When she was gone, Mother called, “Willie!” The little man came in, bowing to Mother as he entered. “Willie, Mother needs a bath.” He nodded again, turning to go, and she called, “Oh, and Willie? Come here.” He advanced toward the bed and waited. His head only came up to the top of the mattress and he stood looking up at her.
She patted the top of his head, smiling. “Wee Willie Winkie,” she murmured, chucking him under the chin. “Do remember to go out there tomorrow morning and let those sheep out of their pen, won’t you, darling?”
He nodded, smiling, his eyes bright. “Yes, Mother.”
Chapter Two
Little Boy Blue
Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow, the cow's in the corn.
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?
He's under a haystack, fast asleep.
“Guess where I found this one, Mother?”
She looked up from her tea, seeing Little Boy Blue dragging in the young man she had recently hired to help Peep look after the sheep.
“Oh, no, not again!” Mother tsked, standing and moving toward them.
“You guessed it, under the haystack, fast asleep!” Blue exclaimed, shaking his head and grabbing the young man by his shirt collar, forcing him to his knees on the floor. “You bow before Mother, swine,” he hissed.
Mother squatted down near the young man, lifting his chin. He was dirty, but his eyes were a clear, bright, and very defiant blue. “Tommy boy,” Mother murmured, licking her thumb and rubbing it over a smudge on the young man’s cheek. He jerked his head away, glaring at her.
Mother sighed, folding her arms, and stood to look at Blue. “Are these magic sheep I have?” she wondered aloud. “Do they fly out of their pens?”