Joshua Stories

‘Hello’, said Joshua. ‘Where did you come from?’

‘Strange question’, said the figure.

‘What’s strange about it?’

‘Well, if I were you, I would have said breiselunkyfroitun,’ said the figure.

‘You’re not me, and anyway that’s rubbish talk, it doesn’t even make sense’ said Joshua, bolder now and standing at his full height now that the feeling had come back to his legs.

‘Of course it’s rubbish. Isn’t that how all ten year olds talk?’

‘How did you know I was ten? ’

‘That is for me to know and you to find out’, the figure mumbled in a most unusual, soft and friendly tone of voice.

‘My name is Joshua, Joshua Nkosinathi,’ he pronounced expectantly, awaiting the figure’s response to his name.

‘Good,’ retorted the figure. With that he disappeared behind the tree again. It was a very tall, wide tree and Joshua walked right around it before he realised the rather odd figure had completely...disappeared! ‘Like a true magician’ Joshua thought.

‘CRUMP’ it went again and Joshua’s courage seemed to flow out of him once more. Back appeared the figure as if he had just been behind the tree all along. He must remember to ask him how he did that.

‘Oh, hello again,’ said the figure with a mischievous grin, ‘I thought you had run off.’

‘What are you talking about, I had just introduced myself and all you said was ‘good’ and you then vanished.’

‘Well, it was good. It is a long time since I have seen such a likely lad who has such courage when there are such strange, loud noises around him and in a strange wood like this.’ With that, the figure started walking slowly into the wood. Joshua trotted along to catch up with him and said;

‘Well?’

‘Fine thanks,’ said the figure.

‘No, I don’t mean are you well but I was expecting you to tell me your name’.

‘Why? Do you think it is important?’

‘I guess not but it is normal.’

‘If you wanted normal, you wouldn’t be here, would you?’ chuckled the figure.

‘O.K. you got me.’ Joshua was beginning to take a liking for this man even though he did not know his name or fully understand him.

‘Grunsenheimer!’

‘Bless you,’ said Joshua quickly.

‘That’s a strange name. Well, I’m very pleased to meet you Mr. Grunsenheimer.’ Joshua offered his hand.

‘No, it’s just Grunsenheimer,’ he snapped.

They shook hands and Joshua noticed that although he seemed like an old man, his hand was soft like that of someone much younger and it was very warm and dry. He instinctively knew he could trust this man. They walked through the centre of the wood for five minutes where there seemed to be a natural open path with thick trees on both sides. As they walked, the twigs and fur cones crunched under their feet and the damp smell of pine in the wood got stronger. It was a good, rich smell that would always stay with Joshua. It seemed to feed something inside of him that made him feel slightly dizzy but also comfortable in being there. He felt he should talk a bit more but Grunsenheimer just kept on walking in silence with no great aim as far as Joshua could see. A few more minutes and Joshua could contain himself no longer.