Fabled (wild)life

OK, so curiosity got the best of me. But when I heard tell that Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Hansel and Gretel – even Cinderella – might be lurking around the Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area, I went out to see.
Seems the good folks who run the place, as well as the Nature Center, plan to put these characters to good use next Friday and Saturday. Something called “Nature: Through the Looking Glass.” So, accompanied by photo journalist Jim Monteleone of Fox 4 News, we skipped on out and took to the Tree Trail near the Nature Center to see if we could capture any of these fabled subjects – if not physically, perhaps, at least on video tape.
We hadn’t poked around in the brush very long at all when suddenly, to our amazement, we spotted a rather large white rabbit hopping toward us.
“Excuse me, excuse me can I get a couple answers from you about this upcoming Looking Glass production next week,” I clamored as I stuck the microphone in its face – just like the real reporters do when there’s a big story to be had.
“No, no,” the flustered rabbit shot back, an annoyed look on its lips. “I can’t stop now. Can’t you see that I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say hello, goodbye, ’cause I’m late, I’m late.”
And off it went into the deep Burr Oak forest, nothing but its cute, fuzzy white tail flashing Monte and myself.
But alas, lucky for us, an official looking lady with a Missouri Department of Conservation triangle just happened to be walking assertively toward us up the trail. At first, we thought maybe we were in trouble for bothering the wildlife.
“Miss … excuse me,” I said hurriedly, “Can you tell me anything about this upcoming program for families called ‘Through the Looking Glass?’ ”
Well, turns out, this was a nice lady and she was, in fact, anxious to speak to the issue.
“Yes, I’d be very happy to,” she said enthusiastically, a big smile cutting across her face.
Turns out it was Lisa Lacombe, an assistant manager of the Nature Center.
“The staff and volunteers would like to invite you and your family to join us for an evening under the stars,” Lacombe said. “We will step through a magical looking glass to experience an enchanted forest as you have never seen it before!”
Monte and I were tickled pink, but wanted to know more.
“Who’s going to be there?”
Lisa sorta grinned, then said, “Well now, I can’t reveal any secrets quite yet … but there have been rumors that it will be a star-studded cast and that there is a house made of candy out here in the woods somewhere.”
I couldn’t control my excitement. “A house of candy! Did you hear that Monte?”
And just when I thought things couldn’t have been more exciting, the rascally rabbit we had encountered earlier again crossed our paths and bounded down the bunny trail.
“MONTE, did you see that? … We’ve got to follow this story where ever it might lead. Thanks Miss Lisa … see you with the grandkids next week!”
But the search for the rabbit was to no avail, the bunny was much faster than a couple old grandpas. Trouble was, though, we soon found ourselves lost in the enchantment of the forest at Burr Oak Woods. It turned out, though, that we came across some very interesting folks, standing in front, indeed, of a candy house. Boy, we knew we had a scoop for Fox 4 at this point.
We listened quietly.
“Gretel, try a piece of this chocolate roof!” said the young man.
“Oh, Hansel, isn’t this the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten? I’ve never tasted anything so wonderful.”
But by the time Monte got his video camera up and running, Hansel and Gretel hip hopped down a trail of licorice. Our disappointment was short-lived, though. Just after the kids were gone, a senior citizen peeked her head out of a graham cracker door.
“Nibble, nibble like a mouse … who is nibbling at my house?” she spoke in a creepy tone.
“Uh, Miss Witch … uh, I think it might have been a couple kids. They seemed like nice children, though,” I said, hoping she wouldn’t take a bite out of us.
“Uh, can we have a word or two with you on camera?”
She ventured out and we sat up on the trail for the interview.
“Uh … are you upset with the children,” I asked.
“Oh, no … children, what a wonderful surprise! Please come in. I get so few visitors.”
“Uh, well Miss Witch … sorry, but we can’t stay. Uh … we have an appointment with, uh … uh, Miss Lisa at the Nature Center,” I said, telling the little white lie.
We quickly hotfooted it up the hill to the Nature Center, where again we found Miss Lisa busy in preparation for the big shindig next week.
“Miss Lisa, this whole thing sounds like it’s going to be a real fairy tale of an evening … but what does Burr Oak Woods and nature have to do with a fable?”
“Oh,” she began, “it is so sad. With all this electronic stuff and the stress, some families are not getting time together in the woods like they used to. And we just want people to understand better, perhaps, that such things as hiking, fishing, camping, hunting and free play in nature is a very, very healthy activity – especially when you do it with your family.
“Studies indicate that children who enjoy some outdoor activity before they turn 11 are far better stewards of our environment. These early experiences in nature have been positively linked with development of imagination and a sense of wonder.”
Monte and I stood there gap-mouthed.
“Nature: Through the Looking Glass will be a wonderful opportunity – certainly different than any outdoor activity kids might have been exposed to,” Miss Lisa added. “It will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17, here at Burr Oak Woods. But please remind everybody they must register first. They can do that for several different time slots by calling 816-655-6263.”
Just then, we heard a rustling in the brush, and out popped the rascally rabbit, again rushing past us in a blur.
“Can’t stop now … I’m late, I’m late for a very important date …”
Could that date be Oct. 16 and 17?