Joshua loved staying with his grandmother near the forest. She allowed him to trek through the dense forest paths in the day time. One day, Joshua and the gardener’s daughter, Mary, ventured deep into the forest. Dusk set in, and the forest fell silent. As the children hurried back, sparkling lights caught their eyes. The air was full of merry voices and smell of food. The children crept forward. Green lamps hung from the branches. A bonfire blazed in the middle. Little midgets, dressed in colourful clothes, sang. Lured by the sight, the children ran to greet them. As soon as they stepped into the clearing, the lights went out. The voices died out. There was pitch darkness. Baffled, Joshua switched on his torch and looked around. There was fire, no food, no little folk. The frightened children ran home and were glad to hear their parents’ voices. They never forgot what they saw that night.
The Vanishing Folk
