The merry town of Bedlam was protected by a wall so all the inhabitants could feel secure. Many years had past since the wall was needed and the wall was in a poor state of repair. Holes in the wall were repaired with canvas ,which was cheaper than rebuilding, and stopped the dust being blown in from the fields.
One evening a shadow appeared on the canvas , and all the people gathered round to watch. The shadow was very tall ,as high as the wall , and nearly the same width. The large head was round on the top , but the sides were straight until they met the huge shoulders. In one hand it carried a round knobbly object on a shaft. In the other hand was a square. Strange noises were heard ,with much shouting and high pitched screams . Flashes of light and loud bangs filled the air .
As suddenly as the shadow appeared it went , leaving the people speechless for a while , then they all started to speak at once
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“quiet , please “demanded the mayor of the town
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An old woman came forward and stood on a pile of rubble . In a feeble and shaking voice she called out “ I have seen this before , we are to be invaded .The shadow belongs to a warrior”.
“yes she right , it is obvious .”the people called .
The old woman spoke again “ Did you see the size of the warrior , as big as the wall .”
“yes yes “they all agreed
“Did you see the warriors helmet , with the visor down ready for action “ she yelled
“yes ,yes, we saw, we saw.” they all screamed .
“Did you see the giant mace , to club you to death , and the square shield to push you aside”
“yes, yes, we saw, we saw.” They all shouted.
The mayor of the town called for silence ,” My friends ,we are about to be invaded this is what we must do. Tonight we must mobilise our army , and strike at the enemy before morning , while they sleep ,and before they can attack us. All must be killed , men, women, and children ,as a warning against further atrocities. We must send out envoys to all other towns to warn of the treachery of these people out side our wall. We must learn how to ambush , and attack without warning , to be as cruel and fearless as our enemies. We must rebuild our defences ,and prepare for a siege, in case we are counter attacked. We must warn all communities of the tactics of these evil people so they can be on guard. We must be on guard against lies and dishonesty of our enemies . We must censor our mail to ensure no secrets are given to our foe , and must be forever vigilant. We have been given a sign and a chance to win over our evil enemies , God is on our side . We are at war ,tonight we be our first battle , the future belongs to us.
Tomorrow will be a day to remember !
Out side the wall , it is the birthday of Alice. For her sixth birthday she received a new dress with long sleeves , and a ribbon of satin for her long blonde hair. To remind the family of the day , a photograph was taken , using the white canvas of the old wall for a back drop.
The light was poor , extra lighting was brought in to shine on Alice . She sat on a stool in front of the camera, with the light casting a shadow on the canvas behind . The satin ribbon could clearly be seen from the front, as the bow was wider than Alice’s head. In her right hand she held a sunflower, the sign of hope and love . In her left hand she held a book of poems, the symbol of knowledge, as is the custom for all six year olds entering the age of childhood .
All children attended the Birthday party , the games were played with gusto ,and much screeching and laughing. Toy trumpets and rattles were played at irregular intervals when ever a child felt the urge to make a noise. Fireworks , dancing and good food was available for all.
The harvest had been good this year. Under the protection of the good towns people of Bedlam . All available men folk had been able to work the land with no threat from outside. For the first time in many years there was more than enough food for all the community to last until the next harvest , with a good deal more to spare . The bumper harvest was due to the protection of the town , so at midday the towns people will be presented with a gift of food , and festival will be held in their honour.
The birthday party for Alice was to be the first celebration of a week full of festivities. That evening they returned to their houses contented and happy .
Tomorrow would be a day to remember !
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