In his game of make-believe, a boy must make a choice – break his oath to the king or break the heart of the woman who gave him the most meaningful gift.
The first story of Littlelot is an Arthurian romance with knights and damsels and other action figures.
Episode Index
It was a rainy day in May, so I had to play inside. Granddad and I were playing make-believe with my action figures on the floor of Granddad's study.... I liked to play make-believe with Granddad. He let me make believe whatever I wanted, and he talked for other people in the game, like the peasant who said he owed me a favor for helping him.
She said I had to be nice to her doll, because one time my big brother ripped Barbie's head off. Dolls and action figures are like that. Their heads turn from side to side, and you can rip them straight off. It's easy to stick them back on again, but ripping their heads off isn't a nice thing to do.
Malegant and I faced each other across the field, two mounted knights in armor and shield, lances at the ready. Gwenevere waved the red banner from the window at the top of the tower. The wind blew heavy clouds across a dark sky....
“Give up, Malegant! I am the best fighter of all the knights of the Round Table.”
“You are only the best until you are bested by another,” he said as he raised the point of his lance high.
As she tied the red banner to the point of my lance, Gwenevere said, “Lancelot, most noble of all the knights of the Round Table, this is my heart; I give it to you.”
We passed the peasant wobbling along the forest lane with his cart. When he saw me, he raised a hand in greeting and started to speak. Then he saw Gwenevere's tears, and he stopped wobbling.
An Encore Episode of Littlelot
Littlelot and the Real Monster
It isn't just a room monster. A room monster is made of shadows that look really scary, but when you turn on the lights, it disappears. Room monsters don't usually have eyes and they hardly ever move. This is a real monster. It's got two eyes that glow in the dark, and I saw it move.
He rode his way with the queen unto Joyous Gard
Illustration by N. C. Wyeth. From the Illustrated Boy's King Arthur by Sidney Lanier. New York, Charles Scribner's Sons 1922.
