The Chronicles of Verspania

“And where have you been munchkin?” Gran said, as soon as Iris stepped in the doorway and pinched her cheek sharply.

“I was out picking flowers,” She said then realised she had left her flowers at Time’s cottage.

“I don’t see any flowers.” Gran said, she raised an eyebrow.

“I forgot, must’ve put them down somewhere. I’ll get some next time I go out and some bluebells for you. I promise!” Iris said, giving Gran a quick hug before leaving her in the doorway. The farmhouse was just big enough for the family of five; Dad, Gran, the twins - Maya and Toby - and Iris. It was made of sandstone and it was gradually falling apart with broken doors and drafty windows but it fit the Abebe household just fine. Each room had thinning carpets from the '70s they hadn’t had the money to replace yet and family photos that plastered every wall, though few had Iris’ mother in them. The kitchen was perhaps the only room that was reasonably modern with checker-board flooring and dark wooden cupboards. In the corner, sat a small cream colour aga with the paint chipping. At the dining room table, Iris’s dad was kneading some sourdough and had flour in his beard. He was tall and he always wore the biggest smile. He wore his hair in dreads and had reading glasses perched on top of his forehead. The twins sat at the opposite end of the dining table and were fighting over an Ipad.

“Ah the princess of the castle has returned!” Dad said, wrapping his dough covered hands around Iris in a massive hug, “How was your walk? Did you find any fairies? I heard the meadows are busy this time of year.”

George loved to make little jokes about myths and folklore because of the games he had played with little baby Iris and the twins when they were toddlers. The twins were 9 now and considered themselves to be far too old for George’s tales but Iris never forgot them. Iris washed her hands and grabbed a handful of dough and began kneading it next to him.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you but no fairies. Anyway, you remember the Verspani stories Mum used to tell me?”

“Of course! You loved those, I remember one year when you insisted on being a Verspani princess for halloween. Hang on, I think I’ve got a picture here somewhere.” Dad said, wiping his hands on his apron and went to find one of the many childhood photos.

“Do you remember if there ever was a character called Time? It's - it’s for a creative writing project at school.” Iris said, like a liar. Iris had always wondered if maybe her Mother’s stories were true, especially after she disappeared. After a while, Iris had begun to not believe in the Verspani, they were only a story after all.

“I’m not sure, you could always poke around some of your Mother’s books to see if there was anything in there. I’d love to read it once you’ve finished it!”

Iris’ dad was the person she looked up to most of all. He had always been there when her mother hadn’t. He’d taught her how to drive, which hadn't gone well at first but she had got the hang of it. She’d helped him on the farm with the sheep and the chickens. Iris abandoned the idea of her mother’s old stories, not that she’d left much behind, and went to feed the chickens and collect the eggs instead.