The Island of Gibraltar, just off the coast of Spain, is a port that is often visted by the ships and sailors of the British Navy. They say that all the nice girls love a sailor and Snowy, the hero of our story, soon found one that did. His ship mates called him Snowy, because his real name was White. The sun was shining in a clear blue sky, one Saturday in late June. Snowy had met one of the local girls, her name was Bella and she had prepared a little picnic for them to share. Together Snowy and Bella walked into the hills of Gibraltar seeking a shady place to pass that happy afternoon.
As they sat in the cool beneath a tall tree, sharing their sandwiches, Snowy saw a sudden movement in the undergrowth some few yards away. Bella hadn't noticed, she was day dreaming of sailors and far away lands. Snowy stared in wonder at the sight he saw next. A tiny wee man, no more than eighteen inches high, pushed through the shrubs, looked round and came trotting towards him. He wore a little coat over tight trousers, there were neat black boots on his feet and he was just like a human being, but very small.
Snowy was amazed and couldn't seem to move. His heart beat faster and faster as he wondered if this could really be happening. Closer and closer came the miniature man, who finally stood right in front of him. His face was perfectly shaped and the hair on his head curled darkly down over his slightly pointed ears. Then, without any warning he reached out and pinched the ham sandwich from between Snowy's fingers. Gripping the food he turned and ran, dashing back towards the ferns and bushes from where he had come. As he watched Snowy noticed that the tiny man had a little hammer in his hand.
In shock Snowy called out loudly 'Little fellow's pinched my sandwich!'. Bella snapped out of her daydream. 'What little fellow?' she asked. Snowy pointed to the shrubs and bushes just a few feet away. 'From in there' he said breathlessly, 'he had a hammer in his hand'. Then Bella got up, screamed and ran. Snowy chased her. 'Stop!...stop!' he called. But Bella was picking up speed and didn't halt until she was hundreds of yards away from the picnic spot. When he finally caught up with her Snowy asked why she had run away. 'You've just been attacked by a gnome' she said, 'this place is called Gnome's Hill'.
To this very day Snowy is certain that he saw a gnome. It must have been a hungry little elemental who spotted Snowy's ham sandwich and decided to pinch it. There is one thing that puzzles our sailor though, he wonders how the naughty gnome enjoyed that food he stole. You see Snowy had put lots of mustard on the meat as he liked the hot spicy taste. Perhaps it might teach the gnome of Gnome's Hill not to pinch other peoples picnics. Or maybe gnomes like mustard, who knows?
ASSESSMENT
Q: Do you think that Snowy the sailor really did see a gnome?
A) Not likely. He most probably had a touch of sunstroke and imagined it.
B) He may have done, but then again sailors will tell girls any old story.
C) I do not think Snowy the sailor would lie, so yes I think he did meet a hungry gnome.