Friday, April 23, 2010

Chapter 15

The birthday party that she was so looking forward to wasn’t really a party. It was more like a family gathering. The mood was far from a festival one. Everyone was serious-looking and being polite to one another.

Relative, friends and visitors were all trying hard to be friendly to one another. Lessie could just sense it.

Although she was glad that everyone was there, she could not help wondering just how long they are going to be like this before someone starts an argument again. Are they really united now?

Or could it be that the feeling of greed and jealousy were so strong in almost all humans that only hypocrisy can help maintain a relationship?

Looking at them, she could read their minds, thoughts and feeling in each and everyone one of them! False, insincerity, foolish pride, hypocrisy…….

…then she felt someone grabbing her shoulders…

“Hey-don’t tell me you are a dreamer as well now – and on your birthday too! Come on girl! This is your big day!”
It was Robin.

“No! I”m not. I was just watching these people and wondering what type of conversation they must be having and what they must be thinking of each other!”

“Don’t worry Lessie---your entire secret is safe with me!” Robin said and smiled as he used his right palm to pat his left chest.

“Anyway—I have a birthday present that would make you fat and another that would stop you from day-dreaming!”

He handed Lessie a big box of chocolate and a story book!
She thanked him, gave him a big warm smile and felt so lucky to have a warm human as a friend, as she recalled everything that happened on the way to her grandparent’s.


~The End~

Chapter 14

She opened her eyes, and there was Robin beside her. Then she realized that she was lying on the ground..

“Where, where am I?” she stammered.

Robin helped her up and said,
“Lessie! What have you done to yourself? Look at yourself! Your head’s bruised and your fingers bleeding? Are you trying to kill yourself? Everyone’s looking for you. Your family is very worried because your big party is tonight and they don’t know where you are!”

With a surprise look, Lessie asked,

“What? What party? What are you talking about? Where are all the animals? Are you joking with me?”

Robin gave a laugh and,
“Ha—you must have bumped your head and lost your memory! But then you recognize me! Hahahahah! You are the only one who has forgotten your own birthday Lessie!”
“Oh dear!” Lessie moaned.”What time is it Robin? Take me home now. I promise I will tell you everything later.”

Chapter 13

All the animals knew then that was the time to strike – and strike with all the power and might that they have to destroy this evil witch once and for all! The great eagle, who rescued Lessie, took off and with a few flaps of his giant wings, was soon above the destroyed castle.

However, from the distance she knew that the evil witch was far from defeated. She was fighting back with more will of a desperate force!

“Oh no!” she cried. “Please help us to destroy this evil force that is destroying this beautiful world!” she prayed.

She had to do something, yet her mind was all blank. The adventure that she had been going through was weakening her, yet she knew that the animals would be beaten if nothing was done to change the balance of the war.

In near desperation, she climbed the hill to have a better look at the battle that was raging while worrying and thinking of possible way to defeat the witch.

On higher ground, she could have a better look of the area. With the continuing melting snow and the clearing of the dark clouds, she could see the brightening vast areas of the land that was once under the control of the white witch.

She could see the sun ray shining its beautiful yellow ray of lights giving life to the plants and trees. The green leaves were beginning to appear again.

She looked up to the sky and was smiling at the sun she missed so much! Then, a strong beam of light from the sun shone on her,, suddenly a bright band of rainbow colour formed an aurora of lights which was reflected from Lessies’s face. This beam of reflected rainbow lights redirected itself to the white dragon!

Lessie was so surprised with this event. She was even more surprised at the weakening dragon which was slowly crumbling to the ground.

It tried to get up but the ray of rainbow lights shone even brighter. The legs of the dragon were obviously too weak to even support the weight of its body.

Dust was flying about as the dragon flapped its wings in a desperate attempt to take off. Its long tail was also slowing down in its swings! It was screeching madly and loudly, shaking its head in anger. The movements seemed to be slower as it became weaker and weaker!

Seeing the new development, all the animals gathered and agreed to attack the dragon together.

With their war cries, they all stood by to attack the dragon from all sides, planning to give it no chance to retaliate.

However, before it the animals could even take the first step, the dragon stopped moving as if frozen. Then, starting from its tail, the dragon slowly transformed to ice. Within less than a minute, the dragon turned to ice and looked more like a stature sculptured from ice!

Then, a loud “aaaauuuuuuuu’ filled the air. The brown wolf gave a howl to signal the animals to smash the iced dragon to pieces so that it had no chance to return.
Within minutes, the huge ice that was once a dragon was smashed to pieces – and it was also beginning to melt from the sun ray.

Then Lessie saw that the rainbow started to move and was spreading itself across the region giving life to the land.

Flowers were blooming, leaves and grass were growing, streams and rivers were flowing again. The birds were singing and the world became brighter.

All the animals gathered together once again. They were all sitting and resting and enjoying the scenery that was slowly forming in front of them. Their old world that was taken away by the white witch was returning - the world that they missed so much – sunshine and greenery!

Everything turned beautiful again!

For once, they felt so peaceful.
The majestic eagle which rescued Lessie was gliding in the sky, enjoying the view. Then he remembered and saw Lessie. With a gentle sweep of his wings, the eagles swooped gracefully and landed in front of Lessie and said,

“We can never thank you enough for all your help and the good deed you have done. You have given back our world and our life!”

Lessie’s happy face lit up, looked at the eagle, smiled, and said,

“ Ahh, my friend, everything is possible – when we have faith !”
Then she heard a human voice – a kind and friendly human voice finally!

“Lessie? Is that really you? Are you ok?”, that sounded very familiar to Lessie. Then the voice continued.

“Hey! You recognize me? I’m Robin! Your neighbor and also your brown wolf friend!”
Lessie was indeed pleased to see a familiar face and she actually wanted so much to hug her friend, but she controlled herself. Robin continued explaining,

“Do you remember when I told you that I was cursed by the witch to be a fur scarf? Then you helped to give me life, although as a brown wolf? And when finally everything was back to normal with your help, I became my original self again – your friend from your neighborhood!

Robin continued his explanation…
“You see Lessie, the King of Universe have chosen you to be the savior of this world. Only you can undo the entire evil spell that was casted by that evil witch! Don’t ask me how or why – but that’s the way it is. You were the chosen one!”

The two were walking along a path in the woods as they were talking. Then Robin bent down to pick a beautiful rose. He turned to Lessie and presented the rose to her. As Lessie took the rose from Robin, a thorn from the twig pricked one of her fingers and she gave a loud painful cry!

“Ouch!”
With concern in his eyes, Robin turned to Lessie and asked,
“Are you okay? That sounded painful?”
Lessie replied with a bright smile,
“I’m alright –really! I should have been more careful. It’s my fault, don’t worry!”
“Lessie, are you okay?”

Robin’s voice seemed to be louder and louder, almost like the booming of a thunder!
Puzzled, Lessie said to herself,
“Oh no! What can be happening now? Isn’t it all over?” She felt as if she was fainting.

Chapter 12

Within seconds she could feel the cold wind rushing pass her face. She thought this would be probably be her last day. The wall of the castle simply passed her by and the fall seemed endless.

Then, from the sky came a screeching sound and a majestic eagle came swooping down out of nowhere , rocketing down as if catching a prey, but this time, its talons grabbed hold of the jacket collar worn by Lessie. With a loud call, it swooped down and up again bringing the girl to a safe distance from the evil castle.

Indeed, the eagle must have her earlier call to help her and the brown wolf.
From the air, her earlier tears turned to a smile as she enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the land. Some soil is beginning to appear as the snow melted away. Rocks were beginning to be seen on the mountain sides. Snow was falling from the branches of the trees.

Then she remembered, “ My friend ! The brown wolf !!”. She shouted in concern.
The voice of the eagle boomed above her,

“Don’t worry young lady! His friends, the other animals are all there to help him battle with the witch’s soldiers and white wolf. Everything is under control. All thanks to you. “

Soon they landed on a high ground not too far from the castle and stood together to watch the castle, wondering about the fierce battle that must be going on.

Then a terrible scream filled the air, cutting across the air. It came from the castle. Of course Lessie knew it to be the evil white witch.

“ARRRRGGHH !NOOOOOO!!! !’

Lessie gave a smile and knew that victory was in their hands. She could hear the sounds made by the other animals. The roar! The cry! The wail! The whistle! There must be a hundred types of animals in the castle fighting the evil of the witch.
But all these sounds had one meaning. Victory!

She could see the walls of the ice castle cracking and the towers shaking violently. It was only a matter of minute before the end of an evil reign.
Then the front wall started to collapse, crumble and fall. The sound of the breaking ice was enough to send chills of fear down the spine of anyone near enough to hear it.

The next scene was something Lessie knew she would never ever forget …. The main castle began to fall with a deep rumbling roar sending dust of snow flying into the air !

Then, the dust was blown away as if by a giant fan and out of it, emerge a white dragon with long pointed wings, equally long sweeping tail which ends with an evil-looking arrow head tip. It struggled to take off and was flapping its giant wings in desperation as if running away from something.

What a sight!

Chapter 11

Now, the wolf knew that Lessie had a way of communicating with the animals. He also knew that there were many animals frozen or trapped in the ice world on the ground outside the castle.

He was hoping that with melting snow, the animals would be freed.

“Lessie, go and check if any of the animals have been freed. Tell them to come in and help us. “

By now the melting snow was at such a high rate that a river was being formed outside the castle carrying the melted snow.

At this point, they saw the white soldiers coming towards the mirror room led by a white wolf. The wolf quickly came up with an escape plan. He shouted to Lessie,

“Look girl, they are here to kill us. I want you to get to that door and jump into the river and get away from this place! Go now!”

But Lessie would not have any of that. She replied the wolf,

“No! I’m not going without you. We go together or we die together you hear?”

‘Just do it you stubborn girl! Why are you so stubborn?”
The wolf shouted in desperation!

Soon the white wolf and the white soldiers arrived. They stopped and looked at the two who had destroyed the ice world.

“Well well well! Welcome back my old brownie!”

The white wolf snarled as the rest of the soldiers surrounded Lessie and her friend. Then he continued,

“What, is that all you have---a girl as a friend who, even now is going to leave you to your death?”

The white wolf continued teasing his brown counterpart.
Lessie turned to face the white wolf and without any fear in her voice, said,

“No! you don’t touch my friend , you hear!’

At this point, the white witch arrived at the scene, looking very angry and serious, she interrupted Lessie,

“Then you come forward to me and this ugly brown wolf will live.”
“Don’t listen to her Lessie! Go and save yourself and the other animals!” shouted the brown wolf!

The white witch let off a wild screech of laughter, and the other soldiers followed her.

“Hahahahaah! Awwww, how touching! They are such great friends! Go---get them now. Kill the brown wolf but I want that girl alive! “

The witch commanded the white wolf and the soldiers.
The brown wolf took a stance, ready for any eventualities, ready to fight and die as he growled at the soldiers. A fight soon broke out. A terrible fight!

The witch started to approached at the retreating Lessie. She was soon at the edge and looking down, climbed up the parapet and looked down the flowing river and the melting snow. Turning around, she saw the evil witch approaching her with her long fingers and long nails.

Lessie had no choice.
‘Take care my dear friend. We will meet again.” She shouted to her friend.
The white witch screamed,”No no no no! Come back here you silly girl!!”

With that she jumped down the 20 meter high castle wall as instructed by her friend the brown wolf.

Chapter 10

They went through the cold passages of the castle with determination to defeat the witch.

Room after room they searched for the witch. But she was nowhere to be found. Then they finally came to the last room in the castle and knew that she must be inside.
Cautiously, they peeked into the room.

They could sense the presence of evil even before they stepped into the room.
It was a strange room. Immediately they knew that this must be some kind of a ritual room. On the walls were written all the chants and words of spells.

“Well, looks like the ritual will start soon.”

The wolf told Lessie who was puzzled as she didn’t know what the ceremony was about. So she asked the wolf,

“What is this about? What is she doing and why? “
The wolf replied,

“Ahh, that wicked witch needs to take something special so that she could keep her strength, beauty and youth. Normally, she would take the heart of animal and eat them raw. However this will not give her what she wanted permanently. If she wants to be young, beautiful and strong forever, she must eat a human heart!”

Lessie stood staring at the wolf with her eyes wide opened. She could not believe what she had just heard. Her heart was beating so fast she could not control her emotion!

“What?” she almost screamed!

“Shhhhhh!!!!Quiet! She’ll hear us!” the wolf hushed her up and to lower her tone.
Both of them took a peek of the room. The wolf took a step back, obviously shocked at what he saw! Then he continued sadly,

“Oh no! The witch had just killed my friend, the deer. Oh my friend, my dear friend, I am going to miss you very much!”

Lessie knelt down and put an arm round the wolf’s neck and gave him a hug. Her other hand was patting his shoulder while she tried to comfort her new found friend. She felt the pain and sadness he was going through as if she had lost a dear friend herself.

Then she stood up, folded her arms and spoke boldly,

“Okay, what do we have to do to stop this wicked wicked woman from carrying out her plans? How can I help to save this kingdom of yours? Tell me wolf, and I’ll do it. We must stop this evil from destroying your world!”

The wolf was encouraged by the bravery of Lessie and he raised his head in defiance, and spoke,

“Yes! It is time we stop this madness! The witch must be stopped at all cost! The only way to destroy her Ice Kingdom is sunlight and brightness. Come on girl, we have only three hours before the nightfall takes over the evening sky! “

The wolf whispered to Lessie his plan and immediately they swung into action. They both ran to the mirror room. Between the two of them, they pushed or carried the mirrors and arranged all the mirrors at the door facing the outside world.

The idea was to catch the reflection of the not-so-bright sunlight and focus the ray on to the ice and snow outside the castle.
As soon as the reflected lights hit the snow and ice, the ground began to shake and tremble!

The ice began to crack. The crack became longer and wider. Then something happened. The ice and snow began to melt. It started to create little stream as the melting snow flowed away.

From a little streamlet, it became a stream. The water started to form holes in the ice and water was beginning to fall into crevices like waterfalls.
The twelve mirrors were doing a good job of redirecting and focusing the magnified sunray deep into the snow.

Somewhere in the room, can be heard a screeching voice screaming away. The witch was so enraged and angry!

“Where are my white soldiers? What are you all waiting for you idiots! Find and attack those who are responsible for this. Now! Now! Now!”

She continued screaming at the top of her voice!

The soldiers were running all over the place looking for Lessie and the wolf. It looked like the beginning of the end for the witch has begun!

Chapter 9

However after one step, Lessie collapsed on the floor. She was clutching her stomach and crying out loud,

“My tummy! Oh God! My tummy! It hurts!!!”

She was rolling on the cold floor, bending her knees and both hands holding her stomach. Anyone looking at her could feel the pain she was going through.
The wolf looked at her and wondered what was wrong. Then, his eyes lit up and remembered something.

“Didn’t you say the witch gave you food just now?” he asked.

“You see, the food is only good if you agree with the witch. But as soon as you show any feeling of disagreement with her, the food will turn to poison. That is why you are suffering now. This is her way of punishing you”.

Lessie was already crying. The pain was unbearable and she felt like she was dying. She started thinking of her family and was sobbing uncontrollably. She missed the security and comfort of her home badly

“Oh wolf, help me please! You are scaring me. I don’t want to die here. Please think of something. Please. It’s hurting me badly!”
The wolf was panicky for a while because he was relying on her to help him defeat the witch. It was so difficult because the witch always seemed to know if there was anybody planning anything against her.

Then, he gave a loud wolf cry, ‘ Ahhhoooooooo……..’, and shouted,

“Yes! Brave one, didn’t you take a bar of chocolate from the house where you found me just now? I know you kept half of the chocolate in the pocket of the jacket. Is it still there?”

Painfully Lessie struggled to put her hands in the pocket of the jacket, and took out the half bar of chocolate.

“Yes wolf. I still have it.”

“Good,” the wolf said.

“I believe we have found the cure to your pain. Now eat that chocolate because it comes from a different world and it would cure any poison or protect you from any spell that the witch gives you in this world!”

Gladly, Lessie put the chocolate in her mouth and painfully began chewing it. There was no difference. Fear was creeping in again. Then she swallowed the first mouthful of the chocolate.

Immediately she began to feel the effect. Her stomach was gradually becoming better. This went on for the next few minutes until she was totally free of any pain. It was a miracle.

As if she was given a new life, Lessie jumped up and patted the wolf’s head and said,

“Thank you my dear friend. Now come, we have a job to finish.”
….and the two new friends walked out of the room, determined to fight the evil witch and return the world to its natural condition.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Chapter 8


The room was all in white. White floor, white walls and white ceilings. It was a long room. On one side of the room was a row of mirrors, much like the one she saw in the house and one which sucked her into this crazily white world!
There were twelve mirrors all in a row and on the mirror was the months of the year, starting with January and ending with December.
She lightly stepped into the room, walking past each mirror and keeping her distance from them – remember how she was sucked into the earlier mirror.
She remembered that now is the month of December. Slowly she passed each month, relieved that nothing bad or strange happened.
“Ahhhhh—the December mirror.” she said to herself.
As she was in front of the December mirror, she nearly died of shock as the brown sweater became heavy and it actually ‘jumped’ off her instead of ‘dropping’.
To her horrors, what used to be a brown scarf, is now a brown wolf!
How could this happen? She asked herself! I thought I have seen everything in this place – but this? She wondered, more in amazement, than anything else.
The creature stood in front of Lessie. Shaking its body as if drying itself, the wolf looked at Lessie, with eyes wide opened, showing sharp teeth and saliva dripping from the sides of its mouth.
Lessie could not believe her eyes, but she knew she must do something or the wolf might attack her or even eat her up!
In a nice soft pleading voice, she appealed to the brown wolf,
“Sir, please don’t eat me up please! I will do anything for you. If you need it, I will even ask the Queen to help you”
She was actually shivering in fear and not because of the cold!
Then the animal looked around, and with a puzzled look now, turned to Lessie and spoke,
“Where am I? Where is this place? This is not my home. This is not where I am supposed to be!”
In a shivering voice, Lessie answered,
“I’m not sure myself Sir. I asked the Queen earlier but I got no answer from her. All she did was to give me good food with the promise of allowing me to rest before I continue my journey.”
The brown wolf sat on its hind limb, looked at Lessie, shook his head as if in pity and said,
“Let me explain you brave and intelligent girl!” The wolf answered with sarcasm in his voice.
“My home is the world where there were brown leaves on the ground, where you were sucked into this world by the mirror in the house. “
Then he continued.
“The Queen that you kept on mentioning is actually an evil witch. You see I found out about her evil plan to change this world into a very cold wintry world.
There would be no trees, no flowers and no sunshine! Little animals and insects would have no chance to survive.  I was planning to stop her because I know her weakness. But unfortunately an animal, a wolf actually, told her about me.
So she cursed me to be a brown sweater and kept me in the wardrobe with no chance of escape – until you came along.
 I must thank you for taking me out of that dark cupboard. Only a human can expel the spell that was cursed on me. “
Looking at her, the wolf spoke in a quiet but serious voice,
“My dear girl, only you can change everything back to its normal condition in this world.  Yes, you, you young brave girl!
 Are you willing to help me?” urged the wolf.
Eagerly, Lessie answered,
“Of course Sir. Tell me what do I have to do?”
“Good” replied the wolf, “Come, we are running out of time. There’s only 24 hours left for us to do what we have to and change the world and let the seasons go back to normal! Now bring me to the Queen’s room and let us study her plans to destroy us.”
“Yes sir. Follow me”, she replied, and the two prepared to move.

Chapter7.

Standing in front of the castle gate Lessie shouted,

“Hello! Anybody in there? I need help! What is this anyway! Please, anyone here?”
There was silence. She tried again,

“Please someone! I’m cold and I’m shivering. I need to rest for a few days, or even a few hours only. Please!”

Again there was no response. The coat and the brown sweater that she took from the house earlier were not enough to keep her warm. The freezing air was turning her cheeks rosy. Her fingers were getting numb and her breathing getting heavier. 

Then, slowly the door creaked open and there was a man in a brown robe. His face was covered in a big brown hood. Lessie tried to peak to have a look at his face. But she saw was total darkness. An uneasy feeling swept through her body. Then he spoke,

“Welcome my dear! We have been expecting you. Do come in.”

Almost without hesitation, she stepped into the compound of the castle, walked to a smaller gate of a building in the compound, and again walked in after the gate opened on its own.

She came to a big hall everything was in white. It was a long hall with an adjoining passage to another hall . The dining table was a long table with benches on both sides of the table.

Right at the end of the second dining room, was a white throne on a raised dais. The throne was big – very big, and the back was as high as two meters, although the seat itself was of normal size. 

On the throne, there sat a beautiful woman. 

“Ha!” thought Lessie. “This is a nice change! Someone beautiful to look at! What a change after that horrible and ugly snake!!” she smilingly said to herself.

The beautiful woman was in an even more beautiful white robe. Her platinum hair matched the colour of the robe. She sat on the majestic throne, not saying a word, just watching and glaring at Lessie. If she wanted to, she could melt the ice with her stare, and Lessie was beginning to feel the effect of this evil woman’s eyes!

Indeed she looked so arrogant and proud. Inspite of her beauty, she still managed to send shivers down Lessie’s spine. The cruel look continued for some seconds again. 

“Ha little girl! You poor thing! You must be very hungry! Let me serve you with good food and warm clothing.”

Lessie was relieved with the words coming from the Queen, or at least that was what she thought.

“Oh, thank you your highness. That is very kind of you indeed!”, Lessie said.

The woman on the throne leaned forward, leaning her right arm on the arm-rest and snarled,

“Oh shut up you stupid fool! Don’t thank me!”

“What?” Lessie answered, totally shocked and stunned at the sudden switch in character of this queen and the totally unexpected harsh words. 

She looked at the woman on the throne with her mouth wide opened and more words failed to come out of her mouth.

Impatiently, the woman added,

“Oh-nothing..I was talking to my slave not you. Come, quick, follow me and I’ll take you to a smaller dining room. This hall is too big for a little girl like you! I will also show you a room where you can rest.”

Soon she was seated at a dining table with all the good food that she could imagine for her to have. It had been a long day and she was starving. So without waiting for an invitation, she started to enjoy one of the best meals she had ever had!

So full was she that soon she was beginning to feel sleepy. Her eyes were getting heavier and Lessie was nodding off into a deep sleep after all the excitement she had had the whole day.

Shaking her head vigorously, she decided to retire to the room that was earlier shown to her by the Queen.
Dragging her feet, she was climbing the stairs to the room. She could not wait to change into a set of clean warm clothes and grab some shut eyes! Yes, she was totally exhausted!

Reaching the door to her room, she pushed it open, and, again, could not believe what she saw in the room.
The same feeling of fear, anxiety and yet curiosity filled her body. 

“Oh no! Not again!” Instinctively, she grabbed the brown sweater round her neck and wrapped it round herself even tighter and held it tight, as if looking for support or comfort!

Chapter 6

When she became conscious, she found herself lying on the ground. She was shivering and the cold was unbearable! The cold freezing wind was not help in at all. She was feeling cold to the bones.
She sat up and was even more shocked. Everything was in white. There was not a spot of different colour in the place. It’s white, white and more whites.

Then something caught her eyes! a CASTLE ! A castle? In this century??
What was even weirder about this castle is that it is also in white. White hills, white mountains, white castles and white landscape? Just what is this place?
Then she remembered the cut on her finger. It was beginning to bleed again. As she got up, a drop of blood from her finger fell on the ground of ice.
Suddenly the ground under her begun to shake and the ice was cracking ---slowly! She told herself that this had to be a dream.
The ice castle caught her eyes again and in some strange ways, seemed to be pulling and drawing her into it.
Slowly, she got up and looked around her again, shook her head in disbelief at all the happenings since she left her house that morning. She kept telling herself that she only wanted to visit her grandparents – nothing more, nothing less! So what was she doing here and going through all the weird experience?
She recalled the holes in the ground, the tunnels, the fireflies, the snake, the mirror and now this winter land with a castle to top it all.
She was too afraid to think of what she would find next in this uncalled for and unplanned adventure. If it was a dream, she wanted to wake up from it all, but this was not to be so.
“Oh, when will all this end?” moaned Lessie. “Please, someone! Wake me up!”
Reluctantly, she struggled to take the first step towards the mysterious castle, almost believing that it was her duty to fulfill her role of going to the castle and finding out more about it.
Although she was cold and hungry, step by step she approached the castle.
The path approaching the castle was actually a kind of narrow and winding bridge. Looking down, she guessed the height of the bridge must be a few hundred meters from the ground.
Threading carefully of the iced ground, she inched her way towards uncertainty.
Feeling tired, she stopped and looked at the towering castle! The wall must be at least twenty meters high. The parapets were too far up and the mist surrounding the top of the castle kept them as a secret.
On each corner of the high walls, stood very tall round towers. The towers seemed to pierced through the mist and reappeared above, almost reaching the sky.
The whiteness of the walls looked like mirrors, reflecting whatever lights that hit it.
In some cruel, weird and mysterious way, the scene looked almost picturesque.
The nearer she got to the gate of the castle, the faster her heart seemed to be beating. She thought after all the earlier experience, she would be used to all these unexpected events – but, no, the excitement and anxiety were still beyond her control and understanding.

Chapter 5



After a long walk, she saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel and mysteriously, the fireflies also disappeared.
Coming out of the tunnel, she was hit by the cold air. It was crisp and the smell of fallen red and brown leaves filled the air.  
The brown leaves covered the ground like a carpet. In a way, she felt at home with these. Strangely though, there was no sound of any insect or animals. Just silence!
But the cold air has also slowed down her mood and stopped her from looking for the way out. 
Brrrrrrrr! The cold air was getting to her. She rubbed her palms together hoping to create some warmth and folded her arms round her shivering body.
 She was so tired. Her steps are shorter, her movements slower and spirits lower!
Then a whiff of a familiar smell filled the air! The smell of thick smoke!  Following it, she came to a house! The thought of a nice warm house was enough for her to forget all her fears.
With an up-lifted spirit, she almost ran to the door and knocked on it – filled with hope that somebody kind would allow her in and give her relief from this cold and chilly air!

There was no answer. She knocked again, harder this time!
Out of desperation, she tried to open the door. Just at that moment, the door creaked open on its own! Without any hesitation, she entered.
Slowly, she crept in and immediately felt the comfort of the warm air in the house.
“Hello! Anyone in? Hello!” she shouted, hoping for an answer.
Still nobody answered.
She told herself that no matter what she must rest for a few hours.  She pulled a chair in front of the fire-place, sat down and appreciated the warmth that slowly swept her body. Ho nice and cozy, she told herself!
 After a while, she walked to the window and peeped outside. What beautiful scenery!
The autumn leaves were everywhere and soon the winter chill will turn this into a snow-land. She smiled at the thought of the fun she would have with her sister.
It’s only now that she realized that she had not eaten and was beginning to feel the hunger pang in her body! Going to the kitchen was no help as there was no food or anything to eat.
Then in one of the pots, she found a bar of chocolate. Her happiness was beyond description. As much as she wished she could have the owner’s permission, she had no choice but to take and eat. 
Unwrapping the chocolate, she silently thanked the owner.
The chocolate was a life saver to her. She didn’t want to finish all of it but instead kept half of it in her pocket should it be needed later on.
Next, she thought of warm clothing to protect her from the cold. She saw a wardrobe and started looking for warm clothing to wear during her journey to find her way home!
She indeed found something – a jacket and a fur scarf.
Excitedly, she tried it on and looked in the mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door. It was a nice brown sweater.
She thought that would keep her nice and warm. She wanted to make some adjustment to the sweater wrapping her body but the mirror also needed adjusting as it was too high.
Looking at the mirror, she thought to herself,
“What a funny shape! Why would anyone want a mirror in the shape of ice? “.
At that instant, she cut her finger on the ‘mirror’ which turned out to be actual ice. Her finger was bleeding and blood was dripping down on to the floor!!
At that moment, there was a flash of lights and the ‘mirror’ literally sucked Lessie into itself.
Poor Lessie didn’t know what hit her and fainted – more from shock than pain. All she knew was that she was spinning and spinning into a bottomless pit that was in the mirror. She could not understand how this could happen. !

Chapter 4


W
ithout the help of the fire-flies, she was lost in the dark again! But what made her go on her own were the small voices of despair and pity that came out of the small tunnel. The voices seemed to be mumbling something and calling for help.
 She just could not walk away and left those poor people in their pain. Lessie knew she must release them from whatever that may be holding them!
“AAAAHHHHHH!” – She screamed! In the dark she had bumped into something wet, cold and slimy! She knew it was some kind of creature!
 “Who is that?” “What are you?” she shouted and screamed!
“Show yourself! “, she almost pleaded now.
She retreated a few steps, her heart beating faster and faster. She knew something evil is in front of her! Straining her eyes and saying a silent prayer, she could barely make out the shape of the creature.
Then two bright lights appeared in front of her. The lights were so bright that it lit up the area and it also showed the creature quite clearly.
It was a big snake! The two lights were also the eyes of the evil snake!
Lessie realized that she could see everything only when the snake opened its eyes!
“What is this place?” she asked herself in her mind!
Opening the eyes even bigger, the snake moved gracefully and raised itself to a higher height and said,
“You must be hungry little girl!” Here, don’t be afraid!”
With its tail, the snake offered a big red, shiny, juicy apple.
“Here you are! Don’t you just love this compared to those green apples? Oh by the way---you know that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, don’t you?  Hahahahahahahahahah“.
The snake gave an evil laugh while pushing the apple to Lessie,
trying to influence her to accept the apple.
Lessie never knew where her courage came from as she fought the temptation to accept the evil gift! With a brave face, she looked at the snake in the eye and said,
“I might be hungry but the King of Universe that I am searching for would never treat me like this!”
This made the snake angry.  She moved her long body and tried to coil round Lessie’s body and tried to force her to eat the red apple.
Lessie screamed and struggled to escape. She screamed as loud as she could and wished that all this was nightmare! All route of escape had been blocked by the snake’s long body!
She was losing the battle as the red apple held by the tail of the snake was being brought nearer and nearer to her mouth.
“No! NO! “, she screamed.
Then the apple fell, together with the tail of the snake – lifeless. Looking at the head of the snake, she saw a bright arrow pierced through the head of the snake from the back.
What a relief! But who can it be? Who is this archer that had saved her life?
Then out of nowhere, the fireflies appeared again! With a smile of relief, Lessie wanted to hug every one on of the fire flies!  Soon she was on her way again.
 This time the fire-flies formed the shape of a bright arrow to show the direction for her to follow.


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Chapter 3

There were holes everywhere on the ground. Big ones, medium ones and small ones. It looked more like the sides of a cheese block! Lessie stood there for a moment – lost in her own mind, not knowing what to do.

But she simply had to find out the source of the scent and sound. Moreover she suspected that the hole could be connected to them!

Plucking all her courage, she started walking on tip-toes avoiding all the holes. There were places where she had to jump across the holes and skipped aside to avoid falling into any of it.

Soon some birds appeared and flew about in the air chirping away and a few squirrels were jumping up and down on branches squeaking noisily as if trying to warn her about something! Then it suddenly happened!

She jumped too close to the edge of a big hole and the ground gave way. In a mad scramble to grab an overhanging branch, she lost her balance and fell into the big gaping hole!

She felt as if she had been sucked by a giant vacuum cleaner and was falling deeper and deeper into the chasm. It was not a smooth ride.

The rocks were hurting her body and she was just twisting and falling deeper and deeper into the unknown .The deeper she gets, the darker it became and the falling and sliding continued for a good many minutes!

Soon she landed with a thud and a roll for a few meters before coming to an abrupt stop. She sat on the ground nursing a dizzy head. Her head, hands and legs were bruised and cut – but she did not feel any pain.

No – fear was even worse for her. The fear that she might have been buried, that she might be in an underground cave that she might not be able to get back to the surface and, worst of all --- she might even die there!!!

“Ouch – what on earth is this place? I couldn’t see anything. It’s so dark in here. “, she thought aloud.

Then, she shouted,

“Hello!!!Anybody here? Can you hear me? Please!! It’s too dark! Please help me! If ever you want to trap me, at least bring some lights and let me see you!!”

Nothing but silence!

Then the feeling of worries overcame her! Her family! They will be so worried if she did not return home before dark! What is the time now?

“Oh no! What have I done now??” She was mumbling to herself!

She knew she had to find a way out and get back home. So, like a blind, she got up and started to feel her way around – although she has lost all sense of direction! She stumbled and fell so many times that she could not care anymore. She wished one of her animal friends could help her now.

Her thoughts kept going back to the surface world. Her parents, sister, animal friends, grandparents, her bed-room, her pillows – just about everything!

Suddenly, thousands of small lights appeared far behind her! They seem to be floating about and were getting nearer and nearer to her. She wasn’t sure whether to feel afraid or relieved!

Lessie realized that the lights were fire-flies. As they got nearer, the lights lit up the area of the tunnel around them. What a relief to know that her eyes were still in perfect condition and that she was not blind!

The fire flies stopped when she stopped and continued to follow and direct her when she walked. She thanked the little creatures for the help.

In the tunnel, there were many other branches of tunnels and the fire-flies seemed to know just which one to take!

Then something distracted her attention and she walked away from the fireflies and entered one of the smaller dark branch tunnels, which turned out to be a mistake for her!

Chapter 2

One day, she decided to pay a visit to her grandparent’s! As usual, she was alone. So after breakfast, she put on something warm as the air was quite chilly, she left a written message for her family telling them where she was going.

Approaching the forest, something made her turned round to have a look at her house. Not knowing why she did that, she shook her head, smiled to herself and in her mind said,
‘Stop it silly girl! You’re not going anywhere far! Its just grand-dad’s place’.

And she continued her journey.

Coming to a spot where there was a small clearing, she started sniffing! There was something in the air but she could not make out what it was! A squirrel came down from a tree and Lessie asked,

‘Do you smell anything squirrel?’

But all it did was to run up a tree and disappeared among the leaves – which was strange because normally all animals would stop and ‘chat’ with her.

The smell, or rather scent, became stronger. It was a nice smelling scent – almost like the scent of fresh green apple which she loves so much!!!

She looked around and tried to trace where it was coming from! Soon a buzzing sound came to her ears. It was a soft continuous sound which did not really hurt! Bees? She could not see any.

Again, trying to trace the source of the smell, she turned east which was not where she was supposed to be heading as her grand-parent’s house was due north.

She realized that the buzzing and the smell seemed to come from the same source!!!

Lessie decided to continue eastward and find out more about this mysterious smell and sound. The more she thought of it, the more she realized that the smell is almost that of green apples and apple-pies which she so dearly loved …….and the more curious she became!

Soon she came to a big tree which was exactly in her path! Strange, she thought! She knew this forest like the back of her hands and there was no tree along this path before. She stopped and looked up the tree! The thick leaves seemed to hide the sun ray from reaching the ground.

Looking down again, she shrugged her shoulders and decided to continue looking for the source.

She walked round the tree and stopped dead in her tracks! She could not believe what she saw!!!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

"Lessie in limbo land" - a short story.

Chapter 1

It was another sunrise, another day for this family that lives on the slope of a hill overlooking the woods, the small village and the rest of the world. Behind the house is a stream of mountain-cool water. This stream brings the water in a swift flow through the woods and slowly winding its way on the low-land to the village not too far away, serving the animals and the villagers.

As always, it was a cold morning. The mist that hangs around the house sometimes moves in a swirl brought about by a breeze of cool air from the mountain top.

The silence of the morning was broken by the opening of a window and, a front door as well. Soon a little, well not quite little, girl stepped out of the house.

She took a step out of the house, gave herself a good stretch and a yawn and gave the world the sweetest smile, together with her dimple on her left cheek. She was still dressed in her sleeping clothes (hardly pajamas), a knee-length trousers and a t-shirt in a red hooded sweater.

She stepped out to the garden, pulled the hood over her head, stood still, closed her eyes and still smiling, and took a few deep breath of the cool fresh air. This had been her morning rites as far back as she could remember.

Next, she walked to a corner of the garden, took a broom and started sweeping the fallen leaves strewn about in the garden. This is another ritual which she goes through every day. There was a time, not too long ago when her Grand-dad taught her how to use the broom and taught her the particular way that he wanted the garden swept. It was such heavy work then, but now, it is just another chore to her.
While sweeping, her mind was already working on what to do for the rest of the day, but a little sparrow interrupted her thoughts. The little bird came hopping to her as close as it dared.

The girl dropped the broom and squatted while looking at the bird.
“Hello little bird and how are we today?”

Anyone watching the scene could have sworn that the two understood each other because in a strange way, the bird was chirping away as if in conversation.

So this scene repeats itself every morning. It might be a bird, or the leaves, or a butterfly or the grass that would be her talking friend.

Lessie was only twelve, but she could pass off as a fifteen year old in a conversation if she wanted to. For her age she was a tall girl of 154cm and of about 45 kg. The only sign to give a hint of her actual age was her looks.

Her fair skin reflected her youth very well. In her right mood, especially when she was happy, she would become that little baby in the pram all over again and every movement of her fingers to show gestures would always bring smiles to those in front of her. Her bright alert eyes had always been observant and sharp, , beyond the normal sight, fortunately or unfortunately for her.

Hers was a small family with just an elder sister, parents and grand-parents who lived not-too-far away. In her family, there were times when serious arguments would take place, well, maybe a little too often.

This was made worse with the interference from her relatives in family matters.
There were just too much anger, stubbornness and stress among the adults - too much adult stuff that her poor innocent mind could not understand!

She was just too young to understand the why’s and how’s so she usually stays out of it. Her sister too preferred to stay out of the chaotic situation – but she was older than Lessie and somehow the gap in their age also showed in their interest and activities.

Thus Lessie’s loneliness knew no bound!
Poor Lessie! The woods would always be her playground and the insects, animals and even the grass and plants would be her friends, other than a boy called Robin from the neighbourhood.

So in her own way, her mind and childhood world was more about the beauty of nature, the peaceful existence of the wood and the feeling of love for God’s creation.

Without giving it much thought, she realized that sometimes she could actually communicate with the dogs, cats and whatever other insects and animals that she chose to ‘talk’ to, as if they understood the interaction between them.

Although it was beyond her understanding, she took it for granted that it is quite normal to understand God’s creatures’ ‘language’.

My First Post.

Hi, welcome to my blog and to my first posting here.

Happy reading.