The Gingerbread House

(Crot by crot account)

1. intro to place and characters, mood of gaeity

2. single out old man, his wardrobe, his skin, hair, feet

3. the girl and the boy – colors associated with girl, their bare feet

4. boy dropping crubs, old man’s shoes, boy’s wardrobe

5. the children sing – why they sing

6. the boy’s hand, fingers, kneading and dropping crumbs

7. the old man’s pale blue eyes, looking into the distance

8. intro the witch, her black rags and burning eyes, her hands clawing herself – tearing out the heart of the dove

9. the girl, younger, skipping, blonde curls , dress, rosy cheeks, dimpled knees delighted by all, the encroaching darkness, does she know about the crumbs or where the old man’s leading them?

10. intro the glade and the gb house – children come but do not leave

11. intro the dove, its colors, seeing it from above or below

12. the man and the boy looking back seeing the dove eating the crumbs

13. the witch with the dove’s heart – a polished cherry, a bloodstone, still beating..

14. the boy with the dove, his hands on it, bloodied by beak and claws

15. the approach to the gb house

16. the girl cries with anguish, drops the flowers, fights with the boy over the dove

17. the old man, looking down, sighing

18. the girl captures the bird, defeating the boy, puts dove between her thighs, old man lifts her skirt to reveal it

19. shadows, the forest, the body of the dove, the trio vanished

20. the gbhouse as constructed of candied delights – best of all, the door!

21. The dense dark forest, the children fearful, following the plodding old man

22. the old man confronting the witch, being seduced by her, covering her.

23. children terrified, girl comforted by father

24. inside the house, the children safe in their beds, the father telling them stories of wish fulfillment – why must the goodness of all wishes come to nothing?

25. The forest path, the overturned basket, the dark shadows like dried blood, night falling

26. old man has fallen into brambles, seems helpless, confused, children weep

27. the sun, the songs, the dove, etc. – where have all the good fairies gone? He leads the way, children frightened, follow.

28. The boy confronts the witch – she lures him with the dove’s heart

29. intro to the good fairy, her “two firm breasts with trips bright as rubies”

30. the witch, luring the boy on closer, clawing at his garments, “surprising his soft young flesh.”

31. The old man, eyes like burning coals, watches the boy, strikes him

32. echo of the slap

33. girl weeping comforting the struck boy, holding him close, old man trying to make amends, is rejected, leaves the children.

34. The door! Of the house – described like dove’s heart

35. the children alone in the forest huddling, embracing, singing lullabies that no longer help

36. the old trudging alone “out of the forest” his way marked by dead doves glowing in the empty night

37. girl and boy make a mattress and lie upon it.

38. old man in the dark room at the house, alone, gloomy, musing upon the good fairy and her uselessness. Wishes his children well.

39. children come onto the gb house, delight in the treasures

40. the witch in the black forest burning coal eyes and black rags flapping, see the children sleeping below, one leg out from the blanket of branches

41. But wish again! Return to opening, the flowers and butterflieds, the songs, the green, the breadcrumbs, but “its no use, the doves will come again. There are no reasonable wishes.”

42. Conclusion: boy and girl reach the house. lick each other clean, kiss. The door, etc.