It was a night like many others. It involved me and an old book of fairytales I wanted to be alone with. The book wanted to be with me too; its leather-clad spine fit perfectly in my hand. I curled with it on the sofa and soon forgot everything else in the world.
After a couple of hours, I looked up and out of the balcony. I only wanted to give my eyes some rest and to get a glimpse of the night outside. The moon looked back at me and I smiled. It was actually a streetlamp, but I liked to think of it as a full moon.
And then I saw him: a midnight-black rooster, with blood-red comb and wattles, and eyes fixed on me. He was standing still in the middle of my balcony, with something of the dandy in his stance. He obviously has a way with hens, I thought. Indeed, the more I looked at him, the more I knew that, had I been a hen, I would love to have him jump on me and peck on my neck. Our chicks would be midnight-black, with blood-red comb and wattles. But I would like them to have my eyes. I have incredible eyes.
Still, I had to wonder what a rooster was doing in the center of the city and of my balcony, where no crops grow and coops don’t come for free. Then it dawned on me that when there is no natural explanation, there must be a supernatural one. This was Mistulet, the evil rooster from the book! He was real and had come to bargain with me!
I started thinking how to play this out. I knew Mistulet could grant me a wish, on the condition that, the next time he visited me, I would be able to greet him by his name. If I failed, he would eat my heart out.
Fair enough, I thought. I’ll accept the bargain. But I’ll be provident. I’ll write his name on a large piece of paper, the larger the better, and pin it on my notice board. I won’t have it as bad as stupid Mariette. Besides, I already know his name.
Feeling confident that I could outsmart an evil spirit, I started to think what to ask for. At the same time, I was surprised by his ability to remain absolutely still for such a long time. And then I saw that his beak was hanging open; his eyes were staring somewhere beyond me, with a lack of luster that could only signify a lack of intelligence.
‘A prince!’ I exclaimed. ‘An enchanted prince! Who says a prince always comes as a frog? If I kiss him, he will turn human. He will marry me, and life will be all wine, roses and golf, and Olga from work will be so jealous!’
Only a balcony door stood between me and my excellent fortune. I rushed to open it. But, alas! When I did, all I found waiting for me was my black watering pot with its red spout. With spirits low, I took a vow: to see my oculist and check my astigmatism. Incredible eyes can be tricky you know.
***
© Basilike Pappa, 2018
(Image: Pinterest)
Lol. Great story dear. It reminded me of Lisbon with roosters all over.
So what did Olga say?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never told her!
LikeLike
Get back to me when u do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! I don’t think I will! There is nothing to rub in her face!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooooh….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely no golf
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, cherie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You….always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this story! He obviously has a way with hens! What a great line. Maybe the watering can is enchanted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nick!
It’s a semi-true story. I was at my computer one night and, looking out, I saw this strange thing in my balcony, that looked like a rooster. I kept looking and wondering what it could be. When I took a closer look, I realized it was the watering can. That’s astigmatism for you!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is beautifully magical and wonderfully funny; I love the mix of the two, and like everything, you do it perfectly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Susan! I’m glad you enjoyed it! If only I could ask the rooster for whatever I wanted…
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you figure it out, will you please send him my way….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely! Just make sure you remember his name!
LikeLiked by 1 person
incredible eyes outsmarted by even more incredible imagination..your rooster prince couldnt ask for more, maybe it turned into the sprout..dont give up 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, I wish, Eric. But it really was just the watering can!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah spout..we wait for the next story then
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is another story told by the skilful storyteller Basilike. A great one, which caught me instantly. From the opening to the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Isabelle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Incredible poetic vision.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I love it! And the rooster monster description was scary and i love to be scared. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know!
Mistulet was my favorite story when i was a child, because it:s so scary. It’s probably a retellimg of Rumpelstiltskin, or simply written after The Name of the Assistant type of folktales, which are also my favorites. The original is in French. It’s not very well-known — I never managed to find any references in English about the story or the writer. I wonder who discovered it and translated it into Greek.
I am glad you enjoyed it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I loved this story. Suspense, romance, mystery, fantasy, and humor all wrapped into one. Wonderful story, Basilike. You made my day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perfect! I’m glad I made your day! Thank you so much for reading, Diana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very Faustian. I love it. I know I love it because I’m thinking about stealing that rooster my own writing. THANK YOU. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, because I never thought of this story as Faustian. Do you really want to use the evil rooster? That’s great! I wish I could tell you where to find the original Mistulet story, for extra inspiration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definite Faustian undercurrents to it. The Faustian Pact, etc. The evil rooster is Mephistopheles. Yes, I’ll probably find a place for it. Will google Mistulet…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You won’t find much. Actually you’ll find nothing. I’ve tried to find more information on the author, but no luck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And you are right about the Faustian undercurrents. I just never thought of the word.
If you are interested, I can give you a summary of the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure, send it to my email if you‘ve got it. Maybe I’ll find a place for it in my novel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll write it and send it sometime during the week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are a storyteller of greatness, rich, and full of mystery. I love this so much. You should turn this into a book novel. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Τhank you, Charlie! I’m planning to write a collection of fairytale retellings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You welcome. Please do. I’d love to read them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that you mention it, Timeless Tales magazine published one of my stories for their Snow White retelling issue. Would you care to read it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, please. Send me a link so I can read it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://basilikepappablog.wordpress.com/2018/06/24/the-face-in-the-water-a-snow-white-re-telling/
You’ll have to read it through PDF, but it’s the first in the magazine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s all good. I’ll be reading it soon…and I’ll give you my comments on what I thought of your story. I know it’s going to be awesome. You are such a talented and brilliant writer. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
With a brilliant smile right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just got my first reader!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on A Global Divergent Literary Collective and commented:
Basilike Pappa/Silent Hour
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on hands in the garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
Haha I love it!
And I found out recently I have astigmatism. It’s blowing my mind getting used to glasses! I had no idea I saw things so differently! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I changed my glasses recently, and I can’t believe how more clearly I can see. I sort of like the astigmatism change of reality though. It has made me see some seriously funny things.
Thank you for reading! I am glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can completely relate! My brain was quite overwhelmed by the clarity of everything…but the distortion because of the astigmatism…it really seemed like I was walking through those crazy mirrors at a carnival.
Always a pleasure Basilike!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! I know!
LikeLike
Nonetheless Basilike …
If you see my little black rooster
please send him on home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your little black rooster is having a great time here with me, sharing snails.
LikeLike
Fantastic story – but then I got thinking, how exactly does one kiss a rooster, I mean romantically? And then I got thinking, perhaps I was over-thinking this.
Again, a wonderful story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Yes, just a little overthinking! Thank you so much for reading and for your kind worfs!
LikeLike
Good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
You’re welcome. I really enjoyed that story – especially the peck in the neck and Olga. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, Olga! I was never able to rub it all in her face…
The peck on the neck I enjoyed too, it was an image that made me laugh while I was writing.
Thank you again!
LikeLike
I always enjoy a good sense of humour in writing. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. I am so glad Diana shared this on her blog. I feel very blessed to have read it. What an engaging and intriguing story! Loved it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing compliment! Thank you!
LikeLike
What a beautiful story. I love the idea of a book owning me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think all my books own me — I can’t live without them. Thank you so much for reading!
LikeLike
What a great story! The eyes can certainly play tricks at times. But, my favorite line was the one about the book, “The book wanted to be with me too; its leather-clad spine fit perfectly in my hand.” I know that feeling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much and sorry for the late response. I am so happy you enjoyed this story! And, yes, a book that fits your hand perfectly is a great feeling!
LikeLike
Great fun! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, ha! I love this story! It’s very entertaining and fun to read. Thank you! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I am so happy you liiked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful writing, so glad Diana has shared it on her blog! ❤
LikeLike
I too am very glad she did! She is one of my favorite writers. And I am very happy you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this combination of myth and humor. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Suzanne, and sorry for the late response. I’m so glad you liked it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a clever story, I really enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much!
LikeLike