The Passing of Crows (part 1)

There was this girl you see. She lived not so long ago and in a place not so far away, although to our eyes she may well have lived on another world, hers was a different and somewhat fantastical life. But to her it was an ordinary one; she knew no different after all.

Her personal experience was of an existence where the incredible wasn't quite as impossible as perhaps it should have been. Things happened around her and because of her. Some might have thought she had magical powers but that would have been too simplistic. Sparky for that was the name she was known by, although not the one Mother gave her, could influence things. Just a little. Cause people and events to take a slightly different path to the one predetermined. This was not a curse or even a special power she was aware of, it was just how things were with Sparky. As a very young girl she had often wished that it would stop raining when she wanted to play outside with her friends and within minutes the rain clouds would seemingly move a couple of streets away and wait until they had been all called back in for tea.

Now in her twenty-sixth year, Sparky had what she considered a good life: Her own home with two bedrooms, a peaceful garden with a tree and a cat who sometimes responded to the name Alice. Though usually only when the cat was hungry or in need of attention but that's cats the world over for you. The girl had a good job too, working for a nearby double glazing company. She had tried wishing for money but had soon found the influence just didn't work that way. And besides she liked meeting new people and what better way than to work, have interesting people call in each day? She would walk there most days, her dark hair tied in a pony tail and stop on the way to buy coffee and something sticky to eat. It was her only vice she would admit to.

While she couldn't force people to do things that were against their will- apparently somewhere there are rules written about free will and that sort of thing- she did find that the odd suggestion wished would mostly have the desired effect. Should they buy the upgraded security door to go with the new windows? Well it did make sense you know. As a result Sparky received a reasonable but not large bonus each month. She wasn't quite top salesperson but who would want that level of attention or pressure to perform?

Away from the office Sparky had one true friend with whom she could confide. Sam and Sparky were similar in age, only a few months apart and had been friends since early teens. And while Sparky could lead, Sam could only follow. Sam was ordinary like everyone else in the world. Sam's was not an unhappy existence mind, there was a man who had just moved in, bringing his dog and his clutter. The man was older by several years, tall and known as Michael and the dog, a spaniel called Holly. Holly would follow the man where ever he went. This suited Sam and Sparky just fine: the man and dog would go to the pub each Saturday night until late, so they would spend the evening together as old friends often do, drinking wine and sharing a meal.

Having set the scene briefly, our story proper opens the morning after the big storms. A Tuesday to be exact, the 31st day of the new King's rule, although the monarch was likely not responsible directly. Oh don't worry the Crows, whatever they are, will crop up later. Exactly how and why they pass should also be revealed in good time. For the moment however, right now, a garden shed is residing battered, on it's side, in Sam's front garden while Holly the spaniel is nowhere to be found...

(Now to Wunderlust to continue)