The Mushroom Curse

A few weeks ago the younger boy and I returned to the Renaissance Faire. Turned out that it was their 'free play' week, where all types of costumes are encouraged, including time travellers. I don't know if that was the draw, or if it's just that things are opening again and people are antsy to get out and about, but it seemed like it was more crowded than we've ever seen it!!!

As we wandered towards the back, we were hailed by a wizard looking fellow. He asked if we would like to play a free game, with only either of our dignity on the line. If we failed the challenge, we would have to cluck like a chicken, but if we prevailed, the wizard would have to cluck. He laid out a loop of chain in a circle pattern with a figure eight on the inside. He demonstrated that if you pick one end, it would snare your finger. I tried first, and failed, so I did the chicken cluck.

The boy did it next, and he also failed, and he did a better chicken than I did!!!

Well, that was fun!!! We noticed that he had a large tome on the end of his table, so the boy asked about it. Wizard unlocks it and starts leafing through it. He comes across a scrap of parchment. He asks, "Do you have a friend who likes mushrooms?" He says he does.

He hands him the parchment and tells him, "Slip this into the bag of your friend, and they will never find the mushrooms they seek!"