Moomins 'The Girl With No Name' Part 1
The snow had melted in Moominvalley and as Winter eloped with the cold stretching further into the midst's of the North, Spring had decided to take its turn. With it the sun began to show his face from behind the thinning clouds and poured warmth on to the small valley. The skeletal trees began to bud and all of the creatures crept out from their homes and celebrated the new warmth and new year. The breeze ran through the vivid green fields and through them crocuses and snow drops began to transform from measly shoots into delicate flowers. The Hemulin was taking particular interest in this, crawling around the sea of waving green with his magnifying glass.
The golden rays cast their light on the Moomin household, the trolls were already beginning to stir from their deep hibernation. As usual, MoominMama was the first to rise, quickly scurrying down into the pantry to prepare a delicious breakfast to celebrate the new Spring. MoominPapa also got quickly to work, calling for Moomin to wake up and then rushing to his study to record the wonderful dreams he'd had, into his memoirs. As for Moomin, he had just begun to pull back the covers of his bed, stretching and yawning. As usual, the first thing for him to do was open the window of his bedroom and look out into the valley, now bursting with life. The birds were singing and the breeze was just fine. Moomin was thoroughly looking forward to going outside but he quickly sagged when he saw that there wasn't any sign of a lone figure or a green tent by the river side. In fact, the very person that Moomin doted upon above all others was no where to be seen. This year Snufkin had given Moomin his harmonica, which now lay dusty on the window sill. Picking it up and giving it a blow he sighed.
"Snufkin is late." He said to himself, raising his eyebrows and frowning. "That doesn't seem right at all."
Slowly, continuing to deflate, he made his way down the two flights of staircases and made his way into the dining room. Pulling back his wooden seat from the table, he slumped down, head on hands, watching as MoominMama carry in various delicious smelling dishes. Putting down a plate in front of Moomin she brushed her apron with her handbag.
"Why, what is the matter Moomin?" She asked her sulking son.
Just then, MoominPapa entered the room, seemingly enjoying his first smoke in months. Sitting down he took a few puffs and forking a pancake, slapped it down on his plate and covered it with sauce. Looking up from his plate he raised his eyebrows at the picture of his sad son and concerned wife. He considered this in silence and took another puff. Traditionally, this was a day of happiness and celebration. Something didn't fit.
"Snufkin hasn't arrived Mama." replied Moomin in a low voice. "He is usually always here on the first day of Spring, he promised to be but he isn't… I hope something horrible hasn't happened."
"That is peculiar, Snufkin is usually so punctual as well." frowned MoominPapa as he straightened the hat on his head.
MoominMama seemed to stand by her seated son in deep thought. After a moment of silence on her part, she began filling her sons cup with strawberry juice."I am sure Snufkin is just fine. He has probably just been delayed. After all, it is a long journey from the South to Moominvalley." she said very matter-of -factly in her soft, kind voice. "Now, eat up. I'm sure Snufkin will be here soon."
MoominMama was right for Snufkin had been delayed. He would have been at the Moomin house at that very moment, eating breakfast with them, if it weren't for the fact that he had strayed a little from the beaten track, wandering in the forest on the borders of the valley. He had been in search of wild mushrooms to take back to Moominmama, for there were many in this part of the wood and he thought she might appreciate the gesture. At times he felt guilty for not being able to repay the Moomins for their unwavering generosity and hospitality. So, when he could, he would make an effort. Snufkin was aching to return to the valley. After his long period of solitude he had begun to feel the itch for company and he knew there was no better company in the whole world that couldn't be found in Moomin valley. He was looking slightly more tattered, with several more rips and ragging round the ends of his trousers and his over sized green shirt. His yellow scarf was dirty and his boots caked in mud. Even the feather on his pointed hat was bent. All in all, he looked like he needed refreshing and he was sorely in need of it, for his back was giving him grief under the burden of his back pack.
The forest was cool and inviting as the birds sang and the golden light sifted through the foliage. Snufkin walked on, now and again climbing over mossy roots as he carefully made his way to the spot where he knew the mushrooms grew in great abundance. It wasn't too far from the now empty house were Alicia and her grandmother had once lived. He wished them both the best of luck and hoped that when he next saw Alicia, she would be a fully trained witch.
Makig his way up a rocky hillside, he stopped and listened. Smiling slightly he watched as two squirrels scuttled up a tree and began grooming each other. Everything was awake now and he reminded himself to hurry up because Moomin would be awake and waiting. He was almost welcoming himself to the great dependency which Moomin had on for him.
He had almost made it to the mushroom patch when he heard a rustle in a nearby cluster of bushes. Stopping and turning his head he looked a them. Snufkin was just about to continue walking when he heard what he perceived to be a sigh coming from the area where he had heard the rustling. Now curious, he walked towards the bushes and carefully moved aside a few branches. What he saw made his blank expression rise up into one of surprise. There, curled up in some dry leaves, was a girl. Her body was awkwardly rested on the ground, as if she had fallen, yet she hadn't fainted for her eyes were fixed on his but unrelenting and almost afraid.
For a moment Snufkin simply stared at her in surprise, filled with incompetence on how to deal with the situation. He wasn't sure as whether to apologise for his intrusion or ask her if she had fallen. Had she been ill and clearly in need of help he would have tended to her but her gaze was so strong and her face so emotionless… he wasn't sure exactly what to do. He had never seen anyone like her before. She had dark hair which was long, unkempt and dirty. Her long white dress was torn and covered in mud and he noticed she was barefoot. Even her face was dirty. The girl was thin and sallow looking. She was roughly about his own age, or so he guessed but it was difficult to tell. All in all, she was quite a pitiful sight and he quickly had suspicions that she lived in the forest alone.
"I'm very sorry I disturbed you. Are you alright? Here-"
Putting forward his hand, in an attempt to coax her into letting him help her up, she suddenly raised both hands over her head in an attempt to protect herself. Both her eyes were screwed up waiting for a blow. Snufkin immediately backed off and in puzzlement quickly reassured her.
"I'm not going to harm you." He said kindly but bemused "I only want to help you up on to your feet."
The girl slowly crept away from her precautions and tried to sit up. Yet again, Snufkin put his hand out and this time she took it. Her hand was cold but clammy, which was fairly unpleasant but Snufkin soon had her on to her feet looking perfectly sheepish.
"I'm Snufkin." He said with a small, welcoming smile. Snufkin's eyes wandered to the cluster of bushes. "Do you live here? Are you lost?"
It took a while for the girl to answer. She had already slowly backed off and was twirling her ragged hair with her dirty fingers. Her eyes were lowered and she looked thoroughly embarrassed and confused. Suddenly she pointed with a finger to the bushes. "I live there." Her voice was timid but meaningful.
"All alone?" Replied Snufkin astounded. "Don't you have a home, a family?"
The girl seemed to mull these words over in her mind as if they were important but she couldn't quite remember the reasons as to why they were. She opened her mouth so as to say something but quickly closed her mouth and looked away.
Snufkin 's mind began to race. Obviously he couldn't leave her out here, all alone and clearly in need of some food and care. He would have to take her back to the Moomin household and have MoominMama look after her. Maybe there they could find out what had happened to her and why she lived all alone in the forest. At the moment he didn't want to press her with too many questions, as that would be as much of a hassle for her as it would be for him. What he needed was to get her to the his rucksack on his back he fixed his hat.
"What is your name?" he asked kindly. "I… I don't know." Replied the girl "I can't remember anything."
Her eyes fixed to his once again and although her mouth was straight and solemn he could tell from her eyes that she was experiencing great confusion and fear. They seemed to glint with all those emotions at once, wavering round in her dark, sad eyes like the Northern.
Looking serious and concerned, Snufkin put out his hand for her. "Come with me. I am going to Moomin valley to meet the Moomins. They will take care of you there and I think you will like it."
The girl's face suddenly wildly transformed with emotion, although which, Snufkin couldn't put a finger on. It was a mixture of bewilderment, anger and excitement.
"I don't want to leave here. It is nice here. I came when it was cold and it was horrible. I sheltered in an abandoned house in the woods but now that it is warm I can sleep out here. In the morning I can hear the birds singing. I can sit in those bushes and watch the animals. It is all I know and I don't want to go where there are no trees and no birds or where there is no grass to sit on."
All of this seemed to tumble out in a long line and afterwards she took a deep breath and sighed. Snufkin seemed to be able to understand her perfectly. He too enjoyed these things and the absurd assumption that she would never see any of these things again seemed to make him fonder of the filthy creature. He felt quite sorry for her because she wasn't well prepared for living alone and the fact she seemed to be suffering from some sort of memory problem made him feel an urge to make sure she was protected and seen to. She was quite a mystery and Snufkin was appreciating it
."There are all of those things and more." Snufkin replied gently "Please come with me, it isn't far and you can visit the woods when ever you want to."
The last coaxing did the trick for she carefully submitted and took his hand. Leading her kindly, Snufkin helped her down the hillside, making sure she didn't hurt herself or step on anything sharp. Soon, they were off through the forest on their way to the Moomins.
So much for mushrooms!