Henche was a little boy who loved to collect rocks. He had dozens of them stored in an old wooden box his Dad had given him. His family didn't have much, but everyday Henche would walk along the sea and look for new rocks for his collection. One dark, blustery night, a violent storm erupted blowing things all over his yard. On his way to the sea the next morning, Henche saw a rock unlike any rock he had ever seen before. The rock wasn't very big, yet the color was amazing. It was clear on the outside, but when you looked deep into it you could see sparks of every color. Hence knew it had to go into his collection, but first he wanted to show it to his best friend, Tino. Tino lived in a grand house full of wonderful things. When he saw the rock, he said, "Henche, my Dad told me about a rock like this. It is called a diamond, and used to belong to the queen. There are papers about it all around town. Somebody stole it."
"A diamond?" remarked Hence astonished. "I wonder if this is it."
"Keep it until you find out if there is a reward," cautioned Tino.
"I can't keep it if it is not mine."
"Of course you can. No one knows you have it except me and I am not telling anyone."
As Henche walked away, Tino called out, "Henche, YOU found it. Don't give it back unless you know you will get something for it."
Henche thought about that all the way home, and at night as he was trying to fall asleep. When he woke up in the morning, he knew what he had to do. He asked his Dad to give him a ride into town for the day. Once he got there, he looked around for the papers and sure enough, there was a picture of his rock, or at least what looked like his rock. He had to find out if it was the Queen's missing diamond.
Henche decided to find his Dad and tell him what was going on. His Dad agreed that they needed to check it out. They got in the car and drove and drove until they reached the capital city where they asked for an appointment to see the Queen. After waiting most of the day, they were finally let in.
"And what brings you here today?" the Queen asked Henche kindly.
"I think I found your missing rock, er, I mean, diamond."
Carefully, Henche pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to the Queen. The Queen examined it closely even taking it over to the window to see it better. After some time she walked back to Henche smiling and asked him how he found this rock. Henche told her all about his rock collection, the big storm, and the long trip here to find her.
The Queen sat for awhile quietly and then stood up and handed the rock back to Henche. "This rock is very beautiful and should stay in your collection. You found it, so it is now yours. It is a gift from me to you."
"But, Your Majesty, I don't understand. Isn't this your diamond?"
"Whether it is or not doesn't matter because it is your rock now, my Dear. Take it and go."
Henche was confused. Was it just a pretty rock or the Queen's precious diamond? He looked at his Dad uncertain of what to do next. His Dad smiled and motioned for him to come along. Henche turned to go, slowly shuffling his feet to the door. The Queen shook his hand and thanked him for coming all this way.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will never forget this day, " said Henche.
"And neither shall I," replied the Queen. "Neither shall I."
Monday, October 20, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
PRINCESS LILLABELLE AND THE DRAGON
Once upon a time in a faraway land lived a beautiful young princess named Lillabelle. She lived in a castle at the front of the forest. One day, the phone rang. It was her honey, Prince Crumbcake. He wanted to know if the Princess could come over to see him. “Why, sure, sweetie. I would love to come see you,” she exclaimed. The princess checked her hair in the mirror, and then set out. As she got closer to the woods, Princess Lillabelle heard a very, loud “GREEEEEEEEEEEER!” It was the big, ugly green dragon. “AAAAAAAAA!” yelled the Princess, and ran all the way back to the castle.
“Beep,beep,beep,beep.” She called up Prince Crumbcake. “Honey, I cannot come and see you today. The big, ugly, green dragon came out and went ‘GREEEER’ and scared me and I ran all the way back.”
“Hmmm,” thought Prince Crumbcake. “Dearie, I have an idea. Maybe the dragon is just having a bad day. Why don’t you try it again. This time have a big smile on your face. That will make the dragon feel better.”
“O.K.” said the Princess. “I will try that.” The princess went back to the mirror and fixed her hair, put on her happiest smile, and set out.
As she got closer to the dragon, she looked right at him, gave him a big smile, and even waved at him. “GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!” went the dragon. ”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!,” yelled Princess Lillabelle all the way back to the castle.
“Beep, beep, beep, beep.” She called up Prince Crumbcake. “Honey, I cannot come and see you today. The dragon did ‘GREER’ again and I went ‘AAAA’ and here I am back at the castle.”
“Hmm,” thought Prince Crumbcake. “O.K. Sugarplum. I have another idea. Why don’t you wait until the dragon falls asleep and then sneak by him.”
“Lovekins, you are so smart. I will try that.”
So the Princess watched from her window until the dragon fell asleep. With the quietest of steps she walked outside. As she got closer to the dragon she held her breath. Her eyes were on the dragon to make sure he didn’t wake up. “CRACK!” The Princess accidentally stepped on a large branch and broke it in half. The dragon’s eyes popped right open. When he saw the Princess he “GREEEEEEEEEEEERed” as loud as he could, sending Lillabelle back to the castle.
This time when she called Prince Crumbcake she was crying. “Beep, beep, beep, beep.” She had a hard time getting her words out through her sobs.
“O.k. my Sweetpea. I will come over and take care of this dragon myself.”
So Prince Crumbcake grabbed his sword and his spear and started out from the end of the forest to find the dragon. It took him awhile, but he finally came to the front of the forest. He could see that the dragons’ back was to him. He was sitting watching the castle to see if the Princess came back. The Prince went up behind him. “Hey! Why have you been scaring my girl?” he yelled. The big, ugly, green dragon jumped. “You scared me,” he said in a little voice. “I scared you? You have been scaring my Princess all day. What is going on?”
The dragon started to cry great, big, crocodile tears. “I’m sorry. I am just in a really, bad mood today. You see, I am so lonely. I have no one to play with, or hang out with. When I start thinking about that it makes me sad and crabby.”
“Hmmm,” thought the Prince. “I have an idea. Come with me.” They walked toward the castle, and “Knock, knocked” on the door. When the Princess opened the door and saw the dragon, she got scared again. The fearsome Prince told her not to worry. They were going to help the dragon.
Together they began to walk toward the end of the forest. As they got closer they could hear noises getting louder and louder. Before long, they were at a clearing where you could see dragons. Bunches and bunches of dragons. The big, ugly, green dragon saw them and began to jump up and down clapping his hands.
“This would be a great place for you to find a buddy,” said the Prince.
“Thank you. Oh, thank you!” exclaimed the dragon, excitedly. He gave the Prince a hug. Then he took the Princesses’ hand and kissed it. “I promise that I will never scare you again.” With that he ran off to meet all of his new friends.
Now that the dragon was gone the Prince and Princess could see each other anytime they wanted. And after they got to know each other real well, and realized that they were perfect for each other, they got married. And they lived happily ever after in the castle at the front of the forest.
“Beep,beep,beep,beep.” She called up Prince Crumbcake. “Honey, I cannot come and see you today. The big, ugly, green dragon came out and went ‘GREEEER’ and scared me and I ran all the way back.”
“Hmmm,” thought Prince Crumbcake. “Dearie, I have an idea. Maybe the dragon is just having a bad day. Why don’t you try it again. This time have a big smile on your face. That will make the dragon feel better.”
“O.K.” said the Princess. “I will try that.” The princess went back to the mirror and fixed her hair, put on her happiest smile, and set out.
As she got closer to the dragon, she looked right at him, gave him a big smile, and even waved at him. “GREEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!” went the dragon. ”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!,” yelled Princess Lillabelle all the way back to the castle.
“Beep, beep, beep, beep.” She called up Prince Crumbcake. “Honey, I cannot come and see you today. The dragon did ‘GREER’ again and I went ‘AAAA’ and here I am back at the castle.”
“Hmm,” thought Prince Crumbcake. “O.K. Sugarplum. I have another idea. Why don’t you wait until the dragon falls asleep and then sneak by him.”
“Lovekins, you are so smart. I will try that.”
So the Princess watched from her window until the dragon fell asleep. With the quietest of steps she walked outside. As she got closer to the dragon she held her breath. Her eyes were on the dragon to make sure he didn’t wake up. “CRACK!” The Princess accidentally stepped on a large branch and broke it in half. The dragon’s eyes popped right open. When he saw the Princess he “GREEEEEEEEEEEERed” as loud as he could, sending Lillabelle back to the castle.
This time when she called Prince Crumbcake she was crying. “Beep, beep, beep, beep.” She had a hard time getting her words out through her sobs.
“O.k. my Sweetpea. I will come over and take care of this dragon myself.”
So Prince Crumbcake grabbed his sword and his spear and started out from the end of the forest to find the dragon. It took him awhile, but he finally came to the front of the forest. He could see that the dragons’ back was to him. He was sitting watching the castle to see if the Princess came back. The Prince went up behind him. “Hey! Why have you been scaring my girl?” he yelled. The big, ugly, green dragon jumped. “You scared me,” he said in a little voice. “I scared you? You have been scaring my Princess all day. What is going on?”
The dragon started to cry great, big, crocodile tears. “I’m sorry. I am just in a really, bad mood today. You see, I am so lonely. I have no one to play with, or hang out with. When I start thinking about that it makes me sad and crabby.”
“Hmmm,” thought the Prince. “I have an idea. Come with me.” They walked toward the castle, and “Knock, knocked” on the door. When the Princess opened the door and saw the dragon, she got scared again. The fearsome Prince told her not to worry. They were going to help the dragon.
Together they began to walk toward the end of the forest. As they got closer they could hear noises getting louder and louder. Before long, they were at a clearing where you could see dragons. Bunches and bunches of dragons. The big, ugly, green dragon saw them and began to jump up and down clapping his hands.
“This would be a great place for you to find a buddy,” said the Prince.
“Thank you. Oh, thank you!” exclaimed the dragon, excitedly. He gave the Prince a hug. Then he took the Princesses’ hand and kissed it. “I promise that I will never scare you again.” With that he ran off to meet all of his new friends.
Now that the dragon was gone the Prince and Princess could see each other anytime they wanted. And after they got to know each other real well, and realized that they were perfect for each other, they got married. And they lived happily ever after in the castle at the front of the forest.
What do you do with a crying rooster?
What do you do with a crying rooster?
Oh, good! You’re here. I could really use your help. In all my years of farming, I’ve never come across a problem like this before. Let me show you around and explain it all to you.
A couple of days ago I needed a rooster, so I went right into Roosters-R-Us and bought the first rooster I saw off of the clearance shelf, and brought it home. That’s when it all started.
See over here - that’s my pigpen. Would ya look at my pigs? They’re all asleep.
See inside the cow barn? The cows are snoozing the day away. Now how do you get milk out of a sleeping cow?
And look in the chicken coop here. Yep, you guessed it! All of the hens are sleeping too. Why, I haven’t had an egg in two days!
Now where is that rooster? Oh, here she is on her post. This is Rootie. Ever since I brought her home she’s been crying. Sometimes it’s just a little boo-hoo, and other times it’s a loud ba-ha-ha. I can’t figure it out.
Rootie won’t cock-a-doodle-doo when she’s crying, and the animals won’t wake up until they hear her cock-a-doodle-doo. I need you to help me figure out why she is so sad.
What?
You think that I should talk to her?
Well, O.K..
“Rootie, hi.. I am Farmer Cliff and on behalf of all of the animals, I want to welcome you to our farm.”
Through sniffles, Rootie whispers, “Thanks.”
“Uh, I was wondering if you could tell me why you’ve been crying?”
“Do you really want to know?” asked Rootie in a soft voice.
“Oh,yes!” exclaimed Farmer Cliff.
“It’s my throat. It really hurts.” Whispered Rootie.
“It hurts? You must have a sore throat! Come with me.”
I scooped Rootie up and ran to the house. “Mellie,Mellie, Rootie has a sore throat. What can we do?”
“A rooster with a sore throat?” asked Mellie. “Well, I’ll be! I am not sure what we should do. Here, lay her down on the bed while I get some hot tea.”
Mellie took care of Rootie like she was her own daughter. She gave her some lemon tea, some chicken soup, a cough drop and made her gargle some salt water.
Suddenly, Rootie stopped crying. Mellie and I stood looking at her. A small smile crept across Rootie’s face and it got bigger and bigger until she actually started laughing. She got out of bed and started dancing around the room.
“Yee-haw!! I feel great! I feel wonderful! I feel like I could doodle all day.” Rootie ran out of the house right up to her post, and started cock-a doodle-dooing. One by one the animals all woke up. The pigs started eating, the cows started making milk, and the hens started laying eggs. Boy, does Rootie feel good now. Really good. Some days I think she feels too good. She sits on her post all day, every day, cock-a-doodle-dooing. Now, if only we could get her to stop.
By Rachel Erickson
Oh, good! You’re here. I could really use your help. In all my years of farming, I’ve never come across a problem like this before. Let me show you around and explain it all to you.
A couple of days ago I needed a rooster, so I went right into Roosters-R-Us and bought the first rooster I saw off of the clearance shelf, and brought it home. That’s when it all started.
See over here - that’s my pigpen. Would ya look at my pigs? They’re all asleep.
See inside the cow barn? The cows are snoozing the day away. Now how do you get milk out of a sleeping cow?
And look in the chicken coop here. Yep, you guessed it! All of the hens are sleeping too. Why, I haven’t had an egg in two days!
Now where is that rooster? Oh, here she is on her post. This is Rootie. Ever since I brought her home she’s been crying. Sometimes it’s just a little boo-hoo, and other times it’s a loud ba-ha-ha. I can’t figure it out.
Rootie won’t cock-a-doodle-doo when she’s crying, and the animals won’t wake up until they hear her cock-a-doodle-doo. I need you to help me figure out why she is so sad.
What?
You think that I should talk to her?
Well, O.K..
“Rootie, hi.. I am Farmer Cliff and on behalf of all of the animals, I want to welcome you to our farm.”
Through sniffles, Rootie whispers, “Thanks.”
“Uh, I was wondering if you could tell me why you’ve been crying?”
“Do you really want to know?” asked Rootie in a soft voice.
“Oh,yes!” exclaimed Farmer Cliff.
“It’s my throat. It really hurts.” Whispered Rootie.
“It hurts? You must have a sore throat! Come with me.”
I scooped Rootie up and ran to the house. “Mellie,Mellie, Rootie has a sore throat. What can we do?”
“A rooster with a sore throat?” asked Mellie. “Well, I’ll be! I am not sure what we should do. Here, lay her down on the bed while I get some hot tea.”
Mellie took care of Rootie like she was her own daughter. She gave her some lemon tea, some chicken soup, a cough drop and made her gargle some salt water.
Suddenly, Rootie stopped crying. Mellie and I stood looking at her. A small smile crept across Rootie’s face and it got bigger and bigger until she actually started laughing. She got out of bed and started dancing around the room.
“Yee-haw!! I feel great! I feel wonderful! I feel like I could doodle all day.” Rootie ran out of the house right up to her post, and started cock-a doodle-dooing. One by one the animals all woke up. The pigs started eating, the cows started making milk, and the hens started laying eggs. Boy, does Rootie feel good now. Really good. Some days I think she feels too good. She sits on her post all day, every day, cock-a-doodle-dooing. Now, if only we could get her to stop.
By Rachel Erickson
The Princess and Her Birthday Lesson
The Princess and Her Birthday Lesson
The sun was streaming through the windows and the birds were singing as the Princess woke up. “What a wonderful day for a birthday,” she thought. “I want to have all of my friends over to celebrate.”
One by one her friends started to arrive. As they were sitting around talking, the Princess looked out the window and saw…him. Eric. The Princess had been watching Eric for weeks and thought he was dreamy. “Why don’t you go out and talk to him?” her friends asked. “Oh, I could never talk to him. I wouldn’t know what to say or what to do,” replied the Princess.
“Oh, we can help you out,” said the friends. Then punk rocker came up to her and said, “Princess, if you would just dye your hair pink like mine, play the guitar, and sing, then he will notice you and like you.”
“No, what you need to do is learn how to bake and make him a hundred cakes, “said baker. “Then he will notice you and like you.”
“Not at all,” said cheer leader. “You just need to learn some good cheers and shout them nice and loud. Then he will notice you and like you.”
“I think he would notice you if you learned how to paint and painted portraits of yourself all around the garden,” said painter.
“Well, if you learned how to dance and danced all around him, he would notice you for sure,” said ballet dancer. “I am sure he would like you if you knew how to dance.”
The Princess looked so unhappy. “But I can’t do any of those things,” she sighed sadly.
Then the Little One walked up and climbed onto the Princess’ lap. “Princess,” she said. “You don’t need to be anything except what you are.”
“What do you mean?” asked the Princess.
“All you need to do is be yourself. You are a wonderful friend and he will like you just the way you are.”
“Thank you, Little One. I will go talk to him right now.”
And with that the Princess hurried out to the garden to talk to Eric. One by one the friends went to the window to watch. They each realized that maybe the Little One was right and all you had to be was yourself.
The sun was streaming through the windows and the birds were singing as the Princess woke up. “What a wonderful day for a birthday,” she thought. “I want to have all of my friends over to celebrate.”
One by one her friends started to arrive. As they were sitting around talking, the Princess looked out the window and saw…him. Eric. The Princess had been watching Eric for weeks and thought he was dreamy. “Why don’t you go out and talk to him?” her friends asked. “Oh, I could never talk to him. I wouldn’t know what to say or what to do,” replied the Princess.
“Oh, we can help you out,” said the friends. Then punk rocker came up to her and said, “Princess, if you would just dye your hair pink like mine, play the guitar, and sing, then he will notice you and like you.”
“No, what you need to do is learn how to bake and make him a hundred cakes, “said baker. “Then he will notice you and like you.”
“Not at all,” said cheer leader. “You just need to learn some good cheers and shout them nice and loud. Then he will notice you and like you.”
“I think he would notice you if you learned how to paint and painted portraits of yourself all around the garden,” said painter.
“Well, if you learned how to dance and danced all around him, he would notice you for sure,” said ballet dancer. “I am sure he would like you if you knew how to dance.”
The Princess looked so unhappy. “But I can’t do any of those things,” she sighed sadly.
Then the Little One walked up and climbed onto the Princess’ lap. “Princess,” she said. “You don’t need to be anything except what you are.”
“What do you mean?” asked the Princess.
“All you need to do is be yourself. You are a wonderful friend and he will like you just the way you are.”
“Thank you, Little One. I will go talk to him right now.”
And with that the Princess hurried out to the garden to talk to Eric. One by one the friends went to the window to watch. They each realized that maybe the Little One was right and all you had to be was yourself.
Rena and Cora - A fairy tale of two sisters
Once there were two fairies that were sisters, and as it turned out, the very best of friends too. They did everything together. On clear, sunny days when the clouds made big, puffy shapes against the sky, they would fly over the daisy fields and have races with the butterflies. On dark, dreamy days where you never see the sun and the sky looks like a continuous gray blanket, they would lie under the Russula mushrooms and tell each other stories of what they would be when they grew up.
Rena, who was older, wanted to be a writer so her stories were always full of much adventure. Cora, wanted to help people. She wasn’t sure exactly how, but she knew she would figure it out when the time came.
On one particular dreamy day, Rena and Cora were sitting around the tall oak trees waiting for the rain to stop dripping when the sun pushed its’ way out from behind a cloud. With their heads together, they stared up towards the heavens. Suddenly Rena noticed a rainbow soft and hazy place itself like a giant eyebrow across the sky.
“Cora,” let’s see if we can fly up and touch that rainbow.”
“What?” laughed Cora. “It is way too far.”
“We are good flyers, “ coaxed Rena. “We could do it. Come on, please?”
“Oh, alright,” shrugged Cora. “I guess we can try.”
Together they took off flying higher and higher. Higher than they have ever been before. While they we flying they heard a loud “Caw! Caw!” Looking back they saw a large, black crow flying close behind them.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” shrieked Cora. “Watch out!”
There was nowhere to go to hide. The girls didn’t know what to do. Quickly they started flying back down, but the Crow followed them. Faster and faster they flew until they felt they could fly no more.
In a flash, the Crow snapped his beak and broke off one of Cora’s wings. She suddenly started to spin out of control toward the ground.
“No, Cora!” yelled Rena as she tried to fly under Cora to catch her. But she was spinning too fast and hit the ground hard landing in a pile of grass clippings. Rena rushed up to her side afraid of what she might find. Cora lay very still.
“Cora” Rena whispered. “Cora, Cora. Are you O.K.? Wake up. Say something.”
Rena lay her head on Cora’s chest and began to cry. Sometime later, Rena felt a hand in her hair and looked up to see Cora opening her eyes.
“Oh, Cora! You are alive! Oh, I am so happy!! You’re alive! You’re alive!” She began kissing Cora’s cheeks.
“Rena, I don’t think I can move.”
“Stay here. I will go for help.”
Rena flew home to get her Mom and Dad who scooped up Cora and rushed her to the hospital. Cora spent many days there. The whole time Rena sat by her side.
“I am so sorry, Cora. This whole thing is all my fault. You didn’t want to fly up that high. I should never have made you do it. I am so, so sorry.”
“Rena, it’s O.K. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know this would happen.”
The doctor came in and said that Cora would make a full recovery but would never be able to fly again seeing as she only had one wing. Finally the day came when she was able to come home. She was very sore and tired and spent a lot of time in bed getting better.
Every day she got stronger and stronger until she was able to run around outside with Rena just like she used to. The other fairies would come over often to ask Rena to fly with them. Cora always told her to go. Rena felt bad flying off with her friends and leaving Cora behind. How she wished there was a way Cora could fly again. Her friends suggested she go to Lucia, the wise, old butterfly that lived in the Abandoned Garden.
So one day, Rena flew over there and told Lucia her dream for Cora to fly again. Lucia sat for a long time thinking about the problem. Then a slow smile spread across her face and she said. “Go home, dear one and very soon your wish will come true.”
Rena went home and waited and waited. Then one day, they got the sad news that Lucia had died. On her table she had left a note for Cora. The note read:
“For helping others and the joy that brings,
I leave for you my magic wings.”
“Magic wings?” thought Cora. She looked down and there were Lucia’s big, beautiful wings. Very gently her Mother attached them to her back. Cora was a little nervous at first since it had been so long since she had flown.
She jumped up to try them out. Flapping the wings a few times, she flew a little before landing back on the ground. The next time she went up further and really flew. These wings were amazing! Because they were so big, they glided through the air with barely any effort. Cora found that she could go farther than before without getting as tired.
Over the next few weeks Cora used the wings to fly everywhere. She heard that there was a little girl in Tulip Valley that was very sick. No one could get the medicine to her in time –except for Cora. When baby blue bird fell out of her nest, Cora caught her before she hit the ground. And when Junior Grasshopper wasn’t going to make it to his wedding on time, Cora picked him up and flew him there with time to spare. These really were magic wings. They let her fly again, and help people. “This is what I was created to do,” she thought.
As for Rena, she decided to use her love for her sister and her love for writing to create books for the little fairies of their land. Now the adventures she writes about are Cora’s. She calls them The Great Adventures of Cora and her Magic Wings. Maybe someday she will fly by to help you. So watch. And if you happen to see something out of the corner of your eye and then when you look, it is gone, just imagine that it was probably Cora.
Rena, who was older, wanted to be a writer so her stories were always full of much adventure. Cora, wanted to help people. She wasn’t sure exactly how, but she knew she would figure it out when the time came.
On one particular dreamy day, Rena and Cora were sitting around the tall oak trees waiting for the rain to stop dripping when the sun pushed its’ way out from behind a cloud. With their heads together, they stared up towards the heavens. Suddenly Rena noticed a rainbow soft and hazy place itself like a giant eyebrow across the sky.
“Cora,” let’s see if we can fly up and touch that rainbow.”
“What?” laughed Cora. “It is way too far.”
“We are good flyers, “ coaxed Rena. “We could do it. Come on, please?”
“Oh, alright,” shrugged Cora. “I guess we can try.”
Together they took off flying higher and higher. Higher than they have ever been before. While they we flying they heard a loud “Caw! Caw!” Looking back they saw a large, black crow flying close behind them.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” shrieked Cora. “Watch out!”
There was nowhere to go to hide. The girls didn’t know what to do. Quickly they started flying back down, but the Crow followed them. Faster and faster they flew until they felt they could fly no more.
In a flash, the Crow snapped his beak and broke off one of Cora’s wings. She suddenly started to spin out of control toward the ground.
“No, Cora!” yelled Rena as she tried to fly under Cora to catch her. But she was spinning too fast and hit the ground hard landing in a pile of grass clippings. Rena rushed up to her side afraid of what she might find. Cora lay very still.
“Cora” Rena whispered. “Cora, Cora. Are you O.K.? Wake up. Say something.”
Rena lay her head on Cora’s chest and began to cry. Sometime later, Rena felt a hand in her hair and looked up to see Cora opening her eyes.
“Oh, Cora! You are alive! Oh, I am so happy!! You’re alive! You’re alive!” She began kissing Cora’s cheeks.
“Rena, I don’t think I can move.”
“Stay here. I will go for help.”
Rena flew home to get her Mom and Dad who scooped up Cora and rushed her to the hospital. Cora spent many days there. The whole time Rena sat by her side.
“I am so sorry, Cora. This whole thing is all my fault. You didn’t want to fly up that high. I should never have made you do it. I am so, so sorry.”
“Rena, it’s O.K. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know this would happen.”
The doctor came in and said that Cora would make a full recovery but would never be able to fly again seeing as she only had one wing. Finally the day came when she was able to come home. She was very sore and tired and spent a lot of time in bed getting better.
Every day she got stronger and stronger until she was able to run around outside with Rena just like she used to. The other fairies would come over often to ask Rena to fly with them. Cora always told her to go. Rena felt bad flying off with her friends and leaving Cora behind. How she wished there was a way Cora could fly again. Her friends suggested she go to Lucia, the wise, old butterfly that lived in the Abandoned Garden.
So one day, Rena flew over there and told Lucia her dream for Cora to fly again. Lucia sat for a long time thinking about the problem. Then a slow smile spread across her face and she said. “Go home, dear one and very soon your wish will come true.”
Rena went home and waited and waited. Then one day, they got the sad news that Lucia had died. On her table she had left a note for Cora. The note read:
“For helping others and the joy that brings,
I leave for you my magic wings.”
“Magic wings?” thought Cora. She looked down and there were Lucia’s big, beautiful wings. Very gently her Mother attached them to her back. Cora was a little nervous at first since it had been so long since she had flown.
She jumped up to try them out. Flapping the wings a few times, she flew a little before landing back on the ground. The next time she went up further and really flew. These wings were amazing! Because they were so big, they glided through the air with barely any effort. Cora found that she could go farther than before without getting as tired.
Over the next few weeks Cora used the wings to fly everywhere. She heard that there was a little girl in Tulip Valley that was very sick. No one could get the medicine to her in time –except for Cora. When baby blue bird fell out of her nest, Cora caught her before she hit the ground. And when Junior Grasshopper wasn’t going to make it to his wedding on time, Cora picked him up and flew him there with time to spare. These really were magic wings. They let her fly again, and help people. “This is what I was created to do,” she thought.
As for Rena, she decided to use her love for her sister and her love for writing to create books for the little fairies of their land. Now the adventures she writes about are Cora’s. She calls them The Great Adventures of Cora and her Magic Wings. Maybe someday she will fly by to help you. So watch. And if you happen to see something out of the corner of your eye and then when you look, it is gone, just imagine that it was probably Cora.
Augustine and Aura - a fairytale of two friends
There once was nice, old cobbler who worked night and day making shoes. He loved shoes, but even more than that, he loved his daughter Augustine. One day he worked long and hard on a very special pair of shoes for his daughter. When she came home from school, he presented her with the fine shoes.
“Oh, Papa’” she exclaimed. “They are wonderful. May I wear them?”
“My dear, “ replied Papa, “These are fancy shoes, not play shoes.”
“Oh, Father! I will be careful”
“Very well, my dear.”
“Thank you Papa.” Augustine said as she hugged him. “Thank you for these fine shoes. They are the most beautiful shoes I have ever had.”
She skipped out to the garden where she danced with the butterflies and twirled around with the sunflowers. She was giggling and humming with joy. The shoes made her feel like a princess. When she lay down among the marigolds to catch her breath, she noticed a tiny chirping sound. Glancing over, Augustine saw a bird’s nest lying on the ground in a soft muddy spot by the fence. Taking off her shoes, she walked over to watch the baby birds.
Before long, her mother called her in to dinner. After a warm bubble bath, Augustine climbed into bed and begged her Mother to read her favorite bedtime story. It is a story about knights and princesses dancing together at a grand ball. Augustine was falling asleep dreaming of the beautiful gowns the ladies must have been wearing when suddenly her eyes popped open. Her shoes! Her new shoes were still out in the garden. Oh no! It was much too late to get them now. She would have to wait until morning.
As soon as the first streams of sunlight came into her window, Augustine ran outside to gather her shoes. As she began to slip her feet into the shoes, she noticed that one shoe didn’t fit. She picked it up to look inside and saw something down by the toe. Very gently she reached in and pulled it out. It was the tiniest, little fairy Augustine had ever seen.
“What are you doing in my shoe?” asked Augustine.
The fairy didn’t answer. She looked very scared.
“Don’t be scared. My name is Augustine and I am nice. I am just wondering what you are doing in my shoe.”
The fairy looked at her and quietly said, “My name is Aura and I am here on a mission.”
“What kind of mission?”
“Well, I was sent to find the perfect gift for Queen Lomaine’s birthday. Yesterday I was walking through your garden looking for the most beautiful flower when I realized that a flower would soon die and fade away. I didn’t want to give the Queen something that would die. So I sat down in your shoe and it was so comfortable I guess I fell asleep. “
The fairy sighed. “Now, it is morning and I still don’t have a gift for the Queen.”
She began to cry.
“Don’t worry,” said Augustine. “Maybe I can help you think of something.’
Together they came up with many ideas like a new hat, or a sea shell, but none of the ideas seemed just right.
Jumping up, Augustine exclaimed. “I have it! I have the perfect gift idea. Come with me.”
With that she scooped up Aura and ran down to her Father’s shop shouting “Papa, papa. We need your help.”
Aura and Augustine took the next few minutes to explain to Papa the problem. Augustine whispered in his ear her idea and Father said he would be happy to help. He worked all night making the special surprise.
In the morning, he brought to them the most perfect pair of fairy shoes you could imagine. They were red just like the flowers in the garden that Aura liked, the inside was as soft as the velvet from a toothbury leaf and they were shiny and full of sparkles like a raindrop had just fallen on them.
“Oh, goodness gracious!” squealed Aura. “They are so beautiful. I have never seen anything as fine as these shoes. What a perfect gift to give the Queen. Oh, thank you! Thank you.” She reached up to give them both as big of a hug as a fairy could.
Turning to Augustine, she said “How will I ever repay you?”
“You don’t have to repay me, Aura. We are friends and that is what friends do.”
Waving goodbye Aura flew away home. That night Augustine fell asleep thinking about the grand party her friend Aura would be at, laughing and dancing with the Queen. What a fun time they must all be having.
In the morning, Augustine went out to the garden and found the most amazing dress hanging among the flowers. It was made of golden leaves and flowers, and gossamer wings, woven together with ribbons of sunlight and petals until it practically glowed. It was just her size. Augustine could hardly believe her eyes. As she walked closer she saw a little tag hanging from the sleeve. The tag read:
“Something to go with your shoes. Love your friend, Aura.”
“Oh, Papa’” she exclaimed. “They are wonderful. May I wear them?”
“My dear, “ replied Papa, “These are fancy shoes, not play shoes.”
“Oh, Father! I will be careful”
“Very well, my dear.”
“Thank you Papa.” Augustine said as she hugged him. “Thank you for these fine shoes. They are the most beautiful shoes I have ever had.”
She skipped out to the garden where she danced with the butterflies and twirled around with the sunflowers. She was giggling and humming with joy. The shoes made her feel like a princess. When she lay down among the marigolds to catch her breath, she noticed a tiny chirping sound. Glancing over, Augustine saw a bird’s nest lying on the ground in a soft muddy spot by the fence. Taking off her shoes, she walked over to watch the baby birds.
Before long, her mother called her in to dinner. After a warm bubble bath, Augustine climbed into bed and begged her Mother to read her favorite bedtime story. It is a story about knights and princesses dancing together at a grand ball. Augustine was falling asleep dreaming of the beautiful gowns the ladies must have been wearing when suddenly her eyes popped open. Her shoes! Her new shoes were still out in the garden. Oh no! It was much too late to get them now. She would have to wait until morning.
As soon as the first streams of sunlight came into her window, Augustine ran outside to gather her shoes. As she began to slip her feet into the shoes, she noticed that one shoe didn’t fit. She picked it up to look inside and saw something down by the toe. Very gently she reached in and pulled it out. It was the tiniest, little fairy Augustine had ever seen.
“What are you doing in my shoe?” asked Augustine.
The fairy didn’t answer. She looked very scared.
“Don’t be scared. My name is Augustine and I am nice. I am just wondering what you are doing in my shoe.”
The fairy looked at her and quietly said, “My name is Aura and I am here on a mission.”
“What kind of mission?”
“Well, I was sent to find the perfect gift for Queen Lomaine’s birthday. Yesterday I was walking through your garden looking for the most beautiful flower when I realized that a flower would soon die and fade away. I didn’t want to give the Queen something that would die. So I sat down in your shoe and it was so comfortable I guess I fell asleep. “
The fairy sighed. “Now, it is morning and I still don’t have a gift for the Queen.”
She began to cry.
“Don’t worry,” said Augustine. “Maybe I can help you think of something.’
Together they came up with many ideas like a new hat, or a sea shell, but none of the ideas seemed just right.
Jumping up, Augustine exclaimed. “I have it! I have the perfect gift idea. Come with me.”
With that she scooped up Aura and ran down to her Father’s shop shouting “Papa, papa. We need your help.”
Aura and Augustine took the next few minutes to explain to Papa the problem. Augustine whispered in his ear her idea and Father said he would be happy to help. He worked all night making the special surprise.
In the morning, he brought to them the most perfect pair of fairy shoes you could imagine. They were red just like the flowers in the garden that Aura liked, the inside was as soft as the velvet from a toothbury leaf and they were shiny and full of sparkles like a raindrop had just fallen on them.
“Oh, goodness gracious!” squealed Aura. “They are so beautiful. I have never seen anything as fine as these shoes. What a perfect gift to give the Queen. Oh, thank you! Thank you.” She reached up to give them both as big of a hug as a fairy could.
Turning to Augustine, she said “How will I ever repay you?”
“You don’t have to repay me, Aura. We are friends and that is what friends do.”
Waving goodbye Aura flew away home. That night Augustine fell asleep thinking about the grand party her friend Aura would be at, laughing and dancing with the Queen. What a fun time they must all be having.
In the morning, Augustine went out to the garden and found the most amazing dress hanging among the flowers. It was made of golden leaves and flowers, and gossamer wings, woven together with ribbons of sunlight and petals until it practically glowed. It was just her size. Augustine could hardly believe her eyes. As she walked closer she saw a little tag hanging from the sleeve. The tag read:
“Something to go with your shoes. Love your friend, Aura.”
Chicken Crumbs
Long ago in a little village in Sentani lived an old woman. She lived alone and didn’t have much. Every day was exactly the same. She would wake up and start a fire to heat some water for soup. Then she would sit in her doorway and watch the kids run around chasing the chickens or making up games to play. One day however, they heard that the princess and her daughter would be walking through the village. Such excitement arose. Her neighbors were busy cleaning up their huts, and sweeping their yards. She was not able to do those things anymore so she began to think about what she could give to the princess when she came through. As she looked in her cupboards, the old woman realized she had just enough flour and oil to make one small cake. “I will make a fine cake for the princess’ daughter,” she thought. So for the rest of the day she went about working on the cake. This had to be the best cake she had ever made. She was very careful to make sure it did not burn. When it finally came out of the oven, it looked beautiful. The old woman felt quite proud to have something to give to such an important person.
The next morning, the sound of the princess coming could be heard throughout the village. Everyone was cheering and clapping, happily showing off their freshly cleaned huts, and newly swept yards. As the princess came by, the old woman proudly held out the cake to her daughter. The little girl took the cake and offered the old woman a smile. Up ahead as they walked, the old woman saw the little girl stop to look at the chickens. Then without thinking she began to break off crumbs from the cake to throw to them. The chickens hungrily gobbled up the crumbs, and the little girl began to laugh. One of the neighbors ran up to the old woman and said, “How dare she throw your cake to the chickens!” But the old woman only smiled and said, “At least she had something to throw.”
The next morning, the sound of the princess coming could be heard throughout the village. Everyone was cheering and clapping, happily showing off their freshly cleaned huts, and newly swept yards. As the princess came by, the old woman proudly held out the cake to her daughter. The little girl took the cake and offered the old woman a smile. Up ahead as they walked, the old woman saw the little girl stop to look at the chickens. Then without thinking she began to break off crumbs from the cake to throw to them. The chickens hungrily gobbled up the crumbs, and the little girl began to laugh. One of the neighbors ran up to the old woman and said, “How dare she throw your cake to the chickens!” But the old woman only smiled and said, “At least she had something to throw.”
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