The Feast

         The path through the forest was wide and meandering and was reputed to give the finest views of the county. It was Christmas day and the path and the woods were blanketed in thick snow. The sun now shone and the snow had let up half an hour ago, having decided that its job was done. Along the white path walked a girl of thirteen. She wore loose combat trousers, a thick red coat and a scarf. Any onlooker ( had there been one) would have noticed the almost hypnotic way she walked. Her eyes were bloodshot red as she had being crying earlier and now she was staring at an imaginary spot in the mid-distance. As she walked, she swayed nonchalantly from one side of the path to the other, re-directing herself when she came into contact with a tree.
         The girl was unwell. She'd decided to go on a 'diet' six months ago. It had clearly worked. She was never exactly attractive, at least, she never considered herself to be, but now her cheeks were concave over her bones and had paled to ivory. She had ended her diet three days ago. She'd stopped eating altogether- Friday, December 22nd. She'd opened the advent calendar window that morning; a miniature chocolate and a picture of a Christmas pudding. Great. She'd told her parents she'd eaten the chocolate as she'd eaten the others which she had thrown away; wrapped in tissue paper or hidden in a discarded can, so they couldn't be seen in the dustbin. Had they believed her? Probably not, but it didn't matter anymore. She'd kept the last chocolate though, as a memento; a souvenir. She felt it in her coat pocket. Despite the snow, it had melted to a sticky stain against the fabric against her hip bone.
         Where was she going? She didn't know exactly but she'd been gearing herself up for this journey for weeks now, maybe months. She supposed that she was getting weaker by the day and wanted to do this while she still could. If she fell down and died now it'd be perfect. To die amongst such beauty when she, herself, was so ugly. Maybe it was better than she deserved.
         Everyday since Friday, she had sat on a bench overlooking this forest, often for hours at a time. When she looked into the forest, it was like looking back at her childhood. She'd fondly remembered spending days playing in the woods with the boys. Her memories were only relieved by the odd pensioner or concerned dog walker stopping beside her to ask if she was feeling alright. There was nothing to compare to those memories in high school. Sure, she'd made efforts to get on with people but their conversation was so tedious; who they were going out with, what clothes they could 'just die for', who fancied who. Her best friend from the first year was called Kat. The more the girl had compared herself to Kat, the more she'd noticed the differences, Kat was blonde, tall and slender and the girl, well, she wasn't. She would look at her face in the mirror every morning and see a fat, pale mound of freckles. Only eight months ago, she had stopped talking to Kat altogether as every moment she spent looking at her was almost unbearable. Her other friends,well, they'd been sympathetic when she'd started her diet but gradually, they'd given up and stopped hanging around with her. In her more desperate moments, she'd phone someone and invite them to her house but they always found an excuse not to go. The last four months had been very lonely.
         As the girl walked on, she snapped out of her thoughts ( the same ones she'd been playing in her mind for months). Now, she was getting aware of the state she was in. She stopped walking and half sat down, half collapsed onto a small grassy area, which had somehow managed to hold its own against the all conquering trees. The girl wondered where she was for half a second. But then, as a tear drop ran down her face, she realised it wasn't important. Just then, something she saw in the corner of her eye cheered her up. A white rabbit, almost invisible against the snow, stood on its hind legs only ten yards away from her. She turned her head, slowly, so as not to disturb it and saw, to her amazement, that it was scurrying towards her. The rabbit, again stood on its hind legs, this time within the girl's reach. As she slowly moved her arm to touch it, it ran back to where it was. It turned round to look at the girl before winking, pausing and then diving into its burrow. In fascination, the girl forgot her weakness and hopped across to where the rabbit had gone. She couldn't find the rabbit hole but she was happy now. Did she imagine that? She didn't care, but as the girl walked on, she noticed the subtle beauties of the Winter forest that she'd abandoned in her state of self-pity; birdsong, the berries on the trees and the sun's light which gave colour to the whole scene. Now she knew that she was fit to continue.
         For the next ten minutes, the girl, now focused, continued her journey. She had finally truly realised why she had gone on this trip, as she marvelled in absolute fascination as the trees to her left parted to reveal a stunning panorama of endless hamlets and thatched cottages ( she was on a hill and hadn't even realised), she marvelled at the trees which swayed to the beat of the wind; at the squirrels who gaily danced and swung from branch to branch; at the midday sky which was a sublime lilac. As she walked, she thought again, but this time she was more upbeat. Maybe this was exactly what she needed to get well. Maybe she'd go back home this afternoon, she'd kiss and make up with her parents, she'd start eating-one step at a time, after the holidays she'd make up with her friends. Her former friends, thought the girl with a sigh. As she pondered, she fell. The path had started going down hill without her realising. It was steep and went down some fifty yards. She hadn't fallen far though and, despite feeling a bit stupid, the snow had protected her from the harsh stones and twigs on the ground. The girl looked down the slope and, again, thought back to her childhood with a smile. She lay down on her side and rolled herself down the bank. As she spun, faster and faster, she screamed with delight.
         When the girl reached the ground, she lay exhausted but happy in a large forest clearing which looked like a small field. The snow hadn't fallen here and she noticed the grass was as trim as a bowling green and nearer to a primary colour than any grass she'd seen before. She was having difficulty getting up and as she kneeled on all fours, trying to get her breath back, she realised above all other pains, how hungry she really was. She thought ferociously what to do and in, desperation, stuck her fingers into her side pocket. The chocolate had vanished and had now become a hard stain. In an instant, she realised how foolish she was. Why scrape stains off her clothes when, in the centre of the field, there lay a most gorgeous apple tree? She craned her neck to stare at its heavenly beauty, the leaves fluttered, strong and noble against the wind. The apples were ruby and glistened like diamonds in the sunlight. To her horror, she realised that the apples were too high to reach but then she let out a cry of delight as she noticed a basket full of them right by the tree. She was weak, but determined and had to resort to dragging herself across the lawn with her elbows. It was only when she was at the foot of the tree that she witnessed its full towering grace but what drew her attention even more was the fruit basket which lay by her arm. She reached into it and picked out the most beautiful apple she'd ever seen. She brought it to her lips and took a bite. It tasted acidic but she could have eaten the whole basket right now. Only, only she couldn't. She was now feeling awful. She lay on her stomach with her face against the floor. Her stomach started to heave and her throat felt like it was bringing up a rock. She thought she was going to vomit, but nothing came. She stayed in this state of agony for several minutes before getting up and soldiering on past the tree. She was determined that she would continue and was now in the state of mind where she believed that something wonderful would happen for her, if only she could go on.
         Beyond the field, the trees were dense and dark and, as the snow couldn't penetrate the branches, the path was sharp and stony and hurt the girl's already exhausted feet. A ripple of light to her left made her turn around and she saw a large bog with a strong smell of decay which failed to deter the population of toads who thrived in the gloom of the forest. She went on with renewed feelings of pain and fatigue. The girl walked deeper into the forest. She now knew there was no hope for her. She was lost and she was dying. Even if she miraculously made it home, what was there for her there? Days on end of suffering? No friends? Parents who had given up all hope? The girl turned around to look at the bog again. And then she collapsed.
         She woke up to smells of pie and cinnamon. Before she'd even opened her eyes, she knew she was safe. She was warm and wrapped up in a blanket with her clothes still on. She turned round and sighed. Still feeling weak, but more comfortable, she opened her eyes. The ceiling was made of thatch and she lay on a mattress placed on the open log fire. She seemed to be in a hut as the room was small and circular,
"Good evening, my pretty." the voice was female but harsh and cracked. The girl mumbled something in return.
"Not in a state to talk, are we? I can't blame you, after all you've been through, my pretty."
The girl turned on her back to face her host. She was on old woman with a fat kindly face. She wore black from her pointed hat to her tough looking boots. She was sat in an armchair by the fire.
"Thank you." the girl just about managed.
"Your thanks are most appreciated," the woman smiled," shall we try and stand up now?"
The girl got to her feet, astonishing herself by the ease at which she did it.
"You seem on your way to recovery," the woman chuckled, "it's nice to have some company. I don't get many visitors in these parts."
The girl tried to smile.
"May I take off my coat?" She asked, with all the politeness she could muster
"Of course you can, my dear." The woman cackled to herself upon hearing the girl's request.
"Oh my," exclaimed the woman as the girl took off her coat to reveal a tight, red jumper,"you're awfully skinny, aren't you?". The girl reddened and tried to stop herself from crying
"Never mind, my pretty. I've got just the thing for you."
The girl felt nervous as the woman got up from her armchair and approached her. The woman reached out a long hand which wrapped right round the girl's arm. She was softly, but firmly led to a small table on the other side of the room and, put before her, was the largest pie she had ever seen.
"Will you eat my pie?" pleaded the woman. The girl then felt the same feeling of paralysing sickness she'd had before. She dropped from her chair onto the floor and lay crying and suffering.
"Oh my, my," said the woman," things are worse than I thought."
When the pain subsided, the girl turned to face the woman whose expression had changed significantly. Friendly good-nature had given way to a hardened expression which could have represented pity, contempt or sheer malevolence. The girl couldn't tell.
The woman stared at her, for some time as if she was peering directly into her soul. Then she spoke,
"I'm afraid, my pretty, there is only one thing for it. Stand up."
The girl stood up immediately, as if hypnotised. Then, before her mind caught up with her body, she got a terrible sensation of pain. Her body seemed to fold in on itself. She tried to scream but couldn't as her face rearranged itself, every twist exerting itself in unbearable agony.
"Almost ready now." The woman smiled, never losing her kindly old lady look. At last the pain was ending and the girl could finally get her feelings across,
"Croak."
         The old lady clasped the toad in her hand and walked out of her home. She walked for several minutes before approaching the hideous bog. When she was there, she opened up her hand and released the toad which hopped around merrily amongst the other toads and ate flies to its heart's content.