Candlelight

Candlelight

by A. Mariotti

Once upon a time, Lucas, a traveler, and his dog, Max, decided to wander off the well-defined trail in the Enchanted Forest. After walking for many minutes through high grass and thicket, they came upon a clearing, where Lucas spied a beautiful maiden picking flowers.

“Hello,” he said as he took off his cap. Max laid down in rest.

She looked up. “You are a stranger here.”

“Indeed. What gave me away?” he said and thought she had the loveliest eyes he had ever seen.

“Your clothes. We do not wear such bright colors. Who are you?”

 “I am Lucas, and this is my dog, Max.”

A trusting and naïve woman, she sensed he was not a threat. “My name is Ambrosia.”

I bet you’re as sweet as necter. He smiled. “Is there a town nearby? I am parched and in need of food and drink.”

“Klever is the closest town. That is where I live. Let me show you the way.”

The two walked to Klever and became acquainted along the way, as young lovers are known to do. Upon entering the city, Lucas noticed that it was spotless. The streets were free of straw and animal dung. He could hear the birds sing in harmony. Stalls lined the streets, all filled with merchandise such as fruits, baskets, and flowers. As they walked through the town, the people would stop what they were doing and watch them. Lucas could feel their icy stares on his back.

Ambrosia led Lucas and Max to a flower stall where an older man sat. “This is my father.”

The two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Ambrosia then showed Lucas to the local tavern. “Can I buy you a beverage?” asked Lucas.

“Yes, that would be lovely.” The two fell in love over shrimp risotto and a glass of ale.

Over the next two weeks, Lucas continued to court Ambrosia and also to check for a possible business opportunity. He noted that the whole town folded up around five o’clock, just before the sun descended from the sky. Ambrosia explained that they did not have any way to light the streets at night. While they had fireplaces in their homes for heat, they had to retire for the night early because of the darkness.

Lucas thought and thought. How can I light the night for them and make money for me? He recalled that the town of Dudley used candles, and the people put lit candles in the windows so the glow would allow them to walk through the town after sunset.

Lucas set about making candles. He tried different shapes and used various materials for the wick. He tried different types of wax and determined that beeswax was the best. When he made one hundred candles to his liking, he set up his business next to Ambrosia’s father. At first, people just looked. They did not trust the stranger and his dog. Ambrosia would send their customers to Lucas’ booth saying, “This will change your life.”

A few brave people bought candles. But then, Willie Fry, the fruit seller, told people that Lucas had been a criminal. Willie told the fine people of Klever that Lucas infused poison in the candle wax and, if they lit it, the fumes would slowly kill them in their sleep. Even though the townspeople knew Willie to be a con man, they believed his lie over the stranger trying to help them. The talk in the tavern and on the street degenerated into a struggle between who believed Willie set against those who believed the stranger Lucas. As a rule, Willie won.

No one bought Lucas’ candles. Ambrosia would place a lit candle in her window every night and would emerge from her house every morning. “See? No poison. Don’t believe the big lie!” she would announce. But still, no one bought candles.

One day, the Prince of Klever visited his town and saw Lucas’ candles. “How ingenious,” he said. “I’ll take ten. I get bored in the dark and the castle could use some light.”

No one said anything about the poison for fear of the Prince’s wrath. Even Willie Fry was silent. In a few days, the Prince returned and bought ten more candles. He also contracted to have Lucas deliver ten candles to the castle every five days.

Ambrosia made a sign to hang in Lucas’ stall. It read: Prince buys our candles.

And so, the people bought candles. Lucas added dye to the wax and his stall looked like a rainbow when the candles were displayed. Ambrosia suggested he put flower fragrances in the wax and the business boomed. The demand for candles was so great, that Ambrosia managed his stall so Lucas could spend his time making more candles. That arrangement didn’t please Ambrosia’s father who had to hire a young teen to pick flowers in the clearing.

The townspeople placed the candles in their windows which provided them a few more hours to socialize in the streets and taverns. The candlelight became a beacon as travelers could see the lights from miles away.  More travelers meant more business and prosperity to the people of Klever.

Since the interior of the homes were now lit, the people of Klever took up hobbies, like reading, sewing, and whittling instead of retiring to their beds. Unfortunately, that led to a decrease in the number of babies conceived and born so the population started to drop.

The Prince took a liking to Lucas and invited him for dinner at the palace every Friday night. He even gave him his old garments. Lucas’s clothes were brightly colored and made him stand out among the dark greys and browns of the Klever people. He really appreciated the Prince’s rejects as they allowed him fit in with the people in the market place.

Lucas’ hard work paid off and the townspeople warmed up to him. Eventually, Lucas made enough money from his candles to marry Ambrosia, run Willie Fry out of town, and live happily ever after in Klever.