Eat, Bray, Love, Episode 9

Naturally, the Diggles--Piper's uncle, aunt, and cousins on his mother's side of the family--were very curious about Piper's donkey head. We explained Piper's appearance by saying it was a prank that he and his brothers were playing. Whomever caught the smallest fish on their holiday had to wear the mask and behave as a donkey for two weeks. Rusty and I detest lying, but we knew the Diggles would never believe the truth of the matter.

They thought it an awfully strange prank, but added that the Goold lads were often up to one sort of nonsense or another. They accepted it with a shrug and carried on as usual. There was some concern, however, when we requested hay for Donkey-Piper's supper. "It's takin' a prank a might bit too far when it involves me victuals!" exclaimed his chubby uncle Dafydd.

They spoke of Piper's mother Erin, she'd been gone several years now, and what a fine lass she had been with light blue eyes, dark hair and olive complexion. She had a hearty laugh, they said, and a very strong singing voice. When she sneezed it was so loud that it would make your ears ring. Piper's brother Warinbert, they added, took after his mother's side in terms of appearance. Rusty and I remembered Piper's mother fairly well, but her brother's family enjoyed sharing their recollecitons so much that we did not interrupt them. Piper seemed to be enjoying them, too.

We had a grand overnight visit in Staddle, but in the morning it was time to go home. We gathered our things after breakfast, thanked our hosts, then departed. "Come back soon!" they shouted. We smiled and waved good-bye before heading towards Bree-town.