Playing with Pan

The woods are a strange place. The place were trees ruled and took all they wanted, the taller the tree the more sun filled light and life giving water they needed, while the small pretty flowers and wild bushes reminded me of worshippers following their leaders, bowing before the trees and the sun. My favourite place is hidden deep in the woods, it’s a very simple place and I’m always surprised to find no one else there; people used to know it was here otherwise there wouldn’t be a worn picnic table next to the stream. I can spend hours here, in these thick woods all by myself and my dog. Sometimes I bring my violin and practice. When I was little I had a love for exploring and I guess to some degree I still do, I love to wonder around the ancient trees and if I had the choice I would never leave this peaceful place. But every day when the sun goes down and I’m still here I rush home to the family that loves me. Once in here you could go hours before you find someone else, the old paths are mostly hidden by the wild life and many animals have made small paths that lead no where. The silence is amazing, the noise of speeding cars and lorries impossible to hear in the thick foliage. This small bit of paradise is rare to find in a town as large as this one.

The woods are great in each season, there’s always something to see and Jasper can always find something to do, smelling each tree we pass and trying to chase a rabbit or some other small mammal. But it’s only in spring that the entire woods are alive, the large stream become more like a slow moving river, flowers and bulbs visible and showing off their different colours, something no artist I have seen could recreate, all the birds sing their different songs in surprising harmony while the deer are seen more often grazing with their young and the cooling breeze sing through the long reeds. At this time of year I spent every possible minute in my spot with my violin and practice. Some say I am strange because I would rather be on my own with my violin then in a party getting drunk for no reason. I never have been one to follow the crowd and be a mindless sheep copying everyone else. It’s great to be different.

Today was the perfect day to go down to the woods, I had just finished my last college exam yesterday and now had three months of freedom, the sun was shining brightly and the weatherman predict it to be sunny all day and being so close to a beach meant that there was a cooling breeze. As always I got up with the sun meaning that by seven in the morning I was wide awake. I never was one to lazy about in a warm bed so I quickly got ready for the day before remember that I had no reason to be up and ready and it was only when Jasper and I were eating our breakfasts that I thought about what we could do today. The woods were the only thing that came to mind. One of my closest friends once said that I was obsessed with the woods but I guess you could say that I’m attached to what it represents. Before my parents’ second devoice they used to take my brothers and me down there all the time, it reminds me of when we were a happy family, not the broken one we are now.

I’m up and out the door before I know what I’m doing, dog leash in one hand and violin case in the other. I can already feel the suns rays burning the dark skin on my shoulders and I’m grateful that I put on thin cloths and not the heavy jeans I love so much. It was much hotter then I expected. The walk through the woods is quick; I know the way off by heart and don’t feel like sight seeing, this is the earliest that I’ve ever come here before, it can’t be past half seven in the morning. Although the walk is short and quick I still admire the work of Mother Nature, it’s something no gardener can fully recreate but they still try.

Twenty minutes later find Jasper swimming in the cold water while I run my hand through the tall reeds listening to the birds nesting there. The breeze pass through them softly making them sway as if to a beat. Just as I turn to walk around the old willow tree blocking my hiding place form view Jasper starts to bark like crazy scaring the wildlife into running.

“Jasper calm down, there’s nothing there!” I try to shout over his barking but he doesn’t hear me. I grab him just as he is about to charge into the small clearing and put his lead back on. Once Jasper has begun to quiet down I hear a faint whimpering that reminds me of a small scared child. What sort of parents would let their young child come out there?

“Hello? Look, I’m sorry that Jasper scared you, I promise that he won’t hurt you.” I wait for an answer but no one replies. “Are you ok in there?” still nothing. Calmly I walk into the clearing only to find it empty of life but on the wooden table I notice that someone left behind something. It looks like a flute but made of seven reeds of different lengths. A Pans Piper I think their called. Its quite small, maybe belongs to the missing child. It’s only then that I notice the whimpering has stopped, Jasper has calmed down as well. As soon as I take the lead back off Jasper is running for the water and I cat keep the laugh to myself, I also hear someone else join in but can see a soul. “See, Jasper’s mostly harmless” but still no answer, only child like giggles.

I don’t know what to do, I’ve never been in this sort of situation before and I’m useless around children of any age. Not knowing what to do I simple get out my violin and practice. It seems to be the best and only choice. I lose myself in the sweet notes I make and slowly start to sway to the beat like the reeds blowing in the wind. The child seems to join in, humming in tune with the wordless song. I’m amazed at the sound for I have never heard anything like it before. As soon as the song finishes I hear the soft voice speak, “What is that?”

“My violin, is this flute yours?” I ask.

“…Yes” the voice is hesitant, still scare.

“Can you play it?” I try to keep my voice soft and even, like I would for a scare animal.

“Yes” I don’t need to see a face to know that he is proud of this fact. Just then an idea comes to me.

“Will you play with me?” I ask wanting to see this child but there is no reply. “Please?” I beg. I wait in silence before the reeds by the stream move, Jaspers ears prick up and he sets by my feet. But what emerges is no child. The face is round like a boy’s with a head full of short brown curls and earth coloured eyes, the hands are small like a child’s while the torso is bare to the elements and appears normal. But that was all that made it appear human. Small hoofs replaced feet and the legs were like a goat’s with the think fur covering all that needed to be hidden. Two small horns grow from his forehead, one above each eye. Holding out a hand he waits for his flute and I wordlessly hand it to him not trying to hide my shock. This can’t be real.

The sounds he produces are perfect, unnatural in a way making this seem like a dream. The woods appear to some alive as he plays his flute, moving in tune while birds seem to sing along. The song dies down and then stops and I ask him “what is your name?”

“Pan” is all he says. That seems to answer all my unvoiced questions.

“Will you play with me?” he seems shy, like a normal child.

“Yes.”

I don’t know how long I was there for. On moment the sun was just finishing raising and the next it was slowly starting to set. I don’t remember stopping to eat or drink, there seemed to be no need for it here, after a while Jasper went back to play in the water. One song drifted into the next, I don’t think I’ve ever been this relaxed in my life, or had so much fun with someone. It was only when the stars started to appear that I noticed how late it was, I couldn’t believe it first. Pan seemed to know what I was think, he looked sad like someone told him his friend had died.

“Will you come back?” that look and tone of voice broke my heart, he looked so lonely.

“Everyday” I promise. Then he smiled and I swear nothing could be sweeter then his smile and I couldn’t help but give him one of my own. As I walked back to my loud home a planned to get up early tomorrow and bring myself some lunch, I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry. But it was worth it.