Veri Peri

In central Sylvania there is a small village called Stonehaven, a small village that has played a significant part in the evolution of Mellowdene. This was because of a number of critters who chose to move from there to here.

The first was Gustav Timbertop and his wife Fern. They came to assist a distant relative on his small holding. My earlier story on Timbertop Farm gives details. Amongst other things, it tells how Gus needed help and called upon two other residents of Stonehaven to give temporary assistance. These were two rabbits who were friends from his old band Bear Banger and the Bunny Boys. He didn't expect the other two band members to accompany them.

These four rabbits - Winston Cottontail, Smokey Wildwood, Bernard Snow-Warren and Mack Periwinkle - subsequently decided they would leave Stonehaven permanently and remain in Mellowdene.

 

You shouldn't imply from this that they didn't like their old home. There were practical reasons they left - space and resources. As the name suggests, Stonehaven is in a mountainous region, and the vast rocky areas meant expansion of the village was far from practical. As the population grew, the villagers had to live closer together - not a problem socially, but the availability of water and farmland placed restrictions.

These were considerations when planning to have a family. Mack Periwinkle had a new wife Mabel, and it would only be a matter of time until the other Bunny Boys would get married and wish to start families. This was the prime motivation for staying in Mellowdene. Besides, they had made friends in their new home.

Not all young critters wanted to leave Stonehaven, which was just as well - it is a lovely village - but a few others took inspiration from the Bunny Boys' migration. The Honeydews and the Thistlethorns are but two.

One could argue Stonehaven's loss was our gain as Mellowdene acquired people who would contribute to our growth. As one of our major food producers, Timbertop Farm is a given, but each new family added to the richness of our community. The Wildwoods alone gave us the brickworks to help our village build new homes, an excellent Sheriff in Bisto Wildwood, and a marvellous teacher in Eve Wildwood. On a personal note, had the Snow-Warrens not moved here, I wouldn't have made songwriting my career.

Overpopulating Stonehaven may have been valid concern given the size of the families associated with the Bunny Boys. The Periwinkles and Honeydews appear to be forming a dynasty! (Although I should talk considering the number of the Buttergloves living here...)

By now, you may be wondering why I have told you this. It relates to one of these families - the Periwinkles - and one of that family who chose to remain in Stonehaven. Mack's unmarried sister Verity.

 

 

o 0 O 0 o

 

The Periwinkles gather every five years or so to celebrate their arrival in Mellowdene. They reserve the village hall for this purpose and arrange for special cakes to be made. As Katherine Periwinkle is a member of the Cake Club, she usually adopts responsibility for providing these and she co-opts some of her Cake Club friends to assist. Cecile is one of these.

 

This year, the event was particularly special as Verity Periwinkle decided she would make the effort to attend. One of her nephews - Adam Periwinkle - had rented a car to transport her, easing any of her perceived travelling woes. After the trials she had declared following her first family visit, this had become the norm.

 

Cecile told me what happened at the village hall.

o 0 O 0 o

"You've not met Auntie Verity, have you, Cecile?" asked Katherine.

 

"No. Is she like Mack?"

"Er, no. She is... definitely not like him."

"Ooh, am I detecting a hint of disapproval?"

 

"No, no, Cecile," Katherine smiled, "Let's just say she is well-named. She tells the truth as she sees it - with no filter."

"Ah. A straightforward lady. Will I get to meet her? I presume she doesn't visit often."

"We bring her over as much as we can, but it's usually only family she sees. This is a higher profile event and she'll see nearly all the Periwinkles and Honeydews. And as for you meeting her, now that I've warned you, I see no reason why you shouldn't."

"Consider me warned," laughed Cecile, "And you said 'Nearly all'?"

 

"We've decided my twins are too small to come. Pinkie and Dinkie would find it too overwhelming. My mum and dad will take care of them."

"So Selina and Selwyn won't be here either."

 

"Oh, the Honeydews will be well represented. My brothers are coming with the family."

"Ah."

 

o 0 O 0 o

The family was well represented. Sawyer Honeydew had made some nibbles. Everett Honeydew came with his wife and children.

 

Mack and Mabel Periwinkle were smiling ear to ear as they surveyed their three sons' families - scattered about the village hall, the children moving between the groups like bees visiting flowers.

 

Alex Periwinkle was trying not to organise too obviously, but his experience as a teacher was key to the children not getting overexcited. 

 

Allen Periwinkle had his arm around his wife Katherine, enjoying the socialising. 

 

 

Everyone was awaiting Adam Periwinkle's arrival with his aunt, so his wife Evelyn had her eyes on their children.

 

Cecile was with Emma Furbanks as the other Cake Club representative, watching inobtrusively from the kitchen area. They were keen to see Veri Peri - as Mabel Periwinkle (but few others) called her.

 

They didn't have long to wait. The village hall's outer door opened and a voice rang out.
"Well, it smells of rabbit in here."

 

Mack yacked out with laughter and half ran to his sister to give her a hug. Mabel shook her head with amusement, responding in a clear voice. "That might be, Veri Peri, because we're all rabbits."

 

This seemed to set the tone of the afternoon. Verity would make a pointed observation that would be greeted with humour and acceptance, no offence being taken, with Mabel occasionally diluting the effect of her sister-in-law's comments.

 

Evelyn Periwinkle asked her husband about the drive from Stonehaven.

 

 

"As you know," said Adam, "Auntie Verity does have opinions on driving. She likes to be travelling slowly and smoothly near villages..."

 

"As one should," commented Evelyn.

 

"...but she wants to go very fast on long straight stretches. It's just as well that I'm aware of her foibles. Today's journey was uneventful, other than the running commentary on her life in Stonehaven."

 

    
Youngsters James and Barry Periwinkle were talking to their great-aunt.

 

 

"Auntie Veri," said James, "why don't you move to Mellowdene?"

 

She regarded them, half-closing one eye. "There are too many annoying Periwinkle children here."

Open-mouthed, the boys swivelled their heads to look at each other before returning their gaze to Verity. Her face was solemn, and she waited until one of the children was about to speak before rewarding them with a wink. They collapsed in peals of laughter.

 

"It's a fair question," said Allen, who had been listening. "Are there any other Periwinkles in Stonehaven these days?"

 

"It's not just family," said Verity, "although you've conveniently forgotten my mother's side of the family. Remember that she was Agnes Milk before she married a Periwinkle, and there are a number of Milk rabbits still happy there. Georgina Milk is not only family, she's also a good friend. And I do have plenty of friends, nephew."

 

"We like to see you," said Barry.

"And you will. I visit, don't I? I've no plans to change that. If nothing else I need to continue to train your father into improving his driving."

Verity scanned the hall, watching her young relatives interact, and her eyes paused upon one young rabbit dancing around, pirouetting periodically.

 

She nudged Barry. "Remind me. Who's that crazy girl dancing about over there?"

"Oh, that's my cousin, Britney Honeydew. She's not really crazy, auntie. She just..."

"Yes, yes. I remember. She's following her heart. Good for her."

Coincidentally, another Honeydew was winding his way towards Verity Periwinkle. Button Honeydew.

He stopped directly in front of her, and thrust out his hand, showing her a matchbox.

 

"I've got a present for you, Auntie Verity," he said.

Verity took the box, hearing it rattle. "Matches?"

 

Button shook his head. "No. Look."

Verity carefully slid open the matchbox tray and looked inside. "Little nails? I don't understand."

 

"It's because of something mummy said. 'A shame you didn't have more tacked,' she said. Well now you've got some tacks to do your jobs. If you need more, I can get you some."

The side of Verity's mouth twitched. "Your mother said that, did she? And you are..."

"Button Honeydew."

"Well, Button. Thank you for your present. It would seem that not all of my relatives are boring. I like you."

"I like you, Auntie Verity."

 

"You can call me Veri Peri. Tell me about your mummy..."

o 0 O 0 o

Cecile didn't get to meet Verity Periwinkle. Seeing the family interactions between the Periwinkles and Honeydews she decided that she wouldn't intrude. She and Emma Furbanks did get a name check for helping to provide such tasty cakes, and that was enough.

 

"She seems a character," said Emma.

"Worth writing about," said Cecile with a secret smile.

So we did.

o 0 O 0 o

Morning Activities

Over the last few months I've had growing doubts about my writing. I think it was since I realised that my readers are humans. Was I making too many assumptions about our Sylvanian way of life? Were there things here so different that they were incomprehensible to my readership?

Darcy had shrugged and said that the viewing statistics suggested otherwise, but I wasn't reassured. That duty fell to Tara Lapine-Frost. Whilst she'd been staying with Nigel Snow-Warren to recuperate from her leg injury, she'd periodically been wheeled in her chair to our house where our chats were extensive and varied. She's nearly healed now, using a cane in these last stages, but something she said makes me think she'd like our social contact to continue.

"I like talking to you, Jackson. Trying to explain things to you - many of which I took for granted - is letting me appreciate them from a different angle. The added clarity is quite refreshing and I sometimes gain extra insight. Apart from that, there's really only you and Cecile that I can talk to about my... job. And before you say anything, I will include Nigel when I can find the right words."

 

As well as being very capable, Tara has gained valuable knowledge about aspects of human life and she's sharing some of that with me. She was trained by the Mist Cats before she ever ventured into the human realm, and even they are impressed by what she has learned since. For her to be alone to do her scientific foraging they must have confidence in her. The more she tells me, the less concerned I become about the content of my writing. 

 

 

o 0 O 0 o 

I understand the reaction to mornings in the human world are as varied as they are here. In winter, when nights are long and dawn is at its latest, many Sylvanians prefer to snuggle down in their beds until the sun peeps over the horizon. Sometimes even I'm tempted. Generally speaking, our sense of responsibility gets us moving. Well - most of the time!

Summer is different. A few of us argue it is responsible to ensure we have our full quota of sleep, but the early risers are in the majority - eager to enjoy the daylight hours we are given. Even my children.

Beverley likes to visit the Water Mill Bakery bright and early. Even on schooldays she has taken it upon herself to visit the bakery and bring back freshly made pastries to contribute to our breakfast. She says she likes chatting to the other early risers.

Brendan likes to meet up with his chum Lucky Snow-Warren and walk around the village green, making up stories and games that they will be able to enact later on. Sometimes they meet Ernest Evergreen on his traditional early morning treks. Ernest is grandfather to the Evergreen grey bear family. He says his wife - Primrose - likes him out from under her feet whilst she prepares for the day ahead, so that works out quite well. Brendan and Lucky enjoy meeting him because he is full of stories about his early life, and he has a humorous turn of phrase.

 

I like to get my household chores out of the way, and sometimes Cecile and I work side by side to free up time for the rest of the day. We like doing this, although sometimes we will break off for cuddles time! 

 

 

Once we've done the necessary jobs (and sometimes a bit more) we can move on. Cecile can concentrate on her hobbies, cake work and meeting her friends. I can resume my songwriting and music practice - but that extends to seeking inspiration wherever that may be in Mellowdene. Many times, my work partner and pal Chris Snow-Warren is part of this. 

Of course, we share Butterglove House with my elder brother and his family. Merlin and I like to spend time together but mornings isn't the best time for that - he will be spending quality time with Eliza and Orton before he goes to work at the library.

Our youngest - Russell - attends nursery, and on the relevant days he'll be taken there by either Cecile, Eliza or me.

 

You might think none of this is particularly exciting. It isn't. It's comfortable. It's a loving way of life. And I wouldn't change a thing.

I asked Tara about human mornings when she visited yesterday. As I said, she no longer uses the wheelchair, relying solely on a walking cane that she is eager to reject as soon as practicable. Regarding human mornings, she didn't have much information but did offer some thoughts.

 

 

"They seem more rushed. Things to do. Not as much time to enjoy life like we Sylvanians."

If that's the case for you, you have my sympathy. As I've said, I don't know much about your world other than a few insights Tara has shared and will continue to share. I can only wish that your mornings become as happy as mine.

Take care.

 

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