Edible Mushrooms

Andrei played with his worn out army men as his mother, Julie, cooked their supper. Lost in his adventure Andrei didn’t hear his mother calling him until she said his full name.

“Andrei Vladovich Smirnov!” Julie said in a stern voice.

“Yes, mo … mother.” Andrei said cautiously.

“Go and collect some mushrooms.” Julie held out a small basket woven out of sticks.

“Yes, mother.”

Andrei got up, retrieved the container, and rushed out of the thick wooden door. The sun was close to the horizon and the light lit up the fluffy white clouds above. Staring at the beautiful colors on the wispy background, Andrei ran into the first willow tree. He rubbed his head, picked up the basket, and started hunting for the plentiful mushrooms, stealing glances at the light dancing on the clouds. By the time the sunlight faded completely Andrei had filled his receptacle to the top. Andrei smiled down at all the mushrooms he had collected and walked slowly back to the small cabin he called home.

His mother greeted him as he opened the door. She was surprised how many mushrooms her son had brought her. Andrei rushed to the counter and gave the mushrooms to his mother. She quickly threw some of the fungus on the cutting board and chopped away. She then tossed the chunks into the pot sitting on the wood stove. She hummed a little tune and it caught the attention of her son.

“What’s that mother?”

“It’s the lullaby I used to sing to you when you were a baby.” Julie smiled at her only child.

“I don’t remember that.”

“Sleep my darling tiny one
Tucked within your bed so tight
Else the old gray wolf will come
And grab you by your side

He'll snatch you up between his teeth
If on the bed's edge you sleep
And drag you to the forest deep
Beneath the quaking tree

So close your eyes and fall asleep
Count the little wooly sheep
Tucked so tightly you must keep
Or he will come for you”

“You sang that to me?” Andrei asked with wide eyes. “That doesn't sound too good.”

“It’s not meant to be good.” Julie laughed before adding, “It’s just a soft sung lullaby to help children go to sleep. I will sing it to you tonight.”

“What does the gray wolf do with the children he takes under the tree?”

“It is just a lullaby.” Julie reassured him.

Julie then turned and concentrated on that night’s dinner. Andrei went back to his army men. They were soon enjoying the soup that had been prepared and waiting for the third member of the family. It wasn’t until the two had finished with their dinner that the front door swung open. In walked a man covered in dirt from head to toe. He shook his body like a dog and dust fell off him in heaps. The dust surrounded him before slowly falling to the floor.

“Why didn’t you do that outside, Vlad?” Julie asked with a stern voice as Andrei laughed at his dad.

“Sorry dear, but the boy enjoys it.” Vlad answered.

“Then you can enjoy sweeping it up.” Julie said as she pointed towards the broom in the corner of the kitchen.

“Yes ma’am!” Vlad responded.

With the dust and dirt swept and thrown outside Vlad was able to sit down for his dinner. He complimented the cook and the helper for a delicious meal after he finished slurping the last bit of broth. The family came together and listened to the radio for a bit before Vlad told his son it was time for bed. The analog clock that hung on the opposite wall read 21:00. Andrei hugged his father and mother and ran to his room off of the kitchen. It was a small room, but the cabin was small. All that took up space in the boys room was a comfortable fluffy mattress on a wooden frame. It was covered with a plain white blanket and a small pillow rested at the head of it. As Andrei settled into his bed his mother came in. She wore a gentle smile and sat next to him.

“Thank you for collecting all those mushrooms.” Julie said as she tucked her son in. “Now lay back and I will sing you the lullaby.”

“Mom, it’s scary. I don’t want to hear a wolf is going to take me.” Andrei pleaded.

“You’ll be fine.” Julie brushed the hair out of her son's face and started singing in a soft tone.

By the end of the lullaby Andrei was fast asleep. Julie kissed his forehead and left the room, closing the door. As the hours passed Andrei began to toss and turn as he dreamt of wolves eating him. This made him almost roll off the bed, but he ended up with half his body on the edge of it. Unbeknownst to the sleeping boy his position called forth the gray wolf.

A howl erupted in the darkness of the night. A four legged creature crawled out from under the tree that Andrei had ran into earlier that day. It shook and stretched then howled again. It didn't take long before the gray wolf had reached the small cabin. The wolf walked around the cabin, looking for an easy entrance.

With no open window or cracks big enough for her she walked to the front door and took a few sniffs. She could smell the boy she was there to collect from the smallest crevice in between the door and the doorframe. Her eyes began to slightly glow yellow and her body became smoke. As the smoke smothered the crack it slowly seeped through the small gap.

Once inside the wolf took form again. She followed her nose to another closed door. This time the wolf sat down and examined the door, finding a large gap between the door and the floor. Instead of immediately turning to smoke the large creature laid on the ground and did its best to look under the door. When that proved useless she returned to the smoke state and simply floated under the door.

Now on the other side she sat and watched the young boy for a while. Some time passed before she did what she was there for, retrieving the spirit of a disobedient boy. She turned to smoke once again and bit him in his side and pulled. The body laid still, but she pulled harder until a mirror image of the boy, although in wisps of smoke, appeared. With a caring pull the wolf removed the soul of the boy, which then mingled with her own smoke body. She quickly wafted back under the door to the boys room and then through the small crack at the front door.

It wasn't long before the wolf silently strolled back to the tree and disappeared with the soul under the tree. Minutes passed by as a new mushroom grew on the trunk of the tree.