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Shaggy Old Dog.
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Bern's Fairy Tales.
- Shaggy Old Dog.
- The prickling sensation in the back of my neck got worse, I quickly looked around, was I being followed? All I saw behind me was a shaggy old dog it looked as if it could do with first a wash then a good solid meal. The feeling in my neck continued and all I could see was a shaggy old dog walking behind me. Shrugging my shoulders I continued on to the shops and bought the necessary groceries for the coming week.
- Needless to say the dog followed me from shop to shop and stood patiently waiting until I had finished my shopping and followed me to the next shop. I still had this feeling of danger but as my next shop was a Butcher I went in and bought a large bone. Going to the door of the shop I threw the bone to the dog. To my surprise the dog completely ignored the bone. I told the Butcher of the dogs behaviour and he came himself to look at the dog that ignored a huge bone. When you leave said the Butcher use the back door that might get rid of the dog for you.
- I left the Butchers and made my way back home, as I reached my home the dog was following me he had his nose to the ground and I managed to get into my garden and close the gate. I am not frightened of dogs but I had this strange feeling that there was more to this dog than meets the eye. I left the dog sitting outside of my garden gate while I went indoors to put my groceries away. I could not just leave the dog there so I got a bowl of fresh water and some pieces of meat and placed them on the pavement in front of the dog. More I could not do.
- I made my lunch and after eating my meal I went out to the garden and saw that the dog was still there but it had not touched the water or eaten of the meat. I forgot all about danger and went outside and took the dog by the collar and led him into my garden. The water and meat I brought in from the pavement and placed them on the floor in front of him. He was filthy dirty and my one wish was to wash him thoroughly. I took a bathtub and some shampoo and filling the bathtub with warm water I placed the dog into the bath.
- For the first time the dog wagged its tail I washed him and dried him and gave him from the meat. He now ate the meat and drank the water. Looking at me with his big brown eyes he barked. His bark was soft and easy on my ears then I realised that the dog was trying to talk to me. I got my Magic wand and waved it at the dog. The dog turned into a young man and this is the story he told me.
- He was an apprentice to a Wizard. That meant he had to obey all that the Wizard told him to do. The Wizard had turned him into a dog and told him to watch all that I did he was not to eat or drink before he had found out all about me. The Wizard was a very wicked man and for any little thing that the apprentice did wrong he was punished. He had of course not found out much about me and I told the apprentice if he wanted to go back working for the man I would give him many a story for the Wizard to think about.
- The apprentice had, had enough of the Wizard and wanted to go back home to his Mum and Dad and his Brothers and Sisters. That is no problem I will send you back to your home but before I do so I would like for you to look into my Magic Mirror and think about the Wizard. The Apprentice looked into my mirror and flinched when he first saw his wicked old Wizard. “Do not be afraid he cannot hurt or even see you, you are quite safe here with me.” This quietened the boy down and together we watched the Wizard. He was busy mixing some powders and leaves together the whole thing he grounded down in a mortar. Soon smoke came out of the mixture and I realised that the Wizard was looking for the dog his apprentice and me. I placed the mirror back into my pocket and took out my magic wand.
- Waving my wand I spoke a spell that Queen Feeana had told me while learning magic. I took out my mirror again and saw the Wizard turn into a dog. Now I can send you home. The Wizard now runs around on four legs like you were doing when following me. I think that is a just punishment for such an evil man. I then waved my wand once again and the young man vanished I had sent him back to his family. I had by using my magic wand at the same time given him the knowledge of how to build houses now he has a real trade that he can do and earn enough money to help keep his family until his brothers and Sisters are grown up.
- The Wizard is still running around the streets always afraid that one of the animal rescue workers will catch him and place him in a dogs home for strays. That is I think a fitting punishment for such a wicked man.
