The Visitors

Newspaper short story illustration

ink drawing © David John 1985

Occasionally, the daily newspaper The Athens Star, where I worked as a journalist and designer, published a light-hearted story - a welcome break from the usual diet of news and feature articles.

This story by David Lazarus, one of our editors, is a modern take on an old fairy tale in which wee creatures help a poor old cobbler by stealing out of their hiding places at night to make beautiful shoes for him as he sleeps.

Here we witness a moment of surprise as the modern householder's flashlight catches the eyes of the little people hiding in a mousehole. The cat looks like it's seen a ghost. What a scaredy cat.

I also drew this scene from the point of view of the magic folk. Must dig it out sometime.