Strangers In The Night

He grinned back at her saying, “Let’s go and see if we can find something to eat!”

They climbed the one step up to the veranda built out in front of the shop before entering the door. A bell tied above rang loudly as they entered, alerting the little round man with pink cheeks at the back of the shop of their presence.

“What can we do for you?" the little man cried out with a happy melodious voice.

“What could we buy to eat?” he said.

“There is no need to buy anything, good sir. I have just baked some new cookies which need a good taster. I pricked them and patted them and marked them with a “B” but perhaps you could tell me how they tickle the taste buds?” he asked, his head on one side.

“That would be wonderful! Thank you so much!” she said, trying hard to remember why this all seemed so familiar.

They took the warm cookies offered and once more stepped outside, nibbling on them. “These are good!” he said, she nodded, her mouth too full to agree.

A jingling, jangling of metal and thud of hooves, heralded soldiers on horseback. They were dressed in blue with red capes while shouting that he had done it again. Some of the villagers threw their hands up in the air in despair before muttering among themselves. One fellow walked past with determination. He had armed himself with a large roll of sticky plaster. When she asked him what had happened, he answered with exasperation that the silly egghead had fallen off the wall again.

With that they saw a spoon walking into town followed closely by a cow, dragging a moon attached to one leg. A cat was playing a mournful tune on a fiddle, resting on the cow’s back. He felt he was losing his mind! This was a scene out of a nursery story. He looked at her and saw her face was shining with delight.

“This is so strange,” she said. “Where have all our studies taken us? Huh? Into a tale beyond our understanding? Radical!”

“I don’t know what to think!” he said shaking his head, “but we must find our way back to the university library.”

They began to retrace their steps. They noticed three new houses had gone up in the time they had been in the village. There was one made of straw, one of sticks and one with bricks. All had a trail of smoke lazily exiting the chimney.

“I really don’t want to be part of the rest of the story,” she said, looking around nervously. ”I have always been afraid of the wolf part!”

“Don’t worry“ he said reassuringly, holding her hand even tighter, ”I will look after you.”

They were climbing the hill, puffing a bit when suddenly a young girl, wearing a red cape and carrying a basket came through the trees on the crest of the hill. She held a small bunch of wild flowers in her hand.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” he said nervously, fully agreeing with her sentiment. They ran the rest of the way over the hill before bumping into the tree the goose had flown from before. The university campus was spread out before them. The stars were shining just as they had been when they had first seen the goose and there was the moon.

He hadn’t let go of her hand and she felt safe. They walked back to the lamp that had led them into this weird unknown world.

Under the light he stopped and looked at her. A song began within his heart as he continued to gaze at her. It just seemed so appropriate!

“Strangers in the night, exchanging glances, wondering in the night, what were the chances……” he hummed under his breath.

She smiled, gazing back at him, before picking up on the song too.

Anyway that‘s the story my parents always told us kids. As the eldest daughter I always loved it as it seemed so appropriate for two people who have loved each other so much for so many years. That song is theirs and they still sing to each other, acknowledging that magic night enabled them to meet each other at the university library.

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