Paul lowered his head and frowned. “Sorry,” he murmured. “I can’t help it.”

“You can’t help it?” His mother repeated. “You need to learn to ignore it. A wild imagination will not provide for you in the future.”

Paul thought about the adventure he had been having before his mother stepped in. Frowning further, he realized that the images in his head had helped him.

“But, I was doing my chores,” Paul said defiantly, looking his mother in the eye. Gesturing toward the firewood pile, he continued, “I was a knight in shining armor. It was my duty—my quest—to bring the firewood to a place of sanctuary.”

“Oh, if only we could figure out where your imagination comes from,” his mother said and sighed. “And what big words for a six year old boy!”

“I don’t even go to school,” Paul said, filling in the rest of his mother’s thoughts.

“I see we have had this conversation before,” his mother said with a nod. “You dream them at night.” Paul made an unintelligible sound, agreeing with her. She continued, “But they must come from somewhere other than your dreams.”

Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Can I go play with the village kids?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I guess … after you finish your chores.”

After bringing in the rest of the firewood, Paul turned his attention to the barn. Though he tried to focus like his mother had told him, he began to imagine the barn as a castle with a moat and a drawbridge.

I must deliver this message to the king. Paul looked down and imagined a rolled up scroll in his hand. He held up his hand and mouthed the words: “Lower the bridge. I must see the king at once.”

“What are you talking about?” James asked him. “Nevermind. You better pick up the pace. I’ll knock you over the head if you make me do all of the chores.”

Paul shook his head, trying to shake the image of the castle from his mind. “Sorry,” he said.

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Author guidance for This story

Paul the Minstrel
Appearance: He's shorter than the average person in the village (when he's young and when he grows up). Brown eyes, dark brown hair. He has a birthmark on one arm that looks like a musical note.
Personality: His dreams make him a little eccentric. Though he doesn't always speak in rhyme, he will often spring into a rhyme without notice. (When he is older, of course) He is smart, though. If you get past his weird external shell, you will find an understanding and wisdom well beyond anyone of his time. (Perhaps the woman nurtures this)

Josephine the Noble
Age: 24 (when she first met Paul)
Appearance: She's got wavy honey blonde hair that's usually pinned up in the respectable manner expected of old maids like her. Her eyes are of the deepest blue, and are usually the very emblem of warmth and love, but when she gets angry or feels determined they turn a steel blue. Her lips are thin, and her complexion is very pale. One wouldn't describe her as beautiful, but she has a certain charm about her that draws people in. Jo is all lines and angles, a thin woman who is fond of sensible clothes, clothes that make her plain figure looks even plainer.
Personality: She used to be a rather pretty girl, and had her share of men knocking on her parents' door asking for her hand in marriage. But soon after they met her, they all backed off because she made it clear that she wasn't about to be owned by any man. Jo has a rather sharp tongue and a tendency to say whatever's on her mind, which in most cases isn't what is acceptable for a woman to say. She's been labelled a heretic for voicing her ideas of equality, but after a while people just regard her as a slightly mad, but harmless woman. She is a big believer of dreaming and is a wonderful storyteller. True to her pro-equality attitude, Jo treats everyone the same, and that is why she listened to and believed Paul when everyone else disregarded his stories.

updated Jul 6 '11 by marcuslee