The Goldenrust

“Mommy, it’s happening again!”

“What is happening, angel?”

[image error] Photo by Artem Saranin on Pexels.com

“God is pouring gold on the ground!”

Molly giggled and pulled her mother to the back door and snatched it open.  “See?” she said, and pointed to the sun that had just come up above the trees, flooding the ground in light.  Her mother smiled down at Molly, but, when she looked up, she noticed that the drops of dew were sparkling, like bits of shining gold you’d see in the movies when the hero finds a missing treasure. 

“Hmm,” she said, “It really does look like gold.”

Molly nodded, “That’s because it IS gold, silly.  One day, I’ll go up in the sky and find where God keeps his gold.” 

Her mom laughed and rubbed Molly’s head, something she often did when she was pleased with Molly’s childish antics, and then she went back to sweeping.  Molly, though, stared out the door for a while longer and thought, in the way a child can, that the rust colored leaves of the pear trees and the yellow of the pecan leaves made a nice backdrop for the gold pouring down.  Then she closed the door and yelled, “It’s BARBIE TIME!”

She played hard all morning, her mother doing her best to keep up.  Outside, they climbed on the playset and chased imaginary bad guys across the yard, picked a few late dandelions and collected pecans.  Then, inside, they colored and sang and danced and did Bible devotions, then it was time for lunch. After lunch meant cartoons and naptime.

“I’ll never fall asleep,” Molly told her Mom, yawning wide. She curled up on the couch, eyelids heavy, “I’ll never…fall…asleep…” and then her mom came over and kissed her head, then pulled the blanket up over her.

Sometime later, Molly awoke with a start.  What was that light?  She opened her eyes and rubbed them. Some bright light was coming in through the window.  She quickly ran outside and was surprised to find that the gold that had been poured out in the morning was now turned into actual gold!  The ground was covered in gold coins, rings, and vases and crowns and all sorts of things: all pure gold.

Molly ran outside and dove into the treasure, swimming through sparkling things.  She was having so much fun, she didn’t notice some little people coming towards her.  They were no bigger than she was, though they were obviously much older.  Some had long gray beards.  One such person approached her and “Hemmed.”

Molly was startled, “Oh, hello, who are you?”

“Hello, my name is Batton. I’m ever so sorry to ask, but, what exactly are you?”

Molly giggled and said, “A little girl, of course, silly!  What are you?”

Batton replied, “A little girl? No no no, that’s not right, you’re much too large for a little girl.  You must come with me to the Maker.”

“Alright, I guess,” said Molly, “Who is the Maker? Is he nice?”

Another dwarf-like creature approached and said, “He is loving, but you may not find him nice.  Come along now, step up!”  Then, muttering to himself, Molly heard him say, “Imagine not knowing who the Maker is! And what is it doing playing in the goldenrust that way!”

“Pardon me,” said Molly as she ran along behind them, “what do you mean ‘goldenrust’?”

Batton and the other dwarf stopped and turned in disbelief.

“The Gold And Rust!  The Gold and Rust you were just playing in! My oh MY what an ignorant thing you are!”  said the second dwarf.  He didn’t seem very nice, Molly thought, and inwardly thought his name should be “Grumpy.”

Batton came over and looked at her closely.  He said, “Do you know where you are, child?”

Molly looked around.  Her house was not there, nor the driveway, and she couldn’t see her playset either. 

She was worried, “No, I don’t! I thought I was home, but now, I don’t know! What is this place?”

Batton patted her on the shoulder, “You are in the Gold and Rust.”

Batton looked toward Grumpy.  He said, “We’d better get her straight to the Maker.”

Molly followed them along a path made of golden stones and surrounded by golden grain.  When the path curved, she saw up ahead a glimmering castle, made of pure gold.

“Did the Maker make all these things?” asked Molly.

“Indeed,” said Grumpy, “All that you see was made by him.  And his favorite color is gold.”

“Oh,” said Molly, and they walked into the castle and requested an audience with the Maker.

They walked into a large room, made of gold, of course, and saw a man sitting in a large gold chair. The Maker.

The Maker nodded to Molly and said, “My, child, how did you get here?”

Molly cried and said, “I don’t know, I hope you can help me get home! Is this place far from my house?”

The Maker smiled and said, “No need to worry, child.  You are not at all far from your home, in a manner of speaking.  Do you recall the golden leaves and the rust colored leaves of the trees in your yard?”

“Yes.” Molly said,

“We are the Autumnians, and we are responsible for the gold here.  It is poured out on your trees in the Fall every year and we spread it to the leaves we want, or the flowers, or even sometimes to the grass and on rooftops. You saw it yourself this morning and called your Mommy to see it!”

“But I never saw you, or all that treasure back there.  Where did that come from?”

“Oh,” said the Maker, “You weren’t small enough to see the treasure until now.  We must return you to your proper size so that you can see our handy work.”

“Oh my! You are the ones who put golden colors on everything in the Fall?” cried Molly, “And it’s really all tiny treasure?! It’s so lovely!! You all are amazing!  Can I help?”

The Maker laughed and sadly shook his head.  “No, although it is a treat to see you here, you must return, for you do not belong among the Autumnians.  Now, close your eyes, for it’s going to be bright!”

The Maker began to glow brighter and brighter, and Molly shut her eyes tightly against it.  It became so bright she covered her eyes with her hands. 

Then, suddenly, she realized she was lying down.  She opened her eyes and she was back on the couch in her living room.  The sun was pouring in through the window, golden light falling on her face.

She rushed outside and smiled.  The Autumnians sure had been busy.  It was all beautiful.  She tried to tell her Mommy about her adventures in the Goldenrust, but Mommy didn’t seem to believe her.  So, she scooped up a huge pile of yellow leaves and tossed them into a sunbeam.  She watched the gold glitter and smiled. 

She called really loudly, “Thank you, Autumnians! Thank you!!”