Raunacht Collection: Day 12

Joined a local writing group and took this one for feedback because I never liked how it turned out so will share a new version this year for Raunacht. (Nov/24)

A variation of Johann Heinrich Füsli (aka Henry Fuseli)’s painting “The Nightmare”

Gran:
She has the Kuppelchen.
The old women in the village always said.
Mum:
It’s like a brownie.
Gran:
She’s always left remains of food and drink.
Always,
without fail.
Gran:
Yeah they helped us strip feathers for down.
The old women.
Made the rounds from farm to farm.
Mind.
Gran muses.
Your granddad always had to strip the first three feathers.
Me:
How come?
Gran:
Well, I am not sure.
It’s supposed to stop the bedding from compressing.
Mum:
Yes, it’s to keep the bedding fluffy.
Me:
Strange, there is something missing.
A bit of research later.
Alp.
Old Germanic for evil spirit.
Alptraum = Nightmare.
A creature who sits on peoples’ chests.
During the night.
Also called Alpdruecken—Alp Pressure.
Me:
Listen to this it has nothing to do with the bedding.
Inherent magic of the first male.
The most senior male.
The protector.
Stops the Alp from entering the home.
Mum:
Ha isn’t this curious?
Yes.
Rituals remain.
Unbeknownst the Why.
Known only the urge.
The urge to follow the motions.
Explanations for rituals are tip-exed memories.
Yet.
Yet, the magic can’t be erased.
Scratch the white ink gently.
Until the origins emerge.

(reworked 15/02/2025)