Tag Archives: fantasy

CinderSpectaRella Part 4 of 4

The next day, the prince disguised himself as the herald and personally went about the town to ask who owned the glasses. “The prince will invite whoever owns these glasses to a dinner at the castle!” He announced.

When the prince arrived in Cinderella’s home, the stepmother hurriedly brought out her daughters to fit the spectacles.

“This is mine!” Elvira pushed the glasses to her puffy face and almost broke it. She tried walking with the glasses, but immediately got dizzy and conked her head on the nearest tree.

“I’m sorry,” the prince shook his head. “This cannot be yours.”

“It’s mine!” Charlotte yanked the glasses from her sister. She wore it, and smiled as the glasses fit her long and tapered face. But she couldn’t see anything. When she extended her hand to the prince, she ended up slapping him on the face.

“I think not,” the prince turned around to leave. But just as he was about to mount his horse, Cinderella peeked from behind the door.

“May I try it?” She asked, squinting her eyes as she walked towards the prince.

“Oh no, she cannot be the one you are looking for. She didn’t even leave the house last night! And even if she did, she wouldn’t have seen the prince. Rumor has it that the prince was dancing with only one person the whole night!

But the prince insisted, and when she put the glasses on, everything was clear again.

“You’re not the herald, you’re the prince!” Cinderella exclaimed, staring into the eyes of the handsome man she danced with the night before.

The prince smiled. He knew he had found his princess at last.

And Cinderella lived with perfect vision for the rest of her life.

The End

The Legend of the Rainbow Tree: Tales from Mother Chouette

“Wow, look at that!” Hibbou exclaimed as she pointed to a nearby tree.

“Oh yes, that’s the Rainbow Eucalyptus tree, my dear,” Mother Chouette said as she followed Hibbou’s gaze.  “I have a story of where that tree came from. Do you want hear it?”

Hibbou hooted in delight.

The Legend of the Rainbow Tree

There was once a rainbow named Spec who was best friends with Yuki, a eucalyptus tree. Every time it rained, Spec made sure that he visited Yuki.

Like all rainbows, Spec was tasked with guarding a leprechaun’s pot of gold. But Spec did not like the leprechaun that was assigned to him. Mr. Moneytights was mean and often screamed at Spec to shine his colorful light on the leprechaun’s pot of gold.

One day, Mr. Moneytights was particularly nasty. He frightened Spec so much that the rainbow decided it was best to run away. But where could a bright and colorful arc in the sky go? Spec tried hiding under a rock, but his light shined through. He tried gathering clouds to cover himself, but every time the wind blew, he would get exposed. Yuki, seeing how anxious Spec was becoming, suggested that Spec hide in her bark. As the intense light passed through the tree’s trunk, Yuki’s bark cracked and flaked, but she bore her pain in silence.

The tree’s brown bark muted the bright colors of the rainbow. Thus, when the leprechaun went to his usual spot, he searched high and low, but he never guessed Spec to be hiding inside the humble tree. A tree nymph saw Yuki’s sacrifice, and she blessed the union of the tree and her rainbow best friend, resulting in the most beautiful and colorful bark in the world.

The end.

Hibbou wiped a tear in her eye. “Thanks for the beautiful story, mom. Your stories are wonderful.”

 Mother Chouette wrapped her feathery wings on Hibbou and gave her a tight hug.       

*Note:  I googled actual photos of the Rainbow Eucalyptus tree so that you could share it with your kids.

Bagras_Mindanao gum tree

Mr. Monkey and the Tree Turtle: Tales from Mother Chouette

Hibbou, the owlet, was playing with her sticks when her cousin Hoot hopped beside her and started pecking on her shoulders.

“What are you doing? Can I help?”Hoot asked repeatedly.

“I don’t need your help!” Hibbou said as she flapped her tiny wings to shoo Hoot away.

Mother Chouette clicked her beak and shook her head. “Hibbou, Hoot, have you ever heard of the story of Mr. Monkey and Tilly, the Tree Turtle?  Come here beside me and listen.”  Hibbou and Hoot plopped beside the mother owl.

Mr. Monkey and the Tree Turtle

Once upon a time, there was a monkey who got separated from its tribe and accidentally stumbled upon an island full of banana trees. The monkey’s eyes became as huge as ostrich eggs as it jumped from one tree to another and discovered that each tree was bursting with fruit. Finally, it brought down the fattest bunch it could get and started popping banana after banana.

While stuffing its face, it noticed a small turtle approaching it.

“Hi Mr. Monkey, those bananas look great.  Would you mind giving me one? I am so hungry,” the turtle smacked its lips.

The monkey laughed at the turtle.  “How strange you look, with leaves sprouting from your shell.  Who are you?”

“I’m Tilly, and I’m a tree turtle. I can help give you food, if you help me pick them from the trees.”

“Who says I need help? You’re too short anyway,” The monkey mocked the turtle. “All I need is to swing along these trees to feed myself.”

“Everybody needs help sometimes,” Tilly the turtle said,” even someone like you.”

“Like I said little guy, scram!” the monkey turned its back on the turtle.

“Well, if your sure…” the tree turtle whistled. “Let’s go guys!  Mr. Monkey doesn’t need us.  Maybe we’ll find someone else willing to help!”

And the ground shook as hundreds of tree turtles stood up, each one carrying a banana plant on its back. They swam to the nearby shore, leaving the island bare.

Mr. Monkey’s jaw dropped to the ground as it realized what it had lost.

The End.

Hibbou turned to Hoot and grabbed his wings. “C’mon Hoot, let’s build my stick tower together!”

A Multicolored Coat of Scales: Tales from Mother Chouette

            Hibbou, the owlet, flapped its tiny wings and gave a hoot. Mother Chouette gently pecked on Hibbou’s head. It was time to sleep.

            Mama, please tell me a bedtime story,” Hibbou said as she turned her sleepy eyes to Mother Chouette.

            “I’ve got the perfect one for you, little one,” said Mother Chouette, and then she began.

A Multicolored Coat of Scales

“There was once a plain fish with dull silver flakes that longed to be a fish like no other.  He would rub his scales onto colorful objects, such as bright red corals, but all he would get were scratch marks. He would try to wrap himself in the dark emerald green seaweeds that floated about the ocean floor, but he would simply slip out of its slimy grasp. He even tried to hang out with the electric blue eels, but in the end, it wasn’t worth getting electrocuted. But, one day, while remaining invisible beside a gray rock, he saw a mermaid swimming away from an angry shark.  In her haste, she dropped her precious crystal ring. When the shark was gone, the plain fish swam and rescued the ring. He marveled at its color and considered keeping it for himself so that he would have something sparkly to wear. But in the end, he decided that it was best to return the ring to its rightful owner. The mermaid turned into a fairy mermaid and promised to grant the fish his heart’s desire. Rainbow-colored raindrops fell from the sky that night and filled the sea with color. When the fish opened its eyes, it saw that its fins were multicolored and shiny! All the other sea creatures gathered around him to admire his beautiful coat of scales.

“The end.”

Mother Chouette turned to Hibbou and cooed.  Her baby owl was fast asleep!