“Mate, stop peeking. She'll see us.”
“She just said she'd like to meet us.”
“And you've stuck half your body out, Braulio. Leave a little to the imagination.”
The three of us were behind a pot of rosemary. Across the table, a woman sat with her hands around her mug. She'd just said, very quietly, that she'd love to meet a Magikito. She wasn't asking for luck, money or someone to fix her printer. She wanted to meet us.
Even the bobble on Braulio's hat went a bit soft.
“Well, let's go and say hello.”
“Get your foot out of my ear first.”
Why Do We Hide When You Want to Meet Us?
We hide because we like coming over in our own time, playing a little trick and keeping you company without making a fuss. We're curious about you, but that first hello makes us shy too. We can talk big behind a flowerpot. Stepping out and saying “Hello, I'm your brownie” takes rather more nerve.
Braulio hadn't thought this through. Last time someone nearly spotted him, he put a leaf on his head and froze.
“I'm a lettuce.”
He was standing on a piano.
We had to get him down when his leg cramped up. He still insists he had the whole thing under control.
We edged around the pot. The woman had put her phone aside and was looking across the courtyard, doing nothing at all. She'd been there a while. Her tea went cold without her noticing.
Braulio stopped shoving us.
“Hang on. Maybe she could do with a bit of company today.”
Our Little Hints Need Work
We wanted to leave something lovely beside her mug. Nicanor found a small heart-shaped leaf, and all three of us set about carrying it. Two hands would have done nicely, but Braulio wanted to supervise.
“A bit further left.”
“Give us a hand, then. You've been pointing for ages.”
The rosemary caught his hat. He turned to the branch with a very serious face.
“Let go, darling. We're trying to get something done.”
He tugged too hard. The leaf went flying and stuck to his backside. We got the giggles. He marched on, convinced we were still behind him carrying the load.
Eventually, we got the leaf beside the mug. The woman ran a finger along its edge and smiled. Then she looked at the flowerpot.
We all ducked at once.
“Was that you lot?”
Braulio grabbed our waistcoats. He was absolutely bursting to answer.
We kept quiet. That smile had already made us happier than a whole afternoon of snacks. Sometimes we play tricks just for a laugh. Other times we're happy to get a little moment like that out of you, halfway through an afternoon that's been dragging on.
Of course, leaves fall when the wind blows too. We can't take credit for everything. Braulio's bad enough. He once tried to tell us he'd invented shadows.
How Can You Spend Time With Us?
You can step into our world through a story, a drawing or a made-up conversation while you tend your plants. Making room for your imagination is already a way to spend time with us. You don't need to spot a sign or get anything just right.
The woman picked up her mug again. Before going indoors, she left a biscuit on the saucer.
“In case all that hiding makes you hungry.”
We waited for the door to close. Braulio was out first. He wrapped both arms around the biscuit.
“I reckon she likes us.”
“Then share it. There are three of us.”
A burst of laughter came from inside the house.
We'd spoken a bit too loudly that time.
