{"id":520,"date":"2021-02-19T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T09:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/?p=520"},"modified":"2021-02-19T09:01:32","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T09:01:32","slug":"outlines-and-rainbows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/?p=520","title":{"rendered":"Outlines and Rainbows"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wpsocialite social-buttons large\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/?p=520&amp;locale=en_US&amp;t=\" class=\"socialite facebook-like\" data-lang=\"en_US\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/?p=520\" data-send=\"false\" data-layout=\"box_count\" data-width=\"60\" data-show-faces=\"false\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"vhidden\">Share on Facebook.<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"socialite twitter-share\" data-text=\"\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/?p=520\" data-count=\"vertical\" data-lang=\"en_US\" data-via=\"@birdstoowit\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"vhidden\">Share on Twitter.<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<p>\u00a9 Peter l. Barnes and Peter Barnett February 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find the 27 songs over the decades, mostly about colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sky watched the morning mists as they swirled around the\nriver and offered the briefest flashes of the weeping willow trees lined up\nalong the bank. She might be small but hopefully her bright yellow mac wouldn\u2019t\nstruggle to be seen in the foggy morning. She watched the pure white swan\nfloating down river, tiny cygnets riding on its back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She watched a strange outline emerge from the woods, walking\nsteadily towards the river, leaving huge footprints in the deep snow, before\nplunging its head in the rushing and freezing water for a refreshing drink. Water\nswirled around and around the angular face, disturbing the rapid flow. A sharp snap\nand a silver fish flapped and struggled to free itself from pointed teeth and a\nstrong jaw. It thrashed about trying to escape, but to no avail, as it was\nthrown into the air, spraying water with its rapidly flapping tail, before\ndisappearing in a single gulp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHello,\u201d said Sky, ever a forward young girl.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEr, hello,\u201d uttered the shape. \u201cI didn\u2019t know anyone could\nsee me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can only see your outline,\u201d admitted Sky. \u201cWhat have you\ndone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been singing a song all morning and can\u2019t get it out\nof my head.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cProcol Harum?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBless you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo silly, the song.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh Yes,\u201d said the shape. \u201cIf you say so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI do,\u201d said Sky. \u201cYes, the snow has made you all but\ninvisible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIs that a good thing, my mysterious girl?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you want to creep up on people, when it\u2019s snowing,\u201d said\nSky. \u201cOnce the sun comes out, you\u2019ll stand out like a sore thumb. And if I\u2019m\nnot mistaken it\u2019s about to do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Streaks of bright light strained through thick fog and thin\ndrizzle and lit up the far riverbank creating a beautiful rainbow, myriads of\ncolours sparkling across the river, like the first morning. Even more startling\nwas the white horse standing in the field opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHello Sky,\u201d called the creature. \u201cWhat\u2019s that shape\nstanding by you today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The shape shifted uneasily, not enjoying all the sudden\ninterest in its outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d said Sky. \u201cBy the way your mane is\nparticularly beautiful this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe last wish I granted, went down particularly well,\u201d said\nthe white horse, preening its multicoloured mane and tail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd your horn is gleaming,\u201d added Sky. \u201cNow that the sun is\nout.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you,\u201d said the white horse and with a flick of its\ntail, gambolled like a spring lamb across the fields and into the woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIs that a unicorn,\u201d asked the shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat else would it be?\u201d said Sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHow does it get all the colours,\u201d said the shape, which was\ngradually turning bright white against the grass, now that the snow had melted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh,\u201d said Sky, almost jumping out of her skin as the white\ndragon emerged. \u201cThat\u2019s what you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat did you think I was?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI thought you were a common dinosaur.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCommon!\u201d said the white dragon. \u201cI\u2019ll give you common,\u201d\ntaking a deep breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t get all uppity now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The dragon gently let out a gentle breath of fire, warming\nthe frosty grass around Sky\u2019s wellingtons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSorry, I\u2019m a bit jealous of the unicorn\u2019s surreal colours,\u201d\nsaid the dragon. \u201cHow does she get them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvery time she grants a good wish, she is given a new\ncolour,\u201d answered Sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDo you want a wish?\u201d said the dragon. \u201cI\u2019d love to be\nsurreal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo, then you\u2019d be in pieces, bits and pieces, all over the\nplace and confused by a bunch of melting clocks,\u201d said Sky. \u201cAnd anyway, can\nyou grant wishes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll have to find another way,\u201d said Sky. \u201cWhat about good\ndeeds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can do bad deeds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat will only turn you into black.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m also good at painting things black,\u201d said the unhelpful\ndragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNow why doesn\u2019t that surprise me,\u201d said Sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s go down the streets and ask if anyone needs a good\ndeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t work like that,\u201d said Sky. \u201cBut we\u2019ll go for a\nwalk anyway, shall we?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They walked down the riverbank to find a glum looking boy\nsitting on a bench, tears dribbling down his cheeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d asked Sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy gumboots leak and my socks are soaked,\u201d said the boy.\n\u201cIf I go home my now, my mum will be cross with me for jumping in all the\npuddles, and having holes in my shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think I can help,\u201d said the dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cReally,\u201d said the boy, unphased by a talking dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYes, see that purple bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cOops,\u201d said the boy,\npicking it up and giving it to the dragon. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to drop my litter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you, now your boots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boy handed over the wet boots and dragon with a gentle\nhot breath melted and vulcanised the boot, melting the plastic bottle to fix\nthe new seal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNow your socks.\u201d &nbsp;Dragon held the socks up and with a warm\nbreath dried them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The boy quickly donned socks and boots and ran off jumping\nin all the puddles, spraying purple rain all over dragon<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you thank, you,\u201d shouted the boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking through the fields they came across a calf bellowing\nfor its mother, who was standing in a field of the greenest grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPlease, help bring my baby home,\u201d called the mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sky and Dragon gentle herded the calf back to a gap in a\nfence, whereupon it rushed through the lush field and immediately suckled its\nmother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you, dragon,\u201d called the mum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dragon and Sky slowly wandered down the path to the local\nvillage before passing a whimpering dog, his collar caught in a yellow ribbon,\nattached to an old oak tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHello, what\u2019s happened here?\u201d said Dragon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI ran off,\u201d said the dog. \u201cI was chasing a rabbit down the\npavement and got caught up and now I\u2019m stuck.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dragon carefully untangled the dog. \u201cDo you know where you\nlive,\u201d asked dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo, don\u2019t let me race around, chasing my tail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re right and we don\u2019t want someone making off with\nyou,\u201d said dragon. \u201cCome on we\u2019ll go to the vet, I\u2019m sure they can identify\nyou.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soon the dog was trotting behind its relieved owner, off for\na nice warm bath and well-deserved supper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you, dragon,\u201d called the owner, as a glint of golden\nsunshine, flashed from the vet\u2019s closing door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A young lady was rushing down Paris road frantically asking\npeople in the street for directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCan we help you?\u201d asked dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAre you lost,\u201d asked Sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo, it\u2019s my mother she\u2019s so forgetful and always wandering\noff,\u201d said the distraught woman. \u201cHave you seen her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen lots of old ladies about,\u201d said the dragon. \u201cHow\nwould we know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh, that\u2019s easy, she\u2019s the one in the brightest red dress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCome with us,\u201d said dragon. \u201cShe may be at the coffee shop,\naround the corner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure enough, there was an old lady sitting and chatting to a\nbemused group of teens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank goodness,\u201d said the woman. \u201cI hope she hasn\u2019t been a\nnuisance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo, she\u2019s been telling us some very colourful stories!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCome along mother,\u201d said the woman hurrying her mother off\nhome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut I haven\u2019t told them the one about the \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMother!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking further up the high street they noticed an\noverloaded stand at the greengrocers, piled high with tangerines about to\ntopple over as a leg gave way. Dragon dived forward and held the leg up whilst\nthe shop assistant refixed the leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThanks dragon,\u201d said the assistant. \u201cThey would all be\nrunning down the street without your help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat reminds me of a song,\u201d said dragon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think you\u2019ll find that\u2019s \u2018Tambourine man\u2019,\u201d said Sky,\npointing to one in the charity shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOh\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A young lad stumbled into dragon as the tall heel on his\nblue suede shoes gave way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSorry,\u201d said the lad \u201cNot used to these.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy are you wearing them then,\u201d asked the dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOff to a rock and roll party and found these in the charity\nshop,\u201d said the lad. \u201cNo way I\u2019m going to hobble there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet me see,\u201d said the dragon. \u201cThe glue\u2019s dried out, a bit\nof heat will soon have that fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dragon breathed hot air onto the heel and squished it back\non, before returning it to the lad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThanks dragon,\u201d said the lad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A little boy was looking wistfully at the pale moon in the\nblue sky rising over the rooftops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMum what does the other side look like?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said his mum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thinking this was something where he could help, dragon told\nthe boy to hop on his back and he\u2019d fly him there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo dragon,\u201d said Sky. \u201cWhat would the child breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGood point,\u201d said Dragon. \u201cBut I can take you all to the\nplanetarium.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dragon dropped them of at the planetarium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThank you, dragon,\u201d said the mother. \u201cI sure it will only\nbe blacks, whites and greys though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sky and dragon made their way back home. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\nI can\u2019t keep calling you dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJoseph.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJoseph have you seen yourself recently?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLook in the window.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There, in all his glory, was a dragon, festooned with all\nthe colours you can imagine, everyone he helped had given him a colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt worked,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cThank you for all my colours, Sky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;\u201cI think you may find\nthis interesting,\u201d said Sky, pointing to a poster in the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Auditions today for a great new musical.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sky skipped away down the street, past the nursery school\nwhere all the little children were singing their favourite song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>26 songs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a9 Peter l. Barnes and Peter Barnett February 2021 Find the 27 songs over the decades, mostly about colour. Sky watched the morning mists as they swirled around the river and offered the briefest flashes of the weeping willow trees lined up along the bank. She might be small but hopefully her bright yellow mac [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=520"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":521,"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/520\/revisions\/521"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peterlbarnes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}