at her hand and then bent over and licked it.
“Golem!” Marlot yelled, still laughing, “What are you doing?”
“Jinx does that when I reach out for him.”
“That is because for some reason Jinx thinks you are delicious.”
“That’s because he is,” Marlot heard Lilly say under her breath; out loud she said “Oh my goodness Marlot, he is adorable.” She then took his hand and shook it.
“That is what you should have done,” Marlot told the golem.
“Thank you Marlot.”
“You’re welcome golem. You have to explain everything to him at this point,” she told Lilly. “He is still learning.”
“I like learning.” The golem said with his lopsided smile. Lilly almost seemed to melt on the spot and for some reason this aggravated Marlot.
“And you’re doing a fine job, conversation is the first step.” She ruffled the golem’s green hair as she walked past him and took the basket from Lilly.
“Why is his hair green?” Lilly whispered to her not letting go of the basket and pulling Marlot close.
“I think it is because I used branches from my enchanted apple tree to make him.”
“Interesting.” Lilly let go of the basket and Marlot laid out the lunch she had brought.
“Lunch,” the golem said happily, smiling at Marlot.
“Very good. Will you get some water for us? Use three cups from the cupboard over the sink.”
The golem got up and filled three cups with water and then just stood at the sink. “Golem, will you bring them over to the table and set them in front of our chairs.” Lilly was already sitting in her normal seat as was Marlot, an extra plate had been set up in front of the chair he had sat in the day before. Marlot was trying as hard as she could to make everything as easy on her golem as she could.
He walked over and looked at the table, his green eyebrows were knitted together in thought and finally he sat all three cups down in the middle of the table.
“What are you doing?” Lilly said patronizingly.
“Lilly, be nice. Golem, you should put one cup down in the top right corner of each of our plates.”
“Thank you Marlot.”
“I’m here to help.” The golem picked up the cups and placed them where Marlot had indicated.
The rest of the lunch went rather well, Marlot explained things to the golem when he asked or looked confused and Lilly spent the lunch speaking before she thought, more often than not insulting the golem now instead of Marlot.
“Lilly, can I talk to you outside. Golem, will you clean up please, like I showed you yesterday.”
“All of it Marlot?”
“Of course… ow.”
“Yes golem, all of them. Lilly, come with me.” Marlot grabbed Lilly’s arm where she had just pinched her.
Marlot could hear the golem pumping water into the sink and the sound of the dishes in the tub. “Lilly, I know you can’t help the way you are, and I know you are going to insult me on a fairly regular basis, but I would really appreciate you being nice to my golem. He can’t help it that he is kind of dull, he just came out of the cauldron yesterday and he is still learning. The last thing I want is for him to feel self conscious before he even knows what it means.”
“Marlot, I didn’t mean…”
“I know Lilly, but he means a lot to me, please just watch what you say.”
Marlot
A witch who is very proud of what she has done
Golem
A cheerful golem who is happy to learn
Lilly
A girl who needs to learn to watch her tongue
Knock, Knock, Knock
“Come in Lilly.”
Marlot looked up from her book and laughed at the golem who was the one who had invited Lilly in, and she was still laughing when Lilly came in looking confused.
“It worked!” she said when she saw the golem. “Hello, I’m Lilly.” She sounded almost seductive and held her hand out to him as though she wanted him to kiss it. He looked at her confused, his head once again tilted to the side.
“Hi Lilly.” He looked at her hand and then bent over and licked it.
“Golem!” Marlot yelled, still laughing, “What are you doing?”
“Jinx does that when I reach out for him.”
“That is because for some reason Jinx thinks you are delicious.”
“That’s because he is,” Marlot heard Lilly say under her breath; out loud she said “Oh my goodness Marlot, he is adorable.” She then took his hand and shook it.
“That is what you should have done,” Marlot told the golem.
“Thank you Marlot.”
“You’re welcome golem. You have to explain everything to him at this point,” she told Lilly. “He is still learning.”
“I like learning.” The golem said with his lopsided smile. Lilly almost seemed to melt on the spot and for some reason this aggravated Marlot.
“And you’re doing a fine job, conversation is the first step.” She ruffled the golem’s green hair as she walked past him and took the basket from Lilly.
“Why is his hair green?” Lilly whispered to her not letting go of the basket and pulling Marlot close.
“I think it is because I used branches from my enchanted apple tree to make him.”
“Interesting.” Lilly let go of the basket and Marlot laid out the lunch she had brought.
“Lunch,” the golem said happily, smiling at Marlot.
“Very good. Will you get some water for us? Use three cups from the cupboard over the sink.”
The golem got up and filled three cups with water and then just stood at the sink. “Golem, will you bring them over to the table and set them in front of our chairs.” Lilly was already sitting in her normal seat as was Marlot, an extra plate had been set up in front of the chair he had sat in the day before. Marlot was trying as hard as she could to make everything as easy on her golem as she could.
He walked over and looked at the table, his green eyebrows were knitted together in thought and finally he sat all three cups down in the middle of the table.
“What are you doing?” Lilly said patronizingly.
“Lilly, be nice. Golem, you should put one cup down in the top right corner of each of our plates.”
“Thank you Marlot.”
“I’m here to help.” The golem picked up the cups and placed them where Marlot had indicated.
The rest of the lunch went rather well, Marlot explained things to the golem when he asked or looked confused and Lilly spent the lunch speaking before she thought, more often than not insulting the golem now instead of Marlot.
“Lilly, can I talk to you outside. Golem, will you clean up please, like I showed you yesterday.”
“All of it Marlot?”
“Of course… ow.”
“Yes golem, all of them. Lilly, come with me.” Marlot grabbed Lilly’s arm where she had just pinched her.
Marlot could hear the golem pumping water into the sink and the sound of the dishes in the tub. “Lilly, I know you can’t help the way you are, and I know you are going to insult me on a fairly regular basis, but I would really appreciate you being nice to my golem. He can’t help it that he is kind of dull, he just came out of the cauldron yesterday and he is still learning. The last thing I want is for him to feel self conscious before he even knows what it means.”
“Marlot, I didn’t mean…”
“I know Lilly, but he means a lot to me, please just watch what you say.”
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Part 8 In which teaching is harder than it looks
Players:
Marlot
A witch who realizes that when making a friend you must first teach them to talk
Jinx
A cat with a fondness for a certain golem
Golem
The childlike creature now living in Marlot’s cabin
Interesting, thought Marlot, so that would explain why he picks up on certain words and seems to know what they mean. She looked over at her golem who was dressed in one of her black flowing robes and actually looked kind of cute with his green hair sticking up in all directions with Jinx in his lap.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, smiling at him.
He looked up, his head cocked to one side, “hungry?”
“Yes, um, does your stomach feel empty?”
He shook his head, “stomach?” he almost looked distressed, like he was trying to understand but just couldn’t.
Marlot stood up and walked over to him, “Yes stomach, it’s inside of you, here.” She put her hand over his stomach. “When you are hungry your stomach will feel empty and may even growl, then you know you need to eat.”
The golem put his hand over her’s and then looked into her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, his eyes were so deep and thoughtful and his hand was very warm. “Eat?” His head cocked to one side again but one side of his mouth was higher than the other in, what Marlot realized, was his trademark lopsided smile.
“I’ll make lunch.” She said, pulling her hand out from under his and walked into the kitchen.
She used a simple spell to quickly cook up some chicken that Lilly had brought over the day before and some vegetables from her garden. She placed two plates on the table and looked over at her golem. “Eat up.”
He looked so confused, “Eat up?” he asked.
“Yes, um,” she got up and shooed Jinx off his lap and then took his hands to help him stand. He was so thin, probably from the lack of clay she had used to make him, “come here.” She led him over to the table and to a seat next to her’s, “Sit.”
He did as he was told but still looked confused. “You eat like this.” She picked some chicken up off her plate and put it in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. He watched her every move, then reached over to her plate and picked up an identical piece of chicken and ate it. Marlot laughed. “No silly, you eat off your plate.” She reached over took some chicken off his plate and put it into his mouth, she felt his soft lips on her fingers and quickly pulled away. He shrugged and mirrored her movements, by putting chicken into her mouth; she almost choked on it she swallowed so fast. “No golem, you eat off your plate.” He sighed and as she ate off of her plate he ate off of his. Wow he does learn fast, she thought to herself.
As they ate Marlot explained what they were eating, about how the vegetables grew outside, where the chicken came from, and about Lilly. He listened intently and occasionally repeated a word or statement and she explained farther. When the finished eating she showed him how to clean up the dishes and explained why they needed to keep the kitchen clean, and that although bugs were useful in her potions they were not nice to have just wondering around the cabin.
“Potions?”
“You should actually say, ‘what are potions?’”
He smiled at Marlot, apparently thrilled to learn something new. “What are potions Marlot.”
“You know my name?” she asked surprised.
“Lilly says it when she talks.” His voice was sweet and hesitant, as though he had to think about every word before he said it.
“So you were listening while you were in the cauldron.”
He nodded cheerfully. “What are potions Marlot?” He asked again, his lopsided smile back in place.
Marlot
A witch who realizes that when making a friend you must first teach them to talk
Jinx
A cat with a fondness for a certain golem
Golem
The childlike creature now living in Marlot’s cabin
Golems learn by observation, much like children only much faster. Make sure you talk to your golem, as much as possible, and show them things, explain situations, and answer questions. The more you tell them the more they learn and the more they can do what they were made for. Eventually golems will develop a sense of self and will be able to make decisions on their own without your direction or input.
Golems can even learn while in incubation so be sure to talk to, or at least near your cauldron as much as possible, it will help the golem learn simple words and their meanings if nothing else. Always remember, golems are sentient beings, and are not animals that will have thoughts, feelings, and personalities unique to each one.
Interesting, thought Marlot, so that would explain why he picks up on certain words and seems to know what they mean. She looked over at her golem who was dressed in one of her black flowing robes and actually looked kind of cute with his green hair sticking up in all directions with Jinx in his lap.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, smiling at him.
He looked up, his head cocked to one side, “hungry?”
“Yes, um, does your stomach feel empty?”
He shook his head, “stomach?” he almost looked distressed, like he was trying to understand but just couldn’t.
Marlot stood up and walked over to him, “Yes stomach, it’s inside of you, here.” She put her hand over his stomach. “When you are hungry your stomach will feel empty and may even growl, then you know you need to eat.”
The golem put his hand over her’s and then looked into her eyes. Her breath caught in her throat, his eyes were so deep and thoughtful and his hand was very warm. “Eat?” His head cocked to one side again but one side of his mouth was higher than the other in, what Marlot realized, was his trademark lopsided smile.
“I’ll make lunch.” She said, pulling her hand out from under his and walked into the kitchen.
She used a simple spell to quickly cook up some chicken that Lilly had brought over the day before and some vegetables from her garden. She placed two plates on the table and looked over at her golem. “Eat up.”
He looked so confused, “Eat up?” he asked.
“Yes, um,” she got up and shooed Jinx off his lap and then took his hands to help him stand. He was so thin, probably from the lack of clay she had used to make him, “come here.” She led him over to the table and to a seat next to her’s, “Sit.”
He did as he was told but still looked confused. “You eat like this.” She picked some chicken up off her plate and put it in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. He watched her every move, then reached over to her plate and picked up an identical piece of chicken and ate it. Marlot laughed. “No silly, you eat off your plate.” She reached over took some chicken off his plate and put it into his mouth, she felt his soft lips on her fingers and quickly pulled away. He shrugged and mirrored her movements, by putting chicken into her mouth; she almost choked on it she swallowed so fast. “No golem, you eat off your plate.” He sighed and as she ate off of her plate he ate off of his. Wow he does learn fast, she thought to herself.
As they ate Marlot explained what they were eating, about how the vegetables grew outside, where the chicken came from, and about Lilly. He listened intently and occasionally repeated a word or statement and she explained farther. When the finished eating she showed him how to clean up the dishes and explained why they needed to keep the kitchen clean, and that although bugs were useful in her potions they were not nice to have just wondering around the cabin.
“Potions?”
“You should actually say, ‘what are potions?’”
He smiled at Marlot, apparently thrilled to learn something new. “What are potions Marlot.”
“You know my name?” she asked surprised.
“Lilly says it when she talks.” His voice was sweet and hesitant, as though he had to think about every word before he said it.
“So you were listening while you were in the cauldron.”
He nodded cheerfully. “What are potions Marlot?” He asked again, his lopsided smile back in place.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Part 7 In which Marlot’s creation is born
Players:
Marlot
A lonely witch who decided to literally ‘make’ her own friend
Jinx
A lazy cat who is always hungry
Golem
Marlot’s creation
This was it; the smoke had been a brilliant shade of violet for three days. According to the spell book the golem would actually rise out of the potion when he was ready. Marlot was giddy with excitement. She had asked Lilly to stay home today; she wanted to meet her golem on her own and didn’t want to be embarrassed if she had failed.
“Jinx are you ready?” She said grinning at her cat, who for once actually looked interested in something other than food or a toy.
The potion started to boil, something it hadn’t done up to this point, the violet smoke danced playfully and seemed to mirror her excitement. The bubbles grew bigger and the smoke started pouring over the sides, the fire below the caldron went out with a hiss as the potion started to pour out onto the floor and Marlot could swear that she saw something move and then suddenly that something broke the surface and she jumped with delight.
Its hair was so wet that she couldn’t determine what color it was yet, followed by a forehead, and closed eyes, a long thin nose and neck. Thin shoulders were next and a bare chest. Anything below his stomach was still under the potion.
Marlot stared at her creation for a moment, his skin was dark, as though he had a suntan that would never go away, and his hair was about an inch long and was plastered to his head. She whooped with joy and jumped up and down on the spot, this seemed to awaken the creature and mud brown eyes flickered open and he stared blankly back at her.
“I can’t believe it, you’re alive.”
The golem cocked his head to one side and then looked down at himself, examining his fingers and then dipping them into the potion that rose to his waist, then he looked at Marlot questioningly.
“Do you need help out?”
“Out?” he asked, his head cocked to one side again.
“Actually, let me get you a towel first.” She ran to her bedroom and pulled a towel out of her cabinet and then ran back to the kitchen. She giggled as she watched her golem reach his fingers toward Jinx who seemed fascinated by the creature and was licking his fingers eagerly.
“It’s good to see that you two get along.” The golem looked back at her, a crooked smile on his apple red lips. Marlot felt almost embarrassed as she threw the towel over his head which was only about two inches higher than her own and she rubbed his hair dry, he kept smiling and she thought she heard him laughing. When she pulled back the blanked he smiled up at her, that same crooked smile.
“Do you like that?” she giggled, his eyes were such a dark muddy brown, the same color as the mud she had used to make him. She flipped out the towel and placed it around his shoulders wrapping him tight. She looked back up and smiled at him and then noticed his hair. It was the same bright green as the leaves on her apple tree, and the branch she had used to form his head. “Oh my.” His smile faded and he looked confused again, his head tilted as he reached up to his hair. “Don’t worry golem, your hair is just a little, unexpected.”
“Unexpected?” he asked, his head still tilted, his fingers buried in his hair.
“Yes, unexpected. People don’t usually have green hair, blond, brown, black, even red are normal, but green not so much. Come on, I will help you out.” She took his hands and helped him step out of the cauldron. She tried not to look at the fact that he was male and that the snails and puppy dog tails had done their work. “We need to find you some clothes my friend. You can’t walk around in a towel all the time.”
“Clothes?”
Marlot bit her lip, wondering how golems learned and if it would be just a word at a time, or if he understood anything she said at all but just picked out words to repeat like a parrot. “Yes clothes, like my robes…which I think will probably work for you for the time being. I really didn’t think any of this through.”
The witch left to find a clean robe as Jinx continued bathing the golem by licking his toes; she could hear her creation giggling.
Marlot
A lonely witch who decided to literally ‘make’ her own friend
Jinx
A lazy cat who is always hungry
Golem
Marlot’s creation
This was it; the smoke had been a brilliant shade of violet for three days. According to the spell book the golem would actually rise out of the potion when he was ready. Marlot was giddy with excitement. She had asked Lilly to stay home today; she wanted to meet her golem on her own and didn’t want to be embarrassed if she had failed.
“Jinx are you ready?” She said grinning at her cat, who for once actually looked interested in something other than food or a toy.
The potion started to boil, something it hadn’t done up to this point, the violet smoke danced playfully and seemed to mirror her excitement. The bubbles grew bigger and the smoke started pouring over the sides, the fire below the caldron went out with a hiss as the potion started to pour out onto the floor and Marlot could swear that she saw something move and then suddenly that something broke the surface and she jumped with delight.
Its hair was so wet that she couldn’t determine what color it was yet, followed by a forehead, and closed eyes, a long thin nose and neck. Thin shoulders were next and a bare chest. Anything below his stomach was still under the potion.
Marlot stared at her creation for a moment, his skin was dark, as though he had a suntan that would never go away, and his hair was about an inch long and was plastered to his head. She whooped with joy and jumped up and down on the spot, this seemed to awaken the creature and mud brown eyes flickered open and he stared blankly back at her.
“I can’t believe it, you’re alive.”
The golem cocked his head to one side and then looked down at himself, examining his fingers and then dipping them into the potion that rose to his waist, then he looked at Marlot questioningly.
“Do you need help out?”
“Out?” he asked, his head cocked to one side again.
“Actually, let me get you a towel first.” She ran to her bedroom and pulled a towel out of her cabinet and then ran back to the kitchen. She giggled as she watched her golem reach his fingers toward Jinx who seemed fascinated by the creature and was licking his fingers eagerly.
“It’s good to see that you two get along.” The golem looked back at her, a crooked smile on his apple red lips. Marlot felt almost embarrassed as she threw the towel over his head which was only about two inches higher than her own and she rubbed his hair dry, he kept smiling and she thought she heard him laughing. When she pulled back the blanked he smiled up at her, that same crooked smile.
“Do you like that?” she giggled, his eyes were such a dark muddy brown, the same color as the mud she had used to make him. She flipped out the towel and placed it around his shoulders wrapping him tight. She looked back up and smiled at him and then noticed his hair. It was the same bright green as the leaves on her apple tree, and the branch she had used to form his head. “Oh my.” His smile faded and he looked confused again, his head tilted as he reached up to his hair. “Don’t worry golem, your hair is just a little, unexpected.”
“Unexpected?” he asked, his head still tilted, his fingers buried in his hair.
“Yes, unexpected. People don’t usually have green hair, blond, brown, black, even red are normal, but green not so much. Come on, I will help you out.” She took his hands and helped him step out of the cauldron. She tried not to look at the fact that he was male and that the snails and puppy dog tails had done their work. “We need to find you some clothes my friend. You can’t walk around in a towel all the time.”
“Clothes?”
Marlot bit her lip, wondering how golems learned and if it would be just a word at a time, or if he understood anything she said at all but just picked out words to repeat like a parrot. “Yes clothes, like my robes…which I think will probably work for you for the time being. I really didn’t think any of this through.”
The witch left to find a clean robe as Jinx continued bathing the golem by licking his toes; she could hear her creation giggling.
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