Eugene

This story is by Sherri Lee Boyd and was part of our 2023 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

Villagers gathered around the campfire to tell stories. Flames flickered and danced in the fire.
I’ll start said Granny, “A long time ago there was a unicorn family that lived nearby in the mountains. They frolicked and played in the fields and the forest. They were magical and could heal the sick.”

Annabel listened to the story and smiled. She knew unicorns really did exist.
Her and Tommy had gone into the mountains to pick berries. Annabel had filled her basket. Crack, sounded behind her.
“Hello,” she said. It was silent.
Annabel continued to pick berries, there was another snap.
Leaves of the tree moved, two black eyes stared at her. With her hand she pushed the branches back.
A horse stood, strong and tall, a long horn in the middle of his forehead, covered in mud.
“Hello,” she said.
He stepped back and tilted his head to the side. Shyly he batted his long eyelashes.
“I won’t hurt you little guy. Don’t worry,” Annabel said stepping forward.
He stepped back.
She started to sing. “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra Too-ra-loo-ra-li hush now don’t you cry.”
He studied her for a moment, then moved towards her. She reached out and scratched his neck.
“You are so beautiful. Will you be my friend?”
He nodded his head yes and stepped closer.
Tommy ran from behind the tree “Can I pat him?” he yelled with excitement.
The unicorn reared up in fright, a loud whinny, a swish of the tail and he was gone.
“Great, thanks a-lot,” Annabel said, punching Tommy in the arm.
“Oww,” Tommy cried. “Why did you do that? I wanted to be his friend too.”
“Tommy, he was just getting close, and you scared him.”
“Maybe he’ll come back?” said Tommy.
“It’s getting dark. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
Tommy’s head hung low. “I’m sorry,” he cried.
Don’t feel bad,” she wiped his tears. “It’s not your fault.”
Annabel took Tommy’s hand, and they went back to the cave for the night and ate their berries.

####

Annabel and Tommy walked across the green fields towards the rising sun to where Eugene had been.
They sat under the tree and sang like angels and waited.
Branches cracked behind the tree.
“Is someone there?” Annabel said, her finger to her lips looking at Tommy. His eyes as big as saucers.
“Hello, is there anyone there? No one is going to hurt you. This is my brother Tommy. Don’t be afraid.” She started to sing, her voice was beautiful.
Branches broke closer.
Eyes peered at them from behind the tree.
Annabel said, “Are you hungry? We brought you snacks.”
The unicorn came into the open. Clumps of mud fell from his body. He took a few steps towards them. They could see him but couldn’t touch him.
“I’ll sing you another song,” said Annabel. “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra Too-ra-loo-ra-li that’s an Irish lullaby.”
Lured by her voice he stepped closer, his nose straight in the air he sniffed for danger.
Tommy and Annabel sat still. “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra Too-ra-loo-ra-li”
The Unicorn stepped over to Annabel and sniffed them from head to toe.
“Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra Too-ra-loo-ra-li”
He put his nose on her head and snuffled her hair and took in her scent then snorted.
Tommy and Annabel laughed.
Tommy held out his hand with a piece of apple. The unicorn brushed his small hand with his velvety lips, crunching it.
“What is your name,” Annabel said.
“My name is Eugene.”
“Nice to meet you, Eugene. I’m Annabel and this is Tommy. We heard you lived in the mountains, and we wanted to meet you.”
And so, their friendship began.
Every Saturday Tommy and Annabel visited Eugene. He took them for rides around the green fields. They would lay in the fields and pick out the shapes of the clouds they thought they saw.

####

Food and treats lined the tables at the town square for the yearly harvest feast and festival. They would dance and celebrate long into the night.

In the morning many villagers were sick. The healer was brought in, she tended to them as best she could, but some would die. She didn’t have the knowledge needed to cure them. The only thing that would save them would be a miracle.
Trudi, Annabelle’s mom lay in bed unable to get up like many other villagers.
” Promise me you will take care of your little brother Tommy? You’re eight years old, one year older and you are all he has. If anything happens to me, be a good girl. Annabel,” Trudi said.
“Don’t worry mom. Everything is going to be okay.” Annabel said.

####

“Tommy, we need to go find Eugene, I know he can help us. I’ll feel safer if you come with me.”
“Okay,” said Tommy.
They packed food and started their adventure. They searched fields and caves. Mud from the rain clung to their boots making them heavy and hard to walk and trudge uphill into the mountains.
“What’s that?” Tommy pointed to a funny shaped lump of mud with a stick sticking out of it. They approached cautiously. The lump moved. They lay flat in the tall grass and watched. The lump was still.
Belly crawling, they moved forward.
The lump tipped over into the grass with a thud.
Keeping low to the ground they continued until they were closer.
Annabel’s heart skipped a beat. Eugene lay in a ball in the grass and was covered in mud.
She ran to him. “Eugene,” she screamed, “are you ok? Eugene!”
Strange snoring sounds came out of him. His one eye opened and looked at her. His head came up and he startled to a sitting position.
“Hi,” he said. “What are you doing?”
“I thought you were dead,” Annabel said.
“Aww geez, I was having a nap,” he yawned.
“Your covered in mud, what are you doing?”
“I love mud,” he said, “I plaster mud over myself and lay in the sun to recharge my magical powers.”
“Oh,” Annabelle said. “You scared the devil out of me,” she laughed. “We came looking for you to ask your help, could help us?”
“Help you what?”
“We need your magical powers to cure the sick and dying villagers.”
“Can you promise me that you will protect me from people that are bad.”
“Yes, Eugene anything you need.”
“Okay,” he said. “Go over there and wait for me.”
“Okay.”
Eugene stood and touched the wide old tree trunk with his horn three times. The dew on the leaves fell from the tree washing his muddy body clean. Eugene shook himself and stood tall and breathtakingly beautiful. His iridescent coat sparkled in the sun. He trotted over to his friends, head and tail held high he knelt on one knee. “Climb up?” he said.

Tommy climbed up first then Annabel.

“Hang on tight,” said Eugene. With a shake of his tail, he galloped to the village.

###

Rows of tents filled the village square. The children and Eugene went to the first one and Trudi was there.
“Mom. I brought a friend to see you.”
Trudi didn’t answer.
“Eugene, can you do something?” Annabel cried.
Eugene walked closer and studied her. He lifted his front hoof and touched Trudi. Nothing happened.
“Oh mom! Did we take too long?” Annabel cried.
“Let me try again,” Eugene touched her hand, one, two, three times.
Annabel and Tommy held their breath and watched. Trudi’s hand moved, a minute later her eyes blinked and opened.
“Annabel, what is going on?”
“Eugene saved you.,” Annabel hugged her. “Oh, mom I’m so glad you are okay.” Tears rolled down her face.
“Thank you, Eugene.”
“Can you save the rest of the village?”
“I can try he said.”
Eugene entered all of the tents and one by one he saved each and every person in the village when he was finished his feet wobbled under him.
“I love you Eugene, how can we ever thank you.”
Outside of the tent Eugene collapsed and landed on the ground with a thump, legs sprawled in different directions.
Villagers helped lift him to a bed of straw to rest.
“Don’t worry we’ll watch over you and keep you safe until you are strong again,” Annabel said.
Annabel and Tommy covered Eugene with mud, who lay helplessly at their mercy.
The morning sun rose over the mountains. He basked in the sun all day to regain his strength. Annabel and Tommy kept watch not leaving him.
Villagers brought gifts of thanks to honour the unicorn. “You will always have a safe place in our village where you will be protected forever,” the mayor said.
April 9 from this day forward will be known as National Unicorn Day in honour of Eugene.
At dusk Eugene ate his special treats and stood strong and majestic and disappeared into the mountains.
Every week Annabel and Tommy came to visit Eugene and then they brought their children to visit. Eugene was so happy to finally have a family to love.