Some Days

Bedtime Stories with Galatea and Litho

Some Days

The rain slapped her face as Galatea looked up at the cliff. Facing the west she thought she could see trees off in the distance. All around her were boulders and rocks sticking out of the black sandy dirt. The rain came down harder and she could barely see what was in front of her. Galatea faced back into the wind as it hit her again. 

Her left hand grasped the Rune of Air from around her neck. Raising her right hand she chanted her protective spell.  

“Rise up high

From earth to sky

Protect all that dwell on 

The inside.

From east to west

From tree to rock

Keep us safe

Enemies be blocked.” 

A blast of wind pushed her backwards. She glared at the dark skies while pointing her finger upwards. The metal rune in her other hand felt warm as she exclaimed.

“Wind and rain leave us alone.

Go around this protected zone.”

A soft exhale floated into the calmness. She shook her head as water exploded out from her hair. Wiping the mud and wetness off her face she focused on the horizon. Visibility did not improve in any direction beyond where she was standing.

Opening her pouch and lifting Litho out she said, “Sorry little guy, this is where we are going to spend the night.”

Litho her bullfrog looked around and exclaimed, “What! We can’t stay here! I’m hungry! Put me back, put me back and let’s go!”

Galatea leaned towards Litho and said, “We can't. I am exhausted and I don’t know how far it is until the next area of water or forest.”

“No, No, No! 

I want to go. I want to go now!" demanded the young frog.

“Litho, we can’t. I don’t know exactly where we are so it’s not safe to keep going. I can’t travel any farther today. I am tired.” 

“No, no, no I don’t like this place. I don’t like this place at all,“ Litho said as he extended his head downward into the pouch and pushed. 

Galatea quickly wrapped her fingers around him and sat him on the ground. Litho wiggled his butt into the dirt and rolled his lip out until it quivered. 

“Litho Some days aren’t always perfect. Sometimes we don’t get what we want. I can’t travel any farther today. I know you don’t like this place but we have no other option.

 I love you but this is where we are for the night.”

“Leave me alone…please, Litho whined and turned around.”

“Let me know when you are ready to talk. I would like to help you figure out how to get you some food.” 

Litho only shrugged his shoulders and made no sounds.

Galatea went a short distance and picked up some large rocks. When she carried them back to where Litho was sitting. He croaked, “I don’t know what to do?”

Galatea dropped everything in her arms, sat down next to him and replied, “Let’s think. What is a way you can catch bugs tonight?”

“If you make a fire, maybe some bugs will come and I can eat them.”

“That is a great idea Litho except we have no wood to burn. I have an idea. I can place a spell on some rocks and have them glow with warmth? This could attract some bugs.”

“I would like that because I am hungry and…cold,” cried Litho. 

“Give me a few minutes and soon you’ll be warmer and hopefully your tummy will be full.”

The frog rubbed his stomach as Galatea collected more rocks and stacked them into a pyramid. Holding the Rune of Air she pointed at the rocks and said,

“From the power of pressure

and heat you were formed.

Release that energy 

and give us light and warmth.

The pile wiggled and jiggled and slowly from the inside out it turned an iridescent blue. Instead of smoke rising up little wisps of light danced upwards.

Galatea got out her bed roll, placed it where she could feel the heat and laid down. Litho crawled over closer to the rocks and watched.

A brown moth flew nearby and it wasn’t long before Litho had his mouth full. After a loud burp, he snuggled next to Galatea and placed his head on her leg. A small tear ran down his face. “I am sorry I wasn’t nice.”

Galatea reached down and rubbed the top of his head and said, “I know you are. I also understand this isn’t a fun place to spend the night.” 

“Galatea, I don’t know how to not be crabby.”

Sitting up she explained, “Litho not everyday is going to be the best day of your life. You are going to have times or even entire days that are frustrating. Everyone faces challenges in life. Your friend Powder the cat was found in the snowy mountains.  He could have died up there. Yet how would you describe his personality?”

“Hmmm…let me think. 

Powder likes adventures and he’s funny.”

“Why do you think Powder acts like that?”

Litho tilted his head slightly sideways, paused and then answered, “because he wants to.”

“Do you think Powder ever has frustrating days?”

“Maybe, I’m not sure,”Litho replied as he scratched his head, sat for a moment and then continued. “Yes, yes he does because you said everyone does. Some days are going to make you crabby.”

“What about your friend Shadow the lucky black cat? Do you think he has days that don’t go his way?”

“No I don’t think he does because he is always alert and on guard. He is helpful to his wizard Arabella. He doesn’t have time to have a bad day. You’re silly.

Galate bent forward until she was looking right into Litho's eyes,  “Think about it for a moment. Litho, are you sure Shadow never has a frustrating day?”

“Hmmm… you did say everyone has a bad day now and then. Yes, Shadow must have crabby days too.

Galatea nodded, “Yes, I am sure he does.” 

“I made you sad when I wasn’t nice. I don’t think Shadow treats Arabella like that,” replied Litho.

“Chances are he does but they work out their problems with a positive attitude," answered Galatea.

“Like we did,” Litho said while tapping his hand on her leg.

“Litho you are so smart. When you have a positive attitude in solving a problem lots of times the problem gets fixed.”

“I get it. When I thought I was going to be hungry I was. When I believed I was going to eat I did.”

“Yes, I think you understand. This means that some days you will get frustrated. This also means that you don’t always get your way. Now, you have some knowledge to help yourself when you have a problem.”

“Galatea, Do you ever get crabby?”

“All the time! When we first got here the wind and rain slapped me across the face. It hurt and I was very frustrated. Then I thought about it and knew I could make the weather go around us.” 

Litho smiled and replied, “Galatea, thank you for helping me.”

“Anytime my dear friend.” Galatea laid back down and announced, “Time for sleep little one. Hopefully tomorrow the sun will come out.”

Litho looked up and watched the blue lights dancing upwards. 

All was quiet…… until…… softly…

Bom bom bom bom

Slurp them down 

Bom bom bom bom

squishy and round

Bom bom bom bom

Wings or feet

Clap clap clap clap 

They are a treat

Bom bom bom bom

Bugs are yummy

Bom bom bom bom

Bugs are sweet

Clap clap clap clap

Tasty…tasty… 

Tasty….treats

The following wizard friends allowed me to use their familiars in my story.

Acideater-#8418 Arabella of the Hollow and her familiar, a male lucky black cat named Shadow.

Red-#150 Arch-Magician Alessar of Mu and his familiar, a male Bliss cat named Powder. 

Thank you for listening to my bedtime story.