The Gathering of Great Minds...

​​As Hewy and Sprout continued the journey to meet with Sprout’s mother, Parsley, Hewy tried several times to find out more about the Petal Post. “Are you sure your mother can read these strange markings?”  asking again as he looked at the Pedal Post he had been carrying since he met Sprout.

​​“I told you Hewy, mom gets them all of the time.  Once I heard her talking to Cornelia and Efem about how they would look forward to getting one but that was a long time ago.  Now when mom gets one it usually means trouble ‘cause she has me running lot of errands for her," Sprout answered.

"​I don’t mind though since most of the time it takes me by the Sugarplum Bakery.  Have you eaten there?  I wished I hadn’t thought about that.  I’m getting hungry already.”

​Hewy just shook his head from side to side.  How could this sapling of a boy eat so much?  He had already gulped down a giant muffin!  “If I ate like him I would be as big as a Dragon,” thought Hewy.  As they continued on the trail, each deep in their thoughts about food, little did they realize that high overhead a bird was watching them.

Soon the Mushroom dwelling of Parsley appeared.   As the two entered the home Sprout hollered, “Mom...  I brought Hewy home to see you.  By the way, what’s for dinner?”  Again, Hewy with his usual frown on his lips, just shook his head  thinking about growing boys and their stomachs.

​“Good day Hewy,” Parsley said ignoring Sprout’s dinner question. “You know Cornelia and Efem don’t you?” she asked turning to introduce them to Hewy. ​

​"Good Day Efem, Cornelia.  I am here to see Parsley.  I was told she could help me with my problem," said Hewy.

​As Sprout went off to the kitchen for something to eat, Hewy told Parsley about his day.

“Today in the village I had something strange happen.  A magpie dropped this flower at my feet and then just flew off.  I couldn't make heads or tails about what it was until Sprout told me it was a Pedal Post.  He says they come from the Sleeping Sisters and that you might be able to read it?  Can you?  I can't imagine why I would get one but I am curious to know what it might say."

“Yes Hewy, I can read the message and if it is intended for you I will tell you what it says.”

​Hewy quickly handed the Post to her as he had been quite nervous that he would never be able to find out more about the message.  As Parsley started to read silently to herself, Sprout kept poking his head back in trying to find out what was for dinner.  “Sorry Sprout.  Dinner will have to wait.  Right now all of us will be taking a short trip with Hewy.”

​Cornelia was a little startled to hear what Parsley had just said.  “What do you mean Parsley?  Where are we going?” she asked.

​“The Petal Post is indeed for Hewy.  The Sleeping Sisters are requesting that he come to them and we are invited as well,” she told the others. ​

"Now that was strange," thought the surprised Efem.  "How could the Sisters know that Hewy would come to Parsley to have his note read?"

Parsley continued, “I have never met one before.  I have received the Posts over the years, but have never seen one of the Sisters in person.  They are a mysterious guild."

​Both Cornelia and Efem agreed.  Soon the discussion began on how they would find the Sisters  since none of them had ever been invited there before.

​It was at this moment there came a loud rap...rap... rapping at the door.  While Hewy and the others were all talking about trying to find their way to the Sleeping Sisters, Sprout opened the door to see who was there.  It was a large black and white bird – in fact, it was a magpie.  Sprout did not know it, but it was the very same bird that had been following them. “Mom, there is a big bird at the door looking at me.  What do you want me to do?”

​Hearing about a bird, Hewy quickly came out and told the others that it looked like the one that had given him the Petal Post.  The bird nodded its head once, then flew to a nearby tree.  As it watched the others, it would occasionally bob its head as if it was pointing to something.

​“I think it wants us to follow,” Parsley told the others.  Nodding its head now up and down, the bird flew to another tree further away and stopped to see if they were indeed following.  “What are we waiting for?  Grab your belongings folks and let’s see where the bird leads and yes, Sprout you can bring the the cookie jar.”