The Tiny Giants - 4

He was, it must be said, down on his luck. In fact, he had been down on his luck for some time. If he hadn't been he wouldn't have been scraping along the ground looking for food. Dragging his foot along the side of the pavement his tattered boot kicked out a nut which rolled ahead before settling in the gutter.

Mike bent to pick up the nutshell and shook it by his ear. He had been disappointed too often in life and didn't want to get excited about the potential for any form of nourishment until he heard the tell tale rattle of the nut seed inside the shell.

The sound was there but even that didn't mean certain success. The nut could have gone mouldy inside the shell and there was still the issue of breaking the shell without shattering the seed to dust.

He looked round and found a half brick then placed the nut shell in a small indent on top of a garden wall. Gently he tapped until finally he saw a crack appearing. He lifted the nut into his hand and inserted his grubby thumbnails into the opening and prised it apart making sure to hold the nut over the wall so the seed inside could not fall away.

He bent so he could see the contents as he gently tipped the two halves only to stagger back when it emptied onto the top of the wall. There, shouting and swearing at him was a tiny, tiny man, well, so tiny that he could fit into a nutshell.

Despite his small stature his language was ripe and aggressive. After what felt like an age of abuse from the little man Mike lent forward and blew him off his feet and onto his arse. Before the next colourful tirade Mike spoke.

"Now listen you little foul mouthed shit, I didn't know you were in there. How would I, it was a nutshell. Now I've had a bloody awful day, well year, well life if I'm being honest and the last thing I need when I'm so hungry I was looking forward to eating the contents of that shell is you shouting and swearing at me.

Mike, paused and looked at the little man who was staring up at him. 'Hello, I'm Mike,' he said wondering to reach forward a hand but realising that the little man was no bigger than his fingernail.

Suddenly it hit him. 'Oh God,' he sighed, 'I'm hallucinating through hunger.'

The little man spoke, 'No, no, I'm here and I might be able to help you and I'm sorry I was so rude but I've been hidden in that shell for over 1000 years.'

'Who are you?' Said Mike still unsure as to whether to believe his eyes or mind.

The little man paused before speaking and when he did he spoke with hushed tones as if nervous anyone should overhear.

'I am Breknoc, the fourth of the last tiny Giants.'

'Tiny Giants', said Mike, the oxymoron rebounding around his head like pinball.

The tiny Giant hushed him looking fearful. 'For generations we have been hunted, four of us were chosen to hide, to keep the secrets. I can grant you one wish before I go to hide again. Close your eyes and make sure that whatever you wish for is what you really want and make sure that it will help you for life.'

Mike closed his eyes and thought. At first he came up with the obvious, enough money for a lifetime, everlasting wishes, to be young enough to start again. After a while it became clear that despite everything that had happened to him he was not selfish. Finally he knew what to wish for, he wanted a world where no one suffered.

He opened his eyes ready to speak and stared at where the little man had been but he was not there. Mike knew at once he had imagined it all.

Running through the grass the little man giggled at what he had done

Never forget that the Tiny Giants can be cruel bastards.