Captured Fire - Part 7

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the Seventh

installment of the 

short story 

Captured Fire

This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy,

Robbie, who enters a magical world where he learns about the meaning of life,

friendship, and respect for others

***

The morning after the ceremony Robbie was up bright and early, a little tired from all the celebrating the day before, but ready to receive his orders.  He didn’t understand what orders meant; it must be his job or where he was going to live. He figured it must be something like that, after all what does a firefly really do.

All the new cadets met in the training room all excited anticipating the start to their new life as mature fireflies.  As he sat waiting for the captain of assignments to arrive he noticed a large map on the wall.  He strained his eyes to see it and noticed it was a map of his neighborhood, his neighborhood as a boy.  Through the door the captain of assignments walked in carrying a clipboard. 

“Today is first assignment day,” he said as he surveyed the eager group. “Each of you will be given an area to work. Today you will observe those with experience.  When I call your name you will go with your group leader.”  He then started to read off names.

“These individuals are assigned to Poplar Street, Cagewire, Runter…” each firefly stood in line and then was escorted out with their leader.

“These individuals are assigned to Mayberry Street.”

Robbie’s eyes opened wide, Mayberry Street, he was astonished thinking that is where he lived.

“Schrewer, Martworth, Robbie…”

Robbie stood up quickly and took his place in line.  ‘I am going home,’ he thought.  Then his thoughts stopped.  ‘How can I go home? I’m not a boy anymore but a firefly. This is my home now.’

Robbie followed the others out of the room and down the hall into the dining room where a huge meal was waiting.  They all ate the breakfast in silence either because of excitement or nervousness, but not a word was spoken.  After they were finished eating they were introduced to the rest of their squad.  These were mature fireflies who were huge and muscular next to the little cadets.  Some of the fireflies had rips in their wings or antenna missing, but it didn’t seem to matter to them. They all strutted around the room with immense confidence.   The cadets looked at them with envy hoping to one day be just like them.

The cadets were then paired off in twos to a big firefly who would be their work trainer. Robbie and his group were assigned to a big scary fly that had a missing eye, two ripped wings and only one antenna.  They approached him, trying not to show too much of the fear they felt.  As they stood in front of him, he gave them a warm friendly smile and said ‘hi.’

Robbie was glad to be with Martworth, they had gone through training side by side.  Martworth was one of the smallest fireflies and rather shy, but he was one of the friendliest and most determined to succeed in what he did.  Most of the others teased him, but Robbie liked him very much for he knew what it was like to be teased by others.  He was always being teased about his upturned nose, and the fact that he was smaller then most of the boys his age.

Their work trainer led them down a dark hallway that inclined upwards towards a light at the end.  He told them his name was Barra. He was the most experienced night worker. When they reached the light he motioned for them to go ahead.   They walked toward the lighted archway and found themselves in the land above. It was daylight and their eyes were not accustomed to such brightness. They squinted to see the land before them.

Barra took their hands and helped walk them over to the shade under the huge old oak tree where the rest of the squad was waiting.  Robbie and Martworth sat down with the other new cadets.  Attention focused on their trainers.  Barra was the leader of this squad and he addressed the group.

“We want to welcome all the new members to Meltor Squad.  Today we will start your orientation, you will get to know all members of Meltor.”  Barra motioned toward the squad and they nodded in acknowledgement to the new members. “You must get to know each member and work closely with them, your life and theirs can depend on this knowledge and cooperation.”

All the new members spent the day out in the sun hearing stories of bravery from the old members of the Meltor squad.  They learned each squad was assigned an area and they must learn to know that area completely.  Each squad was named after a legendary hero of the past. Meltor, they learned was one of the greatest heroes surviving the most attacks ever in the history of the firefly kingdom. The area Meltor Squad was assigned to was the most treacherous since the most dangerous Land-one lived there.

The day ended with a flying race between the new and old members and a huge banquet.  Robbie could not remember when he had enjoyed himself so much.  As night fell the new members were told to go home. Tonight they would not go out, but they were to rest for tomorrow night, which would be their first work assignment.

They all retreated to their dorm rooms. Martworth was now Robbie’s roommate and the two settled in for the evening.  Martworth told Robbie about his family. He had fifty siblings and they all had been very close as infants.

“Me and my brothers were all sent off to training as soon as we evolved into beetles and my sisters were sent to reproduction training.  I am especially proud of my sisters they are important breeders because our father was a hero. ”

His father had been a member of the Meltor Squad but was killed at work one night.  “I never really knew my father I was just a larva when he died, but I have heard many wonderful things about him. I do want to be brave like he was,” Martworth said as his eyes filled with tears.

Robbie envied the fact that Martworth had brothers and sisters, being an only child had been very lonely for him.  He also wondered about the dangerous Land-one who lived in his boy-life neighborhood. He probably knew this person and therefore knew the killer of Martworth’s father.  This made him sad and he did not want to think about it.

The two friends talked and laughed late into the night until kings’ guards came to tell them lights out.  It was difficult to fall asleep that night with the thoughts of their new assignment the following evening. Eventually the both were lost in their dreams. Martworth dreaming of being a famous hero like his father. Robbie struggled to sleep, unsure of his future, would he ever be a boy again or a firefly forever. Finally his dreams mellowed, dreaming he was at home with Nana and she was young again.

Next morning they met in the squad room and were given instructions for the evening run.  Most were assigned to light show duty as was the common job for young fireflies who where to young for dating and marriage. When they were mature enough they would be taught the mating signals, which at this point all the young squad members thought was a rather “icky” thing, but in reality an important job to keep the community alive.  Other members of the squad were assigned to food gathering for the elderly and injured members of the kingdom who could not fly and get out anymore.

Robbie and Martworth were both assigned to the same light show group so they had flashing classes all day.  The routine was easy and fun and everyone in the group was very excited to get out that evening and perform.  They were cautioned not all humans enjoyed the light show and to be very aware of the surroundings and the dangers of being caught.

At pre-dusk the squad assembled at the base of the oak tree.  The old members got their assignments and many snickered at the young new members who could hardly contain themselves with their excitement.  Attendance was taken and they all stood in groups according to their night’s assignment. Soon they flew off to Mayberry Street for an evening of work.

When they reached Mayberry Street each group followed a leader to an assigned area.  Robbie couldn’t believe it he was assigned to the area that encompassed his and Jason’s yard, he would probably see all his old friends.

Robbie was amazed.  Here he was a firefly flying around his own neighborhood.  High in the sky he surveyed the land below.  He never knew Mayberry Street was so huge. Everyone in his group started performing the practiced routine, and they looked magnificent.  About half way through the performance he saw the neighborhood boys rushing after him and Martworth.  He flew - whoosh - to the other side of the yard.  The boys, recovering from their stumble, raced over to where he hovered with his light blinking.  He then presented a sarcastic blink to them.  Again they tried to capture him and missed. He flew as fast as he could to the yard two doors down.  He sat proud on a leaf of a hazelnut tree.  ‘Not only am I the best firefly catcher on Mayberry Street, but the fastest and best firefly.’ He had no idea it could be so much fun being a bug.  ‘No one can catch Robbie the Great Firefly Extraordinaire.’

Robbie sat glowing in self-importance when in an instant darkness covered his world.  He felt moist warmth crushing him, an earthy aroma infiltrating his nostrils. Next thing he knew, he was plummeting through a clear wide tunnel.   He braced himself to hit hard.  But he came to stop with a thump on what seemed to be a soft cushion.  Robbie shook his head and waited a moment while his vision cleared.  It wasn’t a cushion.  On the floor piled one upon each other were fellow fireflies.  Some looked dazed while others were missing wings and lights, while all seemed to be gasping for breath.  Those not injured where in a frenzied mode trying to help those in need. 

He could see the clear tunnel he came down was a giant canning jar, the kind Nana used to can tomatoes, and the kind he had used to catch fireflies.  Through the glass walls of the jar the outside world was a distorted scene of colors.  Movement could be seen, but it was difficult to interpret what action was taking place in the outside world, and by whom.   A loud bang was heard up above and everyone in the glass prison let out a cry.  Robbie looked around at his fellow fireflies and saw terror on their faces as they ran in panic.  An older firefly with a calmer look about him bumped into Robbie, he evidently had experienced this horror before.

“What is happening?” Robbie cried out.  

“It’s those that captured us. They have closed off the prison. There are no air ducts in the roof,” the old firefly said has he turned to attend to a younger comrade who had no wings and was taking his last breathes of life. 

Robbie looked up and saw the cap to the jar.   There it was a solid surface with no means to let air in the jar.  This was the important reason he had received the ‘bughouse’ for a gift, it gave the fireflies plenty of air so they could breathe and not suffocate.  He never before understood the importance of this, but now he did.

Those with no injuries, or minor ones, helped separate the injured from the dead.  With tears in his eyes Robbie helped as best he could, it was not easy seeing friends he lived with and attended class with hurt or dying.  It was also getting difficult for him to breathe, but he moved along with the rest to help those who needed him.

The lid to the jar opened up again and a blast of air covered them as everyone who could, began breathing in as much air as possible.  Then suddenly the container fell to the ground with a huge jolt.  Robbie slowly stood up in a daze and saw the jar was lying on its side in the yard with the lid off.  Everyone who could move started toward the opening.  He looked down the long jar and out across the yard and saw the boys running off.  He did remember those nights with them catching fireflies. Little did he know how much harm and damage he caused.

“Help me get the injured out of the prison,” the old fly interrupted Robbie’s thoughts.  He quickly came back to the present remembering now he was a firefly now and the boys were the enemy.

All who could, helped move the injured out of the jar-prison and laid them on the cool grass.  Martworth flew back to the kingdom to get help to carry the injured back for medical care.  The old fly gave orders how to bandage broken limbs and stop bleeding, others went back into the jar and pulled out the dead and prepared them for burial as the Chaplin said a pray over the torn bodies.

Panic and discipline at the same time filled the air around the glass prison.  Most of the young fireflies cried in terror not knowing where to run.  The mature took charge comforting the scared and attending the injured.

Martworth returned with the medical group and soon all the injured were taken back to the hospital for emergency care.  The dead were left where they succumbed as the survivors said a silent pray themselves before returning home.

“So now you see what your kind has done to our citizens.  For what reason? Because we can do something they cannot?  We light up the sky at night with a beautiful show giving beauty to the world of humans, and what do we get, death and mutilation.” 

A huge teardrop ran down his cheek and sorrow showed in his eyes as he looked up at the King, “I never knew what I was doing. I never thought of the fireflies as living beings.  Nana tried to tell me. She gave me the bughouse for collecting, but still I never really knew.”  He then let out a loud howl and was unable to stop crying.

§

© Copyright 2013   Eileen A Partak

Captured Fire - Part 6

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the Sixth

installment of the 

short story 

Captured Fire

This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy,

Robbie, who enters a magical world where he learns about the meaning of life,

friendship, and respect for others

***

Four lights exactly the firefly guards were at his door.  They took him down to the dining room where he had more nuts and seeds washing it down with his now favorite drink rose petal honeysuckle nectar.  After breakfast they marched him though a huge room then through a door at the other end. This room looked like an operating room.  It was bright with daisy petals on the walls that make it look like white paint.  There wasn’t much in the room except a chair and a small table in the middle, also covered with daisy petals.  A fairy came in who was dressed like a doctor in scrubs. He was busy in thought reading something on the clipboard he carried.

“Good morning Robbie, I am Dr. Heathcliff.  Don’t be scared this will not hurt, it will be fine, just relax,” the Doctor said as the nurse put him on the table.  Dr. Heathcliff then put a blue bell over Robbie’s nose and told him to breath in.  The scent of flowers was intoxicating and Robbie saw visions of fields with wildflowers and fairies fluttering all around.  He heard another voice, which echoed from far away, “count backwards from one hundred” but he was concentrating on looking at the beautiful scenery as colors swirled around in his mind like a kaleidoscope.

The next thing he knew he was waking up in a dark room. He was covered with a moss blanket and he was lying on a rock bed.  A flower fairy was standing next to his bed, she was dressed in white rose petals and was touching his head the way Mama did when he had a fever.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

Robbie blinked his eyes several times to adjust them to the light.  “I’m ok. I guess.  What happened, where am I?  My back feels funny and so do my legs.  Am I dying?”

The Nurse Fairy laughed, “no you are not dying you just had a transformation.  Don’t worry Dr. Heathcliff is very good. His medical skills are the best in the whole kingdom that is why he has been appointed physician to the King. If you are thirsty I can get you something to drink.”

“Yes I would like a little rose petal honeysuckle nectar if you could, please.”

She went around the corner of the room to get the nectar.  Robbie was feeling a little tired and sore, but basically fine.  He started to move his hands along his body and suddenly stopped.  ‘I don’t think I am alone in this bed,’ he thought.

The nurse came back with the drink.  “Let me help you get up.”

Robbie motioned for her to come close.  “Nurse,” he whispered, “I think there is a firefly under the covers lying on top of me.”

She laughed out loud, “No there’s not. That is the new you. You needed a transformation for your purpose.”  Robbie’s heart almost stopped.  What was she talking about?  He lifted up the blanket looked down at his legs and body in disbelief.  It was not a firefly lying on top of him; his boy body was no longer there in its place was a firefly body.

“Here let me help you up,” she said.  Carefully she helped him up into a sitting position and slowly pulled off the moss blanket.

Robbie did not know what to do. He blinked his eyes and looking down at the firefly that was now him.  He looked at the nurse with a look that asked for answers to many questions.  Just then the door burst open and there stood King Huron. 

“I see you are doing fine,” the King said as he sat down next to Robbie “ Dr. Heathcliff tells me you should be ready to start your training by the end of the day.”

“What happened to my body, why am I like this?” Robbie cried to the King. “What training are you talking about?”

“Did you not read the story last night?”

“Of course I read it, but what does that have to do with me being turned into a firefly?”

“You Robbie are the one, by your birth you are the special one to save our land.  You will be trained for your purpose. If you are successful you will once more obtain your human body, if not you will remain here a firefly forever.” King Huron stood and walked from the room, followed by his guards.

Robbie was very confused. Yes he read the story and knew of a special one, but he was not a fairy. Actually now he wasn’t even a boy, he was a firefly, or a boyfly. He didn’t have time to analyze this now.  Dr. Heathcliff and the nurse were at his bedside preparing him to leave.

“The transformation went very well. You are now ready to be released and attend your training classes,” the Doctor told him.

“What do I do with this body, how do I walk…” Robbie started with all the questions that filled his brain.

“I am not the one to answer your questions. You will learn all that in training class,” the Doctor said has he helped Robbie off the bed.  “You will be taken to the training room now.  Have a good time with your new body, which I must say I did do a magnificent job.”

  

Robbie found himself sitting; waiting in another little room.  At this point he was in a total daze, not sure if he was awake, alive, or what.  The door opened and in walked a huge firefly even bigger than King Huron.  “Come with me. I am Drayon. I will be training you.” He turned and walked out the door. Robbie quickly followed him down the dark corridor into a huge bright room.  The room was like the health club Dad went to in town.  Fireflies were in small groups all over the room with coaches, some doing floor exercises, others lifting weights, and still others suspended from strings being pulled along at high speeds and spinning in circles.

Drayon led him to a small group of very young fireflies in the corner.  Robbie towered over them and they looked up at him with an interested but guarded stare, they never before saw a firefly with a boy’s face.  “Okay this class is Light Messages 101. We will get started with the basics today. Everyone look at your bulb.”

All the young fireflies lifted their bulbs high and turned around to look at them.  Robbie was not sure what to do, but thought hard about lifting the bulb, and it moved up.  Still in shock he turned his head, and there it was, a big light at the end of his back.  He figured this had to be a dream, a real feeling dream, but a dream nonetheless.   He decided he might as well make it a fun one and not a nightmare. He joined the rest of the fireflies and started studying.

Each day Robbie woke early, ate his breakfast and was off to his classes. He was beginning to like this school.  He learned how to communicate with his bulb, how the different flashes meant different things.  Flying class was his favorite.  In the first class they were all tied up with spider webs suspended from the ceiling and just hung and spun around.  At later classes a big spider would run around pulling them up and down and spinning as they started to move their wings. 

At the final class, as they were moving through the air, Drayon nodded to the spider and he cut the strings.  This was a surprise to all the young firefly cadets as they tumbled downward to the ground.   Robbie started to panic as he suddenly plummeted in a downward spiral.  Then as if by instinct he started to move his wings.  At first nothing happened so he worked them harder, the harder he moved them the louder the sound and he could feel a small breeze being generated by them.  As his little firefly body neared the ground he suddenly swooshed up in a burst.  The next thing he knew he was flying around the room. Zooming up and down. Spinning around and upside down.  He was amazed, he was flying, and he was a firefly!

Robbie landed along side other successful fliers. Those who were unsuccessful at flying were attended to and taken from the room.  Most of the unsuccessful were crying, not because they were physically hurt, but because they knew they did not pass and would have to retake the class until they could pass it and fly.

“Congratulations on mastering the skill of flying,” Drayon addressed them with a proud sound to his voice.  “You are now ready to move on to receive your certificate of accomplishment and then your orders.” 

The ceremony was a huge event in firefly land.  Robbie was feeling a little down since he had no family in this strange world to see his accomplishment.  His name was called, he walked across the stage to receive his certificate, and his wing pin, which was formed from oak leaves in the shape of firefly wings. As he shook hands with Drayon a loud roar burst forth from the audience.  Robbie looked out in the crowd and saw Rosella, Tytra, Doctor Heathcliff, his nurse and all the flower fairies he had met when he first arrived, standing up cheering for him.  Along with them were fireflies he had met during his training, kings’ guards, and to his surprise King Huron himself.  He walked across the stage with tear filled eyes feeling so happy that these new friends felt so warmly about him.  He took his award from Drayon and turned to everyone, holding his certificate high above his head smiling at all his new friends.

§

© Copyright 2013   Eileen A Partak

Captured Fire - Part 5

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the Fifth

installment of the 

short story 

Captured Fire

This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy, Robbie,who enters a magical world where he learns about the meaning of life, friendship, and respect for others.

This installment is the book Robbie must read.

“Legend of Promise”

Many years ago a flower fairy was promised in marriage to a firefly prince. The fairies had special powers and so did the fireflies.  A marriage between the two species would merge their magic and make them much stronger in facing the hardships of life.

Ninnea was not the typical flower fairy. She was always looking for adventures and wandered off many times. One day as she wandered far from the woods of oak, which was the boundary for young flower fairies, a young human named Arthur captured her.  He kept her for several weeks treating her with respect and kindness.  During this time she could not help falling in love with him because of his kind heart.  One day he let her go back to her land, for he thought it was not right to keep her away from her home where her family must be very worried.

Ninnea never forgot him and his kind heart. On the eve of her marriage to the firefly prince she tried to run away back to the young man who captured her heart.  The king’s guard caught her as she tried to leave the forest and brought her before the king and the prince. She told her intended she could not marry him and that she wanted to return to the land above to find her true love.

The prince was furious wondering how she could talk to, let alone love, a Land-one.  For centuries the Land-ones had tortured and killed the fireflies. He told her that if she left all the magic powers she had would disappear and those of the firefly kingdom. Marriages between the fireflies and fairies would no longer be permitted.    Ninnea did not care, for the love in her heart for Arthur was deep and true, much stronger than her desire for magical powers, and her mind too clouded with love to consider what it would do to the fireflies. The king finally granted her request, but told her that the first male offspring born to her family must be surrendered to them. He would be kindhearted and help them spread the word of love and respect for life. He could return to his own land only if he proved worthy of his purpose, if not he would become a firefly forever. At this time the firefly kingdom would regain their magic and the two groups could once again marry.

Ninnea promised and was let go to find her true love and become a Land-one.  She was made human size and left at the grove of oak trees, alone and frightened hoping that Arthur would soon find her.  He found her that afternoon and was so happy to see that she had returned to him. Later that year they were married and built a little house at the edge of the oak forest.  The next year they had a baby.  Ninnea and Arthur had five more children, all girls, not one boy.  Ninnea felt sad that the promised one would never come to save the land where she grew up.  She feared her old home, family, and friends would die and be forever forgotten because of her selfishness.

Arthur knew the story of how she was released to come find him and the promise she had made to the king and prince.  He comforted her by saying it would happen someday, if not a male born to them to serve the purpose, it would be the son of one of their daughters or one of her children or their children.  But an offspring of theirs would some day be the promised one to fulfill the purpose and enlighten the human race to respect all life no matter what form it took.

Ninnea and Arthur never had a son, but loved all their daughters and taught them to respect life.   Their daughters and the daughters of their daughters never had a son, but all passed on the story of Ninnea and the promise to give a male offspring to the fireflies in order to save their world.

***

Robbie finished the story right at the stroke of ten moons.  He laid down in the bed and wondered what this story had to do with him.   King Huron and Rosella told him he would know his purpose soon. That night he dreamed of fairies, fireflies, Ninnea and Arthur and all their daughters.  Nana Peters was also in his dream, at least he thought it was Nana, only she was young and beautiful and looked like a fairy

§

© Copyright 2013   Eileen A Partak

Captured Fire - Part 4

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the Fourth

installment of the 

short story 

Captured Fire

This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy, Robbie, who enters a magical world  where he learns about the meaning of life, friendship, and respect for others

***

The Acorn Fairies took Robbie to a wooded area near a creek and left him on a rock.   He stood shivering wishing he had never seen, let alone capture the Rose Fairy.  As he stood there a group of fireflies landed in front of him.  The glow was almost blinding, there where hundreds, thousands of them.  In the center of the group there seemed to be a carriage of some sort made from a black walnut shell with acorn caps as wheels and a team of inchworms pulling it.  Robbie stood still not knowing what to expect.  The fireflies parted as the door to the vehicle was opened.  Out stepped a huge firefly with round wide long black wings that hung down his body like a cape.    He had a larger and brighter light than the others and he had flashing lights on his head; like a crown.  As he walked towards Robbie the small fireflies all bowed down.  Then one of them shouted, “All bow down… King Huron ruler of all fireflies comes.” A small thin firefly tapped Robbie on the back and motioned for him to bow down.

Robbie assumed a prostrate position as the huge firefly came near.  “Robbie the Land-one, I must bestow upon you your purpose,” King Huron’s voice rumbled in Robbie’s head.  “Rise and come with me.”   Trembling, Robbie slowly stood up facing the colossal king who turned and walked with importance to his waiting carriage.   The same small firefly motioned for him to follow.  Robbie entered the carriage and sat opposite the king, they both sat in silence the entire trip.  After what seemed like an endless journey the carriage stopped in a meadow at the edge of a forest, they had reached the firefly kingdom and the king’s castle. 

As before, a large group of fireflies surrounded the king now with Robbie in tow, and the procession advanced to an opening under a pile of wet leaves.  Once inside they proceeded down a long musty corridor and entered into a large “throne” room.  King Huron marched his way to a throne made up of maple leaves and sat down royally as Robbie was halted and told again to bow down. 

“Rise Robbie the Land-one,” the King said “ and come forward,” Robbie shaking in terror moved toward the King.

“The firefly population is dying,” the King told him, “being tortured and destroyed by the Land-ones. We must be saved, humans need to know we are living creatures and we should receive the same respect as anyone. Too much of nature is being destroyed. The problem must be resolved.  You, Robbie the Land-one, are the special one by your birth, chosen to be our savior promised by legend. It is up to you.

“There once was magic in the firefly world,” the King went on to say, “but it was taken away and will be returned when the time is right, when the correct one comes to us.” 

Robbie could not comprehend what was being told to him.   Special one promised in legend, what in the world did that have to do with him? He was just an ordinary kid, one that got in trouble like anyone, what made him special.  He didn’t want to be special; he just wanted to find the reverse magic words that would send him back home.

“Tomorrow morning you will start your training and your transformation. But tonight you read this to understand the legend,” King Huron handed him a large book.

Hands shaking. Robbie took the book.  It was a large book with a purple cover and binding.  The front cover was adorned with raised carvings of oak trees and images of flower fairies and fireflies, whose bulbs actually blinked on and off.  The edges of the pages were golden in color and the light reflecting from them made Robbie believe they were covered with real gold.  In the middle of the cover, in red old English style font was the title “Legend of Promise.”

King Huron nodded his head and the firefly guards escorted Robbie from the throne room.  They led him down a dark corridor and into a small dark musty room that was dug out from the side of the wall.  

“You will spend the night here reading.  We will come for you at four lights tomorrow morning,” the guard with deepest voice told him.  “Dinner is on that table. You must darken the room at ten moons, so read quickly.” he closed the door with a loud bang.

Robbie examined the room; nothing surprised him anymore and being in this land was starting to look normal.  The room was much like all the others, dirt walls and furniture, made not out of wood, metal, or plastic as it was at home, but out of nature, flowers, rocks, moss. 

He walked over to a little rock desk and slowly put the book down.  Next to the desk stood a carved out tree limb, a firefly standing tall glowing his yellow bulb brightly served as a lamp (he later found out serving as lamps was one of many firefly occupations).  On the rock table sat his dinner, a large maple leaf piled high with toasted acorns drenched in elderberry sauce to satisfy his hunger.  He drank from the bowl, which again held rose petal honeysuckle nectar that he was starting to acquire a taste for. After dinner he began to read. He didn’t have much time to learn what he needed to know regarding his purpose and the reason he was being called the special one.

§

© Copyright 2013   Eileen A Partak

Captured Fire - Part 3

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the Third 
installment of the 
short story 
Captured Fire

This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy,
Robbie, who enters a magical world where he learns about the meaning of life,

friendship, and respect for others.

***

Robbie had always enjoyed catching fireflies with the other neighborhood boys.  All the boys met in Jason’s backyard, each boy with a canning jar ready for the hunt.

“Ok guys,” Jason yelled with authority, after all it was his yard so he was the boss of this group.  “Everyone get as many and as quickly as you can.  Then we will have fun with them.  Captured fire is what we want.”  The boys scattered around the neighborhood chasing after the blinking fireflies, each wanting to get many quickly so they could play with them.

Thirty minutes later the boys met, each with jars glowing like lanterns.  Robbie was the first to finish and with the most fireflies in his jar.  All the boys agreed that he was the quickest and the best on Mayberry Street, they gave him the title ‘terrorizing menace.’

“Watch this,” Jason yelled.  He reached into the jar taking out fireflies and pulling off their lights.  After he had a handful of the glowing bulbs he started to smear them on his face and arms looking like a warrior decorated with war paint ready for attack.  Robbie was taken back by the sight of this but watched as the other boys started decorating themselves with the glowing paint.  He then joined in the fun.

This ritual was repeated every night with hoops and hollers from the group as they ripped bulbs and wings off the fireflies.  They left the mangled, along with the untouched ones in the airless jars to die, emptying out the lifeless dry bodies the next night.

One evening Nana Peters came into the potting shed to get her garden cart right at the moment Robbie was pouring out the dead fireflies on the ground.

“Robert William Johnson! What in the world are you doing?” she screamed at him.

Startled, Robbie dropped the jar.  “Cleaning out the old bugs,” he answered in a timid voice as he looked at the pile of dried carcasses on the ground.

This is when Nana Peters explained to him how precious life was and the rules to catching fireflies.  “Fireflies love playing the game with you, but always put them in a container with air, and always set them free. Remember Robbie everyone has a purpose.”  Robbie listened to her; she spoke with such sureness in her voice he started to feel guilty about capturing these creatures and leaving them to die.  So when his birthday came Nana gave him the ‘bughouse.’

“So are you ready for a tour?” Rosella asked, her voice snapping him back to the present.  “ I will show you how we take care of the flowers from down here.  Then we will move you on to your purpose.”

Robbie was ready to move along, but wondered what she meant by his “purpose.”  He stood up to follow her hoping whoever it was that noticed actions didn’t know of his mutilation of the fireflies.

As they walked from the room a large blue and black dragonfly met them at the door.  Rosella hopped on its back and motioned for Robbie to do the same.  Once settled securely on the dragonfly it took off down the narrow hall out into the large room. 

They entered a buzzing microcosm.  The room was musty with dim lighting and a misty haze billowing throughout.  Fairies and insects flew around everywhere concentrating on their individual jobs; a different type of fairy performed each.  The dragonfly swiftly flew past Tytra; the first one Robbie met upon entering this land.  She was busy supervising her group of workers, all of them with twig combs tending to the long silky roots.  These were the Groomer Fairies he learned, their job was to keep the long roots of the flowers smooth and tangle free.  Other fairies fed the roots by attaching little leaf buckets containing a mixture of soil, mosses and water to the root ends. These were the Root Feeder Fairies their job was to make sure the feeding buckets were always full so the flowers had enough nutrition to thrive.

Nanny Fairies tended the new seeds keeping them warm and nourished in order to sprout.  This was a constant 24-hour a day job for if they were not tended to the energy would fizzle and the seeds would not sprout.  Once sprouted the Coach Fairies encouraged them to be strong, to push forward using their full potential to emerge above ground and grow toward the sun for more energy. 

Not every seed was strong enough or had the drive to push and become a beautiful flower.   The Coach Fairies could only encourage with love and words, the rest was up to the seed or sprout to do it on their own.  Most had the energy or the desire to move forward, others through no fault of their own could not make it.  The Doctor and Nurse Fairies attended to the weak or damaged sprouts.  Blankets covered spindly or shriveled roots to keep them warm and comfortable.  No one was to blame for any of this, “What is to be – is to be” the fairies said as they continued on with their lives.

The dragonfly soared into another large brightly lit room filled with a delightful perfumed air.  Robbie saw a ray of light coming from a shaft above that illuminated the entire room.  Along one wall were chutes coming from above that all types of flowers traveled down making huge piles on the floor.  Every type of flower petal imaginable lay on the floor.   Rose, African violet, bleeding hearts, bluebell, fuchsia, hollyhock, lilac, morning glory, Queen Anne’s lace, sweet William.  Many Robbie had never seen before and didn’t know what they were called.

“This is the place where the petals of the flowers are received and sorted.  Many are used for clothing, food and gadgets for daily living”, Rosella explained.   They continue to fly along through several other rooms watching various fairies working with plants.  Finally they landed and four tall Acorn Fairies were waiting for him as he hopped off the dragonfly.  He was told to sit in the middle of an extra large oak leaf as the fairies each took a corner and flew up and away, as he wondered what was next.

§

© Copyright 2013   Eileen A Partak

Captured Fire - Part 2

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the second installment
of the short story 
Captured Fire

This is the story of a nine-year-old boy,
Robbie, who enters a
magical world where he learns about the meaning of life, friendship, and respect for others

***

The next evening Robbie clutched the rosebud in his hand and ran over to the spot in the garden where he had released the fairy.   He closed his eyes tight and whispered the magic words the fairy told him – believe in the promise - three times as the fairy instructed.  He felt a strong suction; a heavy downward pull as the ground collapsed beneath his feet.  In a split second he was carried down a dark narrow shaft and then stopped abruptly and thrown onto a soft spongy surface.  He stayed still for a moment on the soft ground feeling dazed from the fall.  It was dark and the air had a musty aroma.  He felt something gently tickle his face.  As his eyes adjusted to the darkness he saw something stringy hanging over him.  Looking closer he could see it was a mass of twisted roots fine as strands of hair.  He slowly stood up feeling a little dizzy and started to brush dirt from himself.  “Oh my!” he gasped, “my clothes.”  There he stood, the only thing covering his body was dirt on his arms and legs, he was completely naked.

“Hello there”, a squeaky voice greeted him from beyond the tangle root mass.  He squinted his eyes and focused his gaze toward the sound of the voice.  Fluttering before him, holding what looked like a comb made of twigs, was a fairy.  This one looked different from the one he caught the night before.  She had long yellow hair, making up her dress were long orange flower petals speckled with black, similar to a tiger lily; bright green tights covered her long legs.  From the top of her head antenna protruded like the stamen of a flower and little puffy soft orbs floated down from the ends, like pollen, as she spoke.

“You must be the Land-one who captured Rosella, we heard you might pay us a visit.” the fairy was busy combing the mass of roots smooth as she talked.

Being aware of his nakedness Robbie tried to hide behind some thick tangled twigs suspended from above.  “I’m Robbie, if Rosella is the fairy I thought was a firefly then yes that’s me.”

“Welcome Robbie, I am Tytra the manager of root manicuring.  Someone will be here to make you comfortable and show you around”.

“But I’m naked.” he whispered.

“Oh that is alright, they say every Land-one is when they arrive here.  You shrunk you know.  Once you become tiny your coverings no longer fit.”

Robbie looked at her with a mystified gaze and extended his arms and looked at his hand and down at his feet.   He was tiny! How did this happen. “I am no longer a boy, I must be a fairy,” he exclaimed in horror as he reached to his back searching for wings.

Tytra giggled as she watched, “You do look somewhat like a fairy, are you sure you are not one of us?  Upturned noses and small points of the ears are a fairy quality.”  Robbie slowly touched the tip of his nose and let his fingers move to his ears.  “No, they are like Nana’s I’ve been told.”  Tytra nodded with a sly smile then made a loud clicking sound summoning two more Tiger Lily Fairies.  “Take the Land-one to the salon and inform Rosella he is here.”  The fairies obediently took hold of his arms, lifted him up and flew off through the silky root curtains, emerging into a magical underground world.   Robbie felt for sure he was in a dream.

They entered a room with rows dug into the earth walls forming shelves.  Neatly on each shelf were leaves and petals all stacked together by colors, starting on the bottom with the lighter shades and progressing up to the darker shade of that same color.  Several piles of stones covered with moss were in the middle of the room, reminiscent of small tables.  A fairy with short red curly hair and a dress made of lily of the valley bells greeted them with a cheery smile.

“Here’s the Land-one for you to dress,” one of the Tiger Lily Fairies said as they dropped Robbie on top of a shiny silver stone and flew out of the room with a Swoosh!

Without a word the Lily of the Valley Fairy flew over to Robbie and dressed him in a shirt and short pants made from small deep green leaves with serrated edges and placed the cap of an acorn on top his short sandy hair.  The dark colors made the blue of his eyes glow bright.   When finished she flew over and pulled a long snake like vine that hung in the corner of the room.  Lily of the Valley bells rang with a choir of soft tinkles and two more fairies immediately entered the room.  They were dressed as Robbie was only with brown mesh wings and a brown belt around their waists made from dried woven grass, little twigs hung like batons from the belts. 

Again he was escorted through the big room, down a narrow winding tunnel far from the bustling activity in the large room and into a small hidden area.  The tantalizing aroma of roses intoxicated Robbie’s nostrils as he was dropped off in this room. The walls were covered from floor to ceiling with over lapping rose petals of various shades of pinks, and reds.  The ceiling and floor were covered with white and yellow petals.  Small rose blooms were placed in the room for chairs and on either side of the chairs small stones covered in moss to serve as tables.  In the far corner was a bed of slate covered with moss woven together with rose petals.  Rosebuds were placed at the head of the bed for pillows.   

Robbie heard a trickle and saw in the corner a clear stream flowing down over silver stones forming a pond.  Pieces of rose petals gently floated and twirled in the rippling water that formed fluffy foam and floated like clouds on the surface of the pond.  This was the residence of Rosella the Queen of the Flower Garden Fairies.

Robbie stood looking around the little room in awe still thinking he must be in a dream when he heard a little humming sound behind him.   He turned around and there was Rosella behind him accompanied by four Rose Fairies. She settled down on one of the rose bloom chairs and was quickly attended to by one of the fairies. 

“Welcome Robbie the Land-one.  We are so happy that you decided to visit us.”  She motioned for him to sit down and then snapped her fingers twice, nodded and the attendants flew away. Robbie sat down a little uneasy on the flower chair as the cool petals engulfed his small body.  He was not used to the using flowers as furniture.

“We do not often have visitors from the upper land.  Upper land dwellers must prove they are worthy to enter the flower fairyland.  But you have proved yourself by showing your kindness for others and setting me free,” she said with a gracious smile and nodding her head towards Robbie.

Just then one of the attendants came back carrying a large leaf, using it like a tray.   On the tray were little bell shaped flowers with the stems twisted around the sides for handles making the flowers look like teacups.  She offered one to Robbie.  He hesitated then he took one.  With curious examination he sniffed the light pink liquid in the cup cautiously and slowly touched the rosy drink to his lips.  It was actually good. 

“One of my favorite drinks,” Rosella said as she took a sip and leaned back in her chair, “the morning dew off a rose petal mixed with honeysuckle nectar.”

“As I was saying,” Rosella put down the teacup and looking seriously into Robbie’s eyes, “you are one of the privileged.  Very few ever enter the underground flower land.  You shall be the ambassador between our two worlds spreading the word to your people that life exists everywhere.”

Robbie gulped down the rosy drink.  He started to tremble as he set the teacup down on the table.  “Ambassador?  Me, how could I tell anyone something important, I am only nine-years old.”?

Rosella laughed, leaning forward she touched Robbie’s arm and whispered, “All actions are noticed by someone, good, bad, all actions are noticed.”  Then she sat back with a sly grin and picked up her drink.

Robbie gulped.   Rosella mentioned his kindness by the fact that he released her, but he knew he was not always so kind. He thought back to last summer.   

§

© copyright 2013   Eileen A Partak

Captured Fire

Image courtesy of suphakit73 /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is the first 
installment of the 
short story 
Captured Fire

This story is the story of a nine-year-old boy, Robbie, who enters a magical world where he learns about the meaning of life, friendship, and respect for others.

****

The yard glistened with dots of light. Robbie ran eagerly to each blinking yellow glow.  This was a nine-year old boy’s dream, a warm summer night and a sky laden with fireflies.   What could be better than this?

Robbie tiptoed in slow motion, calculating the flight speed of the fireflies along with his distance from each one in order to anticipate the exact moment to lunge forward for the capture.  Cupping his latest catch in his hands, Robbie quickly confined the newly caught firefly into the box with the others.   Nana Peters had given him the “bughouse” for his birthday.  It was an 8” x 6” box with screened walls so the inhabitants could breath.  It had a small sliding panel on top of the blue “roof” for entrance.  Nana Peters had reminded him that at the end of each play time the fireflies must go free for they are living creatures with feelings and families. They need to go back to their homes at the end of the night.

Robbie was astonished at the amount of fireflies populating the night sky this evening.   This would be his biggest round up ever. He stopped his vigorous running and looked over in Nana Peters rose garden where he sighted the biggest, brightest firefly he had ever seen.  It sparkled brighter than Mama’s diamond ring in the sunlight.  It looked different from all the others and moved differently.  It was three times as wide and five times longer than most.  It moved from flower to flower in a jerky manner, slowly then moving faster and stopping suddenly.  Its glow was brighter and it did not blink on and off as the others did, it had a continuous glow.

“I must get this one,” Robbie thought. “It must be the king of fireflies.”

Once again he used his calculation procedure for capture.  Slowly he crept across the yard toward the rose garden, his “bughouse” on its long strap hugging his chest and bouncing up and down with each prudent step he took.   Figuring speed and distance, he quickly moved his hands in for the capture.  Swoosh – the firefly moved like a flash to the other end of the garden.  Dumbfounded he wondered how he miscalculated so since he was known in the neighborhood as the quickest bug catcher on Mayberry Street. 

The firefly hovered, shining brighter than before over a large red rose.  “Maybe I need a surprise attack through the backdoor,” Robbie thought.  He slowly turned his back on the firefly and walked away from the garden and around the potting shed at the other end of the garden.   He slowly looked around the corner of the shed.   The firefly was still above the red rose.  Robbie figured the firefly was still looking the other direction as he made a flying leap.  He flew a half a foot off the ground and propelled himself horizontally two feet forward into the garden.  As he reached his hands forward to grasp the firefly, Swoosh – it moved to the other side of the garden again.  Robbie plopped straight down on Nana’s rose bush.  Crash - the branches of the bush broke, the petals of the flower scattered on the ground like red confetti and the thorns punctured Robbie’s arms as he plummeted down.  Looking up dazed he saw the bright rays of the firefly shining at the other end of the garden. Now more than ever he was determined to catch this elusive firefly. 

The next evening as the darkness engulfed the yard like a curtain and the fireflies sparkled in the neighborhood sky; Robbie was poised in the garden once again.  Not only did he have his bughouse strapped across his chest, but also he held a long pole with a silver silky net at the end.  

The hot summer breeze blew over Robbie’s face like the warmth from an open oven door.  The crickets began their loving evening serenade as the birds finished their evensong and settled in the trees.  Robbie sat waiting, eyes wide open without a blink glued in a stare at the roses in the garden; waiting for the return of the firefly.

Suddenly there it was flying up from a large pink rose at the corner of the garden.  Robbie didn’t even calculate his attack; he took a deep breath his net held out in front of him and with one quick swoop he caught the firefly.  He quickly transferred the firefly into the bughouse and sat staring, heart pounding loud in his ears, head spinning as he tried to catch his breath before examining his prize.

Once he was composed he slowly lifted the bughouse up towards the light of the moon so he could see more clearly.  His jaw dropped, he shook his head and blinked his eyes to try to focus again on what he thought he saw in the box.  Moving his head closer he peered inside to see.  He did see correctly the first time; this was not a firefly looking back at him but a tiny fairy.  She wore a yellow rose bud upside down as a hat on her head of raven hair, green leaves made up the bodice of her dress and the skirt was made of yellow rose petals.  Small lacy green wings moved quickly like the blades of a fan as she suspended herself in the center of the box.  This was better than catching any firefly, this was a magical prize. He slowly took her out of the box. She didn’t try to fly away she sat with elegance in the palm of his hand.

Robbie was so excited and overwhelmed at seeing this tiny little creature sitting in his hand.   He wanted to show it to everyone; keep her forever.   He imagined what this would do to his status as bug catcher on Mayberry Street.  “I will be famous, I will be on TV and travel the world with a catch like this”.   He ran into the shed and pulled out an old wooden crate.  He climbed up on it, stretching to reach the top shelf.   Feeling around, he hid his bughouse behind an old watering can.  Settling down cross-legged on the dirt floor he slowly started to plan his future with the fairy.

“First I can not let the guys know about this, especially Jason”.

He thought of traveling the world on tour with his fairy, London, Paris the whole world.  “I can have her do magic tricks, sing, dance.  I will make billions of dollars, and I will be so famous.”

Suddenly his daydream stopped.  He thought about how he would feel if someone captured him and he could never get home again.    He then climbed back on the wooden crate reached around the watering can and carefully pulled down the bughouse.  Robbie looked at the fairy as she still hovered in the box.  She now looked scared.  Then he heard Nana Peter’s words in his head,  “….fireflies must be let free for they are living creatures… they need to go back to their homes at the end of the night.”  These words revolved in his head, “But this isn’t a firefly he thought.”  This was the hardest decision he ever had to make; even harder than when Nana tells him he can pick either candy or a cookie for a treat.  Finally he realized it was the same for fairies too and he decided he should let her go free.  The fairy was so grateful that Robbie didn’t harm and let her go she gave him her rosebud hat as a gift.  He looked disappointingly at the tiny flower wondering what kind of a gift this was supposed to be.

“I am Rosella the Queen of the flower garden fairies.  This is no ordinary rosebud; it is magic and the ticket to visiting the underground fairy world.”

A magical land to visit! Now what could be better than this for a nine-year old boy?  

§

© 2013   Eileen A Partak