The Origin of The Lavender Hinge

Lavender Hinge 1, 2011

Late at night in the Castle nest, rests The Swan and The Horse.  

The Horse lay sleeping deeply in dreamland, whilst The Swan awoke to natures call. The Swan gazed upon The Horse’s peaceful face. Not wishing to disturb his deep slumber, she carefully tiptoed her way quietly and silently to the bathroom (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven). Gently she eased open the bathroom door.

SQQUEEAEAK screamed the Hinge.

She winced at the pitch of the creaking sound yet continued to tiptoe and went quietly about her ablutions.

Tentatively she took the door by the handle and, with the lightest of touch, opened the door toward her.

SQQUEEAEAK protested the Hinge.

Once more The Swan winced at the pitch of the creaking sound. She resumed her tiptoeing and ever so softly returned to the bed and lay herself down beside The Horse. He was sound asleep and breathing deeply.

The following night The Swan again awoke and made her hushed tiptoed way to the bathroom (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven). She cautiously pushed against the bathroom door.

SQQUEEAEAK shrieked the Hinge.

She flinched at the squeaking creak yet continued to tiptoe and went quietly about her ablutions.

Not wishing to move the door an inch but needing to return to the bed she lightly took the door handle in hand and, light as light, she opened the door toward her.

SQQUEEAEAK screeched the Hinge.

“What a discordant squeak” thought The Swan. “This voluble Hinge is sure to wake my sleeping Horse.”

She tiptoed her way back to the bed and to The Horse.

Night after night and SQQUEEAEAK  after SQQUEEAEAK, The Swan became more and more agitated by the dissonant Hinge. She was convinced that the relentless rusty exclamations disturbed The Horse’s dreamtime and slumber. She determined to hush the Hinge once and for all.

Although the way in which she was to do this, was a bit unorthodox and did not present itself to her until one evening whilst administering lavender oil to her Horse. For you see lavender oil is a natural lubricant. The Swan’s thoughts became focussed on the calming and lubricating effects of the fragrant oil. Could she soothe the chorus of the corroded Hinge with the floral lubrication as she soothes her Horse?

Swiftly and softly she made her way to the bathroom door (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven).

SQQUEEAEAK complained the Hinge.

She began to liberally oil the Hinge. The perfumed oil dribbled down the rusty brass.

SQQUEEAK announced the Hinge. She applied a little more.

SQUEAK sounded the Hinge. She applied more.

Squeak. And more

squeak. More

sq….. and a little…

….... More

……

Silence.

The Hinge was still. The Swan opened the door and closed the door. Opened and closed. Smooth, silent. Again and again and not one peep was to be heard from the Hinge.

That night The Swan awoke and made her hushed tiptoed way to the bathroom (one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, all good children go to heaven).  She cautiously pushed against the bathroom door. The Hinge smoothly and silently glided the door open. Not a sound. All was quiet. The Hinge was hushed.

The following day The Swan mentioned the Hinge to The Horse and how she had calmed and soothed it’s relentless soundings. And, to her surprise, The Horse had never heard a thing. Indeed The Horse was oblivious to the fact that the Hinge had ever cried out and SQQUEEAEAKED so relentlessly by day and by night. For, you see, The Horse’s hearing was not very acute and he readily confessed to being rather deaf.

But how fragrant and how peaceful was The Lavender Hinge.

Swan & Horse Productions © 2012