George the Greytown Wizard
The townspeople did not care for their town and it became untidy and run down. One night all colour left the town and it turned a dreadful grey. The people called on George to bring the colour back. He tried unsuccessfully until he met Rhiannon who was a young artist. Together they solved the problem The townspeople did not care for their town and it became untidy and run down. One night all colour left the town and it turned a dreadful grey. The people called on George to bring the colour back. He tried unsuccessfully until he met Rhiannon who was a young artist. Together they solved the problem
24
the churchA couple of months had passed since Wannabe turned grey. One dayGeorge, in his hunger for human companionship, disguised himself as a gypsyand went to the local tavern. He sat at a table with somebody he once knew.They had been friends until the man had set his dogs on George. Georgedecided to strike up a conversation.“Strange town,” George said. “I see itʼs all grey, right to the townʼs edge. Thenthe countryside turns green. Why do you think this is so?” he asked the man.“Dunno,” the man said. He continued “But if it hadnʼt been for that stupidwizard, we wouldnʼt be in this predicament. People say he turned the towngrey because one of his stupid spells didnʼt go right. But heʼs been gone formonths. Some say he left because he was afraid that people would beat himup and throw him in jail ” Then the man looked closely at George. “Say, youlook a bit familiar. Is this the first time youʼve been here?”George went a little pale underneath his disguise. The last thing he needed wasto be recognised. He was worried that the next time people might go furtherthan setting the dogs on him. He quickly left. On his way home he walkedpast the church. He had not been to church for years. In a sudden attack ofnostalgia for the rituals and the hymns, he crept in and sat in a pew at the back.When George was not around to blame for the terrible grey curse, the peopleof Wannabe blamed God. However, they realised that there was not muchpoint in being too annoyed with Him as they wanted His help in returning lifeto its colourful, normal state. It was easier to blame George than God. Georgeat least was a visible presence in the town, or at least he used to be beforehe disappeared from view.Every Sunday nearly the whole population went to church. There were somany people that there was no room left on the wooden benches so theyhad to kneel on the cold stone floor. Those who didnʼt join the congregationcongregated in the local tavern, drinking away their sorrows and blamingGeorge, the Mayor and God for the town being grey.The preachers were secretly pleased by the townspeopleʼs sudden interest inreligion. Every Sunday, the collection plates were filled to overflowing. Theywere able to buy the latest in horse drawn carriages and were seen travellingaround Wannabe in style.25
- Page 1 and 2: 1
- Page 3 and 4: George, the grey town wizardwritten
- Page 5 and 6: CONTENTSsection one — the teasing
- Page 7 and 8: the teasingGeorge was a wizard with
- Page 9 and 10: about is making money. None of you
- Page 11 and 12: The fog drifted over the owls keepi
- Page 13 and 14: The Town Clerk and his wife hurried
- Page 15 and 16: times of unusual weather reversals,
- Page 17 and 18: the grey world through their lace c
- Page 19 and 20: down and other simple spells like t
- Page 21 and 22: Still George persisted. The flame o
- Page 23: all, a rather big, heavy boy. He ne
- Page 27 and 28: Every Sunday the preachers blamed t
- Page 29 and 30: Travellers took the long way around
- Page 31 and 32: Her father said sadly, “I really
- Page 33 and 34: into the next week. Then the school
- Page 35 and 36: One day Rhiannon had a good look at
- Page 37 and 38: flashes of colourGeorge had noticed
- Page 39 and 40: Next he put all his notes up on the
- Page 41 and 42: Her father replied in a soothing to
- Page 43 and 44: wizard. George thought to himself,
- Page 45 and 46: He rubbed the ointment and nothing
- Page 47 and 48: possible. You and your town would h
- Page 49 and 50: Mayor would call on him to put it r
- Page 51 and 52: CAROLINE AMBRUSI was born in 1938 i
the church
A couple of months had passed since Wannabe turned grey. One day
George, in his hunger for human companionship, disguised himself as a gypsy
and went to the local tavern. He sat at a table with somebody he once knew.
They had been friends until the man had set his dogs on George. George
decided to strike up a conversation.
“Strange town,” George said. “I see itʼs all grey, right to the townʼs edge. Then
the countryside turns green. Why do you think this is so?” he asked the man.
“Dunno,” the man said. He continued “But if it hadnʼt been for that stupid
wizard, we wouldnʼt be in this predicament. People say he turned the town
grey because one of his stupid spells didnʼt go right. But heʼs been gone for
months. Some say he left because he was afraid that people would beat him
up and throw him in jail ” Then the man looked closely at George. “Say, you
look a bit familiar. Is this the first time youʼve been here?”
George went a little pale underneath his disguise. The last thing he needed was
to be recognised. He was worried that the next time people might go further
than setting the dogs on him. He quickly left. On his way home he walked
past the church. He had not been to church for years. In a sudden attack of
nostalgia for the rituals and the hymns, he crept in and sat in a pew at the back.
When George was not around to blame for the terrible grey curse, the people
of Wannabe blamed God. However, they realised that there was not much
point in being too annoyed with Him as they wanted His help in returning life
to its colourful, normal state. It was easier to blame George than God. George
at least was a visible presence in the town, or at least he used to be before
he disappeared from view.
Every Sunday nearly the whole population went to church. There were so
many people that there was no room left on the wooden benches so they
had to kneel on the cold stone floor. Those who didnʼt join the congregation
congregated in the local tavern, drinking away their sorrows and blaming
George, the Mayor and God for the town being grey.
The preachers were secretly pleased by the townspeopleʼs sudden interest in
religion. Every Sunday, the collection plates were filled to overflowing. They
were able to buy the latest in horse drawn carriages and were seen travelling
around Wannabe in style.
25
Change language