Tale: Hope For A New Day

All the wonders of the forest unfolded before the small boys eyes, as the sun set slowly on the last day of the year. The birch trees, tall and slender, with their white paper bark sat motionless, bathed in the warm yellow glow at the end of the day. Nearby tiny birds could be heard singing their last joyful tunes in the fading light as if saying good night to one another after a long day, tucking themselves into their nests for the evening. The whistling hum of cicadas began to fill the air as the warmth of the day was replaced by the chill that a clear night sky would bring. The small boy pulled his blue jacket around himself, and ran his tiny fingers through his long white hair, flicking it back from where it had fallen across his soft blue eyes. His tiny fingers carefully fastened the golden buttons so that he could keep the cold away from his small body.

He lay on his back, with the tall grass and soft yellow daisies gently wrapping around him, and as he stared deep into the blue sky above, he could only begin to imagine all the wonders he would see as a hundred billion stars unfolded before him when night finally took hold. Staring into the sky, his view was framed by the green heart shaped leaves that melded into the blue as it grew deeper in tone. Strange sounds could be heard in the distant reaches of the forest and in his imagination he formed creatures with large ears and noses, and fur that was long and white, with large clawed paws that left foreboding footprints where ever they went. That they even existed was highly unlikely in anywhere but his mind, but then that was what young boys did, especially this one. All his thoughts were intermingled with just a touch of reality then told in stories bold and full of fantasy, yet with the vigor of a seasoned storyteller.

He would often smile to himself as he watched the look of amazement on his friend’s face as he recounted journeys that had only ever been taken in dreams, yet were always so much fun to share. “Shhh, listen and you can hear them stir,” he would say as the breeze opportunistically rustled a nearby bush. “I think the faeries are here to play. Don’t turn now, but there it one just over your shoulder.” The smiles would form and then without even daring to turn she would ask. “Tell me what it looks like?” He would pause, then with a cursory glance he would begin. “Well she is not much bigger than my hand, and she is wearing satin and lace, in rainbow colors, with her hair tied in a single pony tail. Her wings are glistening in the sun, and her eyes are like magic and wonder rolled into one, ready to cast a spell on any that she may see fit to do so.” “Go on,” his friend would ask as he paused in thought. “There is nothing more I can tell you.” He would say as he smiled in return.

Today, in this moment he was on his own, and his thoughts and imaginings were all his to have and he could just believe without any further explanation. In the forest the shadows of the trees had begun to reach out, stretching like tiny fingers over the undulating fields that lay between him and the Tree, and as the light grew dimmer, so the shadows faded into the darkness that had gradually taken over. Within the forest, the glow of tiny firefly lanterns began to illuminate the trees and the forest floor, with a gentle breeze making them sway, with their painted light bringing the forest to eerie life.  His eyes followed the path as it wove its way to where it divided into two, and in the fading light the path to the left disappeared into the mist and the ruins that lay beyond. At times like this, he would just sit and listen, with ears pricked, to the faint sounds of children laughing, and the reassuring voice of the old man that protected them all. So often he wished to join them, but he knew his place was here keeping the Tree alive with his words, and so it was he remained.

Dew drops hung with a delicate grip from the tiny tendrils of the small ferns that dotted the forest floor, sparkling in the starlight like tiny diamonds. Ever so slowly the forest began to come to life as the creatures stirred from their daytime slumber, stretching and yawning as they wiped the faerie sleep dust from their eyes. As he stood and turned his back on the forest, the glow cast his shadow long, and he raised his arm so that his shadow touched the very base of the Tree. He walked from the twisted, knotted entrance of trees with their dangling branches flicking against his hair, and as he stepped into the wheat field he could see the ghostly forms of children that had long ago disappeared from his memory. They ran and played, laughing with echoed cries as if taunting him to bring them to life once more with the words of dreams, but he wondered could it ever be again. Time had seen them vanish and no matter how hard he tried, he could not find them, although he was sure of where to look.

He stood quietly with a tiny tear welling in his eye, and he thought about the many paper boats so intricately folded and so carefully set upon the sea of life in search of answers, in hope of words to be returned. As he watched the children laughing, the tear lost its steely grip and fell from his eye, and as it did it spun and twisted and a small blue dragonfly formed, coming to life, hovering and watching them play just as he did. The children paused for a moment and looked in his direction, and he thought once more before some simple words formed in his mind.

 

The simple innocence of a child at play,

Dancing upon this sacred earth.

Holding on to all their dreams,

Carried with them to death from birth.

 

Long lost laughter and words so bright,

From imaginations drifting with the tide.

Floating aimlessly on the sea of life,

Waiting all so patiently to find.

 

If only to grasp to truly glimpse,

For real the words so often sought.

Laid out upon the paper fine,

The many things a mind has thought.

 

To find the child inside once more,

Without a care for all to see.

The time I know will one day come,

When all we know will come to be.

 

As quickly as the words came, so they faded from his mind, and as they did the ghostly shapes that played before him faded into the darkness with only whisperings as they went. Left behind were the dancing lights of three fireflies that spiraled into the dark sky above, taking their place amongst the many stars that flickered there. The dragonfly was all that now remained, his only friend, and he reflected on all that had become. Together they would walk the path that wound its way to the Friendship Tree, standing tall and wide in the sparkling starlight with a soft glow radiating from within its branches. They stopped midway along the path and the small boy turned his gaze skyward, with the breeze gently tapping his coat tails as he stood admiring the plethora of stars that spread from horizon to horizon. From beyond the forest he could now hear the sound of the ocean as it rolled like thunder, before crashing like the sound of summer rain on an old tin roof as it tumbled the many pebbles on the shore. It was a peaceful sound and it added to the atmosphere of the night as he continued to look skywards at the smudges of red, pink and blue, that were intermingled with stars, the vast unknown that lay unexplored, except within his imagination.

As his long white hair began to toss in the breeze, he let his thoughts take him into the sky and for a moment he imagined the big blue ball that would be seen from the deep dark reaches of space, and he wondered if that was what the stars saw also and if that was why they always smiled. A shooting star cast itself across the sky, with a bright burst of electric blue light as it ended its journey. He held onto the thought, a wish to be made at another time, and then he continued on his way. As he walked, he placed his hands into his deep coat pockets, with his tiny fingers fumbling desperately, but he only managed to find a small piece of what he had searched for, leaving it hidden for later on. The Friendship Tree was looking old and the rough bark that wrapped itself around the trunk was showing signs of dying. He ran his fingers across it and it spoke to him of the many stories protected within, the many days of children playing, and now the endless days of silence that it endured.

He climbed into the Tree and he sat quietly, almost mesmerized by the mobiles that spun in the soft lantern glow. The dragonflies sparkled and spun as though suspended on a fine gossamer thread. Their words echoed out for all to hear, with the rainbow colors reflecting off their wings. Nearby, hung the worn and ragged butterflies, spinning momentarily then stopping, almost lifeless. The words they held were truly wonderful, but they had become tired, jaded, and even as he looked on they seemed to age before his tiny tear filled eyes. He reached into his coat pocket once more, and in his tiny hands he held his last piece of magic. He looked carefully at it, then as he cast it upon the butterflies he also made his wish. The butterflies came to life and began to dance on the breeze, but he knew this could not last, he knew it needed more. He sat in the silence, with only the sound of his heart beat and shallow breath to be heard. Then a whisper came. He missed it at first, but then he heard it once more and a voice told him that he could not stop trying and that one last paper boat with words so simple must be set upon the sea to sail. He carefully lifted the dragonfly from where it sat on his shoulder and he placed it near the lantern so it’s shadow fell across the Book Of Dreams.

He climbed down from the Tree, falling and tumbling the last bit as he could not contain his enthusiasm, rolling to his feet before running along he path. His tiny legs carried him faster than he had ever run before, leaping over tall tufts of grass, weaving through the forest with the faeries watching on in wonder, then the arduous final climb to the cliff top overlooking the ocean with its cold deep blue in the darkness of the night. He paused to catch his breath, before sliding down the dune to the beach below. Seagulls called as they flew overhead, searching in the night as if they had lost something. He sat on the pebbles and he folded the stark white paper meticulously, so that it formed a paper boat. He took out a pen and upon it he simply wrote, ‘please come back.’ He walked to the waters edge and he carefully placed it upon the shimmering surface, guiding it on its way in hope that it would be found. As he stepped back he watched and waited, then sat amongst the shells and seaweed watching some more. ‘The stars are sparkling all so brightly tonight,’ he thought to himself as he continued to watch his paper boat sailing away. Many had gone, and few returned, though he always believed that they were seen and that the words they carried made a difference for someone, somewhere.

He stood and taking up a small stick that lay nearby he drew a picture in the sand of a tree with a dragonfly hovering in mid air, and below it he wrote.

 

In friendship I trust,

With words I grow strong,

The thoughts of a child,

Shared with everyone.

 

Decorated with shells, pebbles and colored seaweed, the image was as if it were alive and he dreamed that it could seen by all the tiny eyes sparkling from the sky above. As he left the beach and headed back to the Tree, he turned and caught a last glimpse of the paper boat as it sailed on and he wondered, he hoped and he dreamed of what would one day be, of the butterflies that may live to spin their magic, and of a friend that would climb into the Tree once more to share her words.

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Tale: When A Picture Tells A Story

He smiled as his hand swept across the paper with an even stroke, with the pen drawing the last line of intricate detail on the coarse white paper in front of him. He stepped back and admired the many shapes that had been formed, with each one intertwined to weave a delicate web of characters and objects that he had come to know so well. Their starkness spoke of the journey that had been travelled and the unknown roads that had been crossed. Yet he knew that just as with the journey that had been taken, the colors would soon embrace what could be seen and life would come to be what he now knew.

His wrinkled hand with his fingers worn and ragged, like the twigs on some old tree, had turned the pages of a book with a tenderness that only a young child could bring. Carefully he had crafted the many words that had formed in his mind, and in doing so he had brought life where before hope of life was frail. As he turned the pages once more, he recognized that there were stories untold, but he knew as well that they were now for another to carry forward. As he looked into the picture that opened out before him, the children played once more in his mind and the colors that would bring life washed over it. The blue, red and pink tones that he new so well, now reflected in his eyes of blue and the smile on his face was a priceless gift he had been given in return. The laughter and the giggling echoed through his mind, reaching beyond the hidden dimensions that lay between reality and fantasy, where only children and a few brave souls would dare to venture.

As he changed his gaze, he noticed the clouds in the sky were being bathed in the softness of pinks and reds, and as they were, shapes formed of familiar imaginings, shapes that would become another dream. He lowered his gaze once more where his eyes followed the brown earth path that wound into the distance to a cliff top, where the fading sunlight shimmered, bringing his beloved ocean to life. Across that shimmering ocean he could see the flickering of a light, where standing tall on an island the light remained as a beacon of hope for all the lost children, now protected by the lamplighter. All this time as the light from the lighthouse came and went, the soft dancing light of a single lantern burnt strong perched precariously on a stonewall, as if to signify how fragile it still was. This was the light of life itself and as the colors grew, so did the light that it exuded, painting all it touched and protecting it from the dreaded darkness that had been searching in vain for his friend.

Nearby the hard wooden swing, where his two friends had shared the deepest of thoughts, had begun to come to life. As the colors wrapped around the metal chain links, growing slowly up their length, the green leaves with roses blooming here and there took hold. In his mind he could see a small girl in a red dress as she tried with all her strength to throw away the thoughts and fears that had shackled her to the barren ground below. At the same time he smiled as he remembered the shocked ‘no’ that reverberated from the lips of a small girl with pink ribbons in her hair, when a small boy asked, ‘so was it witchcraft?’

Now the color was flowing fast, like the memories that were flooding back, and the forest in the distance came into full view. There the magic was as strong as the creatures that lived within, and they gave thanks for all they had become from a vivid mind, a child’s mind. Still, he knew that there were many more hidden places within the forest to be explored, with many more lessons to be learned. The forest had grown in the last few months, crossing the void that was once a lifeless desert, reaching now to where a single ivory tower, a place of foreboding, stood tall but crumbling as the magic of the forest had begun to grasp its harsh stone white walls.

He followed the path back to where the Tree stood strong, adorned with beautiful butterflies, ladybugs and dragonflies that danced on the breeze reflecting a rainbow of light on those nearby. He looked closely at base of the Tree where the Book Of Dreams, filled with many words, lay open for all with a clear mind to read. The book reminded him also of where it all began, with a little prince, a fox and a Rose, and as he looked around these to came to life. The laughter had grown louder, and the sounds of the children playing, mixed with the gentle roar of the ocean reminded him once more of how important it was to believe. So with that he placed one last paper boat on the ocean, sending thanks to all who have chosen to believe and have embraced the thoughts and dreams he has shared.

A flash caught his eye, and he glimpsed of the remnants of a shooting star, making one final wish. Often he would look into the sky, and from it he would take the fading life of a shooting star and give hope where hope did not exist, casting a simple wish that would give courage and believing. Some would mock him for such imaginative thoughts, but he did not falter in his resolve and stood steadfast in all he believed, and for what it was worth he would continue to believe that there is magic in ones mind that spans all known realms. As he watched the stars twinkle, he could hear children’s laughter echoing from the depths of space, and he knew that one day he too would laugh as they do, a shining light for all to see.

He turned his back on the picture that had been completed, now full of color and life, with the memories locked in place for all time. This would remain forever a testament of a child’s mind and now all those that read his words could see the visions he saw so freely flowing from his mind.

 

The above image was painted on commission by artist Jenni Ivins. It contains many elements of the stories posted on the blog, plus elements that are found in the story, The Little Prince.

 

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Tale: Never Lost

Fire in the sky was the impression left as the sunrise lit up the clouds in the brightest of colors. The patterned wisps like wings moving gracefully across the sky were like angels on a peaceful journey. As the light reflected across the valley it sent long shadows in which the soft pink daisies seemed to dance merrily. Nothing appeared to stir in this early part of the morning as the warmth of the sunlight evaporated the last of the dew that had fallen overnight. The Friendship Tree stood tall and wide, covered the most luscious green leaves, and within it all was silent.

He stood quietly atop the hill surveying all that was laid out before him. It was so serene and full of magic and wonder, still it was just not the same. He thought of the laughter that used to fill the valley in the times gone past and the imaginations that were shared. He listened once again and it was clear that he was alone, ‘but what of the others he thought?’ He walked solemnly along the path with a soft breeze tickling his coat tails. Usually he felt like he could fly, but today he would not soar like a bird in those wispy clouds he had admired earlier, no he would have his feet firmly planted on the ground.

He reached the Friendship Tree with its rough textured bark looking like the lines of age on an old man’s hands, and as he looked around he could not see a trace that anyone had been there lately. He climbed carefully and stood upon the strongest bough, the one where he and his friends would always meet. The butterflies and ladybugs that hung there, suspended so that they would spin freely in the wind, looked tired and worn, and in places had become entangled in a confusing mess. He turned to the book of dreams and the dusty cover that protected the many words it contained, then he lifted it and as he blew, he ran his tiny fingers across it so the words that were embossed could be seen. ‘Leave Your Judgments Behind’, read the gold inlayed words.

As he opened the Book, the first words stirred many memories and he knew that it had been a while since even he scrawled the smallest of stories there. He took a pen from his pocket and he turned the pages of the book to the where the last words had been written, and then he thought for a moment.

Is there ever a time or even a place,

Where thoughts and dreams can be truly shared?

Are there words that are written for all to see clear,

And if there are, does anyone care?

 

The magic and wonder does it even exist,

Or is it just wild imaginings formed in a mind?

And if we even had answers to those questions posed,

What do you think it is we would find?

 

The laughter of children that once rang from a tree,

Silenced for now or for time evermore.

Hard as it is to believe what appears,

The challenge we seek now stands here before.

 

Don’t let the dreams go away, disappear,

Don’t let them fade or wither and die,

Hold onto the things that are wondrous and true,

Make them your wish on a star in the sky.

 

Believing in all that believing can be,

Finding the words where they hide also deep.

Here in this Book, where they all can be read,

On pages they are, forever to keep.

 

A gentle breeze blew through the Tree carrying familiar distant sounds, echoing from the furthest reaches of the valley. Intertwined with the soft roar of the ocean waves, overshadowed but there just the same, they spoke of hope. They did not come closer, but they were there and he hoped one day that they would return to the tree where all could hear them. As the sun continued to dance its light upon the wide-open field, like the shadows of his friends running here and there, he closed the Book and placed it securely in the protection of the Tree. He would leave soon, but he would return and when he did he would bring his dreams for all to share. His magic would wait for another day when the stars would come to life like dancing children lost in another world.

 

As he stood once more in the silence, his thoughts drifted and he wondered. ‘Were they just lost? Had they taken a different path, misunderstood what it was all about, and if so where were they now waiting?’ He ran along the path with its sparkling, spangled dragonflies, like tiny blue jewels, and he climbed the hill once again. The ocean lured him now and as it did he became excited at what it may offer. The sound of the waves as they crashed upon the rocks was like life, and again he could hear the cries from a distance, as they rolled in across the deep blue ocean. He took a candle from his coat pocket and he lit it, carefully placing it in the lantern that was now dangling from his outstretched arm. The soft glow gave a feeling of warmth as the candle bathed him in its yellow light.

 

Like a star hung low in the sky, he could see the smallest of lights as it bobbed up and down on the horizon, then as he continued to look a second light appeared. Familiar voices called from afar, followed by the giggling of children as the lights grew even brighter still. The sun had long disappeared and the moon had not long risen, sending its beam of soft light to stretch across the ocean like a path to guide them. The paper boat on which they sailed had locked its course as if pulled by an invisible string. As it came closer he thought of how he had believed they would return one day, but even now it was much earlier than even he expected and he was excited. As they came into view he gave an excited wave, and they returned it with laughter as only they could both share.

“So where have you been?” he asked, in part with concern and at the same time in wondering if they had left and not taken him.

“We have been on a journey to find ourselves, and at the same time we have come to understand even more who you are.” They said as they exchanged words and gaze between each other. “Yes,” explained his friend with the ruby lips. “We learnt so much and we don’t think we will get lost ever again.” Her small friend nodded in agreement, rather pleased with herself. He held out his hand and helped them from the boat, hugging each as they stepped upon the soft sand. They followed the sea grass lined path as it wound its was to the cliff top. There they could see the Tree in all its glory, lit like the night sky by a thousand fireflies.

 

They sat for a while before lying on their backs to stare into the star filled sky, and telling the tales of their adventure. He longed to share his words written in the Book of Dreams, but for now it was their turn to tell him the most wonderful stories of their magical journey. He would listen intently to their every word, for one day a tale would be told for the entire world to know.

 

Sometimes we all get lost, and with time we will find what it is we are looking for. Sometimes a journey must be taken. One which may be shared, or taken on your own, and then there are times that the answers are clear to see and they unfold before you like the pages of a book.

What is the journey you take now?

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Tale: Wish If You May

The white haired boy lay on his back in the field full of flowers and tall grass staring into the deep dark sky and all its wonder. The blackness of the night, with the tiny pin pricks of light so numerous that to count them would be impossible, left much to his imagination as he tried to comprehend all that was now unfolding before him. One moment the smiles and laughter reverberated from the tall tree nearby, then in the next moment a swirl and twirl of thoughts and visions as his little friend was caught up in the storm that raged, carrying her here and there without knowing where she would land. As he looked into the sky a tear formed in his eye, and as it did the stars sparkled brighter for just a fleeting moment before it rolled down his cheek and fell upon the ground.

He gave a little sniffle, and then scanned the sky once more looking for something special that he could share. ‘There was so much beauty to be seen,’ he thought to himself as the colours of the universe lay painted, mingled with the constellations, and there were many special places where life began, which in its own way offered hope of things to come. Orion was overhead where it always was on these mild summer evenings and at its heart, the red, pink and blue tones that formed the life giving nebula could be seen if you looked hard enough. He had always admired the beauty of the stars, but this place in the sky was even more special because his friends all had stars held within its heart. ‘One day, I will have a star, a place that I can call mine, and it will be the most magical mystical place ever where dreams will all come true,’ he thought.

He continued his vigil, scanning the night sky, but with his eyes never straying too far or for too long from the centre piece of his universe. Then, just as he was about to give up, the one thing he had been waiting for appeared for just a fleeting moment. Like a single firework, a guiding light, the most amazing bright blue shooting star cut a path before his eyes, through Orion as if to say hello, before completing its journey with a fiery glow on the distant horizon. It was the sign he had waited for, and he closed his eyes to make a wish before jumping to his feet and running in the direction of where it had landed. There was a magic in the stars that was borne from hope and believing and this gave him strength and fuelled the little bit of magic that he held deep inside.

He ran as fast as he could, along the path that lead away from the tree with its wide embracing branches, standing tall behind him. He wound his way through the Magic Forest with tiny lanterns hanging from the many branches, all aglow to light the way, then along the path that wove its way through the sand dunes to where it finished upon the cliff top overlooking the dark blue ocean that he had come to know like the tree itself. In the distance, far out to sea, he could make out an ethereal glow flickering ever so slightly. Like a flashing beacon that was calling, but at the same time far from his reach. He sat, helplessly once again as he had done so often before, and he looked into the night sky as if searching for an answer, a clue to what should be. As he did another tear welled in his eye, only this time as it fell, a large blue dragonfly appeared, with the light from the stars sparkling from his wings like they did upon the cool calm waters of the ocean before him.

The dragonfly hovered before him, and in its eyes he saw each and every wish he had ever made. It was as though it carried them for all time, and little did the white haired boy know that each wish made was its strength, its being. He smiled at all that he saw and as the dragonfly turned and flew into the distance he knew it carried with it his hopes for his friend whom he had not seen for some time. The stars sparkled ever so brightly and the reflection they made in the water was like they were smiling back at one another and he thought of the times that the smallest of smiles brought happiness. “The only gift that I ask for is a smile,” he would remind his friends, and how he longed for the smallest glimpse of that now.

As he looked down from where the stars hung magically, as if from tiny strings, he noticed the light he had tried without success to reach was becoming brighter, no longer flickering but now burning stronger. He stood and became excited at what he saw, then he ran to the water’s edge, and as the light came closer he waded in with the coolness of the ocean wrapping itself around his legs. Now before him he watched in amazement as the smallest of paper boats floated, being pushed by the dragonfly he had seen earlier. Upon the boat was a tiny candle protected by a rainbow lantern, with the glow radiating out and painting the dragonfly in colours all around. The white haired boy carefully took the lantern in his hands and carried it gently to the beach. The dragonfly stayed close, and as the sand squeezed between his toes, he looked one last time at the dragonfly for the answer to the wish he had made and as the dragonfly vanished he knew what he must now do.

He carried the tiny light along the beach and followed the path through the forest. As the light from the lantern, growing stronger danced his shadow upon the ground where butterflies came to life where once pink daisies grew. By the time he reached the tree, the light had grown so strong, that it brought the tree to glorious life. He climbed the tree and he hung the lantern next to the butterfly mobiles that had only hours ago hung lifelessly. Now they danced and spun upon the breeze sending words of hope and joy the radiated like the sun that brought life to all that its light touched. Then as he stepped back, he looked at the lantern and closed his eyes, in his mind repeating the wish he had made upon the star. “Hello,” a tiny voice whispered, bringing a smile to his face, and as he opened his eyes he saw his friend, smiling wide as he had remember her from long ago. Her pink bows tied neatly and the shiny smiley face buttons on her pink overalls glimmering.

She gave a tiny giggle, and he paused for a moment. “You were gone. You were nowhere to be found and I knew you were caught up in the whirlwind of life, but did not know how to find you, so……” She stopped him, placing a tiny finger to her lips to signal a shhhhhh. “I am here because you believe. Yes I was caught up and consumed with the fear of all that I saw, but your words have offered me inspiration, the strength to believe, and although my journey has only begun, the belief you have instilled in me will guide me in my darkest hours.” She smiled then spoke these last words. “Courage comes from encouragement, but strength comes from believing, and I know now I shall always have that strength.”

It had been a while, but the white haired boy took the Book of Dreams and within it he wrote these words.

A wish upon a star I made,

I sent it for a friend.

Upon a paper boat she came,

Like magic once again.

 

Carried on a gentle breeze,

By the wings of a dragonfly.

A tiny light upon a boat,

That fell down from the sky.

 

Out to sea so many more,

Await the journey home.

Until the time has come to pass,

It’s there that they will roam.

 

So fickle is the life we lead,

Our destiny pre planned.

So often what our future holds,

Is not within our hands.

 

But know for now and evermore,

The gift your life will bring.

Giving strength to many,

Who will walk the path you’ve been.

 

            The white haired boy closed the Book of Dreams, at the same time looking up to see his friend asleep. He smiled, because he believed, and he knew that aside from all the things that came to test her, she truly believed as well and that the day would come when she would be an inspiration to so many others.

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Tale: The Dream

She sat staring through the thick glass that separated her from the world she so loved to explore. The hard mattress on which she lay, with its stark white sheets, devoid of the colors that for so long filled her life with happiness, seemed fused to her body like a leaden coat. As she looked on, the sun rose and painted the wispy clouds that drifted aimlessly in pink and red hues. It had been so long since she had ventured from the confines of her room with its plain pale walls that held her like a prisoner in a tower she remembers from not long ago.

Outside, upon the cold window ledge, obscured from her view sat a single blue dragonfly, with its iridescent wings gleaming in the glow of the morning sun. It sat staring at her intently as she stirred, and a tear formed in his eye, before falling upon the ground below. Upon his back he carried a bright red ladybug, which whispered in his ear, “she looks so sad.” He nodded as only dragonflies can and turned to look at her as a tear also formed in her eye. He gently flapped his wings and raised themselves to where they could be seen. The sunlight reflected in the girl’s eyes and a tiny smile fell upon her face, but she was tired, and as the smile fell away so she drifted off to sleep.

Shortly a pale butterfly landed on the sill, and the dragonfly lighted down momentarily. The butterfly, so weak and frail, climbed upon his back, where the ladybug took her hand and gave her a smile. Ever so gently he turned and taking off they flew into the sun’s gleaming light with the warmth that bathed them offering respite from the chill that the morning air had brought. The butterfly knew not where they were going, and the anticipation of the journey was far greater than each day she had spent alone outside the room. In the morning light they moved swiftly, until the smell of salt air and the sounds of distant waves could be heard as they rolled upon the sandy shore.

They landed carefully on the waters edge, and as if by magic, three children now stood staring as the light danced upon the water before them, as if inviting them to play. The sound of rough pebbles reverberated from beneath their feet, and as they looked down they noticed they were standing amongst a treasure trove of the tiniest shells. They sat in a circle facing one another, each lifting and inspecting the most wonderful shells they could find and placing only the best in their tiny pockets. Each selected four shells to keep, and as they did they showed the others what it was that they had found. The girl with her hair tied in pink bows smiled as if she had not been on an adventure for ages, and as the other girl brushed the sand off her red shoes, she smiled, because she knew it had been too long, but that magic had brought them here.

The boy in the long blue jacket smiled at his two friends as he watched them sharing what they had found. He took his shells and gave them to the girl as she straightened her braces on her pink overalls, and the girl with the ruby red cheeks did the same. “Our gift to you, in memory of the times that were, and will now be once more.” She smiled in return, which was a greater gift in itself. “Come now, we must leave,” suggested the boy. “Time is of the essence and there are things to do, places to go.” They looked at him with sadness in their eyes, because they were enjoying this moment like so many before, from long ago, but they somehow knew he was right, as he usually was. He took their hands and they closed their eyes, then in a moment Angelica woke, with her tired eyes adjusting to the dull light once more. She took a breath, and then blinked in thought, as the smells that had filled her day were no longer apparent, replaced by a familiar scent from many days past. As her eyes adjusted, the special chair that she had bought many years before formed its shape before her eyes.

This was her room, her home, her sanctuary. Had it been a dream, had it all been a dream? No, it was not all a dream, she still felt the discomfort that had accompanied her over the last two weeks, but she was truly home. She gazed around the room, and on the bedside table she saw a heart shaped box, stained glass with a Rose and a Dragonfly intricately woven within its colorful glass pattern. She lifted it carefully, and as she opened it she saw twelve tiny shells, exactly as they had appeared in her dream. A tear formed in her eye, because not only was she home, but the magic of dreams had come true. She glanced up, as a flash of light reflected through her window. There she saw a bright blue dragonfly, a red ladybug, and the most majestic pink butterfly all hovering outside. She strained with the pain she still carried and climbed out of her bed, slipping her feet into her golden slippers that sparkled like her friends eyes. She shuffled her way, slightly hunched to the window, just in time to see them fly away.

As she stared out the window into the broad backyard that lay before her, with the golden glow of the sunrise bathing it with its warmth, she thought for a moment that she caught a glimpse of blue, and red, and the flicking tail of a red fox she had met once before, all running towards a large tree that now grew where it had not before. As she thought to herself she heard the echo of childish laughter from behind the hedge row, and the familiar, whoooooo hooooooo, yeeeeeee haaaaaaw, weeeeeeeeeee, that she had heard so often before. She smiled and gave a little laugh of her own, because she was home and she knew once again that she was surrounded by the magic that had so filled her life with joy.

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Poem: Your Special Friends

If I was just a snowflake,

On a cold crisp winter’s day,

Would anyone ever notice me,

As I slowly melt away?

 

And as the water formed a drop,

A tiny tear upon the ground.

Would they ever notice that,

Would they know I’d been around?

 

Sometimes we will wonder,

About the simple things we feel,

The questions that we ask ourselves,

Of situations all so real.

 

Right now you need to understand,

You will not be alone,

You will not go unnoticed,

I’ll tell you and everyone.

 

You see we are just magical,

And we’ve flown into your world.

A dragonfly and ladybug,

Friends with a little girl.

 

So if you’re feeling sad and blue,

We’ll take you to a Tree.

Where you’ll turn into a budderfly,

With my Lovely Rose and Me.

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Tale: That Special Day

As the sun rose, she stared from where she sat amongst the soft pink flowers, surrounding her in a sea of colour, with a perfume that calmed her so. The clouds glowed in red and orange hues as the rays from the suns light painted them, as if with an artists brush guided by her imagination alone. She sat in the bright sunlight and as the gentle morning breeze blew, it tossed her wisps of hair ever softly across her face, playing shadows across her blue green eyes.

Sitting quietly she watched and listened for the sounds of her friends whom she had hoped would come find her, and in this silence her mind wandered like a lost soul. You see it was a special day, it was her birthday and she was turning ten today. Her favourite puppies were resting their heads in her lap, as she thought about the fun things she would like to do, but then she knew it would not be the same without her friends whom she loved so dearly. She lay back and let the daisies cradle her body like a soft feather doona and then with her wide sparkling eyes, she scanned the sky searching for her fondest memories, the happiness that her life so far had afforded her. The many times she had spent with her beloved white haired boy, and the girl with the wide smile and painted pink lips, and the young boy with the long dark hair that always followed close behind, came flooding back, yet today they were not here and she was alone like a single raindrop in the desert.

As she looked into the sky, a tear welled in her eye then rolled off her cheek, and as it landed on a daisy head, a ladybug appeared. She ran her hand across her nose and sniffled, trying to find some happiness, but it was like every birthday she could remember was the same. She just longed for that one time where that special moment would materialise and all the sadness would melt away, like ice in the morning sun.

She lay quietly contemplating what she would do next, and as she did the sound of birds singing began to drift from the distant forest, becoming louder by the second. It was joyful and calming and it was as though they were singing just for her to cheer her up. Just then a bright blue dragonfly appeared, hovering overhead, with the golden rays of sunlight passing through its wings and painting tiny rainbows on her red cheeks. A butterfly and a bee joined it and it was as though they were there just for her, but this made her think about her friends, and as she closed her eyes in reflection they disappeared from before her. She felt a tiny tickle on her face and glancing downward she could just make out the ladybug, tugging at her lips to form a smile, which she most certainly did.

“Psssst.” She looked sideways and the biggest smile ever grew upon her face, as three shapes stood silhouetted in the rising sun. She could just make out the tufts of neatly tied hair and ribbons, and the tails of the long coat, and as her eye adjusted, the faces of her three most special friends could be seen smiling back at her. “Thought we’d forgotten had you?” said the young boy with the light filtering through his white hair. She shook her head unconvincingly with a sheepish smile, then responded. “Well, I guess I did a little, but……..”  “Gotcha a present,” whispered her friend as she burst with excitement to give it to her. She handed her the carefully wrapped gift, and exchanged hugs.

Ever so carefully she removed the wrapping paper and hidden within she found a ceramic cow, with ladybugs painted upon its body. She loved ladybugs and her excitement could not be contained. Then the boy with the long dark hair handed her a small box, just as she went to shake it, a look of horror filled his face and he waved his hands frantically, which made her pause, understanding that she needed to take care with this. When she opened it, she found six of the tiniest cup cakes, each one decorated in a different theme, with rainbow sugar sparkles reflecting in the sun. Her last gift was from the white haired boy, her one true love. She unwrapped this with the greatest care, because it was wrapped in love. When she opened the box, she found a vase with a musical rose inside that bloomed when you spoke soft words of love to it, and as it opened it revealed a tiny ladybug at its centre. This was such a wonderful selection of gifts, from the most wonderful friends she could ever ask for.

She hugged them all and then they sat down in the sun together. They talked and shared the cup cakes and had their own little tea party, whilst trying to keep the puppies from having their share. Today was indeed the most magical birthday she had ever had and it would live on in her memory forever.

 

Special times with special friends

Where wishes all come true,

The greatest gift that I could want,

Was being here with you.

 

You fill my life with love and joy,

With laughter everywhere,

Four friends close as friends can be,

Friends that truly care.

 

A moment passes through my life,

So treasured now remains.

Longing for just one more time,

When we will meet again.

 

We’ll share some tears and many smiles,

We’ll play in fields so green.

Friends we are and friends we’ll be,

The best friends ever seen.

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Tale: Friendship True

Across the valley a rainstorm was clearing as the day began to fade, and with it the last of the soft rolling thunder like a bowling ball as it was propelled down the alley, and the flash of lighting that reached from the sky to scorch the earth. The sunlight was now reflecting off the raindrops creating a giant rainbow that climbed across the sky like the most wonderful coloured bridge of pink, red, purple, orange, blue and green, just waiting for the adventurous ones to come explore.

She was eight years old with her cheeks flushed pink, and her long brown hair that was tied in ponytails with the softest pink satin bows. She was full of kindness and she always saw the good in people, and this was a quality her friends had always admired. As she ran she called out, “Wait for me please, I can’t run any more cause my legs are tired.” It was a bright sunny afternoon and a cool but gentle breeze blew through the fields stirring the grass so that it swayed in an almost circular pattern, looking like a ripple on a calm ocean after casting in a pebble. He stopped mid path and turned around to smile at her as she ran towards him. He was only twelve years old and they had been friends for a while now. His long white hair was being tossed ever so slightly in the breeze that blew, with the coat tails of his magical blue jacket flapping gently, as if beating a tune to the sounds that surrounded him. He always smiled and did his best to spread happiness amongst those he knew and his words were like magic to his friend’s ears as they all sat patiently waiting for his many stories to unfold in their minds.

They were the best of friends and they would often search for little treasures together so they could share them with others, and he hoped today would be like many other days before. She reached where he was standing and puffing loudly exclaimed, “You walk so fast, and I just can’t keep up some times.” He smiled because he knew he did, but at the same time he never meant to, he never wanted to leave her behind. “Can we sit for a while?” she asked inquisitively, smiling as he nodded to say yes, at which point she threw herself in amongst a small patch of soft pink daisies. He sat down nearby and then fell onto his back feeling the cushion of flowers cradle his body like a soft feather doona, which was very comforting to say the least. He stared into the sky at the clouds and imagined the many shapes they made, whilst the small girl picked some daisies and threaded each one onto a piece of string.

He giggled and then he smiled at what he saw. She looked up from her total concentration of threading the daisies onto the fine pink cotton string, with the tip of her tongue poked from the side of her mouth as if it would help the string guide itself through the tiny hole she had made in the stems of each tiny flower. “What you giggling at?” she asked, as he sat now looking intently at her. He paused and then explained. “I saw a cloud that looks like a fluffy puppy dog.” “Where?” she chirped in hurriedly, wanting to see it before it was too late. He pointed to the sky and she stared up the length of his arm, past the shiny gold buttons on the sleeve of his blue coat.  “See there, just like a fluffy white slipper.” She laughed at his words, because she could see it now and it was like a slipper. She then replied. “You know you see some mazing things. I just wished I had the same imagination as you.” He was always encouraging and as he continued to stare skywards he suggested. “Come on, it’s your turn, tell me what you see.” She shook her head in disappointment, no dejection. “I can’t, I’m no good at this.” He smiled once again. “But you know you can, you just need to pretend.” She rolled onto her back reluctantly at first and the soft daisies tickled her ears as she moved her head side to side to scan the sky for the fluffy treasures. Being late in the afternoon, the sun was low and the sunlight and shadows made the clouds look ever more wonderful. After a while a broad smile spread across her face. “There, up there, I see a ladybug,” she squealed with delight. Yes she was right it was a ladybug, even though it was only white in colour, but her imagination painted it a shiny red with pink spots just like she had seen once before. He looked at his friend and she looked at him, and she knew exactly whom he was thinking of. It was their friend who loved to wear her red dress and shiny red shoes, and definitely loved ladybugs and whom was due to arrive anytime soon. As they sat and talked, the excitement began to build knowing how much fun the three would have together.

She was just ten years old, and probably more mature than they were, but she was ever so much fun. She said so many funny things, but she was not sure if she was really one of them sometimes, mind you, they both knew different. She had a big heart and a deep soul, and she enjoyed nothing more than to be with her two friends. She skipped down the path and waved her hands with her arms held wide which made them both laugh, because they knew she was pretending to be a ladybug. As she got closer, her blue green eyes sparkled in the sun and her smile told of how pleased she was to see them once more. “What you doing?” She called in a loud voice that echoed in the nearby forest. “We’re just talking and looking at clouds, that’s all,” explained the boy. “I saw a ladybug,” called out an excited friend dusting the last of the daisy petals off her pink overalls. Yes she had made a necklace, but at the same time she had picked the petals off several daisies, because that was what she did sometimes when she was deep in thought. “Did you really see a ladybug, or are you just saying that to be nice?” The girl brushed off the last petal and gave a smile. “I wouldn’t fib, honestly.”

Their friend seemed excited and when she asked if they could show her, they both searched really hard, and in a short while, the boy called out. “There, see?” She huddled close and looking really hard, she pointed to where she thought it was. “Yes, I see it, and look, there is a dragonfly and a butterfly.” They all smiled, because she was right, they were there, just like the three friends, except together in the sky. She found so many things when they went on adventure and they loved her enthusiasm. “What are we going to do now?” asked the girls. He did not need to think too long, because he already had a good idea of what he wanted to show them today, and when he said they were going to search for treasure, they both jumped for joy. “Come on, let’s go. No slopolocs, okay?” They walked together along the path leaving the Magic Forest and the Friendship Tree behind, then as the ground gradually changed from the hard earth into soft pliable sand, it made a high pitched squeaking sound under their feet. They reached the place where the ocean met the land and stood on a small dune overlooking the beach and the ocean that washed upon its golden sands. The smell of the salt air was bitter, yet at the same time refreshing and they all knew that besides the tree, this was the best place to be. They took off their shoes and socks and stacked them side by side next to a tuft of fine seagrass.

They walked down to the waters edge and as they turned to look behind, their tiny footsteps had left an indelible pattern in the moist sand. Just then the water rolled in and washed away any trace of where they had been, but still they were here, and they knew that was all that mattered. As they walked along, the gentle lapping of the water washed over their feet and they felt as if they were at one with their beloved ocean. “Okay, let’s start looking for treasure,” he barked, before setting off. As the white haired boy walked in the shallow water he kicked his feet, each time sending a spray of water that spun and sparkled like the tiny tears and diamonds in his friends dreams, and as they landed they sent a ripple upon the ocean. Before long they reached a part of the beach covered in pebbles and tiny worn shells. “Look, over here, quick come see,” she called, as she looked for a space that would not dirty her pink overalls. She had found a hundred, no a thousand tiny shells, worn from wind and waves, waiting to become the most sought after treasure, like the oceans tiny jewels.

The three friends gathered around, sitting in a sort of circle where they flitted through the selection of shells. There were so many and each one was something special. It was late in the day, and as the sun set it painted the sky and the clouds that dotted it in pinks and oranges. “Wow, look at this one,” whispered the little girl as she flicked the length of pink bow from her face where it had blown in the breeze. She held it up to the soft light to show her two friends. It was so small she could barely hold it in her tiny fingers, yet with its tight conical twisted white form painted with a soft pink smudge at its tip, it was more than special. They all searched frantically through the hundreds of shells, all of which reminded them that most things in life come to an end, but even so they still manage to hold a beauty of their own. They each found three shells and when they were done they shared one each with the other friends.

Once they had exchanged gifts, the white haired boy reached into his pocket and pulled out a rainbow coloured piece of paper. He carefully folded it, drawing each fold through his tiny fingers, and with each intricate crease it gradually took shape, and as his two friends watched on, with a smile falling upon his face as he completed it. “Da dum,” he cried. “What is it?” his friends enquired. “It’s a paper boat.” He explained. “Wow, so what do you do with it?” she asked shuffling her red shoes under her so as to be more comfortable. “You write a message on it and then you set it sailing on the sea.” The two friends nodded to each other as if understanding now, and then smiled whilst rubbing their hands together. He produced a black pen from his coat pocket and held it out before them. “Who will be first?” They looked at him and then at each other, because they were either unsure, or maybe just waiting for the other to say something. “Come on, do I need to pick someone?” “Well what do I write?” said the girl in pink. “Just simple words that you want the world to see. Words that speak of what you feel now.” She took the pen and she wrote her words, silent for the whole time, then when she was done she passed the pen to the girl in the red dress. She wrote her words too and then last of all it was his turn. Neither one knew what the other wrote, and probably never will, but then theirs was a special friendship between three and words were sometimes shared and other time cast away for none to know but themselves.

He stood now and walked to the waters edge where he carefully placed the boat and blew gently upon it. His two friends blew soft kisses in its direction also, and with that it set sail out to sea. It drifted slowly at first and seemed as though it would never find its course, but then the current carried it away. As he stood there, he looked into the sky where the colours before him changed from pink to red, then purple and a deep blue hue like the ink from a fountain pen, before finally reaching the blackness of the night that was creeping up behind them. In the darkness of the night sky, the stars twinkled as if smiling for them, and where the night was yet to take hold they sparkled ever so dimly waiting for the hand of night to gently pull a blanket over the day and all it had held.

For all that life was, he always believed that it would never be the same if it were not for his two friends. They made it so special and full of wonder. He reached once more into the depths of his coat pocket and with a glance and a smile towards his friends he raised his tiny cupped hands. They gave an almost quizzical look, yet at the same time it was an all knowing look, because they knew where the magic came from and anticipated something special once more. He threw his hands into the air and from them flew three tiny stars, like fireworks leaving a sparkled trail of where they had been. Each star was one of them, taking their place in the night sky, like life newly born and signalling life eternal. As the dark of night finally took hold, the millions of stars shone like the memories of children before them. They represented all they knew and all they would become, entwined in the web that life would weave from this day forward. The waves softly splashed upon the sand, making a soothing humming noise, and in the darkness the imagination of the three children would carry them together to far off worlds full of awe and wonder, where nothing mattered and time did not exist in the fabric of life.

The time had come to make their way back to the friendship tree. By now, the moon had risen and an eerie glow made their shadows stretch behind them, and as they walked the two girls made shapes with their shadows by moving their arms in all directions, as if dancing. As they wound their way once more through the magic forest, their shadows danced upon the leaves of the trees that fluttered in the breeze like tiny butterflies flapping their wings. The faeries and elves giggled, holding their hands over their tiny faces as if to hide the joy they felt when the three friends were around. The girls now skipped happily as the forest gave way to the field that spread out before them, with the soft pink of the daisies looking like a watercolour painting in the yellow glow. The silhouette of the Friendship Tree was imposing in the moonlight and its shadow stretched to almost touch the forest edge, as if reaching out to take hold and draw the mystical creatures into its arms.

“Come, let’s climb,” he called as they made their way slowly from behind him on the winding path. He climbed first, and then he held out his hand and helped his friends one by one. They sat quietly on the middle branches and watched as the mobiles that were suspended there sparkled and spun. “Wait here,” he suggested as he went away for a short while. When he returned, he was holding the Book of Dreams, clasped tightly within his arms, protected from all the untruths, open to hopes and dreams. “Todays adventure has been but one of many that lie before us. The words now written will speak of all we know, for all to see for ever and a day.” He opened the book and within it he wrote.

 

The journey we are taking,

Will carry us afar,

To unknown worlds of wonder,

To deep within the stars.

 

Then when life’s journey seems at end,

We’ll find some more to see.

On the highest of the mountains,

To the depths of deep blue seas.

 

Together we will venture,

Three friends all side by side.

The challenges that face us,

From which we shall not hide.

 

The bond we share is special,

Unique in many ways.

Unsurpassed by all we know,

In each and every day.

 

So now my friends we’re here to share,

Friendships gift so true.

The gift of smiles and happiness,

In all that we shall do.

 

The time has come again you see,

To close the book once more.

Ready for the world to read,

To find out whom we are.

 

They’ll read the words and understand,

That what we have is real.

Two girls and a white haired boy,

Sharing thoughts and dreams they feel.

 

He closed the ‘Book of Dreams’ and returned it to where it was kept, and then they sat and told stories until the morning light. Friendship is a wonderful thing, but true friendship is totally amazing. Was what they had even greater still? Only they would ever know or understand, only time would tell.

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Tale: To Wish Upon A Paper Boat

The lines that formed upon the ocean as the waves rolled in, with the white foam caps that move effortlessly forward, tell of the strength that lies hidden beneath the surface. A single soul paddles out, and then returns once more carried by the ripples as if carried by time itself. Today the sky was covered in clouds, heavy and foreboding, casting deep dark colors upon the ocean he loved, which, had he not known its true beauty, would have instilled a deep fear within himself.

The white haired boy reached, deep into the pockets of his long blue coat. His tiny hands fumbled as they searched frantically for the smallest remnants of magic that they once contained, yet all that now remained was emptiness. He looked out to sea once more, then as he prepared to launch the latest paper boat, he wondered how it may ever sail beyond those waves that are now like a barrier for all he had come to know. For the last days he had worked ever so hard to find the words that he needed, the gifts of life that he so longed to share, but now he risked watching them dashed upon the rocky shores before himself.

He bowed his head in contemplation and sadness, and then he looked to the sky and without uttering a word he spoke. Within his mind the questions spun like tiny ponies on a merry go round, almost so fast that the tiny candles each carried would be blown by the breeze, forever extinguishing all he had come to understand. He had to believe, there was no other choice, and without magic, belief was all he had. As he stood on the sandy shore, the waves gently lapped at his feet like the gentle flick of a puppies tongue upon his face. He waited for the right moment and he released the tightly folded paper shape with each fold playing a part in its being. It floated precariously at first, but then steadied and rocked back to him briefly, before being carried on the next outgoing current as if being pulled by an unseen hand.

He ran after it, at first in anticipation that it may topple and need his rescue otherwise it may sink, then as if encouraging it, willing it on, blowing gentle breezes from his lips followed by excited smiles. He had been so overcome by all that was happening that it was not until the last moment that he realized he was waste deep in the water, and as he stopped and watched the boat now safely sail, he stared into the crystal clear waters and smiled as two large winged creatures, like angels of the sea, swam past him as if guiding his gift of words and protecting them so they may complete their journey. He walked slowly backwards so as not to lose sight of the small white craft, then as it reached where the ripples broke upon the rocky surface hidden from view, he gave a little jump as though he was helping it climb over and beyond. Before long it had completed the most dangerous part of its journey and was just a speck upon the tiny ocean.

He turned his back now to the ocean, and as he did, the sun broke through the clouds with the warmth of its rays sending the tiniest shiver throughout his body. He turned for one last look at the now soft blue ocean, just in time to see a flash of white in the distance. He whispered some words of hope, then turned once more and walked slowly along the path that lay before him, with its tall sea grass swaying, dancing rhythmically to the soothing sounds of the ocean. Before long, those sounds had disappeared, only to be replaced by the sounds of the forest, with small birds readying their winter nests, in full glorious song, flitting here and there, twisting, turning as if dancing. It was autumn and the leaves had begun to turn, with their warm colors reminding him of his dearest friends. They littered the forest floor and crackled beneath his feet like the sound of crumpled paper, and then once more he thought about his boat and the fragility of the travel it now had taken. Around him the buzz of the dragonflies as they darted here and there with thier delicate wings glistening in the sunlight that filtered through the trees, and the gentle flutter of the ladybugs as they went from flower to flower with thier polished shells, was only broken by the vision of the beautifully colored butterflies as they drifted effortlessly on the wind, landing every now and then, to fan their wings like small hands clapping to the music of the forest.

In a short while he came upon a swing, suspended from the branch of a tall, wide tree. It was hanging from the branch by two ropes that were intertwined with a beautiful red climbing rose. Its wide timber plank with room for three was knotted worn as if telling the story of the life it once lived, like the wrinkles he had seen upon his own face when he was not a boy at all. He brushed his hand upon the surface feeling every line in the wood and as the leaves flipped and fluttered to the ground, he thought of his friendwhom he hoped to see soon, and her carefully folded butterflies which she would suspend from the branch above where she sat in the tree. He sat upon the swing and pushed himself to rock with his tiny feet, which he kicked before swaying his body so that he may climb higher and further with ever increasing gusto. He smiled widely as the wind blew through his long white hair, trailing like the flames of the candles he so protected as they flickered in the breeze. As he held tightly to the rope, he could feel the rose wrap around his fingers, holding him so he could not fall, and this made him think of the girl in the red dress that was looking after him with all she could, with all she knew how. Gradually the swing slowed to a stop, and he climbed down carefully contemplating all around him once more, ever so deep in thought. The Friendship Tree was his next stop and he now ran, arms flaying in excitement as if chasing the wind, kicking the leaves as he went sending them spinning and spiraling through the air like large confetti in a hurricane as he followed the winding path.

He reached the Tree, and as always his ears were pricked waiting for the distinctive sounds of his two friends. He looked deep into its branches so green, and before he could spy them, a smile formed from the soft giggling that came from within. “I know you are in there,” he yelled, and with that the giggling became more distinct. Yes, it was the two friends, and just then the bright blue eyes of the girl with her hair tied in pink bows peered through a gap in the leaves. “Shhhh, we’re hunting wabbits,” she whispered. He laughed and then the voice of his friend with the shiny red shoes and gleaming smile called out. “So you gonna climb up here and tell us a story?” He smiled then replied. “Only if you both promise to keep quiet whilst I tell it, and if you also promise not to fall asleep at the important parts.” They both giggled, and together they responded, “yes, we will.”

He climbed the Tree, and he sat next to the Book of Dreams. He looked at his two friends sitting side by side before him, and smiled as the light from the mobiles, which spun overhead, danced merrily on their faces. His friend with the pink bows in her hair was not well, but he knew that he must be strong. He hoped with all hope that the paper boat he had sent out earlier in the day would return from its journey soon and that the words he had written will have been read and understood. “So what story you going to tell today?” she asked as she tucked the hem of her red dress under her legs. He thought for a moment, then remembering that he had no magic to share, he suggested that he would give them a poem, there and then. Wide smiles filled their faces and they hugged closely, intent not to miss a word, because every single one was spoken with the deepest of meaning.

 

In my short life so full of wonder,

Full of all the gifts with eyes we see,

The many things we take for granted,

In everyday of the lives we lead.

 

I could never be so thankful,

For the chance to know who you both are,

A friendship like a dream come true,

A wish once made upon a star.

 

Within this tree we sit and share,

The joys and trials that come to pass,

The strength of three will carry one,

Without the need to ever ask.

 

Like true friends are in all they do,

We’ll lift up one when she is down,

Hold her high so she may grow,

Bring a smile and vanquish frowns.

 

The only tear you’ll see my friends,

Is happiness that shines on through,

For sadness hides its weary head,

And plays no part in what we do.

 

One day when we all look back,

At all the things that came to be,

We’ll do it three friends side by side,

Forever in the Friendship Tree.

 

His friends smiled and clapped, and he turned his head away so they could not see as he wiped away the last tear of sadness that he would cry, making way for the happiness that filled all their hearts. He would wait for many weeks to come and he knew eventually his paper boat would return, and he knew that day would be a time of celebration. Until then he would remain strong for them both.

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Story: The Candle

The young boy reached deep into his coat pocket and from it he took a single candle. He stared at it in the darkness and thought how much it reminded him of who he was. The night air was cold and overhead the clear night sky revealed the millions of stars that ever so softly lit everything around him. He thought for a moment, just as he always had and imagined that the stars were like a candle, burning bright, yet waiting to be extinguished in time. “Yes, stars, candles and small boys, they all had an ending,” he thought to himself. He sat quietly in the tree and looked for words that had been lost, as if by mistake, because surely they would not leave on purpose.

As he looked out through the branches of the tree, he could see the light from the Magic Forest, and he could hear the muted tones of singing and laughter. “Maybe that is where my friends are?” he thought once more, “yet more than likely not.” He took the candle and carefully placed it on the branch nearby, and then he lit its single wick so as to bring it to life. Momentarily it struggled to light, but then suddenly it came to life. The flame flickered and danced like a playful child, with the soft yellow glow playing upon the leaves within the tree. He dared not take it from here, because he knew that cold winds which would blow in that place away from the tree may extinguish it forever. Here in the tree it was safe, protected from all that may harm.

As he climbed down the tree, he gave one last look back into its branches and a smile fell upon his face as he watched with glee, the butterfly, ladybug and dragonfly mobiles almost come to life in the flickering of the light. He turned away from the tree and set out in search of his two friends. As he walked, he would stop momentarily to look into the night sky in the hope of seeing a shooting star upon which he may make a wish, and as he did the many colours of the Milky Way gleamed like a giant rainbow dotted with the tiny eyes of children. He smiled then wondered if somewhere his friends would be looking at the same stars as he, and if so, what were they thinking. He climbed the hill and made his way to the cliff top where he sat quietly looking out to sea in search of what it was he had lost.

She climbed the tree quickly, having seen the light from afar. The smile upon her face spoke of anticipation of seeing her friend who she had not seen for a while. She found the candle burning, yet there was no sign of the boy. Climbing the tree, into its highest branches she searched. The Book of Dreams was dusty and there were no recent words written. “Where has he gone?” she thought as she slumped onto her favourite spot in the tree. As she stared at the candle the light flickered ever so gently upon her face, as if it was his smile or the childish laughter she heard so often. She thought about the many times they had talked and all the wonders they had seen, then she wondered how it had been that she had not seen him for so long. Time was no longer her friend, yet he had always said that he would be regardless, and she wondered what sort of friend she had been in return. She bowed her head in deep thought, and then as the tiredness of her hectic life overcame her, she drifted off to sleep and dream.

The ocean sparkled under the stars, and the tiny ripples upon its surface rolled gently onwards, and onto the sand with the momentary sound of a thousand hands clapping at the end of a theatre show, before becoming silent once more until the next ripple came in. As he watched it was like lost children coming home from sea, “but then what of his friends?” he thought. Between each ripple he could ever so slightly make out a familiar sound. “La la la la la,” a playful tune that brought a smile to his face. It became louder with each passing wave that rolled in and as he looked along the beach, he could see her red shoes sparkle and her ruby lips, which surrounded her wide smile. He stood and waved frantically to his friend and in a while she saw him and stopped with her feet buried in the sand. As she stood there, she looked like a rose in full bloom, and on the beach of all places, but then that did not matter, it was her at last. She ran to where he stood and hugged him tightly. Secretly she loved the white haired boy, but then at the same time she dared not say it aloud because they were only children. Maybe if she did then he would return the words that he had longed to utter, but that would wait for another day, when they grew older.

They sat and watched the ocean and as they did, the moon rose from behind them painting everything in soft yellow glow, much like the candle he had left in the tree earlier. The sand dunes that surrounded them lit up like giant finger prints, from a giant’s hand. They talked about many things that they had come to enjoy together, the many thoughts they had shared and the dreams they had, all of which made them smile, and he did love to see her smile. They spoke about their friend whom they had not seen for so long, and their faces reflected a sadness not often seen. She was special to them both in her own different ways and they longed to play together once more. After a while they stood and the white haired boy reached into his coat pocket and from it he took some magic dust, which he cast to the gentle breeze where it sparkled like the stars in the sky. He made a wish and then they made their way through the tall grass, with it brushing against their tiny hands and whispering like a child’s voice, as they walked to the tree. The candle was still burning bright, with the rays of light reaching through the branches. Quietly and solemnly they climbed into the tree, where to their surprise they found their friend asleep, with the quietest of snores coming from her little mouth. Her eyes danced under her eyelids as she dreamed and she had her new pink shark tee shirt on. The candlelight danced joyfully as if celebrating the coming together of the three friends once more.

The two friends looked at one another and nodded, then ever so gently they blew from their lips the gentlest of breezes so the mobiles that dangled now danced in the candle light which flickered even more playfully upon their friends face. They watched in awe as a smile formed and she began to stir, before waking with a stretch and a yawn, and then a puzzled look as she watched her two friends giggling at what had just happened. They ran carefully along the branch and helped her up before giving her a big hug. They were laughing and smiling and just happy to see one another. “So where have you been?” they asked. She pouted as was her usually expression when she was about to disclose something she did not approve of, and then she responded. “They, kidnapped me, and took me away and ……….” Who, what?” asked the girl as she flicked back a piece hair that had fallen from the red bow that tied it. “The growed ups, they took me and they didn’t even let me ask you to come with us.” They smiled, because they thought much worse and were just happy to see her once more. “Maybe next time,” whispered the white haired boy, “or maybe we can go on an adventure all our own next time.” The girls nodded excitedly, because that would be fun.

Together at last, the white haired boy went to the Book of Dreams, and returned with it to write some words in, just as they used to.

 

As we sit here in the tree,

Bathed in candle light,

We think of times we used to have,

As we dream into the night.

 

Adventures we are yet to take,

Together as friends three,

As minds will carry far beyond,

The safety of the tree.

 

The wonders that will one day be,

The dreams that come to play,

They all await for us to take,

Together once again.

 

So here we sit and here we stay,

Three children friendships bound,

Friendship strong and pure indeed,

The best one ever found.

 

They knew that their friendship was strong and it had stood many tests. They knew that the girl with the pink bows in her hair had much to do that the grownups did, but they always knew that inside of her was a child and it would always be. The tree was theirs together and they would always wait as one or two for all to come when they could, never judging, but always encouraging so that life was made simpler to enjoy.

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