A Reality Check Bed-Time Story by the Brothers Grimm

[livebuzzwords]

A Reality Check Bed-Time Story

By the Brothers Grimm

 

Once upon a time, in a tiny hamlet known as Normalville, there lived a maiden named Ally and a woodcarver called Bruster. Both lived miles apart and had never met but shared the same dreams at night when they gazed up at the night-time stars. Ally was enchanting and was a curious soul by nature while Bruster was quick with a word and an action. Ally lived in a ruinous old castle in the heart of the town while Bruster’s modest three bedroom flat lay on the outskirts of town.

 

They were strangers but they shared many similarities unbeknownst to either one. Ally was raising a son and a daughter single-handedly, as the result of a previous engagement and Bruster was father to a daughter just reaching the age of innocence.

 

Sometime during the summer of fate, Ally decided to write about her hopes and wishes and drew a picture of herself. She attached the letter to the foot of a dove and released it out her bedroom window one cold and rainy night. Destiny would have it that on that very night, Bruster had carved out an image of himself and hand painted the wood with silver and black lettering which stated: ‘To one so bold and brave, take this humble piece of wood and hold it close for it will bring you much luck.’ Magically, the dove nested under the awning of Bruster’s house, and dispatched the letter on the ground outside his door.

 

That morning, Ally snuck out before dawn, to fetch some milk and bread, and she saw the woodcarving in the market square and giggled. What a handsome man, this carver must be, she thought. I would like to compare the real with the art someday, she thought to herself. So, she picked up the wood, placed it under her arm and headed back towards the castle. That morning Bruster was scheduled to meet a buyer of his work, so he was up early as well. When he opened his door, he immediately saw the letter, picked it up and read it. The handwriting was exquisite he thought to himself and he wondered how it had gotten to his doorstep.

 

That was when the dove flew off, back towards the castle and Bruster followed on foot. When he arrived at the castle he noticed his carving had been placed in the garden. He quickly squibbled a note and left it on the wood sculpture.

 

Later that afternoon, Alley stumbled across the note, and left a reply of her own. This lettering foreplay went on for days and then weeks, without either one having the courage to take the next step. Finally, one day, Ally had enough and she came out of hiding and ventured over to Bruster’s abode and knocked on his door. Bruster opened the door, and they both stared in silence for a moment.

 

Only seconds passed and before either new what was happening, they were down in the market square, walking hand in hand. That was all it took to move forward and forge a relationship. As nighttime drew near, Ally bought an apple and handed it to Bruster. ‘Thank you for answering my letter’, she whispered. Bruster’s took a bite of the apple and whispered back, ‘My pleasure sweet maiden’. Ally was amazed at her sudden confidence and Bruster was emblazoned with newfound trust.

 

Over the next few weeks, their friendship blossomed into courtship and as they became more intimate with each other, everything was discussed and anything was possible. But Ally was soon to be short of free time, and her appreciation for private reading started cutting in their private time. So, Bruster would leave love letters in chalk on her sidewalk and she would watch the rain wash his words away.

 

Months passed and Ally’s living conditions grew worse. Chickens, hogs, cats and dogs, wondered about the house, and her evil stepmother paid no time to the mess or the odor. Then, on a damp summer’s evening, the stepmother announced that she had sold the home and was using the money to travel Europe – Ally and family would soon be out on the street. Bruster would have no such thing and quickly offered up his home to them, with the vow to shoulder the burden of added responsibility. Ally was stunned and grateful and that weekend she and family moved in to Bruster’s modest three bedroom flat lay on the outskirts of town.

 

Bruster placed all his belonging in his backyard shed and they used all of Ally’s keepsakes and furniture. One day a stranger passed by, down on his luck, and Bruster gave him all his belongings to sell. Life was perfect, and they lived happily in the tiny hamlet known as Normalville.

 

Three weeks into the new living arrangement, the buyer of Brusters work decided against the purchase and suddenly Bruster was without income. Feeling that he had let everyone down, he ventured to the local eatery to quinch his hunger. Unfortunately, he ate some rotten meat patty and quickly fell ill.

 

Soon, he was bedridden, sleeping during the day, and up all night pacing the floor. He had come into the grips of a deep, dark depression and he blamed himself for having such poor health, especially during a time when he was needed most. With poor judgment he went to the Potion Master’s home and bought, with his last cash, a potion claimed to regain strength and reason. Little did he know that such a potion was illegal and harmful and soon he became delusional and mean spirited.

 

Their life suddenly was thrown upside down, and after many months of enduring Bruster’s rants, Ally packed up her family and belongings and went to live with a relative in the near by township of Ordinaryville. Bruster was confused and started searching for any clue as to how to win her love again and he tried his best to become healthy. But he was extremely ill and really had no chance to do so.

 

One night, a post arrived at his door, sent by Ally. It stated the courtship was over, beyond repair and that she did not want any contact ever again with Bruster. Bruster was heartbroken, suffered a breakdown, and started punishing himself seriously with bad medicine. Ally meanwhile, found work and took up with a gentleman from Nashville.

 

Three months went by and Bruster was under the spell of an incredibly harsh illness. When Ally’s birthday came, Bruster sent a gift. He did the same for Christmas, their anniversary and Valentine’s Day. This did not go over well with Ally and she summoned the local establishment and protested the harm being done to her. In short order, Bruster was removed from his home and sent to a hotel of sorts that featured razor wire fences and orange jumpsuits.

 

Meanwhile, he was labeled a concern to public safety, shamed and embarrassed, and without any clue as to what manner of illness had come over him. When the constables were forced to release Bruster, Ally made a public display and pleading to have Bruster locked up. The locals agreed and Bruster was sent to The Institution For The Mentally Challenged and Dumbasses.

 

All this time Ally stayed silent, not a word of forgiveness nor understanding and she refused to banter about with anyone about whether or not she held any accountability for the situation. Bruster spent month after month in his cell-room, with only the Book Ally had made for him to read, and he could not understand why her words in the Book seemed so foreign to her actions of present.

 

Then one day a nurse came into his cell-room and saw that Bruster had barely eaten anything over the last few days, so she offered him an apple and gently took the Book out of his hands. ‘Let me find a safe place for this Book’, she calmly spoke and Bruster gave it her.

 

They shared the apple together without a single word being said and Bruster felt his darkness depart. Suddenly, it dawned on him, Bruster had his Reality Check and then everything made perfect sense and he knew what path he must take from then on.

 

The nurse offered to vacation with Bruster and he gladly accepted and out of the ashes of the past came a new beginning. Bruster never thought about Ally again and Ally never thought about Bruster. They never saw each other again and even if they had they would not have recognized each other for now they were as they were right from the start – total strangers. In the end, both Ally and Bruster went on to live new and happy lives with new partners and the hamlet of Normalville was as it always was – silent.

 

The End