Image: © Mara Eastern (Used with permission)
My first night in the big smoke turned out to be literally that.
Feeling confident and hearing that the night life in the city was something to behold I ventured out making sure of the landmarks as I passed by them.
After a time I realised I was totally mesmerised by the lights and the colourful characters around me. I lost track of time and more importantly, direction.
Around midnight I became aware of a thick fog descending on the city. It was so thick I couldn’t see more than an arm’s length in front of me.
I thought it best to stick to the walls; at least then, I figured I might not run into people. But everyone had the same idea, and I was constantly bumping into folk trying to find their way home.
My phone had a GPS on it, and I fed in my desired location and looked at the screen. A message appeared: “Atmospheric conditions prevent Maps from operating. Try again later.”
I was hopelessly lost and found a seat in a doorway to wait and see if the fog lifted.
It didn’t.
A group of drunken young people came by, lost as much as I was except one of their group was sure of the way home. They soon disappeared into the gloom with the voice of one girl complaining vigorously, “Damien you better know where you are going.” Soon after I heard screams, and then a splash and I hoped it wasn’t them, or maybe it was the whinging girl.
I had recently been reading John Wyndham’s ‘The Day of the Triffids’, and the thought struck me that tonight would be an ideal time for an attack. Thankfully, I thought, it was just a story. Then there was a sound beside me, and I was struck with terror.
What was it?
It was uncomfortably close, and I trembled in fear.
“Terrible night isn’t it,” said a voice in my ear.
“What? Who are you?” I asked loudly in the hope that someone might hear me and come to my rescue.
“Fog Fairy,” the voice answered, “but don’t worry I’m pretty harmless. I don’t mean to frighten you just every time this happens no ever bothers to stop by on the seat you know. I get very lonely hiding out until the fog comes in. And even then people go indoors, and I’m still just as lonely as ever. I did hear you thinking about Triffids, and yes I agree with you, scary things.”
“That’s ludicrous,” I answered, “there’s no such thing as a fog fairy.”
“They once said that about black holes, they once said the earth was flat,” said the Fog Fairy, “not everything is made up you know.”
“Well I’m lost, and I need, no I want to get back to my hotel.”
“Which hotel would that be?”
“The Astor,” I found myself saying.
“Just around the corner,” the Fog Fairy announced.
“Which corner, I can’t see anything.”
“Here put these on, they will help,” said the Fog Fairy handing me a pair of unusual glasses with the thickest lenses.
I put them on, and suddenly everything was crystal clear.
“These are amazing,” I declared. I found myself following the Fog Fairy, a tiny man about two feet tall and dressed immaculately in a three-piece suit. My hotel loomed in front of me and felt extremely grateful for his help.
Once we arrived at the door, he took back his glasses, and I expressed my gratitude.
He wouldn’t take money, said he had no need of it, but he did say: “Say nothing of this encounter with me. Word gets around, and there’s no telling what trouble that will bring. Once inside you’ll forget me for at least ten years. I did enjoy our little chat, goodbye,” he called as he rounded the corner into the fog.
All that happened on my visit to the city in 2008.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/tale-weaver-166-a-cold-and-foggy-night/
Delightful and atmospheric. Quite believable that strange creatures are lurking un the gloom. Curiius ti see what happens in ten years.
Thanks so much Jan.
I enjoyed it Michael.
And you’ve only just remembered. Great tale I hope there are no reprecussions to you tell us about this little guy!!
Well he could have turned me into a frog 🐸
Luckily he didn’t 😊
Ah, so you have just remembered.
It was a case of wanting to respond to the image and then, like some form of epiphany it all came back to me.
Nice one Michael. Everyone needs a bit a company once in a while. 😀
Yes you never know how it might turn out.
Very good story. Good he didn’t guide you into the abyss.
No most helpful little chap. But one would expect that from a fairy in a three piece suit.
Great! You excel at everything from personal experience to yarn-spinning.
Thanks Reena, you are very kind.
Michael, your wonderful imagination is working well today 😀
Thanks Lyn I had a good time today.
OMG, this is amazing! I have some much fun with your whimsical writing! Fog and triffids, things I’m terrified of – yet your story made me laugh. I was imagining myself getting lost in the fog – because I’m the kind of person who gets lost even when there is no fog. I get lost in my home town. Though, fortunately, I don’t get lost at home. Yet.
Thank you for your lovely comment, knowing you had a laugh makes me feel happy. And I am relieved you don’t get lost at home.
Another enlightening delight 🙂
Thanks Jules
Enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading Stevie.
You’re welcome.
Hi Michael – Thank you for linking and sharing your post at the Senior Salon. I hope your followers will read this and also participate. Thanks again
Now that was a very convenient fairy to meet. I wonder how he would be with helping a person out of their mental fog?
They’d come in handy wouldn’t they.
Very entertaining. Thanks. Now, if only I could come upon a snow fairy . . .
I’ll have a look around though there isn’t much call for snow fairies in my part of the world. Thanks Janet for stopping by.
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lovely little story! I enjoyed it immensely. xxx