A Tiger Tale

Long ago, deep in the jungles of India, where the greenery is wild and untamed and countless creatures prowl, there was a small blonde girl.

You may be wondering why a small blonde girl might be found in the jungles of India, but, as with so many uncommon circumstances, there is a reasonable explanation.

The young girl’s father was a professor of mathematics, who had been invited to the University of Mumbai, to present a lecture about advanced calculus. As a treat, he’d brought along his family, to enjoy and explore the wonders of India: his wife, Katherine; eldest daughter, Evelynn; and his youngest daughter, a small blonde girl named Adeline.

It all makes sense now, does it not? While small blonde girls are not usually native to India’s vibrant jungles, they do enjoy visiting from time to time.

Adeline had left her hotel with her family that morning, on the day our story begins, to enjoy a guided excursion through the nearest rainforest. She had a passion for animals, and could hardly wait to see so many in their natural habitat. She bounced excitedly in her seat for most of the long car ride, only stopping now and then to accept the snacks passed to her by her mother.

At long last, they arrived at the meeting place for the excursion. Adeline danced out of the car, and began peering into the trees, hoping to spot some exotic wildlife. Much to her disappointment, any creatures within viewing distance of the young girl were craftily hidden from her eyes. She wandered closer to the edge of the trees, hunting for signs of movement.

“Adeline, dear, please stay close to us. Don’t go wandering off!” her mother warned.

“Yes,” chimed in Evelynn, “You could get lost and be eaten by a tiger!”

Adeline gulped nervously, checking the area around her for large, girl-eating tigers. But there were none to be seen, and Adeline found that she was just the smallest bit disappointed. Not that she wanted to be eaten, of course, but to see a tiger! What an adventure that would be!

The small blonde girl did quite well, staying near her family – for most of the day, anyway. But when they paused for tea in the late afternoon, Adeline found herself growing restless. They’d seen some brilliantly colored flowers, and several impressively large bugs. They had been warned away from touching the tiny rainbow frogs that rested idly on a tree several miles back. A flock of jewel-bright birds had flown overhead as they walked, startled by the noise the explorers made as they passed.

But as exciting as all of that was, Adeline was disappointed she hadn’t spotted anything more impressive. Where were all of the truly thrilling creatures?

From the corner of her eye, Adeline saw a flash of movement. She whipped around, and spotted a small monkey, staring back at her with bright brown eyes.

At last, she thought, here’s something rather exciting! It may not be a panther or a giant snake, but it’s certainly the most interesting creature I’ve seen so far!

Quietly, not wanting to scare the monkey away, Adeline crept closer. It dashed away quite suddenly, swinging from branch to branch, deeper into the rainforest. Adeline ran after it. Pushing through vines, moving carefully past trees, winding around ferns, she followed the furry little beast. It finally paused its swinging flight, settling in the branches of a large rubber tree.

As she watched, the monkey put one small hand to its mouth. Adeline realized it had been carrying a snack on its journey through the jungle – an orange, just like the ones she’d been enjoying with her family moments ago.

“Why, you sneaky little thief!” Adeline laughed. “You could have just asked, you know. I’m sure my family would have been happy to share!”

At that thought, Adeline paused. Her family. Where were they?  She looked around, but nothing was familiar. Which way had she come from?

“Hello?” she called, yelling as loud as she could. “Papa! Mama? Evelynn! Where are you?”

She listened hard, but could hear no response.

Heart pounding, she glanced back at the monkey, hoping her furry friend might give her a clue as to where she was, and how to get back. But it only continued to munch contentedly on its stolen orange.

What should she do? Adeline remembered her parents telling her that, if she were ever lost, she should stay still and wait for help. So, she sat carefully on the damp ground, spreading her skirts around her for protection. She listened carefully, hoping to catch some sound from her family, to let her know they were coming.

After several long moments, Adeline finally heard a rustle of movement. Someone was coming! She sprang to her feet and called out, “I’m over here!” But as the movement drew closer, no reassuring voice responded. The bushes only shook harder, the sound coming nearer and nearer…

Something fairly large and furry popped out of the bushes next to Adeline, and she screamed.

Her shriek of terror died almost as quickly as it had come, however. While the beast before her certainly had a fierce face, sharp claws, and a predatory nature, she couldn’t bring herself to truly be afraid. It was just too… cute!

Standing before her, looking as though he were trying his very best to be as intimidating as possible, was a young tiger cub. He growled at her with a small but determined rumble. As she smiled and stretched out a cautious hand toward the cub, the growl turned into a surprised mewl. The tiger delicately sniffed her hand, and tentatively licked one outstretched finger with his rough tongue.

“Hello, little guy,” Adeline murmured to the young beast. “Where’s your family? Are you lost, like me?”

Having made his mind up about the unusually pale and hairless creature in front of him, the tiger cub pushed his head against Adeline’s hand, allowing her to rub his soft ears. She sat down, and he pushed closer to her, curling up against her side, a low, rumbling purr vibrating through both their bodies.

“You’re too young to be out here by yourself. Something must have happened to your mama,” Adeline mused. “But don’t worry – I’ll take care of you. You can stay with me. I think I’ll call you Fufu.”

The tiger looked momentarily offended at being given such an undignified name, but quickly resumed purring. Fufu sniffed at Adeline’s pocked in a hopeful sort of way. She realized that she had a bit of dried meat in that pocket, leftover from lunch.

“You must be hungry, you poor thing! Here you go.” She offered him the meat, and Fufu snatched it greedily from her fingers, swallowing in record time. The cub sniffed at Adeline again, hoping to discover more, but she was all out of snacks.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, petting his furry head, “You and I are both going to have to wait until my family finds me.” She settled in, leaning back against a tree, with Fufu snuggled closely against her hip. Feeling oddly comfortable, Adeline closed her eyes, and drifted off.

A sharp hissing sound woke her several hours later. Night had fallen around her, and the jungle had come alive with the sounds of various creatures clicking, buzzing, scurrying and croaking all around her. Her limbs were stiff, and the warmth at her hip was gone. Where was Fufu?

Her eyes straining in the dark, Adeline tried to make sense of what was happening around her. She could just make out Fufu standing protectively in front of her, his fur standing nearly straight up. A threatening growl reverberated in the air.

The angry hiss sounded again, and Adeline finally spotted it – an enormous snake stood opposite Fufu, mouth open, fangs glinting menacingly in the moonlight. It swayed back and forth hypnotically, as though testing Fufu’s defenses. Then, like lightning, it struck. The snake shot forward, aiming not at Fufu – but at Adeline!

She screamed and curled tightly into a ball, instinctively trying to keep her legs out of reach of the snake’s vicious fangs. She was trapped, with nowhere to go. Any second now the snake would reach her, and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.

Adeline whimpered in fear. She could hear the snake, sense the movement nearby, knew it was coming… but it didn’t. As the moments passed, Adeline remained unharmed.

She slowly uncurled, and found Fufu’s concerned eyes peering into her own. Where had the snake gone?

Looking around, Adeline saw the snake lying lifeless on the ground, mere inches away from her foot. There were claw marks across its scales, and its neck appeared broken.

Adeline looked at Fufu again, realization on her face. “You… you saved me! You killed the snake! Fufu, you saved my life!” Tears in her eyes, Adeline grabbed the tiger cub and hugged him close. He wriggled uncomfortably for a brief moment, then relaxed and gave her a resigned lick of affection. When she finally released him, Fufu immediately began grooming himself, smoothing down the areas Adeline had mussed with her tears.

In the distance, Adeline heard a deep voice shout her name. It was her Papa! Her family had found her!

She jumped to her feet and began screaming for her father. After a few moments, he burst through the bushes, followed closely by the other men who had been with them on their excursion.

Adeline found herself swept up into her papa’s arms, in a bone-crushing hug. “Adeline,” he cried, “where were you? We’ve been searching for hours! Why did you wander off?”

“I’m sorry, Papa,” she meekly replied, “I didn’t mean to. I was following a monkey.”

Her father sighed. “That sounds about right. You must be more careful, Adeline. The jungle is a dangerous place. You’re lucky you weren’t hurt.”
“I know,” she said, her eyes wandering to the snake, clearly visible in the light of the men’s lanterns. Her papa followed her gaze, and he jumped back in alarm. The men gathered around, examining the dead snake.

“Did… did you kill this snake, Adeline?” Papa asked, bewildered.

“No, Papa, it was Fufu! He’s my tiger cub. He found me here, and stayed with me all day. And he protected me from the snake. He has to come with us, Papa! I promised him I’d take care of him. I don’t know where his family is.”

One of the excursion guides cleared his throat. “There was a mother tiger who was killed by poachers several days ago. It’s likely that this cub was one of hers. Terrible business, really.”

Adeline’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked up at her father, “See, Papa? Fufu doesn’t have a family anymore. He needs me! Please, can he come home with us?”

“I don’t even see this tiger cub, Adeline. It’s possible he ran off.”

“No, he’s here somewhere, I’m sure of it!” Adeline promised. “Everyone, please just give him some space. He’s probably scared.”

The men backed up a bit, grumbling to themselves. Adeline sat down on the ground, and began softly calling for Fufu, reassuring him in a soothing tone that it was safe to come out.

A pair of bright eyes peered out from under a bush, and Fufu crept carefully over to Adeline, putting his furry head in her lap.

“Well, I’ll be!” her father murmured in surprise. “She really did befriend a tiger!” Cautiously, Papa moved closer, reaching a gentle hand out for Fufu to sniff. After a close examination of the offered hand, Fufu gave it an accepting lick and began purring.

Her father exhaled. “Well, my darling, I’m not sure how Mama or Evelynn will feel about having a tiger around the house. We may have to move somewhere with a larger backyard. But this tiger saved your life, and the least we can do is repay his kindness by giving him a safe and happy home.”

“Thank you, Papa!” Adeline pulled her father down and kissed him on the cheek, delighted. She could hardly believe it. Her very own tiger!

The jungle had turned out to be a much more dangerous and exciting place than Adeline had ever expected. But, despite everything she’d gone through, she found she had absolutely no regrets.

A rumbling purr vibrated through her leg, and she looked down to see Fufu curled up against her hip once more, sleeping peacefully as they rode in the car back to Mumbai. And Adeline knew that she had found her very best friend.

The End

Circus Majestic

There once was a town that was sleepy and small
Where nothing much happened. No, not much at all.
And the people that lived there were usually bored.
It was such a dull place, it could win an award.

There was plenty of work to be done, that was true,
All kinds of homework and chores they could do.
But there were no games, no TV, nothing fun.
Nothing joyful, exciting, or new to be done.

Yes, the people who lived in this dull, boring place
Had rarely, if ever, had smiles on their face.
And that’s just how life was. They were used to it, too.
Until, one day, someone rolled into town. Someone NEW.

A wagon drove in, painted blue, pink, and brown
And parked in the absolute center of town.
From, it seemed, out of nowhere, a fanciful tent
Popped up from the back of the wagon. It sent
People running for cover as open it blew
Filling up the town square with its rosy pink hue.

The people all crowded in closer to see
This unusual sight. Just what could it be?

A sign hanging high up above the tent door
Proclaimed, “Step right up! See the wonders in store!
Miss Allie’s Fantabulous Circus has come
To delight and entrance you! Come in, everyone!”

Then, from out of the flap of the pink tent, they flew –
Acrobats, clowns, singers, animals, too!
At the front of the group, a girl, lovely and tall
She danced as she moved, the clear leader of all.

“I’m Miss Allie,” she called, in a voice sweet and clear.
“And this is my circus! Come in! Enter here!”

Astonished, the people began to move in
Toward the tent’s flapping door, and the wonders therein
When suddenly, once again, something appeared
On the road. Something different! And quickly, it neared
Driving right up, right next to Miss Allie’s event.
Another loud pop, and a new, yellow tent!

And what did the sign on this yellow tent say?
“Come one, and come all! Enter here, and we’ll play you
A show that is sure to entrance young and old!
Miss Whitney’s Majestical Puppets! Behold!”

Then a puppet popped up from behind a low wall
With a voice that was sweet, and it started to call
To the people that crowded between the two tents
“Enter here! See our show for just twenty-two cents!”

Then, beside it, more puppets began to appear,
All laughing, and singing, contagious with cheer.
They frolicked across their small stage, quite entrancing,
As people moved closer to watch their fine dancing.

But across the town square, by the pink tent, Miss Allie
Cried out, “You must not miss our big grand finale!
I, myself, will perform, with the greatest of ease,
Dancing through air on our flying trapeze!”

A blonde head popped up by the yellow tent, then,
A lovely young girl, age eleven or ten,
And yelled to Miss Allie, “That isn’t so great!
My puppets are better! There’s just no debate!
Come one, and come all! I’ll show you! I’ll prove
I’m a better performer. My lips never move!”
Then Miss Whitney (because yes, of course it was she)
Picked up a cute puppet named Sally McGee,
And proceeded to make the doll sing a duet
With Miss Whitney, herself. The coolest trick yet!
And when she was done, there was thunderous applause
From the audience ‘round her, for very good cause.

The townspeople were terribly, awfully impressed
By Miss Whitney’s performance. ‘Twas simply the best.
But Miss Allie felt certain that she could outdo
Miss Whitney, performing her own trick or two.

“That’s nothing,” called Miss Allie, striking a pose.
And she stretched way up high, on the points of her toes,
Then backwards she flew, in a series of flips,
Acrobatically tumbling, then landing, the tips
Of her fingers the only things touching the ground
As she balanced, as though she were floating around.

As one, the crowd gasped at the sight they had seen.
When it came to agility, Allie was queen.
They’d never seen anything like it before.
But it didn’t stop there. There was much, much, much more.

Illustration by: Evie Fifield

Back and forth, all day long, those two resolute ladies
Fought their battle with all of the fury of Hades.
Both working to top one another’s routines
Each trying to prove they’re the best ever seen.
By the end of the day, they were both quite worn out.
And, looking around, the girls started to pout.
The whole crowd had gone home! Not one person had stayed.
They had grown sick and tired of the ladies’ charade.

What had seemed like excitement, for once in their lives,
Had grown dull again, so they’d left with their wives
And their children and gone home to lie in their beds.
“Too much fighting,” they stated, all nodding their heads.

The yelling, competing, and bragging had soured
The crowd ‘gainst the girls, all their interest devoured.
“What a pity,” the townspeople said as they’d gone.
“It would have been nice if they’d gotten along.
Both shows looked like buckets of fun, truth be told!
But all of that bickering quickly got old.”

Defeated, the two girls collapsed on the ground.
Miss Allie said, “Wow, they weren’t kidding around.
I’d felt so certain they’d all choose my show
If I could just prove I was better, you know?”
Miss Whitney agreed, as she let out a sigh,
“I get it. I’m really not such a bad guy.
I just wanted the people to see what I do.
I’ve worked really hard on my act, just like you.”

Miss Allie looked, then, into Miss Whitney’s eyes,
And for the first time, both the girls realized
That they really were not all that different. In fact,
They were both quite alike. They each had a cool act
That entranced, and excited, and made people cheer
If they worked together… wow! What a career!

The people would hurry from near and from far
To see such an act! They would travel by car,
Or by plane! Or by boat! By sea, land, or air!
The people would flock in from everywhere!
This show would, by far, be the best ever seen,
If Allie and Whitney just worked as a team!

With that, our two talented ladies began
To work close together. They sketched out a plan
For how to combine the best parts of both shows
To make one big circus, to bring in vast rows
Upon rows of spectators, all gasping with glee
When Whitney and Allie both shared the marquee!
The next day, where two tents competed before
The people saw something they couldn’t ignore.
A new, grander tent, colored yellow and pink
Stood in the square. No one knew what to think!
Had those squabbling performers packed up? Were they gone?
Did a new person come and set up on the lawn?

The people looked ‘round and they spotted a sign!
Written on the marquee in a classy design
Were the words, “Come and see us! The best in the land!
See Whitney and Allie perform hand-in-hand!
This act is amazing! You’re in for a treat!
Our show will keep you on the edge of your seat!”

The townspeople gawked. They could hardly believe it!
The two shows put together? How did they achieve it?
From all over town, the crowds flocked in to view
The Circus Majestic! And wow - it was true!
The act was amazing! The people were awed!
There was so much to cheer for, to gasp, to applaud!

By working together, both Allie and Whit
Had created a massive, spectacular hit!
The girls learned a lesson they never forgot –
Teamwork is always much better than not.
Now that once-sleepy town is a quite famous place
As the home of the Circus Majestic, a space
Where people from everywhere travel to see
That great show put together by Whit and Allie.

The End

The Princess and the Dragon

The Princess and the Dragon

Once upon a time, there was a young princess named Molly.

Well, her full name was actually Princess Molliana Regina Florencia Ignatia Jeunes, but how could anyone get by with a name like that?

Molly was the youngest of three royal children. Her older brother, as the crown prince, had many responsibilities, and very little time (or patience) for fun and games.

Her older sister, as the eldest daughter and second in line for the throne, was kept busy with lessons on music, politics, and table manners.

Molly was only third in line for the throne, so there was a lot less pressure on her – something she was deeply grateful for. It meant she had a lot more free time on her hands than either of her siblings. Time for games, play, and mischief.

She sometimes hid a frog in her sister’s jewelry box, bursting into giggles when she heard the older princess shriek in alarm.

Occasionally, she’d loosen the screws in her brother’s throne, so it would collapse when he sat on it, dumping him onto the floor in an undignified pile.

Molly would put goldfish in the water glasses, toothpaste in the cream puffs, and garden snakes in the beds.

One time, she even replaced all of her sister’s makeup with clown face paints, complete with a big red rubber nose that honked when squeezed.

Princess Molly found all of these pranks hilarious.

Her siblings, not so much.

“When are you going to learn to behave like a lady?” her sister demanded one day. “These pranks are getting way out of hand!”

Her brother agreed. “It’s time to grow up, Molly! You need to start acting more like a princess, and less like a common goblin!”

Molly rolled her eyes. “Ugh, being a princess is so boring! And you guys are never any fun! Maybe if you played with me every once in a while -”

“I have a country to run!” her brother snapped. “I do not have time for your childishness!”

“Nor do I,” her sister agreed. “We have responsibilities, Molly. Like it or not, the people look up to us. We shouldn’t be doing anything that would embarrass our country.”

Molly’s eyes began to tear up. “So, I’m an embarrassment, am I?”

“Well, you’re not exactly a proper princess, are you?” her brother frowned.

Molly flushed pink, feeling hurt and more than a little angry. She whirled around and ran from the room. Her siblings watched her go, and felt a little guilty. They knew their baby sister was often lonely, and just wanted someone to play with. Her mischief was her way of trying to catch their attention.

But when you’re a royal, there’s no time for shenanigans. Molly would have to learn that lesson sooner or later.

***

Molly was hiding from her siblings, curled up in a corner of the royal treasury, when she heard faint screaming in the distance.

What on earth?

Before she could react, something blew in the wall at the far end of the room with a fiery explosion. Through the gaping hole, a huge, clawed hand reached in and began scooping up piles of gold.

Molly crept closer, trying to get a better look at the creature, when suddenly, she found herself caught up in the gigantic clawed hand, along with a large mound of treasure. Before she could even think to scream for help, she was swept out of the hole and found herself falling into an enormous brown sack, coins raining down around her.

She rolled as she landed, bruising her shoulder on the pile of treasure beneath her. She watched as a few more jewels were dropped into the bag, then the opening was tightly closed shut.

The world lurched around her, and she felt her stomach drop. Everything was rocking, and a loud flapping sound came from outside the bag, like the world’s largest bird was carrying her away.

It must be a dragon! Molly realized. I think we’re flying!

Simultaneously thrilled and terrified at the thought, Molly tried to pull her thoughts together.

It must have been after our treasure. Dragons are known for hoarding gold. It probably didn’t even realize I was in there.

She thought about calling out to the dragon, but was worried it might be startled and drop the bag.

Instead, it seemed like her best bet was to sit tight and try to reason with the dragon when they finally landed.

Molly was a smart girl, and could be very charming when she wanted to be. She had no doubt she could win the dragon over, and convince it to take her right back home.

***

As soon as she felt the bag thud to the ground, Molly began yelling.

“Excuse me! Dragon? Can you hear me? I’m in the bag!”
After a pause, the top of the bag opened, and a huge purple eye peeked inside.

“My goodness!” a voice exclaimed from above, “Where did you come from?”

Molly curtseyed politely. “I believe you accidentally scooped me up with the treasure you were collecting back at the palace.”

“Why were you with the treasure?” the voice asked. “Is it because of your golden hair?”

“No, I… well, it’s a long story. Let’s just say, I was trying to avoid some people.”

The eye crinkled in what appeared to be a smile. “Well, I have good news for you, then. There aren’t any people around here.”

A large hand reached in and plucked Molly from the bag. As she emerged, she found herself face-to-face with an enormous, brilliantly blue dragon. Molly smiled tentatively, and was alarmed when a mouth full of very pointy teeth smiled back.

The dragon placed her gently on the ground. “I’m very sorry I stole you. I didn’t mean to. I can take you back if you like! Or…”

Molly tilted her head to one side. “Or, what?”

The dragon shrugged, looking rather sheepish for such a fierce creature. “Well, you said you wanted to avoid some people. You’re welcome to stay here for a while. It gets pretty lonely around here.”

“You don’t have any friends or family?” Molly asked, feeling sorry for the dragon.

“No. My parents were killed by dragon hunters when I was just barely out of my egg. I’ve been on my own pretty much my whole life.” The dragon’s head drooped, shoulders hunching sadly.

Molly cautiously reached up, and gently patted the dragon on the leg. “I’m very sorry to hear that. My family drives me crazy sometimes, but at least I’m lucky enough to have people who care about me. Although,” she frowned, “maybe they’re happier without me.”

The dragon raised its head. “What do you mean?”

Molly sighed. “My siblings said I’m an embarrassment to the family, and that I need to grow up. But I’m still a kid! They’re still kids! Why do we need to be in such a big rush to grow up? I just want them to play with me sometimes.”

“I’ll play with you,” the dragon volunteered, then blushed slightly violet. “I mean, if you want to stay a while.”

“You know,” Molly grinned, “I think maybe I do.”

***

Over the next few weeks, Molly and the dragon (whose name, she had learned, was Kava) spent all of their time together.

They went sledding down mountains of treasure.

They soared through the skies, chasing ducks.

They roasted marshmallows, sausages, and potatoes with Kava’s fiery breath.

And most of all, they talked, often into the late hours of the night. Neither one of them had had a real friend before, and they wanted to share everything.

On the fourth week, however, their little paradise was broken by a yell outside the cave.

“Come out and face me, vicious beast! Return the fair maiden thou hast stolen away!”

Kava went pale, turning a frosty light blue. “It’s a dragon hunter! They’ve come for me!”

“Don’t worry, Kava,” Molly soothed, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll take care of this.”

Molly marched out the front of the cave, head held high, ready to use every bit of her royal training to get her way.

“Who are you, and what do you want?”

A large man in black armor sat astride a horse, carrying a long, wicked-looking sword. When he saw Molly, he practically fell off his horse, nearly cutting himself on his blade.

“P-princess! You’re alive! Your family will be so relieved! Come, hide behind me while I slay the beast and save the day!”

Molly glared at the knight. “How dare you! I’m not going anywhere with you. The dragon in that cave is under my protection, do you understand? If you come even one step closer, I will have you thrown in jail!”

The knight looked baffled. “But, princess, I’m here to rescue you!”

“I do not need any rescuing, thank you very much. You can tell my family that I am perfectly fine here, and that I’ll come home if and when I’m good and ready. Have a nice day.” Molly spun on her foot and marched back toward the cave.

“But, princess – “

“I said good day, sir!”

Defeated, the knight clambered onto his horse and turned back the way he had come.


***

A couple of weeks later, another knight appeared at the mouth of the cave, once again threatening the dragon with bodily harm, and swearing to save the princess. And once again, Molly scolded the knight and sent him on his way.

For the next couple of months, it was the same. Every week or two, a new knight would arrive, and every time, Molly sent them home with their tails tucked between their legs. She was beginning to get irritated.

“Why won’t they listen to me and stay away? Why does everyone think I need to be rescued?”

“Your family is probably worried about you,” Kava suggested.

Molly snorted. “If they’re so worried, why don’t they come themselves? They’re too busy, that’s why. Their work has always been more important to them than I am.”

Kava looked concerned. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

Molly shrugged, and speared another marshmallow for Kava to toast.

***

A week later, there was another shout from outside the cave. But this time, the voice was familiar.

“Molly? Are you in there?”

Shocked, Molly ran to the cave entrance. There, surrounded by a dozen armed knights, was her family. They’d all come – the king, the queen, and her two older siblings.

“Molly!” the queen cried, leaping from her horse and running to her daughter. She wrapped Molly up in a huge embrace, the rest of the family right on her heels. Molly suddenly found herself in the middle of a crushing group hug.

“Oof!” she gasped, “You guys are squishing me!”
“Sorry!” her father laughed. “We’ve just missed you so much!”

Molly was surprised. “You have?”

“Of course, we have!” her brother laughed. “It’s just not the same when you’re not there.”

“Yeah,” her sister smiled, “life has gotten really boring without you. I kind of miss the frogs in my jewelry box.”

Molly laughed. “I missed you guys, too! But…” She looked back over her shoulder into the cave, where she could just make out one of Kava’s large, violet eyes, peeking around the corner. “I can’t go back with you. At least, not unless my friend can come with me.”

“You made a friend here?” her mother exclaimed. “That’s wonderful!”

“Is it someone else the dragon kidnapped?” asked her father.

“No,” Molly protested, “the dragon didn’t even kidnap me. It was an accident. I was in the treasury when she grabbed the gold, and she scooped me up along with it. It was an honest mistake.”

“An… honest mistake?” her sister asked, faintly. “So, the dragon didn’t mean to kidnap you, it just intended to steal our treasure?”

“She’s a dragon! That’s just what they do! She hoards treasure, but she’s not a monster or anything.”

“Then why didn’t she bring you home?” the queen demanded.

“She offered to, I swear! But we got to talking about how lonely we were and… we became friends. And,” Molly added stubbornly, “if she can’t come home with us, then I’m staying here.”

The king eyed the cave entrance warily. “Well, can we at least meet her first?”

Slowly, Kava emerged from the cave, looking shy. The knights grabbed their weapons, ready to protect the royal family, but the king ordered them to stand down. He crossed over to Kava, and bowed deeply.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, dragon. Thank you for taking care of my daughter over these past months.”

Kava dipped her massive head in response. “It was my pleasure, sir. She’s my best friend. And I’m very sorry I kidnapped her in the first place. I really didn’t mean to.”

“Understood. We would be delighted if you’d consider coming back to our kingdom with us. There’s a nice, spacious cave in the woods near the palace. You’d be welcome to move in there.”

Kava beamed. “That sounds wonderful, thank you!”

Molly grinned at Kava. Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to go back home.

***

The journey home took almost no time at all, as Kava generously offered to fly the royal family on her back. Within a matter of days, everyone was settled in, and getting used to having a dragon for a neighbor.

Kava returned the treasure she had taken from the royal family, with her sincere apologies. As a thank you for taking such excellent care of Molly, the king gave Kava a generous reward of gold and jewels, which she joyfully added to her hoard.

The king and queen also issued a royal proclamation, banning all forms of dragon hunting in their country. No one wanted to see any more baby dragons having to grow up without their parents.

Molly went to visit Kava every day, and they had lots of new adventures. Sometimes Molly’s older siblings came along, taking a break from their royal duties.

Molly was happy to finally see them relax and have some fun. They didn’t even seem to mind the pranks so much anymore. The crown prince even played a prank of his own, mixing dye into Molly’s shampoo and turning her hair a vivid blue.

Molly thought it was an excellent prank, and felt strangely proud of her older brother. She, of course, retaliated, by shaving off one of his eyebrows in his sleep.

Yes, things were getting back to normal. But it was a new, wonderful kind of normal, where both Kava and Molly felt safe, loved, and accepted.


The End

The Biggest Ballerina

In a time much like today, in a world just like our own, in a town very similar to yours, there was a ballet studio.

Like all ballet studios, it was often filled to the brim with flocks of fluttering, flouncing, fanciful little dancers. It seemed like almost every girl in town attended classes at the studio, wrapped in gauzy pink tutus and satin ballet slippers. After all, many young ladies dream of growing up to be a world-class ballerina.

Poppy was one of these. She often daydreamed about pirouetting across a vast stage, leaping like a gazelle, and balancing delicately on one toe, all to thunderous applause.

Music seemed to flow through Poppy’s veins, and she danced wherever she went – often without even realizing she was doing so. She bobbed and weaved through the halls at school, sometimes adding a flourish of her hand, or a quick twirl. She pranced and plied through the house as she did her chores. And when Poppy went to sleep at night, her toes continued to point and flex, as though she were even dancing in her dreams.

She had been saving every penny of money she had for months, trying to scrape together enough for a semester of dance classes. But, being a young girl, whose only income came from her small weekly allowance, it was slow going.

Then, something amazing happened! On her birthday, her parents presented her with a beautiful shoe box, wrapped in a pink silk ribbon. When Poppy opened the box, she found a pair of the most beautiful ballet slippers she’d ever seen.

“We know how much you love to dance,” her mother explained. “We decided it was about time to get you into some classes.”

Her father nodded in agreement. “Seeing how hard you’ve worked to save up your money, we decided it was time to step in and cover the rest. It’s clearly very important to you.”

Poppy squealed and hugged them both. “Thank you so much! You’re the best parents in the world!”

***

The night before her first class, Poppy could barely sleep. She was far too excited. Her dream of becoming a real-life ballerina was finally coming true! When she eventually drifted off, she dreamed of a triumphant stage debut, dancing in The Nutcracker as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The next day, Poppy jumped into her leotard and tights as soon as she woke up. She forced herself to eat some breakfast, then stood, staring at the clock, willing the minutes to move by more quickly. They only seemed to slow down.

Finally, though, it was time for class! Poppy practically ran into the ballet studio, eager to begin. She put down her bags, then skipped over to a large group of her fellow students, where they sat clumped together, waiting for class to begin.

“Hi!” she grinned. “I’m Poppy! I’m new.”

The ballerinas all stopped talking, and looked at her. One of them giggled, then leaned over a whispered something in her neighbor’s ear. The second girl let out a snort of laughter as she listened, eyeing Poppy. The others watched, curiously, looking back and forth between the pair of girls, with an occasional glance in Poppy’s direction.
Finally, the two girls stood up, the others following suit. The first girl smirked, and said, “I’m Rose. This is Ivy.” The second girl giggled again, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Oh, that’s cool!” Poppy exclaimed. “The three of us are all named after plants!”

“Yeah… but here’s the thing,” Rose smirked. “Our names suit us, because we’re small and pretty. You know, like ballerinas are supposed to be. Your name doesn’t suit you at all, though. You’re way too tall.”

“And look at those knobbly knees,” Ivy chimed in. “Can you even dance on those things?”

Rose laughed, “She probably looks like a moose when she dances!”

“That’s perfect!” Ivy agreed. “Let’s call her ‘Moose!’”

As they laughed, Poppy looked around at the group of girls and realized that she was, in fact, the tallest one there. The other girls came no higher than her chest. She blushed, feeling awkward.

“My parents are both pretty tall,” she explained, “so that’s why I’m tall, too. But I promise, I’ve got what it takes to be a dancer!”

“Okay, Moose,” Rose chuckled. “If you say so.”

Just then, the teacher came in and called for the class to line up at the barre. Still flushing red, Poppy found a spot near the middle.
“Teacher!” one of the girls behind Poppy called, “I can’t see you over the new girl!”

“Oh, hello!” the teacher smiled at Poppy. “How wonderful to have a new student! But would you mind moving to the back, dear? Just so the other students can see?”

Feeling embarrassed, but trying not to cry, Poppy nodded and moved to the end of the line. As they warmed up, stretched, and began some basic choreography, she was careful to stay near the back, so she wouldn’t block anyone’s view. As they danced, however, the embarrassment melted away, and Poppy began relishing the pure joy of moving to music.

“I can do this,” she told herself. “I’ll just stay out of the other girls’ way, and focus on learning the steps. I’ll show them that being tall doesn’t mean I can’t dance!”

***

Over the next several months, Poppy did just that. She ignored the giggles and sly looks from her classmates. She pretended not to hear when they called her “Moose.” She focused on dancing, and becoming the best ballerina she could be.

As the end-of-semester recital neared, the teacher gave them their spots for the performance. “As you all know,” she explained, “we put the strongest dancer front and center so if you get stuck and forget your choreography, you can look to them and be reminded.”

Poppy waited nervously to hear who would get that coveted center spot. She had worked so hard!

“This year,” the teacher continued, “the dancer in that position will be Rose!”

Poppy wilted, feeling defeated. The meanest girl in her class, the one who had led the charge in bullying Poppy, was getting to dance in the center position for the recital. It just wasn’t right.

The teacher pulled Poppy aside as the girls headed out the door after class.

“You have been an exceptional student this semester,” she told Poppy. “I am so impressed with how hard you’ve worked. And you’re a beautiful dancer. I would have loved to give you that center position. Unfortunately, you’re just a little too tall. You would have blocked the girls behind you, and all the parents need to be able to see their dancers. But you still deserve a spot on the front row! I’m going to put you on the far end of the front row, where you can be seen without blocking anyone else. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” Poppy mumbled. She knew the teacher was trying to be kind, but it hurt to know that, once again, her height was a problem.

The teacher lifted Poppy’s chin. “Hey,” she said, “Look at me. I’m really proud of you. I think you have what it takes to make it big someday, if you keep working hard.”

Poppy’s eyes filled with tears, much to her embarrassment. “But I’m too tall to ever be a real ballerina.”

“No way!” her teacher said, firmly. “Dancers can come in all shapes and sizes. All that really matters is that you’ve got the talent, and are willing to put in the work. I can see that you’ve got more than enough talent. So, are you willing to do the work?”

“Yes, I am,” Poppy smiled, feeling a little better.
“Then I expect to see amazing things from you one day.” Her teacher winked, then waved goodbye as Poppy left the studio, her heart already feeling lighter. Her teacher believed in her, even though the other girls said she was too tall.

Poppy smiled to herself, feeling unusually confident. She was more determined than ever to do what it takes to become a great ballerina.

***

The day of the recital came, and Poppy was equal parts nervous and excited. She had never performed on a stage before, or in front of a large audience. She was almost glad that she wouldn’t be front and center. But she was also thrilled that her parents would be able to see her clearly in her position on the end of the front row. She had worked hard for this, and Poppy wanted them to see what she could do.

Rose shoved past her as they moved to take their positions on the stage. “Move it, Moose,” she hissed under her breath as she crossed to center stage. Poppy flushed slightly, but shook it off and focused on dancing. The girls took their opening positions, and the music began.

The dancers all moved together confidently at first, with graceful arms and pointed toes. The audience was entranced, and Poppy could see her parents grinning at her from the third row. She smiled bigger, lifted her chin, and danced with her whole heart.

As she danced however, something began to feel off. The audience looked concerned. Poppy glanced over, and saw Rose, center stage, frozen. She looked stumped. Several of the girls behind her seemed to be in a panic, watching Rose, waiting for her to begin dancing again so they could follow her lead.

They’ve forgotten the choreography, Poppy realized. And Rose doesn’t remember it, either, which means they can’t follow her!

Poppy was temped to laugh for a brief moment, seeing her bully failing so publicly. But she was too kind-hearted for the temptation to last very long. She wanted the audience to see how beautiful their dance was, and for all the parents to be proud of their little ballerinas.

“Rose!” she whispered, as loudly as she dared. “Rose!”

Rose’s panicked eyes found Poppy’s, and she watched as Poppy began the next steps of the dance. Realization dawned on Rose’s face, and she followed Poppy’s lead, moving gracefully to the music. The other confused dancers saw where Rose was looking, and also began to watch Poppy for their cues. Soon, all the dancers were once again twirling and leaping in unison.

The dance ended, and the audience roared in approval. Poppy’s parents jumped to their feet, giving their daughter a standing ovation. She beamed at them, proud of what she’d accomplished.

As the dancers moved into the wings of the stage, the whole class swarmed around Poppy, talking over each other.

“I was so confused…”

“It just slipped my mind!”

“I saw Rose looking at you…”

“You’re so tall, it was easy to follow you!”

“Wait!” Poppy laughed, stopping them, “Are you saying that my being tall actually helped?”

Rose pushed through the group, and stood facing Poppy. “I owe you an apology. They’re right – I was able to see you, and follow you when I got confused, because you’re so much bigger than the rest of us. I guess being tall can be a good thing, even when you’re a ballerina.”

Ivy nodded. “And you’re a wonderful dancer. If you hadn’t known the dance so well, you might have been just as lost as the rest of us. But you were amazing, and I have to admit, you pretty much saved the whole performance.”

“And…” Rose said, hesitantly, “I’m sorry we called you ‘Moose.’”

The rest of the girls nodded in agreement, adding their own apologies.

Poppy blushed, smiling hesitantly at her classmates. “You know, moose are actually pretty cool animals. And I’m realizing that being tall isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe I can be okay with being called ‘Moose.’”

Rose shook her head. “I think I’d rather call you Poppy. It’s a beautiful flower, which makes it the perfect name for a beautiful dancer. It suits you.”
Poppy almost couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Wow, thanks, Rose!”

“You can call her ‘Tiny,’” Ivy suggested, a mischievous smile on her face. Rose shoved her lightly in protest, laughing. “Speak for yourself!”

She turned back to Poppy, still smiling. “Friends?”

“Friends,” Poppy agreed.

It seemed like her time in the dance studio was going to be much nicer from now on. Ballet, and new friends? What a fantastic combination!

She couldn’t wait for next semester to begin.

The End

The Creature Under the Bed

I wrote this for my nephew. I've been reading stories on youtube to entertain bored kids, including my nieces and nephew. I've begun doing original stories once a week, so it was time to write a new one!
Enjoy!

The Creature Under the Bed

Jack was a sensible boy. He had a good head on his shoulders. He didn’t believe in fairies, or dragons, or little creatures that live in your washing machine and steal your socks.

He knew the things in movies and TV shows weren’t real. He never worried about ghosts, zombies, or goblins that like to pinch your behind when you aren’t looking.

He wasn’t even convinced that there were such things as pirates, or ninjas.

His parents often bragged to their friends that their son would be a great success in life, thanks to his sensible nature. “No wild dreams of life as a lion tamer, or rock and roll musician! Our Jack is certain to have a career in something practical and useful. Perhaps he’ll be an accountant!”

His parents were giddy at the thought.

Yes, Jack was a sensible boy. Usually.

But not always.

Over the past few months, at night, when the shadows crept up the walls, and strange noises sounded in the trees outside his window, Jack would sometimes find himself having bouts of… imagination.

He worried that the scraping sounds in the darkness meant that something was creeping, creeping, creeping toward him.

Not that Jack believed in creepy things in the shadows. He did not.

But somehow, the things moving in the darkness did not take his disbelief into consideration. He continued to hear unsettling sounds, night after night. And his imagination continued to battle his good common sense.

Finally, one night, Jack decided enough was enough. He needed to prove to himself once and for all that the creepy shadow monsters of his imagination, like so many other unusual and fantastical things, simply did not exist. Perhaps then he could put his increasingly unwanted imagination to rest, once and for all.

He leaned over the edge of his bed, lifting the blankets to peek into the space beneath the mattress.
Clicking on a small flashlight he’d taken from his nightstand, he searched the dark space.

As the light swept the bare floor underneath the bed, it caught a flash of movement – a blur of red and blue.

Startled, Jack froze. Slowly, his stomach in knots, he moved the light in the direction the blur had seemed to go.

The light caught on a shaking ball of red and blue fur. It trembled violently, trying to scooch away from the light. Jack tracked it with his flashlight, trying to make sense of it all.

Defeated, the ball of fur uncurled slightly, to reveal a pair of huge, yellow, tear-filled eyes. The creature had six legs, two of which were wrapped around its head, as though still trying to hide. Long, curled antennae topped its fuzzy head.

Jack yelped and fell off the bed. From the space beneath the mattress, he heard an equally startled shout from the creature.

Shaking, Jack grabbed the flashlight and scooted away to a safe distance. He pointed the beam at the bed and, in a harsh whisper, said, “What are you?!”

The bottom of the blanket lifted slightly, and he saw one yellow eye peering back at him. “What are you?” it echoed softly.

“You… you can talk?” Jack asked, astonished.

“You can talk.” It repeated, in a slightly huffy tone.

“Are you like a parrot? Do you just repeat everything I say?”

“What’s a parrot?”

Well, that settled that question.

“What are you doing here?” Jack demanded. “This is my room! My house! And I don’t believe in monsters!”

“I believe in monsters,” the little creature responded sadly, pushing its way through the blankets a little farther.

Jack was not sure how to respond.

“Monsters are why I’m here, all alone. Monsters are why I can’t go home.” The little ball of fluff sniffled, and despite not believing in such things as monsters and small, fluffy alien creatures, Jack’s heart broke a little with sympathy.

“Are you stuck here, then?” he asked.

The creature nodded, and a big tear splashed to the floor.

“I had a little magic, as all Porfkins do, but when the monsters came, I used it all up. I created a portal to a place far, far away, somewhere I’d be safe. And now I’m here, and I am safe, but… I miss my family. I don’t even know if they’re all right.” The Porfkin sniffled again.

Jack felt another twinge of empathy. “Can’t you just do more magic and send yourself back?”

The Porfkin shook its head. “It takes a lot of power to create a portal. And Porfkin magic takes a lot of time to build back up. It may be months before I’ve got enough. And I keep having to use the little I’ve got to find food and stay hidden. Although it seems I’ve failed at that last part.” Its shoulders slumped, discouraged.

Jack considered the little creature in front of him. He was a sensible boy, and had never had any desire for strange adventures with magical creatures. He’d never even believed such things were possible. But how could he deny the evidence of his own two eyes?

Perhaps there was more magic in the universe than he’d ever realized.

“What’s your name?” he asked the little Porfkin.

“Throm,” the creature responded.

“Well, Throm,” Jack announced, standing up, “I think I may be able to help you get home!”

****

Over the next several weeks, Jack’s parents began to notice that their son was behaving a bit… less sensibly than usual.

He came downstairs one day, in a strangely lumpy sweater, and started rummaging through the kitchen cupboards. When his parents asked Jack what he was looking for, a strange voice answered, “sustenance.” Jack immediately began coughing wildly, stating that he had a frog in his throat, then ran back upstairs, carrying a handful of russet potatoes and a can of tuna.

After that, Jack’s parents noticed that food was going missing from the kitchens on a regular basis. And they were unusual food combinations, like dried plums, lima beans, and anchovy paste. Not the sort of thing you’d expect a young boy to snack on.

There were also strange noises coming from his room at night. Sudden bursts of laughter, odd thumping, the occasional loud “pop!” And it sounded like he was spending a lot of time talking to himself.

During the day, Jack’s parents noticed that he’d begun watching science fiction programs on TV, and reading fantasy novels. He also spent a fair amount of time doodling in notebooks, drawing what appeared to be cute, furry bugs with huge, yellow eyes.

It also seemed that Jack was beginning to have odd dreams. Two weeks ago, at breakfast, he told his dad about a dream he’d had where he’d flown around an alien planet, saving fluffy creatures from large, toothy monsters.

“I think it would make a great movie, don’t you, Dad?” Jack finished, as he headed back to his room, carrying his leftover toast and a jar of onion pearls. His baffled parents stared after him, wondering what was going on in their sensible son’s head.

Then, last Tuesday, Jack asked his mother which weapon she thought would work better against monsters: garlic, or silver?

“I know garlic is usually just a vampire thing,” he explained, “but it’s pretty strong stuff! Maybe a lot of nasty creatures avoid it! Obviously, silver weapons are probably a safe bet, too, because they’re actual weapons, but it would be hard to hold a sword when you’re only about eight inches tall…”

Swords? Weaponized garlic? This was the final straw. Jack’s parents had no idea what had come over their son, and they were officially concerned.

“Jack!” his mother cried, “What has gotten into you lately? You used to be such a sensible boy, but now you’ve got your head in the clouds all the time!”

“Your mother’s right, son,” his father chimed in. “When are you going to rejoin us here, in reality?”

Jack thought it over. These past weeks with Throm really had changed him, hadn’t they? He was still a sensible boy, but now he knew that the universe was much bigger than he’d ever realized. And that knowledge had lit a blazing fire in his once-dormant imagination.

If fuzzy Porfkins from alien planets could exist in real life, who knew what else might be out there?

Jack smiled at his parents. “I don’t know, Mom and Dad. I kind of like my new reality.”

As they watched him, bewildered, he grabbed a raw egg from the refrigerator and ran back up to his room, grinning broadly.

****

A few weeks later, Jack and Throm sat together in the bedroom, unusually somber.

Thanks to Jack’s generous supply of food and shelter, Throm had finally been able to regain enough magic to create a portal. It was time for him to go home, and see what had become of his family.

“Will I ever see you again?” Jack asked, trying not to let any tears escape his eyes.

“I can’t say for sure,” Throm answered sadly. “So much depends on what’s happening at home. I need to find my family, and help them fight the monsters. But thanks to our brainstorming sessions, I have some good ideas that can help my people fight! Thank you for that, friend Jack.”

“You’re welcome,” Jack tried to smile. “I hope you and your family are able to succeed, and have a joyful life together.”

“I wish the same for you, friend Jack,” Throm responded. “Perhaps one last human hug before I go?”

Jack scooped Throm up into his arms, and hugged him gently to his chest. A swirl of glowing colors began forming in the space under the bed. Jack set Throm on the floor.

“Be well, friend Jack,” Throm whispered. He turned toward the swirling portal.

“Be well, friend Throm,” Jack smiled, a tear slowly escaping and falling down his cheek.

Throm winked one huge eye at Jack, then disappeared through the portal. It closed behind him with a loud pop.

Sighing, Jack sat on his bed and dried his eyes. He would miss Throm, but he would never regret having met him. Throm had opened his eyes to a whole universe of possibilities that Jack had never even considered before.

Jack’s mother tapped on the door, interrupting his thoughts. “Jack? What was that loud pop I heard just now?”

Jack grinned at her. “Oh, nothing major, Mom. Just an alien traveling through a portal, back to his home planet.”

His mother shook her head. “My goodness, Jack, the stories you come up with lately! Maybe instead of an accountant, you should be an author.”

As she closed the door behind her, a wide smile spread across Jack’s face. An author, huh? What a sensible idea! He did, after all, have one heck of a story to tell!

The End