A fairytale

I have completed my first writing course. It was really good fun. I needed this for my soul – it was literally soul-food. Something for my creativity and imagination, to be able to run free and explore. Those 6 weeks were so important for me to get a glimpse of what writing would be like, should I become seriously involved with my attempt to write a novel. Oh, I definitely am serious, but I also learned how much time I will actually have to put into it…. Were I to pursue this full time, I’d give myself a year for a completed first draft… But as I have a job, it will probably take a decade or two to wholly come together.

Nevertheless, I have dabbed in creative fantasy writing and am excited to share my accomplishments or incompetence – you will be the judge!

One assignment in the course was to list a few fantastical ideas, that we would like to explore further; pick one of those ideas and write it as a fairytale. I named it

The Tree

Lucy went into the forest to collect mushrooms. Even though winter had arrived cruelly early this year, the sun was warm and bright. There were plentiful fungi hiding in the dark corners of the woods this morning. Lucy was elated, filling her basket. Her gaze scanning the dark corners and nooks for the earth-covered treasures, she strolled deeper and deeper into the forest. She was so enthralled by the abundance of her treasures that, unawares, (She finally looked when) she found herself in a wide open field of yellow buttercups.

A prairie of golden flowers stretched out in front of her. And in the middle a mighty dragon blood tree grew. There was a path carved into the golden expanse, winding like a brown eel towards the tree. Lucy was drawn to it, she had to see it up close, feel the cool of its shade, touch the striking trunk. When she stood right underneath the canopy her heart began to thump in her chest and she felt her skin tingle. She looked up at the lush green roof overhead. It seemed endless. And something in there was twinkling like a star. She stretched out her hand toward it and though her tiny stature should not have been able to reach the thicket of leaves above, she easily plucked the silvery orb hanging there. Fascinated she held it in both hands. The surface was smooth, shiny and cool like a running river. At the top of the perfectly round shape a small hole sapped a thick liquid which emanated a sweet and fragrant aroma, unlike anything Lucy has ever smelled before. It was mouthwatering; she had to taste it. She broke the fruit in two. Longingly she bit into the juicy white flesh. 

Someone stirred on the other side of the trunk. Slowly the figure rose. It was an old old woman. She had an air of neglect about her. And when she looked at Lucy, dripping juice, her eyes grew wide when she saw the fruit in Lucy’s hand. And with a mad yell she leapt at her. Lucy realized that the old woman was about to snatch the miraculous fruit from her. Empowered by the ambrosial flavour, invigorating her strength, Lucy struck out with her mushroom knife. The old woman crumpled to the ground.

Lucy devoured the rest of the fruit. With relish she licked her fingers for every last drop, not willing for this delicious experience to end. And when she was sure the last of the fruit was consumed, she lifted her head and stretched her toes, searching and craning to find one more.  Just one more. She must have it. She will not give up searching. Never…