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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Friends / Friendship
- Published: 12/21/2013
The Good Old Witch
Born 1997, F, from Kuching, Sarawak, MalaysiaJanice was a lonely, nine-year-old girl. The only friend she had was an old, frail lady. Janice lived in a small hut in the middle of the forest that was left by her grandfather before he passed away. Living in a deserted area, Janice had no friends to play with. Each day, she would fill up her time walking around the forest hoping to make friends with squirrels and wild cats but alas! She could not see any. She walked and walked until she came across beams of sunlight. Unknowingly, she had reached the end of the forest. Outside, she could see the green landscape of Pearl Village. Birds chirped their tunes of freedom as children played happily under the bright Mr. Sun. Janice smiled to herself as she saw several young children about her age playing hopscotch, skipping ropes and playing hide and seek game. They were so joyful as if a rainbow was sheltering over them all the time. A sudden gust of envy swept across Janice.
Janice continued her journey up the hill. After an exhausting climb, she enjoyed the view of Pearl Village and Rhone River from the hilltop. The surrounding was like green, brown and blue spots on a topography map. As she walked deeper, she came across a little house shaped like a butter mushroom. There was smoke escaping from the chimney on the roof of the little house.
“I wonder who is in this house…” Janice lamented.
Cool breeze on the hilltop brushed against her flawless face. She started to fear if there were witches and wizards in the house which seemed to be a little mysterious. She decided to run for her life when she heard a squeaking sound behind her. She felt her legs melting. Her heart thumped like a mad drum. Her forehead glistened with perspiration. However, she took the courage to turn and face the music. To her surprise, she saw an old lady standing by the door of the little mushroom house, smiling at her. Phew! Janice let out a sigh of relief and smiled back at the old, frail lady and greeted her.
“He… Hello! I’m Janice. I bring you no harm. I just wanted to explore the hill until I came across your eccentric-looking house. Who are you and why are you living up here?”
“Janice, I know you have piles of questions to ask. I lived alone in this house up here to avoid people. People accused me as a witch whom murders children for their flesh and blood to prepare medications. However, I am just a harmless old lady who uses herbs in the forest and casts some spells to treat incurable diseases. Do call me Augustine and I know you bring me no harm.”
Augustine allowed Janice to explore her little house up the hill. As Janice walked deeper into the house, she could smell sweet fragrance of lovely carnations hanging near the window panes. The mini stools in the house were made from fresh tree barks with the ring of xylem and phloem still visible. In the kitchen, she saw coloured liquids boiling in a wooden kettle.
“Augustine, what are those coloured liquids?”
“Those are herbs from the forest. It was lilac in the first place. After I had cast some spells, it turned green. This green liquid is called the Monte Experando used to treat serious pernicious anaemia and also leukaemia in this village. As for this brown liquid, it is known as Frela Mauphrell used as isotonic drink. Here, take a sip.”
Janice took a sip of the brown liquid from a wooden cup. Slowly, she began to feel extremely energised, much more energised than ever. She felt as if she could break a metal spoon easily. Furthermore, the drink was rather refreshing and cool. It soothed her dry throat on a scorching hot day. She could feel the drink cooling the walls of her esophagus. It tasted like pure tap water and had a leafy scent.
Soon, Janice and Augustine became good friends. Janice would visit Augustine every evening when people were in their respective houses having dinner so that they would be too busy to notice Janice going to and fro from Augustine’s house.
Augustine treated Janice like a friend and also like a mother. She braided Janice’s hair, told her classic folktales and cooked her favourite fish curry. On the other hand, Janice would tell her about her own life being left behind by her divorced parents until the time when her grandfather passed away. She was even kicked out of the villager’s top school just because she failed to pay her school fees.
“It’s alright, Jenny. It’s not the end of the world. I will teach you to prepare medications and cast spells. You can be my assistant herbalist although you have never attended school. Show the people out there that you’re able to save more lives than a qualified doctor.” Augustine told Janice one day while they exchanged idle chatter.
“Hooray!!! I can be Augustine’s assistant herbalist! Finally, I could see some future in me!” Janice was in cloud nine so she jumped up and down.
*****
A year had passed. Janice had turned out to be Augustine’s assistant herbalist in preparing herbs and new coloured liquids for different treatments. Through several experiments, Janice came across a kind of rare leaf which can be used to treat tuberculosis (TB). She named the liquid Sinus Janica.
“Abbacadabraaa!!!” Janice called out and immediately a handful of melting purple leaves in the kettle full of water turned apple green, liquified. She stared at the green liquid, pleased. This was her second success in 365 days. Despite very few successes, she was positive that there were more awaiting her in the future.
END
The Good Old Witch(Samantha Lim)
Janice was a lonely, nine-year-old girl. The only friend she had was an old, frail lady. Janice lived in a small hut in the middle of the forest that was left by her grandfather before he passed away. Living in a deserted area, Janice had no friends to play with. Each day, she would fill up her time walking around the forest hoping to make friends with squirrels and wild cats but alas! She could not see any. She walked and walked until she came across beams of sunlight. Unknowingly, she had reached the end of the forest. Outside, she could see the green landscape of Pearl Village. Birds chirped their tunes of freedom as children played happily under the bright Mr. Sun. Janice smiled to herself as she saw several young children about her age playing hopscotch, skipping ropes and playing hide and seek game. They were so joyful as if a rainbow was sheltering over them all the time. A sudden gust of envy swept across Janice.
Janice continued her journey up the hill. After an exhausting climb, she enjoyed the view of Pearl Village and Rhone River from the hilltop. The surrounding was like green, brown and blue spots on a topography map. As she walked deeper, she came across a little house shaped like a butter mushroom. There was smoke escaping from the chimney on the roof of the little house.
“I wonder who is in this house…” Janice lamented.
Cool breeze on the hilltop brushed against her flawless face. She started to fear if there were witches and wizards in the house which seemed to be a little mysterious. She decided to run for her life when she heard a squeaking sound behind her. She felt her legs melting. Her heart thumped like a mad drum. Her forehead glistened with perspiration. However, she took the courage to turn and face the music. To her surprise, she saw an old lady standing by the door of the little mushroom house, smiling at her. Phew! Janice let out a sigh of relief and smiled back at the old, frail lady and greeted her.
“He… Hello! I’m Janice. I bring you no harm. I just wanted to explore the hill until I came across your eccentric-looking house. Who are you and why are you living up here?”
“Janice, I know you have piles of questions to ask. I lived alone in this house up here to avoid people. People accused me as a witch whom murders children for their flesh and blood to prepare medications. However, I am just a harmless old lady who uses herbs in the forest and casts some spells to treat incurable diseases. Do call me Augustine and I know you bring me no harm.”
Augustine allowed Janice to explore her little house up the hill. As Janice walked deeper into the house, she could smell sweet fragrance of lovely carnations hanging near the window panes. The mini stools in the house were made from fresh tree barks with the ring of xylem and phloem still visible. In the kitchen, she saw coloured liquids boiling in a wooden kettle.
“Augustine, what are those coloured liquids?”
“Those are herbs from the forest. It was lilac in the first place. After I had cast some spells, it turned green. This green liquid is called the Monte Experando used to treat serious pernicious anaemia and also leukaemia in this village. As for this brown liquid, it is known as Frela Mauphrell used as isotonic drink. Here, take a sip.”
Janice took a sip of the brown liquid from a wooden cup. Slowly, she began to feel extremely energised, much more energised than ever. She felt as if she could break a metal spoon easily. Furthermore, the drink was rather refreshing and cool. It soothed her dry throat on a scorching hot day. She could feel the drink cooling the walls of her esophagus. It tasted like pure tap water and had a leafy scent.
Soon, Janice and Augustine became good friends. Janice would visit Augustine every evening when people were in their respective houses having dinner so that they would be too busy to notice Janice going to and fro from Augustine’s house.
Augustine treated Janice like a friend and also like a mother. She braided Janice’s hair, told her classic folktales and cooked her favourite fish curry. On the other hand, Janice would tell her about her own life being left behind by her divorced parents until the time when her grandfather passed away. She was even kicked out of the villager’s top school just because she failed to pay her school fees.
“It’s alright, Jenny. It’s not the end of the world. I will teach you to prepare medications and cast spells. You can be my assistant herbalist although you have never attended school. Show the people out there that you’re able to save more lives than a qualified doctor.” Augustine told Janice one day while they exchanged idle chatter.
“Hooray!!! I can be Augustine’s assistant herbalist! Finally, I could see some future in me!” Janice was in cloud nine so she jumped up and down.
*****
A year had passed. Janice had turned out to be Augustine’s assistant herbalist in preparing herbs and new coloured liquids for different treatments. Through several experiments, Janice came across a kind of rare leaf which can be used to treat tuberculosis (TB). She named the liquid Sinus Janica.
“Abbacadabraaa!!!” Janice called out and immediately a handful of melting purple leaves in the kettle full of water turned apple green, liquified. She stared at the green liquid, pleased. This was her second success in 365 days. Despite very few successes, she was positive that there were more awaiting her in the future.
END
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