Gallaby's Garden

I did keep my promise and did not look outside while they were singing and the girls did get inside and were washed and at the table by 5pm.  I was proud.

The next day I put them into the van to go for a ride to Wal-Mart.  We were going up a hill and for the first time ever I noticed a beautiful little garden beside the road.  It had pretty vines and little trees.  There were little blossoms and some garden gnomes sitting in the grass.  I pointed it out to the girls and said, "have you ever seen that before?"

Grace piped up and said, "That is Gallaby's garden, Mom."

"Are you sure," I asked.

"Oh, yes," Grace assured me.  "She told us all about it.  That knot hole in the big oak tree is her front door.  And that little pond is where she goes to get fresh water."

"I see," I said.  I really didn't see, because that garden belonged to the Valentine's on top of the hill and I knew Mrs. Valentine.  Mrs. Valentine had never metioned any Whats or What nots living in her garden to me before.  But....I had never noticed the little garden before either.

It was beautiful.  There was a path marked with little stepping stones that led to a small water fountain.  At the edges there were smaller trees and rose bushes.  It was in full bloom and you could even smell the fragrant roses as you drove by.  The entire thing was bordered by a split rail fence that had been painted white.  It was at the top of the hill and behind it was a huge pasture for the cows.

I kept driving and wondering to myself:  What do Whats do?  Where do they really come from?  Are they supposed to sing pretty songs to us?  How had I lived so far without ever meeting a what? 

But then I realised that manybe none of these questions would be or could be answered.  I would just have to wait and see.

A Picture

The next day when I went back out to the yard to hang out my laundry, I noticed my dog, Baby Cakes, was sniffing at a place at the side of my little barn.  I thought it was weird, but I decided to hang the wash before I went to investigate. 

When I got to the side of the barn, I couldn't believe it.  There was a little 3" x 5" photograph of Gallaby, Grace and some other what.  I studied it on the ground for a minute and then I picked it up.  I couldn't help but smile.  I sort of knew that this must be something that I wasn't supposed to see.  But I tapped the side of the picture with my index finger and said aloud, to no one, "Who is that What, I wonder?"

Then I felt a tug on my shirt tail and looked down.  It was Gallaby.  I almost jumped three feet in the air.  She giggled at me.  She pointed to the picture and said, "Gallaby, this is Gallaby and that's John."

Perhaps she thought I must be confused as to which What was which and made sure I knew.  I was still sort of dumbfounded so I repeated and pointed, "Gallaby, this is Gallaby and that's John?"

"Yes.  He is a What but he has a human name.  Maybe his What name is too hard for Grace to say, but she calls him John."

"Well, thank you, Gallaby," I managed to say in all of my fear at speaking to a What, which is something that I have never done before.  "Would you like to come up on the porch and have a snack?  Grace will be home from dance class soon and then you two can play."

She smiled at me and said, "We don't play.  We make music and it helps the Whats to have Watts."

Well, I didn't understand at all what she was talking about, but I went to the porch anyway and she followed.  I brought out some chocolate chip cookes and grape kool-aid and put them on small plates on the picnic table under the umbrella.  "O.k." I say, "here is a snack to give you some energy while you wait for Grace."

"Muchas Thanks, The Mom," Gallaby said.

"You are welcome, Gallaby."

I took my laundry basket and went inside and waited for Grace to get home.  She was home within 5 or 10 minutes.  I don't really know because she went from the car straight to the back yard.  I got up and looked out.  She and Gallaby were making music with an instrument I had never seen before.  It looked like a hula hoop and a harp combination.  Then I heard Grace singing.  It was a sweet song that I had not heard ever before. 

Just then Hannah came into the kitchen.  She says to me, "go take a nap or something, Mom, you look tired."

I am suddenly suspicious.  "Why would I want to do that?  I am not tired.  Besides I am cooking dinner."

"Well, o.k." says Hannah.  "Just don't let them know you hear them, it is supposed to be a secret suprise that they are making for you.  Now, I am going to dance and sing with them, so don't look out the window."

"All right.  I won't, but you have to be back inside by 5 o'clock sharp to sit down for dinner."

She gives me a hug and a kiss and says, "O.k. I love you!  See you at 5."

Then she ran out the door.  The next thing I hear sounds like a CD of music because there are the sounds many voices and other instruments.  But, this time I keep my promise and don't look outside.  At least I won't look as long as the dog isn't barking her head off and I keep hearing music.

Introducing Gallaby

To introduce you to Gallaby, I need to introduce you to me.  I am the narrator.  I am "The Mom" that finds Gallaby outside in the yard of our perfect home playing with my children.  Upon first sight, I was frightened of Gallaby.  She was about 3 feet tall with orange skin and purple hair.  She was wearing denim overalls and brown shoes.  She looked human, but I think I starteled her when I ran out the door into the yard asking my children, "What is that?"

Gallaby replied, "How did she know that?"

Grace said, "Thats our Mom.  She knows stuff.  We don't know how, but she just knows."

I couldn't believe what I was seeing and just stood there with my mouth hanging open.

"So, thats the Mom?" asked Gallaby.

"Yes," said Grace.  "She is very kind and loving, but she has a hard time with new things."

I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh.  "Seriously, I said, what is that?" and I rudely pointed at Gallaby.

"Mom," said Grace, "This is Gallaby and she is a What."

"What's a What?" I asked.

Gallaby grinned at me, "Don't ask."

I would find out later that she was asked that a lot and that was what she always said.  I had so many questions to ask, but hated to be rude.  She was sort of cute with dandelions stuck in her hair and bits of what I would call weeds (but she called them flowers) sticking out of her pockets.

So, it was sort of a very awkward moment...standing in the driveway...staring at each other.  You see, when I was a little girl, I had an imaginary friend that had orange skin and purple hair.  Her name was Jane.  She was a great companion to me, but now I am a Mom and haven't had imaginary friends in over 25 years.  But thinking of Jane and looking at Gallaby, I just smiled and said, "Play nice." and went back inside the house.