Congratulations !
You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !
- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Adventure
- Published: 07/19/2013
The Magical Tree
Deep in the woods stood a tree that was magical, it stood away from all the other trees, big and strong with a bird’s nest half way up. If you looked hard enough and were quiet, you might catch a glance of a bird flying onto the branch feeding its young. Listening to all the birds singing made you feel so happy to be alive, to be in such a place where all the creatures of the forest come together, it's like hearing a symphony.
It was a windy day and the trees were swaying, the leaves were flying all around and the branches were creaking as they knocked into each other. It was mystical to be standing there listening to all the sounds trying to work out where they were coming from.
Inside the magical tree lived a little man called Sam; he was very small to look at and always made you smile, dressed with a green jacket, red shoes with gold buckles, a red hat and a long white beard, which hung to the floor. Sam liked the color red, it reminded him of a rose he had picked years ago. The wind was getting a little stronger so Sam decided to go to bed so he did not have to hear all the noises, which he knew would soon pass, as he had lived in the woods for hundreds of years.
You could see the light shining down through the tops of the trees hitting the trunks at the bottom, making shadows on the ground. Your eyes could not believe what they saw. It felt really creepy but there was nothing there, the light was just playing tricks with your eyes and the wind played tricks with your ears, but nevertheless you wished that you were somewhere else.
On a calm summers day the magical tree glowed with sparkling colors of light. Colors you’ve never imagined, beauty that you have never seen, just like the famous painters try to capture in their paintings to put on canvas, to share with the world.
On the edge of the Wood stood a log cabin; there was a pigsty near the cabin and inside stood an old pig called Ben. Ben was old but Mike loved him. Mike, who was ten, seemed mature for his age. He was a clever lad. He liked to wear jeans with a T-shirt and always threw on whatever jumper he could find at the time. On his way out of the house he bumped into his sister Sue. She was only eight and always seemed to be screaming and shouting, today she was wearing a blue and white dress.
”Mike where are you going?" Sue asked.
“Out to play, are you coming?”
“Yes she replied, but don’t run off and leave me”.
They both ran down the garden path out of the gate and headed towards the wood, running through the long grass in the field.
"Stop!" Sue shouts, "you’re running too fast I can’t keep up with you”.
Mike stopped and waited for his sister. “You just can’t run fast enough said Mike”.
“But that’s not my fault the grass is too long for me to run in and you are a lot faster than me, you’re a boy,” said Sue.
“Sorry!" Said Mike, "come on, let’s go and see what we can find in the woods?"
So they started walking into the wood. It was a lovely day the birds were singing and the sun was shinning, there was a slight breeze in the air, just enough to keep you cool. As they entered the wood, Sue saw quite a lot of insects flying around and while she opened her mouth to catch her breath, she swallowed one! She spat it out nearly choking, "that was horrible," she said, whilst using the sleeve of her dress to wipe her lips, spitting all the time to make sure the insect was definitely OUT.
”You always get lots of midges this time of year," explained Mike, it’s nothing to worry about, you’ll get use to them, there are swarms of them all over the place”.
“Yes! But they don’t taste very nice.”
Just as she had finished moaning Mike whispered, "shush! Look over there? That is beautiful." Sue looked to where Mike was pointing and saw a Stag with long pointed antlers, ”oh! That’s wonderful," said Sue, "what a lovely sight.”
“Yes! It sure is” said Mike.
Walking further into the wood sue was looking all around, Mike was just picking up sticks and throwing them, kicking things on the ground and whistling to himself. Sue just ignores him; she likes looking at the different birds and admiring the creatures that live in the forest. Sue believed that there is a God and he made all things on this earth.
Suddenly Mike stopped! “You can rest a while here Sue, I am going to climb this tree.”
All right, says Sue, looking down at an old log on the ground, she thinks, I’ll just sit and wait here; Sue looks up and sees Mike half way up the tree, and shouts! “Be careful!" Not noticing a big ant crawling up her leg.
“I will, said Mike”.
Suddenly Sue let out a big Screech!
“What’s wrong said Mike, whilst descending from the tree at fast speed.
"A big ant has just bit me on the leg and it hurts.”
Mike drops down beside her to have a look at her leg, “oh it’s just a bite, you will be fine, the swelling will go down don’t worry too much, you stay there I’m going back up the tree, you will be ok”.
While Mike is climbing the tree Sue looks for somewhere else to sit, she is starting to feel unwell and sees a base of a big tree where she can sit, and thinks that it looks okay. While sitting there she can hear the rustling of the leaves and the creaking of branches and the odd leaf and twig fall to the ground as Mike climbs the tree.
Just then she notices a deer between the trees, but her vision starts to blur, she can feel herself drifting as she screws her eyes up, shakes her head and tries to open them. She can feel some thing on her leg, she looks down and sees a little man in a green jacket with a very long beard, slowly her eyes close and she falls asleep.
“Sue! Sue! Wake up, Sue," as she opens her eyes she sees Mike leaning over her, "ah you’re awake now!” “Yes I am says Sue, but I’ve had the weirdest dream, I thought I saw a little man in a green jacket with a very long white beard,” both of them were looking at the bite on her leg. Mike says, "look it’s gone?”
“Yes," says Sue, "that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, the little man touched my bite and it disappeared?”
Mike laughed! ”There’s no such thing as little men in green jackets?"
“Yes there is and he fixed it”.
Mike says "don’t be silly, anyhow come on it’s getting late, we have to make our way back home, it will be dark soon".
They both go back through the wood to their little cabin.
That night while trying to sleep Sue thinks: I did see a little man in a green jacket and he did fix the bite on my leg, or did he? Thinking about it she eventually fell asleep.
The next day Sue woke up early with the sun beaming through the window, lighting up her room, shining through the colored curtains that her mother had made. Ah! She says while stretching out and yawning, what a lovely day! She threw back her covers and catapults her teddy over the other side of the room, jumps out of bed, then opens the door and then walks into Mikes room. he is still fast asleep. ”Wake up! Wake up!" Mike turns over and opens his eyes, "what do you want at this time of the morning, it’s still early"?
Sue insists that they go back to the wood and look at the deer they saw yesterday, really she wanted to know if the little green man was real or not. Ok, says Mike, "wait for me down stairs I’ll be down in a moment.”
"Ok" says Sue; she has a big smile on her face walking out of Mike’s room. She runs downstairs to the kitchen and grabs two pieces of bread. Opens the cupboard to reach for her favorite jam, strawberry homemade, hmm! She says licking her lips, she hears Mike coming down the stairs.”
“Are you ready Sue?": While grabbing some biscuits out of a Jar.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
Off they go once again into the wood.
Sue remembered the midges at the start of the woods; she ducks down so she doesn’t get another unwelcome insect in her mouth. It’s not long before they’re back at the spot where they were yesterday. It’s very warm with the sun shining; there are beams of light shining through the tops of the trees managing to shine on the forest floor. While standing, Sue could hear all the different animals, the bird’s way up in the trees with beautiful colors long tails, and some of them doing funny dances on the branches. On the ground, Sue could see a funny insect with lots of legs running in and out of the leaves that had fallen from the trees, which were covering the ground like a blanket.
Mike had found a strange looking ball, hanging from a branch with lots of wasps flying in and out, he had never seen one before and had to investigate a little closer. He shouts, “Sue, you stay there, if you need me just shout!”
“Ok." Sue looks all around to find the big tree; she spots it, ah! There you are, she says to herself while walking towards it.
She walks round admiring its beauty and its huge size. she had never seen a tree like this before. after walking round two or three times she decides to sit down right in the same place she had sat yesterday. Sue sits there remembering thoughts of the days she had enjoyed in the woods, she unties the ribbon from her hair to lets the breeze blow through and lets her hair hang free. she puts the red ribbon down beside her letting it hang over the trunk of the tree. Then leans back against the tree to rest and enjoy the view and soak up all the noises, which to her were all very nice.
Suddenly from the corner of her eye, she sees the ribbon move, she was sure it couldn’t be the breeze, so slowly moves her head to look at the ribbon.
Coming into view she sees him again, the little man in the green jacket with the very long white beard. I knew I’d seen him yesterday and I wasn’t dreaming.
Sue looks again, Sam hadn’t noticed, Sue was watching his every move and he carried on pulling the red ribbon into his tree. he liked red things, he thought that he would add this to his collection. he looks up and sees Sue watching him, she was sitting very still. Oh! He cries! Runs and hides in the hole in the tree, shivering inside not knowing if he had been seen, he hears a voice saying, “hey! Little man come out, I won’t harm you, please come out”.
Sam waits a moment before stepping out. Sue says, ”there you are, don’t worry little man, I will not hurt you”.
Sam, with a nervous voice says, “I was only getting something I thought was left by someone, I did not know it was yours.”
“It’s ok, who are you? Where do you live? Where do you come from? What are you doing in this tree?”
Sam tells her to slow down, "one question at a time please.”
“Sorry" says Sue looking at him intensely thinking, he’s so small.
He answers by saying that his name is Sam, he's hundreds of years old and that he’s lived in this tree all of his life and likes it very much.
Mike is running around frantically waving his arms in the air, due to this ball hanging from a branch, he didn’t realize after just whacking it with a stick that it was a wasp’s nest. And from the number of wasps that were annoyed grouping together and vigorously defending their nest, aiming for Mike, he would soon get his just dessert, he did not know this then, but soon notices that there are many wasps flying round him.
He quickly runs away from the nest still waving his arms frantically to fend off the wasps, and shouts! ”Sue! Sue! Help! I’m being attacked by wasps,” running towards Sue, Sam sees him and quickly vanishes down his hole out of sight.
Sue stands up saying “How can I help you? What can I do?”
Just then Mike gets stung on his neck, ouch! He shouts while rubbing his hand up and down his neck fast, “that stings like mad”.
“How did you manage to do that?" Sue says.
“Well I sort of whacked that ball over there with my stick and all these wasps came flying out, I think that’s why I got stung by one of them.” Sue laughs. “what you laughing at”?
“You”! Sue says laughing her little head off. "fancy being stung by wasps, serves you right for whacking the nest."
Mike thought that it was a good idea at the time.
"Go and play and leave them wasps alone.”
“Ok I won’t be long”.
Sue looks round to see if she can see Sam, but he’s nowhere in sight, so she walks up to the tree and sees the hole at the bottom, “Sam are you in there? Please come out, he has gone now.”
Listening to what Sue was saying Sam decides to come out, he pops his head out of the whole, “hello! Here I am, I could not let your brother see me, so I hid back in my tree”.
“That’s ok, you don’t want to know him anyhow, he’s just a little boy that likes destroying things, it serves him right he got a stung on his neck. Maybe next time he will think before he goes about destroying wasp’s nests created by those little wasps, he does not realize how long and how much work goes into creating something so marvelous, and made by so many little creatures. Each creature has been put on this earth to serve its purpose and upsetting the balance of nature has its affects on the entire planet”.
Sam says, “I didn’t know you young children knew so much about the planet”.
“Yes we do. I think more children should learn about the creatures, and what role they play in keeping this earth together. It’s really nice and very interesting when you read about all the creatures and how they survived through to this day, and you would be surprised by the pictures of each animal, where they live, and how they go about their daily tasks”.
“Sounds very interesting, I agree with you, children should learn more about the animals that live around us because humans are taking their land away and threatening their very existence.”
“Sam, why do you live in this tree?” Asks sue.
“I have lived in this tree for many years with my people, it’s a magical tree and it’s our home, anyone trying to destroy the forest has been stopped by the tree's powers, it has power you could never imagine. It does things even I don’t believe and the tree has helpers, but the evil wizard of the wood has captured them and took them underground to work for him.”
"No!" Says sue, "but can’t the magical tree do something about that?" she asks.
“No the tree has magical powers but the wizard has his powers also, and he has them far under the ground, where the powers of the tree can not reach.”
“Can we do something?” Says Sue.
“Well! We could try if you are willing to come into the tree with me?”
“I’ll never fit in that hole?”
“Yes you will, just close your eyes and I’ll lead you in.”
As Sue bends her head towards the hole, there’s a circle of glitter and then, as if by magic, in she goes.
“Wow!" Looking all around, while at the same time she was aware that she was becoming smaller, a cloud of smoke hung in the air as she is led through the long passage ways beneath the tree.
Then suddenly they pop out into an under ground cave full of passageways and openings, long twisty corridors leading as far as the eye can see. They are long and Spooky.
“This way, just follow me,” While following Sam sue looks at all the roots sticking out from the earth above, just then a worm goes right past her, yuck! She says watching it go by. ”watch your step” says Sam as they approach a crack in a big stone. they just manage to squeeze through into a big opening, ”wow!" Sue says "this is amazing.”
“Quiet" Says Sam, while coming to the end of the corridor with a deep drop in front of them, "look!”
Sue looks and to her amazement sees lots of little men all over the place working with pick axes, barrows shovels, and then sees things being lifted in big nets up and down, “what’s this?" Sue asks Sam.
“This is where the evil wizard has captured all the little people and he is making them work for him.”
"There doesn’t seem to be anyone telling them what to do or watching over their every move?”
“Oh! But there is, look over there in the corner." Sue looks. she is amazed to see such a horrible creature, it’s a dragon and a long one at that.
"With the evil wizard anything is possible, and down here he won't be far away, that’s why the little people won't run away, and they are too scared of the dragon.”
"I can see why," says Sue, "it's horrid and I think it would take a lot to stop it?”
“That’s why I have brought you down here, with the two of us we might be able to rescue the little people, but that may not be enough against this horrible dragon, we could do with more help?"
“I know" she says, "I will tell my brother and he can help.”
“What a good idea! Let’s hurry up and get back." So they start making their way back through the gap in the stone, back into the corridor filled with long passages. Long corridors you can see going far into the distance. "Here we are, hold on Sue and just jump into the hole and follow me.” Sue jumps in knowing what to expect this time, then out they pop at the other end,
“wow!" Says Sue, "that was so exciting." she was standing on the floor of the old tree. "I enjoyed that.”
“Yes it is fun isn’t it," says Sam.
“But we have to find Mike and see if he will help us save the little people. You stay here Sam, I will go and explain to my brother what’s going on and hope he believes me when I tell him about you and the little people and the evil wizard. It may take some time Sam, so be patient please.”
“Ok" he replies.
And off she goes through the hole in the old magical tree, out she steps and feels herself going back to her normal size. that was weird, she says to herself while looking ahead to see if she could see her brother, “Mike! Mike! She shouts where are you? Mike! Where are you?" Still she gets no response. I wonder where that brother of mine has got to? Or what he may be destroying now? just then up ahead on top of a mound of soil she sees Mike kneeling down; I wonder what he is getting up to now?
"Mike!" She shouts.
Mike turns round, ”oh! It’s you!”
“What are you doing?"
"nothing.”
“Well, what are these holes in the ground?”
“Probably badgers dug these holes, or foxes, I’m trying to find out which, but there doesn’t seem to be any animals here.”
“They may have left through the day to find food and water, and only sleep here in the night. Anyhow I’ve got something to tell you, and you need to listen real carefully Mike, because what I’m about to tell, you may not believe. Remember the other day when I said I saw the little man in his green jacket and long white beard,”
“Yes!"
“Well, its true, there is a little man in a tree and his name is Sam. He’s a very nice man, but we have a problem, there is a wizard holding the little people underground and making them work and there is a dragon monster guarding them,”
“Wait! Stop! You’re talking too fast, slow down and start again from the start, and explain to me exactly what is going on?”
Sue explains the whole story to Mike.
“Wow!" Mike stands back in amazement. "little people, lots of them, a wizard and a dragon creature, this is too good to be true. Come on, let's go, show me where they are?”
It’s not long before they both get back to the tree. "wait there," Sue says to Mike, "and be prepared to see Sam, then you might believe everything I have told you. Sam!" She shouts "Sam! You can come out, I’ve told my brother about you, please come out.” Sam jumps out the hole, Mike sees Sam just standing there, ”wow! This is amazing, I don’t believe what I’m seeing, this is fantastic, it’s better than climbing trees, hello little man”.
"His name is Sam,” says Sue.
“Sorry!" Says Mike "but you’re so small, my sister was right, I think I’m going to like you.”
“Good" says Sam "but we have a problem and I hope you will help us out?”
“Yes I will.”
“Oh! Good, come on then, let’s go,”
“Go where?”
“Just follow us" says Sue "its easy and you will enjoy it.”
Mike stands and watches the little green man disappear into the hole. And then he looks at his sister putting her head in the hole. suddenly there is a twinkle of stars and as if by magic in she goes. Mike was shocked but slowly sticks his head into the hole and poof! He is there with them in the white clouds of smoke and heading down the tunnel with colored rings all moving at the same time, but they weren’t, he was. Mike soon arrives at the other end, popping out, seeing Sam and Sue just standing there.
“Hey! That was excellent, I really enjoyed that.”
“Yes, isn’t it Mike, I liked it too" said Sue. "right, come on, follow us and watch where you're walking, there are stones on the ground, and keep your eye out for worms passing by, you wouldn’t want to miss them Mike."
They all soon approached the gap in the stone and squeezed through.
"Shush! Don’t speak, we’re nearly there, look Mike, down there!” he looks down and to his amazement sees lots of little people, “Wow! This is cool, I didn’t think in my life I would ever see anything as unusual as this, all these little people in here, wow! It’s great.”
“Yes it is great, but more to the point Mike, we have to save them from that nasty evil wizard.”
“How we going to do that?” says Mike.
“Well that’s not the problem, he is!” and Mike turns and sees where Sue is pointing.
“oh! What is that?"
"It’s a dragon."
How are we going to stop that thing?”
Sam says, "well, see that collar with the key on its neck?" they both reply, yes. "we have to some how, get that key, it opens the gate that will help the little people escape. And right next to the key is a Stick with powers, it’s the evil wizards, and the dragon has it on its neck all the time.”
“How are we going to get both of them off the dragon?" Mike says, scratching his head and looking along the cave wall. He sees a bolder half way up on another ledge. "Ah! If Sue and I climb along to that ledge and Sam can distract the dragon long enough to stand underneath here, I’ve got a plan.”
Sam agrees to do it and Sue and Mike start to climb along the wall. Sue slips! is just about to scream when Mike puts his hand over her mouth. phew! That was close; they made it onto the ledge. Mike waves at Sam to give him the go ahead, while Sue and Mike get ready to push the bolder over the edge. "I hope this works?" Says Mike. "so do I" says Sue. they both manage to get the bolder to the edge of the ledge. "look Mike, Sam is heading towards the dragon," just then the dragon turns round and sees Sam.
Fire comes out of its mouth, then it starts running towards Sam. "oh! My god" says Sam, while turning round rather fast and heading for the spot that Mike said he wants him to lead the dragon. Sam runs faster and faster, noticing that the dragon is catching up to him. He knows now that he will not have time to climb the wall and sees a gap in the bottom and heads for it. Sam just manages to get into the gap, hoping that the dragon cannot reach him inside.
“Quick! Push!" Shouts Mike, "the dragon is just below, push!” Sue pushes!
While the dragon tries to put it’s head into the gap looking intensely for Sam.
"Oh! No!" Sam sits down, looking up at the dragon’s head. I hope he doesn’t see me...
Just then the dragon looks down, opens its mouth, and Bang! The bolder hits its target right on his head.
“Yes!" Shouts Sue with a big sigh of relief, "it worked!”
While cowering in the corner with his eyes shut Sam slowly opens one eye and then the other. "yes!" He says, with a big gasp of relief, they have done it. They have done it. Then he smiles like a Cheshire cat.
Sue and Mike start climbing down to see if Sam is all right. they reach the bottom quickly and run into the gap, Sam smiles seeing mike and then sue.
“Wow!" Says mike "it worked, I don’t believe it, quick get the key and the magic stick off his collar.”
Sue bends down, looking under the bolder to what is left of the dragon, while cringing she pulls the key and the magic stick off his collar. "here you go Sam," and gives him the magic stick. "you’ll know better what to do with the magic stick than I will."
“Where is the door? So I can let the little people free" says Mike.
“Over there in the corner, where it drops slightly, the door is at the bottom" says Sam.
All the little people are standing still wondering what has just happened, and then they start cheering, "yes! The dragon is dead," while at the same time there is jumping up and down with enjoyment, "the dragon is dead, the dragon is dead!"
Mike runs across the cave floor, at the same time shouting, "follow me everybody, follow me!" They all turn their heads, listening to what Mike is saying, then all of a sudden they start heading towards the door. Out they all go cheering, "yippie! We are free!"
Mike turns round and joins Sue and Sam.
"Now the evil wizard does not have his powers and the dragon is dead. I think we should go and find him" says Sam. They all set off up a flight of stairs winding round towards a castle; at the top of the stairs there is an entrance to the castle with two gargoyles either side.
"Yuck! They’re not very nice to look at," Says sue.
Into the castle they go down a corridor into the main hall. "Let's look round here" says Sam.
They look everywhere but he’s not here.
“I know" says Sue "let's go upstairs?”
They all head up a big flight of stairs and notice the carpet with splendid colors that they are walking on. they reach the top and straight ahead of them is a big door with a face on it with its tongue sticking out, made of old wood.
“This must be his bedroom" says Mike. "come we will look in here."
Mike opens the big doors with a loud creak. "wow! What a bedroom, look at all the glass bottles, pots and instruments all over the place.”
Sam says; "start looking he’s got to be here somewhere?” Sue looks under the bed behind a big chest. "he’s not here" she says.
Sam looks behind the big curtains and sees if he is hiding in the large pots. "no! He’s not here," just then Mike opens the cupboard door with a rusty old nail sticking out, it catches him on the face cutting him. owe! He says, noticing the wizard cowering in the other corner, "here he is!" Sam runs over. "Ah, Now we have got you, I’m going to put you somewhere forever where you can do no more harm." With that he grabs the magic stick, raises his arm, points it at the wizard and says his magic words, then with a big poof of smoke he’s gone.
Yes! They all shout.
Sam turns to Mike and Sue. "I want to thank you so much for what you have done. You have saved the little people from the dangerous evil wizard and freed my people and we all thank you so much. But never forget, where there is evil there is always good."
Then they hear shouting! “Come on you two sleepy heads, it’s time to get up.” Mike gets up out of bed and goes downstairs.
“Where is your sister?" His Mum says.
“She is still in bed. I’ll go and get her." Up the stairs he goes and into his sisters room. he sees her just sitting there, staring at a picture of a castle, a wizard, and lots of little people. Mike looks at Sue and says, "you still don’t believe in that story of the Evil Wizard and the magical tree and the little people?”
Sue says "no”, watching Mike as he turns his head to walk out the room, she notices a scratch down the side of his face; “good" Mike says while walking out the door, "I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast.”
Author Tony Smith
Copyright ©2003 Tony smith
To go to the main website Click Here:
https://www.mio2mio.webs.com/magicaltree.html
The Magical Tree(Tony Smith)
The Magical Tree
Deep in the woods stood a tree that was magical, it stood away from all the other trees, big and strong with a bird’s nest half way up. If you looked hard enough and were quiet, you might catch a glance of a bird flying onto the branch feeding its young. Listening to all the birds singing made you feel so happy to be alive, to be in such a place where all the creatures of the forest come together, it's like hearing a symphony.
It was a windy day and the trees were swaying, the leaves were flying all around and the branches were creaking as they knocked into each other. It was mystical to be standing there listening to all the sounds trying to work out where they were coming from.
Inside the magical tree lived a little man called Sam; he was very small to look at and always made you smile, dressed with a green jacket, red shoes with gold buckles, a red hat and a long white beard, which hung to the floor. Sam liked the color red, it reminded him of a rose he had picked years ago. The wind was getting a little stronger so Sam decided to go to bed so he did not have to hear all the noises, which he knew would soon pass, as he had lived in the woods for hundreds of years.
You could see the light shining down through the tops of the trees hitting the trunks at the bottom, making shadows on the ground. Your eyes could not believe what they saw. It felt really creepy but there was nothing there, the light was just playing tricks with your eyes and the wind played tricks with your ears, but nevertheless you wished that you were somewhere else.
On a calm summers day the magical tree glowed with sparkling colors of light. Colors you’ve never imagined, beauty that you have never seen, just like the famous painters try to capture in their paintings to put on canvas, to share with the world.
On the edge of the Wood stood a log cabin; there was a pigsty near the cabin and inside stood an old pig called Ben. Ben was old but Mike loved him. Mike, who was ten, seemed mature for his age. He was a clever lad. He liked to wear jeans with a T-shirt and always threw on whatever jumper he could find at the time. On his way out of the house he bumped into his sister Sue. She was only eight and always seemed to be screaming and shouting, today she was wearing a blue and white dress.
”Mike where are you going?" Sue asked.
“Out to play, are you coming?”
“Yes she replied, but don’t run off and leave me”.
They both ran down the garden path out of the gate and headed towards the wood, running through the long grass in the field.
"Stop!" Sue shouts, "you’re running too fast I can’t keep up with you”.
Mike stopped and waited for his sister. “You just can’t run fast enough said Mike”.
“But that’s not my fault the grass is too long for me to run in and you are a lot faster than me, you’re a boy,” said Sue.
“Sorry!" Said Mike, "come on, let’s go and see what we can find in the woods?"
So they started walking into the wood. It was a lovely day the birds were singing and the sun was shinning, there was a slight breeze in the air, just enough to keep you cool. As they entered the wood, Sue saw quite a lot of insects flying around and while she opened her mouth to catch her breath, she swallowed one! She spat it out nearly choking, "that was horrible," she said, whilst using the sleeve of her dress to wipe her lips, spitting all the time to make sure the insect was definitely OUT.
”You always get lots of midges this time of year," explained Mike, it’s nothing to worry about, you’ll get use to them, there are swarms of them all over the place”.
“Yes! But they don’t taste very nice.”
Just as she had finished moaning Mike whispered, "shush! Look over there? That is beautiful." Sue looked to where Mike was pointing and saw a Stag with long pointed antlers, ”oh! That’s wonderful," said Sue, "what a lovely sight.”
“Yes! It sure is” said Mike.
Walking further into the wood sue was looking all around, Mike was just picking up sticks and throwing them, kicking things on the ground and whistling to himself. Sue just ignores him; she likes looking at the different birds and admiring the creatures that live in the forest. Sue believed that there is a God and he made all things on this earth.
Suddenly Mike stopped! “You can rest a while here Sue, I am going to climb this tree.”
All right, says Sue, looking down at an old log on the ground, she thinks, I’ll just sit and wait here; Sue looks up and sees Mike half way up the tree, and shouts! “Be careful!" Not noticing a big ant crawling up her leg.
“I will, said Mike”.
Suddenly Sue let out a big Screech!
“What’s wrong said Mike, whilst descending from the tree at fast speed.
"A big ant has just bit me on the leg and it hurts.”
Mike drops down beside her to have a look at her leg, “oh it’s just a bite, you will be fine, the swelling will go down don’t worry too much, you stay there I’m going back up the tree, you will be ok”.
While Mike is climbing the tree Sue looks for somewhere else to sit, she is starting to feel unwell and sees a base of a big tree where she can sit, and thinks that it looks okay. While sitting there she can hear the rustling of the leaves and the creaking of branches and the odd leaf and twig fall to the ground as Mike climbs the tree.
Just then she notices a deer between the trees, but her vision starts to blur, she can feel herself drifting as she screws her eyes up, shakes her head and tries to open them. She can feel some thing on her leg, she looks down and sees a little man in a green jacket with a very long beard, slowly her eyes close and she falls asleep.
“Sue! Sue! Wake up, Sue," as she opens her eyes she sees Mike leaning over her, "ah you’re awake now!” “Yes I am says Sue, but I’ve had the weirdest dream, I thought I saw a little man in a green jacket with a very long white beard,” both of them were looking at the bite on her leg. Mike says, "look it’s gone?”
“Yes," says Sue, "that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, the little man touched my bite and it disappeared?”
Mike laughed! ”There’s no such thing as little men in green jackets?"
“Yes there is and he fixed it”.
Mike says "don’t be silly, anyhow come on it’s getting late, we have to make our way back home, it will be dark soon".
They both go back through the wood to their little cabin.
That night while trying to sleep Sue thinks: I did see a little man in a green jacket and he did fix the bite on my leg, or did he? Thinking about it she eventually fell asleep.
The next day Sue woke up early with the sun beaming through the window, lighting up her room, shining through the colored curtains that her mother had made. Ah! She says while stretching out and yawning, what a lovely day! She threw back her covers and catapults her teddy over the other side of the room, jumps out of bed, then opens the door and then walks into Mikes room. he is still fast asleep. ”Wake up! Wake up!" Mike turns over and opens his eyes, "what do you want at this time of the morning, it’s still early"?
Sue insists that they go back to the wood and look at the deer they saw yesterday, really she wanted to know if the little green man was real or not. Ok, says Mike, "wait for me down stairs I’ll be down in a moment.”
"Ok" says Sue; she has a big smile on her face walking out of Mike’s room. She runs downstairs to the kitchen and grabs two pieces of bread. Opens the cupboard to reach for her favorite jam, strawberry homemade, hmm! She says licking her lips, she hears Mike coming down the stairs.”
“Are you ready Sue?": While grabbing some biscuits out of a Jar.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go.”
Off they go once again into the wood.
Sue remembered the midges at the start of the woods; she ducks down so she doesn’t get another unwelcome insect in her mouth. It’s not long before they’re back at the spot where they were yesterday. It’s very warm with the sun shining; there are beams of light shining through the tops of the trees managing to shine on the forest floor. While standing, Sue could hear all the different animals, the bird’s way up in the trees with beautiful colors long tails, and some of them doing funny dances on the branches. On the ground, Sue could see a funny insect with lots of legs running in and out of the leaves that had fallen from the trees, which were covering the ground like a blanket.
Mike had found a strange looking ball, hanging from a branch with lots of wasps flying in and out, he had never seen one before and had to investigate a little closer. He shouts, “Sue, you stay there, if you need me just shout!”
“Ok." Sue looks all around to find the big tree; she spots it, ah! There you are, she says to herself while walking towards it.
She walks round admiring its beauty and its huge size. she had never seen a tree like this before. after walking round two or three times she decides to sit down right in the same place she had sat yesterday. Sue sits there remembering thoughts of the days she had enjoyed in the woods, she unties the ribbon from her hair to lets the breeze blow through and lets her hair hang free. she puts the red ribbon down beside her letting it hang over the trunk of the tree. Then leans back against the tree to rest and enjoy the view and soak up all the noises, which to her were all very nice.
Suddenly from the corner of her eye, she sees the ribbon move, she was sure it couldn’t be the breeze, so slowly moves her head to look at the ribbon.
Coming into view she sees him again, the little man in the green jacket with the very long white beard. I knew I’d seen him yesterday and I wasn’t dreaming.
Sue looks again, Sam hadn’t noticed, Sue was watching his every move and he carried on pulling the red ribbon into his tree. he liked red things, he thought that he would add this to his collection. he looks up and sees Sue watching him, she was sitting very still. Oh! He cries! Runs and hides in the hole in the tree, shivering inside not knowing if he had been seen, he hears a voice saying, “hey! Little man come out, I won’t harm you, please come out”.
Sam waits a moment before stepping out. Sue says, ”there you are, don’t worry little man, I will not hurt you”.
Sam, with a nervous voice says, “I was only getting something I thought was left by someone, I did not know it was yours.”
“It’s ok, who are you? Where do you live? Where do you come from? What are you doing in this tree?”
Sam tells her to slow down, "one question at a time please.”
“Sorry" says Sue looking at him intensely thinking, he’s so small.
He answers by saying that his name is Sam, he's hundreds of years old and that he’s lived in this tree all of his life and likes it very much.
Mike is running around frantically waving his arms in the air, due to this ball hanging from a branch, he didn’t realize after just whacking it with a stick that it was a wasp’s nest. And from the number of wasps that were annoyed grouping together and vigorously defending their nest, aiming for Mike, he would soon get his just dessert, he did not know this then, but soon notices that there are many wasps flying round him.
He quickly runs away from the nest still waving his arms frantically to fend off the wasps, and shouts! ”Sue! Sue! Help! I’m being attacked by wasps,” running towards Sue, Sam sees him and quickly vanishes down his hole out of sight.
Sue stands up saying “How can I help you? What can I do?”
Just then Mike gets stung on his neck, ouch! He shouts while rubbing his hand up and down his neck fast, “that stings like mad”.
“How did you manage to do that?" Sue says.
“Well I sort of whacked that ball over there with my stick and all these wasps came flying out, I think that’s why I got stung by one of them.” Sue laughs. “what you laughing at”?
“You”! Sue says laughing her little head off. "fancy being stung by wasps, serves you right for whacking the nest."
Mike thought that it was a good idea at the time.
"Go and play and leave them wasps alone.”
“Ok I won’t be long”.
Sue looks round to see if she can see Sam, but he’s nowhere in sight, so she walks up to the tree and sees the hole at the bottom, “Sam are you in there? Please come out, he has gone now.”
Listening to what Sue was saying Sam decides to come out, he pops his head out of the whole, “hello! Here I am, I could not let your brother see me, so I hid back in my tree”.
“That’s ok, you don’t want to know him anyhow, he’s just a little boy that likes destroying things, it serves him right he got a stung on his neck. Maybe next time he will think before he goes about destroying wasp’s nests created by those little wasps, he does not realize how long and how much work goes into creating something so marvelous, and made by so many little creatures. Each creature has been put on this earth to serve its purpose and upsetting the balance of nature has its affects on the entire planet”.
Sam says, “I didn’t know you young children knew so much about the planet”.
“Yes we do. I think more children should learn about the creatures, and what role they play in keeping this earth together. It’s really nice and very interesting when you read about all the creatures and how they survived through to this day, and you would be surprised by the pictures of each animal, where they live, and how they go about their daily tasks”.
“Sounds very interesting, I agree with you, children should learn more about the animals that live around us because humans are taking their land away and threatening their very existence.”
“Sam, why do you live in this tree?” Asks sue.
“I have lived in this tree for many years with my people, it’s a magical tree and it’s our home, anyone trying to destroy the forest has been stopped by the tree's powers, it has power you could never imagine. It does things even I don’t believe and the tree has helpers, but the evil wizard of the wood has captured them and took them underground to work for him.”
"No!" Says sue, "but can’t the magical tree do something about that?" she asks.
“No the tree has magical powers but the wizard has his powers also, and he has them far under the ground, where the powers of the tree can not reach.”
“Can we do something?” Says Sue.
“Well! We could try if you are willing to come into the tree with me?”
“I’ll never fit in that hole?”
“Yes you will, just close your eyes and I’ll lead you in.”
As Sue bends her head towards the hole, there’s a circle of glitter and then, as if by magic, in she goes.
“Wow!" Looking all around, while at the same time she was aware that she was becoming smaller, a cloud of smoke hung in the air as she is led through the long passage ways beneath the tree.
Then suddenly they pop out into an under ground cave full of passageways and openings, long twisty corridors leading as far as the eye can see. They are long and Spooky.
“This way, just follow me,” While following Sam sue looks at all the roots sticking out from the earth above, just then a worm goes right past her, yuck! She says watching it go by. ”watch your step” says Sam as they approach a crack in a big stone. they just manage to squeeze through into a big opening, ”wow!" Sue says "this is amazing.”
“Quiet" Says Sam, while coming to the end of the corridor with a deep drop in front of them, "look!”
Sue looks and to her amazement sees lots of little men all over the place working with pick axes, barrows shovels, and then sees things being lifted in big nets up and down, “what’s this?" Sue asks Sam.
“This is where the evil wizard has captured all the little people and he is making them work for him.”
"There doesn’t seem to be anyone telling them what to do or watching over their every move?”
“Oh! But there is, look over there in the corner." Sue looks. she is amazed to see such a horrible creature, it’s a dragon and a long one at that.
"With the evil wizard anything is possible, and down here he won't be far away, that’s why the little people won't run away, and they are too scared of the dragon.”
"I can see why," says Sue, "it's horrid and I think it would take a lot to stop it?”
“That’s why I have brought you down here, with the two of us we might be able to rescue the little people, but that may not be enough against this horrible dragon, we could do with more help?"
“I know" she says, "I will tell my brother and he can help.”
“What a good idea! Let’s hurry up and get back." So they start making their way back through the gap in the stone, back into the corridor filled with long passages. Long corridors you can see going far into the distance. "Here we are, hold on Sue and just jump into the hole and follow me.” Sue jumps in knowing what to expect this time, then out they pop at the other end,
“wow!" Says Sue, "that was so exciting." she was standing on the floor of the old tree. "I enjoyed that.”
“Yes it is fun isn’t it," says Sam.
“But we have to find Mike and see if he will help us save the little people. You stay here Sam, I will go and explain to my brother what’s going on and hope he believes me when I tell him about you and the little people and the evil wizard. It may take some time Sam, so be patient please.”
“Ok" he replies.
And off she goes through the hole in the old magical tree, out she steps and feels herself going back to her normal size. that was weird, she says to herself while looking ahead to see if she could see her brother, “Mike! Mike! She shouts where are you? Mike! Where are you?" Still she gets no response. I wonder where that brother of mine has got to? Or what he may be destroying now? just then up ahead on top of a mound of soil she sees Mike kneeling down; I wonder what he is getting up to now?
"Mike!" She shouts.
Mike turns round, ”oh! It’s you!”
“What are you doing?"
"nothing.”
“Well, what are these holes in the ground?”
“Probably badgers dug these holes, or foxes, I’m trying to find out which, but there doesn’t seem to be any animals here.”
“They may have left through the day to find food and water, and only sleep here in the night. Anyhow I’ve got something to tell you, and you need to listen real carefully Mike, because what I’m about to tell, you may not believe. Remember the other day when I said I saw the little man in his green jacket and long white beard,”
“Yes!"
“Well, its true, there is a little man in a tree and his name is Sam. He’s a very nice man, but we have a problem, there is a wizard holding the little people underground and making them work and there is a dragon monster guarding them,”
“Wait! Stop! You’re talking too fast, slow down and start again from the start, and explain to me exactly what is going on?”
Sue explains the whole story to Mike.
“Wow!" Mike stands back in amazement. "little people, lots of them, a wizard and a dragon creature, this is too good to be true. Come on, let's go, show me where they are?”
It’s not long before they both get back to the tree. "wait there," Sue says to Mike, "and be prepared to see Sam, then you might believe everything I have told you. Sam!" She shouts "Sam! You can come out, I’ve told my brother about you, please come out.” Sam jumps out the hole, Mike sees Sam just standing there, ”wow! This is amazing, I don’t believe what I’m seeing, this is fantastic, it’s better than climbing trees, hello little man”.
"His name is Sam,” says Sue.
“Sorry!" Says Mike "but you’re so small, my sister was right, I think I’m going to like you.”
“Good" says Sam "but we have a problem and I hope you will help us out?”
“Yes I will.”
“Oh! Good, come on then, let’s go,”
“Go where?”
“Just follow us" says Sue "its easy and you will enjoy it.”
Mike stands and watches the little green man disappear into the hole. And then he looks at his sister putting her head in the hole. suddenly there is a twinkle of stars and as if by magic in she goes. Mike was shocked but slowly sticks his head into the hole and poof! He is there with them in the white clouds of smoke and heading down the tunnel with colored rings all moving at the same time, but they weren’t, he was. Mike soon arrives at the other end, popping out, seeing Sam and Sue just standing there.
“Hey! That was excellent, I really enjoyed that.”
“Yes, isn’t it Mike, I liked it too" said Sue. "right, come on, follow us and watch where you're walking, there are stones on the ground, and keep your eye out for worms passing by, you wouldn’t want to miss them Mike."
They all soon approached the gap in the stone and squeezed through.
"Shush! Don’t speak, we’re nearly there, look Mike, down there!” he looks down and to his amazement sees lots of little people, “Wow! This is cool, I didn’t think in my life I would ever see anything as unusual as this, all these little people in here, wow! It’s great.”
“Yes it is great, but more to the point Mike, we have to save them from that nasty evil wizard.”
“How we going to do that?” says Mike.
“Well that’s not the problem, he is!” and Mike turns and sees where Sue is pointing.
“oh! What is that?"
"It’s a dragon."
How are we going to stop that thing?”
Sam says, "well, see that collar with the key on its neck?" they both reply, yes. "we have to some how, get that key, it opens the gate that will help the little people escape. And right next to the key is a Stick with powers, it’s the evil wizards, and the dragon has it on its neck all the time.”
“How are we going to get both of them off the dragon?" Mike says, scratching his head and looking along the cave wall. He sees a bolder half way up on another ledge. "Ah! If Sue and I climb along to that ledge and Sam can distract the dragon long enough to stand underneath here, I’ve got a plan.”
Sam agrees to do it and Sue and Mike start to climb along the wall. Sue slips! is just about to scream when Mike puts his hand over her mouth. phew! That was close; they made it onto the ledge. Mike waves at Sam to give him the go ahead, while Sue and Mike get ready to push the bolder over the edge. "I hope this works?" Says Mike. "so do I" says Sue. they both manage to get the bolder to the edge of the ledge. "look Mike, Sam is heading towards the dragon," just then the dragon turns round and sees Sam.
Fire comes out of its mouth, then it starts running towards Sam. "oh! My god" says Sam, while turning round rather fast and heading for the spot that Mike said he wants him to lead the dragon. Sam runs faster and faster, noticing that the dragon is catching up to him. He knows now that he will not have time to climb the wall and sees a gap in the bottom and heads for it. Sam just manages to get into the gap, hoping that the dragon cannot reach him inside.
“Quick! Push!" Shouts Mike, "the dragon is just below, push!” Sue pushes!
While the dragon tries to put it’s head into the gap looking intensely for Sam.
"Oh! No!" Sam sits down, looking up at the dragon’s head. I hope he doesn’t see me...
Just then the dragon looks down, opens its mouth, and Bang! The bolder hits its target right on his head.
“Yes!" Shouts Sue with a big sigh of relief, "it worked!”
While cowering in the corner with his eyes shut Sam slowly opens one eye and then the other. "yes!" He says, with a big gasp of relief, they have done it. They have done it. Then he smiles like a Cheshire cat.
Sue and Mike start climbing down to see if Sam is all right. they reach the bottom quickly and run into the gap, Sam smiles seeing mike and then sue.
“Wow!" Says mike "it worked, I don’t believe it, quick get the key and the magic stick off his collar.”
Sue bends down, looking under the bolder to what is left of the dragon, while cringing she pulls the key and the magic stick off his collar. "here you go Sam," and gives him the magic stick. "you’ll know better what to do with the magic stick than I will."
“Where is the door? So I can let the little people free" says Mike.
“Over there in the corner, where it drops slightly, the door is at the bottom" says Sam.
All the little people are standing still wondering what has just happened, and then they start cheering, "yes! The dragon is dead," while at the same time there is jumping up and down with enjoyment, "the dragon is dead, the dragon is dead!"
Mike runs across the cave floor, at the same time shouting, "follow me everybody, follow me!" They all turn their heads, listening to what Mike is saying, then all of a sudden they start heading towards the door. Out they all go cheering, "yippie! We are free!"
Mike turns round and joins Sue and Sam.
"Now the evil wizard does not have his powers and the dragon is dead. I think we should go and find him" says Sam. They all set off up a flight of stairs winding round towards a castle; at the top of the stairs there is an entrance to the castle with two gargoyles either side.
"Yuck! They’re not very nice to look at," Says sue.
Into the castle they go down a corridor into the main hall. "Let's look round here" says Sam.
They look everywhere but he’s not here.
“I know" says Sue "let's go upstairs?”
They all head up a big flight of stairs and notice the carpet with splendid colors that they are walking on. they reach the top and straight ahead of them is a big door with a face on it with its tongue sticking out, made of old wood.
“This must be his bedroom" says Mike. "come we will look in here."
Mike opens the big doors with a loud creak. "wow! What a bedroom, look at all the glass bottles, pots and instruments all over the place.”
Sam says; "start looking he’s got to be here somewhere?” Sue looks under the bed behind a big chest. "he’s not here" she says.
Sam looks behind the big curtains and sees if he is hiding in the large pots. "no! He’s not here," just then Mike opens the cupboard door with a rusty old nail sticking out, it catches him on the face cutting him. owe! He says, noticing the wizard cowering in the other corner, "here he is!" Sam runs over. "Ah, Now we have got you, I’m going to put you somewhere forever where you can do no more harm." With that he grabs the magic stick, raises his arm, points it at the wizard and says his magic words, then with a big poof of smoke he’s gone.
Yes! They all shout.
Sam turns to Mike and Sue. "I want to thank you so much for what you have done. You have saved the little people from the dangerous evil wizard and freed my people and we all thank you so much. But never forget, where there is evil there is always good."
Then they hear shouting! “Come on you two sleepy heads, it’s time to get up.” Mike gets up out of bed and goes downstairs.
“Where is your sister?" His Mum says.
“She is still in bed. I’ll go and get her." Up the stairs he goes and into his sisters room. he sees her just sitting there, staring at a picture of a castle, a wizard, and lots of little people. Mike looks at Sue and says, "you still don’t believe in that story of the Evil Wizard and the magical tree and the little people?”
Sue says "no”, watching Mike as he turns his head to walk out the room, she notices a scratch down the side of his face; “good" Mike says while walking out the door, "I’ll see you downstairs for breakfast.”
Author Tony Smith
Copyright ©2003 Tony smith
To go to the main website Click Here:
https://www.mio2mio.webs.com/magicaltree.html
- Share this story on
- 2
COMMENTS (0)