My Travel To Ruhmuermill

its a play on gulliver's travels

Before I settled in this house in Seattle, I spent some time on an island known as Ruhmuermill. It was an amazing experience that would change the way I viewed mankind forever.

I wound up on Ruhmuermill by complete accident. I had been swimming out in the ocean when a tide caught me. I treaded water for days and finally washed up onto the shores of Ruhmuermill. I was exhausted and dehydrated and I had thought I was delirious because what met me on the shore of Ruhmuermill was a man of about 3ft tall with a massive size head twice the size of a normal man's. His ears where the size of an elephant's and he's mouth was four times the size of a normal man's. He was by far the most unusual man I'd ever laid eyes on.

"Who are you?" he shrilled loudly. His voice carried for miles.

"Shh!" I exclaimed. "My name is Raquel."

"Oh," the strange little man posted a huge smile on his face and then ran away quickly into the forest. I staggered onto my feet and wobbled as I walked towards a rock to sit and think.

Just as I sat a woman, who resembled the little man only she was about two feet tall and had a mouth six times the size of a normal woman's and ears that would put Dumbo to shame.

"Oh, you're the Giant with eight toes and an overbite the town's talking about," she began lifting my foot to inspect my toes. I pulled my foot away.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I don't have eight toes or an overbite. Where did you hear such a thing?"

"Why, it's all over town!?" her shrilling voice pierced my eardrum.

Soon hundreds of little people came from the forest. They all posses the lard heads, small stature, large mouths, and huge ears.

"I heard you can eat 80 cows in one sitting!" one person shouted.

"I heard you can put your fist into your mouth!" said this one boy while demonstrating the act.

My head pounded from all the "I Heard"s. "Shut up!" I shouted.

"Well, I hadn't heard you were this rude, Rachel," said a portly fellow dressed in fine furs and expensive clothes grunted as he poked me with his walking stick.

"My name is Raquel, not Rachel."

"Well, that ain't what I heard," he chuckled. "I am King Lyesly. Welcome to the island of Ruhmuermill."

I looked around at the people, who all leaned in close making sure their big ears can pick up the tiniest of words.

"Thank you, King Lyesly. I must ask can I please trouble you and your people for a bit of food and drink?"

Quickly the sounds of high pitched yelling erupted from the crowd of people. King Lyesly laughed heartily and poked my leg with his stick. "Get up and follow me. You will dine with my family and I tonight."

I made my way onto my feet and began to follow the people who reminded me of second graders. Stories were quickly spun of how I was an alcoholic and had threatened the King into letting me stay with him and his family.

Upon arriving at Lyesly Manor I was surprised to find it was in fact of normal size. I was able to walk thru the front door with ease and sit at the table with no problem. The King's men shooed away the townspeople, who in a grumble, went away to spin more tales.

"Jasper, go and fetch the Queen and my son." King Lyesly roared as he made his way onto the chair at the head of the table.

"So, Rachel¾"

"My name is Raquel, sir."

"Yeah, yeah, Rochelle. Tell me of the land you hail from. Are you the Queen?"

"No, sir. We have a president where I am from, sir," I took a sip from the wine goblet in front of me. The wine was rich and smooth.

The King laughed his hearty laugh. "Well then how do you pick this president that you speak of?"

"Well¾" I leaned back in the chair. "We the people vote on who we would be the best guy for the job."

Once again the King laughed. Unknown to him the Queen and his son had entered the room. The Queen had the most enormous head and a mouth that clearly was too big for it. Her ears stuck straight out and she had to be only about 2'11. The prince on the other hand had the same features as me. He was 5' tall, with a normal sized head and mouth and ears that belonged on his body and not that of an animal.

"Riley, this is my beautiful wife, Rumor, and our son, Gossyp. Rumor, darling, you must hear of this nonsense!" The King was turning red in the face. He told his wife and daughter of how I have a president and how he was picked. The Queen and King doubled over in high pitched laughter, while Gossyp looked down at his hands.

"Sir, with all due respect how were you made King?" I asked growing slightly annoyed with the laughter.

"Why, silly, he told the best and the biggest lies!" the Queen screeched.

Wiping away tears from his eyes the King went on to explain Ruhmuermill's way of doing things. "You see, here we believe in everything we hear, thus whoever can spin the best stories and tell the biggest lies are easily made King or some sort of high official." I nodded slightly. This explain why every word I said was misconstrued into lies. "The people of Ruhmuermill get their various appearances based on the lies they tell. The smaller the person means the more insecure they are. The bigger the mouth means the lies they've told. And finally, larger ears mean well known eavesdroppers."

I glanced over to young Gossyp. His features where of a standard person. "Yes, as you can see my son has as of yet to do anything of those things. I fear if he doesn't start any drama at school soon no woman worthy of the royal name will marry him." King Lyesly picked up a turkey leg and began to feast.

"Such strangeness," I thought as I began to peck at my food.

Later, that night as I nestled into the bed the King had provided for me I heard a small knock at my door. I sat up.

"Come in," I whispered into the night air. In crept Gossyp.

"I hope I did not disturb you," he spoke meekly. It was the first time I had heard to the boy speak.

"No, no," I said turning on the lamp. "Anything for you, Your Highness."

Gossyp sank down onto the edge of the bed. He looked at me deeply with his hazel eyes. "Take me with you," he whispered, after looking at me for what seemed like forever.

"Excuse me?"

"Take me with you," he repeated slowly. "When you go back to your country, take me with you."

"Your Highness, I can't just kidnap you. I don't even know how I'M getting back home." I explained.

"I have a boat!" Gossyp exclaimed. "Please you do not understand what it is like for me." Gossyp went on to tell me about how he was an outcast amongst the people and had no desire to lie or eavesdrop. "All I want to do is be free," he sighed.

I sat and thought. It really would have not hurt to take him with me. And at least this way I was assured passage back home. So I sprang up from my bed and told the prince to gather a few things and some food.

Just before sunrise the prince and I were on his boat sailing away from Ruhmuermill. The boy looked ecstatic.

 

To Be Continued....

Author's Note

Word Pronunciation:
Ruhmuermill = Rumor mill
Lyesly = Leslie except you start with Lie instead of leh
Gossyp = Gossip

I originally did this for a class. I liked it so much I want feed back on how to make it better.

Reviews

[...]

... my apologies but i really don't read prose ... i can't handle too many words at the same time ... yet this is a quaint story ... i'm definite that it would be found fascinating and enriching by those who enjoy this genre ... i just read very conventional prose on the odd occasion that i do ... good luck with the rest of the story ... i'm sure it'll delight many ... and do accept my apologies ...

[A.Lee]

This is actually really good. There are a few typos/grammar issues, but those can be fixed with a little careful editing. Otherwise, I would only say to try and flesh it out a little more. More descriptions and details. Its already pretty good. Nice work. Creative.