A Tale of Two Illusions

A little tale of Illusions

Once upon a time there was a young girl called Penny who lived in a special village. This village was special because all the people helped each other and worked together to keep the village a special place. In the village there was no malice, jealousy, anger, violence, no negativity or hatred. Food was abundant and plentiful and everyone shared. Everyone got along and rejoiced in their good fortune living in such a blessed place, little realising that it was a blessed place because of the people.

Beyond the village was a dark wood and Penny was told never to go beyond the edge of the wood because it wasn’t protected by the village. Being an obedient girl Penny did as she was told. However, one day her pet parrot flew into the wood. Now she loved her parrot and so, thinking she would be very quick, she crossed the boundary and followed her parrot into the deep dark wood.

She walked for ages and eventually came to a derelict cottage with bars at the windows and a garden overgrown with brambles ands bushes and trees. As Penny walked up the path the door opened and a little old lady with white hair and a cheery face came out. Penny asked the old lady if she had seen her parrot ..

’ No’ was the reply.

The old lady invites Penny inside to see inside her beautiful cottage and to have a biscuit and a drink. Rather doubtfully Penny goes inside and just for a moment sees a derelict cottage with no fire or lights and bars at the windows and a dead cat by the hearth. She ask the little old lady If she is ok and can she help her .

The little old lady replies that she is perfectly happy with her beautiful cosy cottage, she has all she needs, water in the well, food in her beautiful garden, her loving pet cat and her wonderful blind and deaf husband that she cares for and loves. As she describes it Penny sees it just as the old lady describes it but because she is a wise girl, she realises it is all an illusion and that the old lady can’t see the truth of her life or the derelict cottage or the bars at the windows keeping her there.

She thanks the little old lady, says goodbye and leaves. As she returns along the path her parrot is waiting for her and she asks him why he went there. He says that he wanted her to see the little old lady because so many people in the world live in an illusion just like that.

Sue Stothard

December 2018