‘Do you think we could picnic here, below this bridge?’
‘Looks good to me, though the idea of stopping near a bridge as old as this one takes me back to the stories of my childhood about trolls who would want payment to cross the bridge?’
‘But we aren’t going to cross the bridge we are stopping below the bridge on this patch of grass not hurting anyone.’
Seemed a fair idea to me so we set out the picnic stuff.
After a while she said, ‘You know that troll stuff you were talking about before?’
‘Yes.’
‘ There’s this weird guy standing over there with a large name badge that’s says Al, the friendly troll.’
‘What?’ I exclaimed!
‘It’s ok folks,’ said Al the friendly troll, ‘Just making sure you are both ok and enjoying the sun next to my bridge. It’s the twenty-first century you know and we trolls are all friendly. Here shake my hand and be on your way, when you are ready.’
‘Could you believe that?’
‘What a quaint custom.’
We laughed about it but stopped as we watched Al disappear into the brickwork of the bridge.
Morpethroad 
Definitely a friendly troll, me 🙂
Thanks mate I couldn’t resist either, let the world know we trolls are all the friendly sort.
Oh yes indeedy
This is good. It has a feel good vibe. Al had the troll shake hands in his story. Is there any significance?
I think you’re missing me in this sentence – Seemed a fair idea to so we set out the picnic stuff.
Thank you my editor, I think that is the second time you have saved me,thank you again.
If you go back to my Seaman haibun you’ll see.
I hope you don’t mind. I miss a lot in my work and appreciates. when someone points out my oversights. Okay I’m going to have to check it out.
Not at all. Go see if you are any the wiser.
Nope. All I learner is that the trolls are not the con men who barter for riches. So I guess the handshake is to prove them gentlemen.
The thing is that the trolls are ok, not nasty creatures like in the older stories. The trolls in the Seaman were benevolent not malevolent. That was our point about them. Ok?
Yes I understand. 🙂
Trolls are everywhere…
You have to keep your eyes open don’t you. Good thing it’s a friendly 21st century, up with times one.
He he…like your troll! I don’t think they are usually so friendly though? …of course most Al’s I know are pretty friendly! 🙂
Thank you Courtney and that’s exactly the point, friendly 21st century troll, upwardly mobile you might say.
yay for a troll that keeps up with the times I say! One who isn’t nasty or deceitful ~ always a good thing. 🙂
Thank you Jenny it’s a new age trolls are no longer the bad guys.
hmm the bed guys? Perhaps they try and bed…but we chickies are smart 😉
Not sure I understand, maybe after all your hard work today and injury your eyes are failing you???
read your comment
I did don’t see any beds in it…lol
you bugga
Very charming tale!
Thank you Yves, charming as in good I hope. We are changing peoples perceptions of trolls.
Of course it’s good! I am happy to hear that =)
For too long they have been seen as ugly and gross creatures, we we trolls may still be ugly but gross we are not.
hehe I just watched that movie Frozen or was it Frost? Well they had friendly trolls so the word is getting out
I rest my case!
=)
Good story, Michael. at least he didn’t want to steal their picnic. Trolls are notoriously hungry 😀
We are changing the perception of trolls if you read my Seaman haibun from last week.
Sounds like a lovable troll. 🙂
Oh yes RoSy the image of the troll is about to change, they are more loveable than you’d believe.
Good to know that I can now walk over bridges worry-free!
Provided you shake the trolls hand,easy peasey
Got it!
You never know he might have my face, scary I know but friendly all the same.
Nice to see trolls have mellowed through the ages! I was worried he was going to whip out a credit card machine to take their payment 🙂
No but not a bad idea, we are attempting to change the image of trolls. They have had a bad wrap for far too long.