Root, Branch and Leaf - a story for young children

part one

Once upon a time, it was believed that the deep places of the earth held both magic and mystery and that among the unscientific shadows dwelt all manner of faerie-folk, elves, spirits, animals and half forgotten figures from dreams.

It was during such a time that, in the little kingdom of Oritania two children were born and raised, laughing and playing out their years. A boy and girl; Chuffcuffchippinapapapalollagrumia (hereafter known as Fred) and his sister Califorbiplataparisianfrizianisianisntshewellidon'tknow (I think we better just call her Sue).

Together these two children lived in a small town house in the tumbling town of Tuttenham. The Tumbling Town (or Tumble Town) was so called because it so often fell down in a heap after rolling the length of the great mountain upon which it was somewhat foolishly founded; several times in its history the towns denizens had been rudely awoken by a sound akin to the hard grinding of teeth only to find themselves with their heads poking up from a mess of rubble. "Hey ho" they would sigh and the gathering together begin the arduous process of picking up al the bricks and bric-a-brac and marching back up the hill to put their town back.
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