Norsefox

Performing at faires and festivals comes with the most wonderful interactions, which in some cases are too fun not to share, so here we go.

While my husband was taking a break, I explained his medieval trader display to a little boy who was interested in every single detail. A while later, the boy returned to my sewing table with a small blue plastic duck in his hand and asked if I would trade something from my table in exchange for it. I explained that the items were garments I had made for myself using expensive fabrics, so I couldn’t possibly trade any of them. Trying to support his entrepreneurial spirit, I suggested he visit the table of other members of our group, as they might have a trinket to share. The boy insisted that he wanted to trade with me, and only with me. I could see his dad putting on an “I’m sorry for his persistence” face and trying to steer his son toward another table.

In the meantime, my husband had returned to his post, and I shot him a desperate look. Thinking quickly, he handed me a rune oracle coin he had received from someone in another group we’d interacted with. Although I didn’t have mine with me, I own the same coin, so I could make it up to him later. I seized the opportunity and showed the coin to my young trading partner. One side featured the isa rune (ᛁ) for yes, and the other showed the nauþiz (nauthiz) rune (ᚾ) for no. I could see the boy thinking hard about the offer. He looked at his dad, who nodded encouragingly, clearly relieved that a viable option had been found. The trade was on!

I am now the proud owner of a tiny blue plastic duck, and the boy can consult a rune oracle to decide which ice cream flavour to buy.