The
family was very grateful for the assistance of the invisible
fairy and one day, the Cabinetmaker decided to make a treat for
Understump. Knowing how the little fairy liked to hide, he made
him a large trunk that was filled with secret compartments and
hidden panels and trap doors. He left it out one night with the
bread and honey and milk that they always left for Understump
and, in the morning, the trunk and the food were gone.
"Thank you, sir,"
Understump said from the shadows of the room. "That was the
finest gift I have ever received and it deserves a fine gift in
return. What can I get for you? Anything at all that you
wish."
"I'm not sure what to ask
for," said the flustered Cabinetmaker. "I wasn't
expecting you to give me something in return. I wasn't expecting
to hear from you, even."
"Do you think I am so rude
that I would not thank you for this fine gift?" Understump
asked.
"Oh, no!" cried Atalaya.
"It's just that we've never heard from you before. We
thought we'd never hear from you."
"Or see you," added
Gregorio and, as he said it, he looked off into the distance,
lost in thought. Then he smiled. "That's it! After all the
help you've given us, I would like to see our little benefactor.
Just once."