Where are they all? (Part Two)

The final 200-word story set in Zee-Runty Fey - part of Fictional Moodling's "Summer of Magic" series

Well, these instructions miraculously appeared on my phone!

“Kneel at the Opportunities Door. With your right middle finger, tap lightly three times on the Midas Touch. Press once on The Mushroom. Meg will Fleece you into the Not So Secret Garden. Once inside, settle down on the nearest tuft and wait. The New Forest Show will start shortly after you arrive.”

I’m intrigued and trepidatious but follow the instructions to a T.

Thick violet curtains open to the chorus of “Bambloozon. Bambloozon.” and Owl One booms: “Welcome, dear Human. We're glad you've come to see what transpired with your friends. Join us!”

Within moments, my friends wave at me from a dazzling living screen - is this a fantasy version of a Zoom call? Owl One hosts; Munchkins rush to ensure everyone is connected. Each friend wears an inventive interpretation of earpods. A Munchkin equips me with a set. What a cacophony! Not one of my friends is speaking a language I understand. It's an enchanted Tower of Babel.

With a quizzical grin and a cock of his head, Owl One gives me two thumbs up.

It's still good to see them all, even if they’re incomprehensible.
I smile and wave.

Can you match some of the instructions to items on the door below?

For a little more fun, match items in the list of instructions to parts of the image of the door.

Door 10, “Door Opportunities” created by various artists supported by the Minstead Trust: The story of the door from Furzey Gardens website.

People with learning disabilities were guided through tracing rectangles, taping areas, and mixing and applying paints to create each unique book.

The bookcase-door found inspiration from Minstead Lodge’s own library with its many shelves bursting with colourful books. Many of the titles depicted are thematically linked to working life at Minstead and Furzey.

Door sponsored by Make a Will Online

The End

I couldn’t fit the entire ending into 100 words, so you have the final installment in 200 words. This is the final story in my Summer of Magic series inspired by by some of the Fairy Doors and structures we saw in the gardens.

I’m so grateful you came along for this magical journey and I hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. I have another series in mind which I’ll kick off now this one is finished!

Please leave me a comment as I’d love to know what you think of the series. And share too, if you want!

If you haven’t read the other stories yet, you can catch up with the “Summer of Magic” series here. Join me as we journey around the magical realm of Zee-Runty Fey, which is criss-crossed by bewitching and enchanting connections and a host of characters, either depicted on the doors, or imagined. I’ll be sprinkling a large measure of fairy dust to transport us into a world of wonder, whimsy and imaginative possibility.

If you’re wondering what to look at next, have a moodle around these

• Like, comment on, share or restack this post (or all!)

• Read some of my micro-fiction (mostly 100-word stories, including collabs with other Substackers)