Venerable Woz
by Spotazhazer
Once upon a time in the merry old land of Oz there lived a very, very, very old Wizard named Woz who was struck with a terrible case of the blahs. Blah, blah, blah went the days, and all of his whole little Towne and countryside were really rather quite cordially amazed . . . that the spunky gnome who'd once so gently laced Faerie boots from Legends of Magic and glory, Could be so boring - so very, very boring. At last the old man spoke "Tis as I feared. This leather's cracked, these laces broke!" He paused and twirled his beard, Took out his pipe and began to smoke, wiggled his fuzzy little pointed ears . . . "Elf-dust is what these high-tops need to jump, to fly, to run with Magical speed! Yes, yes, yes - yes indeed!" So off he went, and did go like a wizard possessed. Where he headed half-dressed, no one could have guessed. But soon enough he came back with a sparkling sack, sparkles in his beard, and sparkles in his hat. The Mayor even summoned the Towne's trumpeters to give a blat! And the shoemaker did sprinkle sparkles upon the young and the old, the short and the tall, the thin and the fat! But it was the sparkles in his eyes that brought the whole little Towne such big gobs of grand joy. The little lads and lasses thought they were all getting toys! It was just then, at long last, and finally that he distributed the remainder of the strange stardust to the tops of all the children's tiny heads! He even rustled and roused from their coziest of naps the teeniest of tykes, and urged them out of their beds! This brought on natural suspicion in some Moms and Dads as many of them were convinced, albeit concerned, and although in some way somewhat reassured, that the once mighty, smiley and wily old Wizard had gone completely and utterly mad! "Alas, dear parents - I am not insane," the cheerful gray Dwarf did then happily exclaim. "But you're right in assuming that there has been a change as to the innermost workings of my elderly brain." The peasants entreated which means: kindly, but exuberantly pleaded "Woz, please explain," as the bloke was not known by any other name. "This Faerie dust, you see . . ." and then he stopped to think, perhaps of some marvelous and ancient rhyme ". . . is magical," continued he, with a gleam in his wink. And so are these children, as many of you know," and then all of the children's eyes started to shine, nay, to glow! Well then the crowd all just fell back with a gasp and apprehence as many of the smiling tots then began to frolic and to dance. You can imagine their shock, their surprise, their apprehension and alarm in viewing their many assembled offspring seemingly under the effects of some wiggy Wizard's charm! "Neighbors, I assure you, this spell is untainted," said Woz, though most were still stunned, and not elated Why, the Mayor himself tipped over, spun round, and then fainted! Then all of a sudden, with glee and a grin, one of the wee winking Widgets picked up a bunch of pins. Still another ran into the shoeshop, but soon scurried out with swatches of leather, and began passing them out! Soon music and cheers and giggles and sighs had filled every corner and crevice of the Towne's main street. Because all in that quaint square had begun to realize that they'd all soon be better of and more cheerful with brand new, enchanted and Magical shoes on their feet! Even the Mayor said, "Wha?" as he opened his eyes, as if from some other world he'd just arrived. He'd dreamed, of all things, that he'd seen a show - which, as you may already know, has sets, scenes and a cast of actors, twists in the plot and other factors - and in it was everyone that he did know. But as he managed to wake, and struggled to rise, he was chance overheard to mutter, "Oh, no! This is the part where the good Wizard dies!" as if he knew almost exactly how it was supposed to go. Quickly they all turned to see the Mage sprawled peaceful and relaxed upon the base of the square's fountain, - smiling, as though he'd suddenly been called - a finger pointed curiously up to the mountain. They all looked, and one by one cried with glee, "There he is," or, "I see him too," even, "he's finally free!" The magic of Elf-dust rained sparkles upon the Towne as the ghost of St. Woz flew in and swooped down. "Rest easy, my children. I'm sure I'll be okay," he said, patting his shoulders and head to make sure. "I was old and frail - wimpy and pale I couldn't have hoped for a better last day!" Of boredom, at least, it seemed he and they all had been cured. "Having seen of this world you nice people and more, I'm unencumbered now, and off to explore!" Then, right there in the sky - he turned, smiled and opened a door that no one remembered ever being there before! "Good-bye, alas . . . and for now, so long!" And with that he began to hum a delightful little song. Just then a teensy tyke came forward and said, "Grampa Woz, what's that stuff sprinklin' off of your head?" "Tis Faerie dust, my lad, youngest Woz - the last of my line," he, tear in eye was scarce able to reply. "I'm going away right now - and for a real long time. But I will return someday, so ease your young mind." Then through the door, he, and soon it, disappeared, and nothing more dis anyone see or even hear. Or so I've been told - and so I report but of this story, somehow, I suspect that there's more. Because old Woz was a good one and he made people glad - a shoemaker for years - and that's not half bad. So up to the sky occasionally everyone would eventually stare even the mayor - his best friend being up there. And one day, Youngest Woz did so follow the career of the wonderful Wizard - of so very many years. Seamlessly stitching Magical slippers and hats and even a sweater or two for dogs and for cats. And yes, the Gnome Lore unequivocally says that the Elves and Faeries were regularly blessed with famous Woz Magic boots of glory - but I think that should be yet another story |