The Adventures Of Little Sham - Chapter 4 (Part 2)

The Adventures Of  Little Sham  

A Novel

by Paul McCann

 

Chapter Four

The Colours Of Spring  

Part 2

 

Sham put on his soft shoes and walked down the stairs and out the door and up the street to the Storytellers Cottage . Into through the door and over the floor to where the treasure chest sat , He pulled away the chest from the trapdoor and down the ladder he went until he came to the ground where some steps went further down under the ground  . He went down three flights of steps until he came to place where a tree was standing .

“Speak to me for I’m the history tree and I have many stories to tell ” .   

Sham replied , “Are there many history trees here ‘

“No I am the only history tree that ever existed  so tell me , is there a time or a place that you would like to see and I’ll see what I can do to get you there “

Said the history tree and Sham replied. .

 “Is there a place called fairyland because I’ve heard so much about it . ?”

“ What have you heard ?” the tree asked

“I was told that in fairyland all the animals were happy to talk with people and that there was a magic language used by man and animals .“

‘Would you like to go there and see for yourself ?” The tree asked .

Sham screamed  “Oh yes please ‘

“Well then shake my branches until the leave fall and you will find your way there “

Sham began to shake the branches until the leaves fell down to the ground and them suddenly Sham found that he was standing in a forest, The trees smelt like  liquorice and the grass felt crispy and tasted like honey . He knew he was in a very special place and thought it must be fairyland .He walked along the path looking at the sights and listening to the strange and wonderful sounds of life all around . Then up ahead he heard a voice that was calling out for attention .

Angel trumpet flowers on the pathway started play as little animals came scurrying and scampering from everywhere , out of their hives came buzzing bees , squirrels and bears from the trees,  caterpillars from their leaves in the furrows , rabbits and hares from  their burrows and birds from their nests . Every creature of the forest gathered there in a clearing . In their ranks they stood still as their commander was addressing them . Their commander was a fairy dressed like a King .

His voice was soft like a whisper but had a harsh edge and when he spoke everyone listened . Standing on a plinth in the middle of the clearing he welcomed all who were there .

‘Today is a special day in fairyland , We have a visitor called Sham , sent by the history tree on his wishes . Would everyone welcome to fairyland forest Sham”  

The cheered and whistled and thumped and  jumped .

Sham went over and stood among them .

‘As the ruler here in Fairyland it is my responsible to continue reminding you all of the need continue with all the great work we are doing establishing our land for the future of all fairies and creatures of the in between worlds . It is only the early  beginning to fairyland and the tasks we have are many , Today is another busy day . with the busy buzzing bees taking all their honeycomb slabs over to sunny burrows for the funny bunnies , so they can all begin their work to make runny honey . Now all you little funny bunnies you’re going to turn it into yummie runny honey by putting it into sacks and strapping in on your backs and hopping  all over fairyland mixing it with sugar spices from the blossoms and fruit trees . Once all the honey is runny enough and yummie enough , it has to be taken to all of the birds in fairyland forest who are going to add some colours from the fairy floss clouds at the sunset of the day and tomorrow with the colours are set we will start painting the flowers of fairyland for the coming of springtime. So lets us all to sing the song for the colours of spring to begin

 “ The colours of spring are a wonderful thing for the creatures in fairyland

What a joy they bring to every living thing.with the magic touch of  a wand .

With a dib and a dab , a swish and a stab, the flowers are coloured as planned ,

in red and blue , yellow too, with pink and green, everything is looking just grand .

buttercups and daisies , blossoms and bluebells , as pretty as you’ve ever seen .

Then where the fairies dwell ,they’re stories to tell ,of places where no one has been

under the burrows and around the furrows and in all the places in between .

From the fairy dell to the wishing well and in the home of the springtime Queen”.

The bees went buzzing away and the funny bunnies hopped off followed the rest of  creatures  who made their way to do what had to be done .

The Fairy King looked at Sham and said ,

‘Well how would it be if I took you on a  tour of fairyland ?’

“That would be magic “

Sham replied .

So the ruler of Fairyland called out to the sky with a harsh but a gentle call and in a short while there came a response to take Sham and the King on a Dragonfly ride On the back of a giant dragonfly Sham and the King sat holding tightly to the reins around its long and strong furry skinned neck .

Over the tops of the chocolate forest swooping down around the caramel outcrops then through the hills covered with candy clustered wild flowers that were scattered  amongst the fudge paths lined by rocks of nougat and nuts  .

The Kind told Sham about the purple mists of time that had fallen long before the  migration to fairyland began . When the land was asleep in a long winter that had never seen the light of the sun . He told of the lack of colours in the forests and the need to start replanting new life for the future life that was to come .

Sham listened in awe and looked in wonder at everything he could see in fairyland .

He saw the funny little bunnies all hopping  around with little sacks on their backs . He saw them skipping and jumping through the forest stopping here and there to grab some blossom sugar for their sacks . He saw squirrels and brush tailed possums  sweeping up the leaves in piles for the breeze to take them all away , Them he saw ducks in a waddle and geese in a gaggle who went in huddles through the puddles by a lake that kept the silver trout from running about where the fairies liked to play . There were mushroom soldiers that marched all the way over the bridge with their funny little flat hats and those winklepickered  spats marking time down to honeycomb lane . There were bull rushes beside the Lake and The King looked at Sham and said ,  

“For goodness sake lets go and have a break for a minute or two “

Then the king asked the dragonfly to come down for the sky so they could have a quick  snack or two . In a quiet place there , they sat down on the ground beside a wishing well there . As they sat down on the soft grassy ground , Sham asked ,

“"So tell me fairy king what is that sweet smell here in this place and would it be ok to ask , what can we have to eat while we are here ?”

The Fairy King replied

“ That whiff that just wafted through is from the sweetie fruity trees from the Fairy Hills on the sunny side of the hills of evermore .  I will just order us some food now on the hello well how are you line ,so it shouldn’t take long before we have some thig to eat and drink “’

The fairy king walked over the to the wishing well and called into well “

“Hello how are you . It’s the King speaking ,could you send food for two , we’ll be there when you get here . “

Up came a bucket from the well carrying two little fairies who jumped out and sat down on the grass with Sham and king . Some other fairies arrived there on horses from those places out there where the fairies hide .

“The two fairies from the bucket jumped out said

“I’m Fee, hello pleased to meet you ”

And the other one continued ,

‘And I’m Foe , likewise please to meet you . Here in the bucket we have some marshmallow tea in a teapot and some chicky-choccie-sticky bickies for you. “

Two fairy horses came over and said ,

"Hello , how nice to see you . I am rainbow brownie, from the hidden plains of fairyland and I have come here to serve you ."  

The tiny quarterling horse started tugging at Shams sleeve leading him to sit down on the stump of a tree while the other tiny fairy horse approached the king and bowed its head and said .

“Let bring you to your table your highness “.

The fairy horse brought the kIng over to a tree stump near to where Sham was sitting and a fairy with a magic wand came and waved the wand over the tree stumps that were turned into a table and two chairs . Another fairy approached carrying a fiddle and he started to play a happy toe tapping tune and said , .

‘My name is Dee and I’ve come to play you a little tune on this wonderful occasion .

Its a tune that I call “Sipping in the Sunshine. For your pleasure .

As the fairy fiddler started to play , all the other fairies started to dance .  

The two fairy horses were transformed into saucers and the two fairies from the  bucket were transformed into two golden teacups .

‘ We are honoured to have you here with us . Your humble servant , Pinky Winky would also be happy to serve you ” .

.Pinky Winky poured out the tea and handed out the biscuits .

Then another fairy approached and said ,

“May I present you with a sample of some sweetie fruity treats from the evermore hills  and a glass of scrunched rainbow juice ‘

The party went on with several little songs with all of the fairies singing and dancing  along until the King lifted his arms and said ,

“Hip Hip Hooray , what a wonderful day we have had but friends its time now to rest as tomorrow we have a lot of painting to be done as soon as the sun gets up “

The King offered Sham an overnight stay at his castle in the sleepy hills and invited Sham to be part of the art works for spring around fairyland the following day”

Sham was so excited to be offered a place to stay in fairyland and said ,

“Hip Hip Hooray , lets be on our way to the sleepy hills “

They giant dragonfly arrived and took them away to the sleepy hills where they rested until the new day came .  

 In the morning the King took Sham to a special place . They were transported by a sunbeam to room with a magic window that allowed then to watch the work going on in fairyland . From the window in the Kings throne room  they both watched the work being done.

From the heart of the forests to the rivers and lakes , all of the creatures were gathering to begin painting the colours on the flowers for spring .

Through the middle of the forest  a river flowed its way through the dwelling places of the beavers and toads and then it went weaving down past the silver lake home of  the swans and ducks who lived happily with the fairies of the dell who would begin the day touching up the colours on all the flowers and trees . Every creature in fairyland had a job to do and everyone knew their role .

The fairies of the dell began to paint the buttercups yellow and the bluebells blue and they were soon  joined by the birds and the bees painting the grass and the leaves with shades of evergreen . The possums painted the blossoms with pastel shades , . while all of the wildflowers were decorated by showers of wild colours by flying insects who were scattering and splattering drops of vivid colours from above as they flew through the meadows while in the forests the rabbits and squirrels and the bears and the deer had their own ideas about colourful shades with blotches of cream in between adding light and shade around the paths . Every flower and every leaf was finished with a bright gloss that made the forest glades glisten and shine . All over the lengths and breadths of fairyland , the landscape was starting to look like the perfect picture of spring . The Kind was happy and he was reminded of the very first springtime in fairyland , not that long ago when the snow had already melted  and the ice had detached from the top of the rivers and lakes and the first creatures of the earth and sky gathered to mix up  the first batch of spring colours for the flowers and trees and when it was done he sat there on his throne looking at his kingdom through the magic window that allowed him to see the entire realm at the very first  springtime and it was just the most beautiful vision he had ever seen .

The colours of that springtime welcomed new life and slowly it happened . Life was renewed and fairyland became a place for one and all .

After the work was done everyone carefully went around looking at the finished picture and what a beautiful sight it was . A carpet of blue and white daisy’s with inserts of yellow buttons covered the paths , while emerald green grass spread its way through the valleys . The cherry trees with deep shades of red were spread among plum trees and silver oaks reached up to the sky with their branches of grey highlighting the brown bark with crevices of black in between .Here and there honeysuckle trees stood with their little purplish lanterns hanging from leaves in clusters of green and yellow . Privets trees and blackthorn trees stood in places with pink pansies and daffodil at the feet . The tulips stood with the tall bearded Iris in their colour arrays and everywhere you could see the handy work of everyone who arranged the colours of spring .

The King called everyone to his castle and thanked them for everything they had done . Then he added ,

““Now spring can start all over again”.

“Its lush”

Sang a thrush .

“In a flurry it was done .”

The dickybird sang ..

 “We had lots of help ?”

Said a few squirrels .

“We were all eager to get it done  .“

Said the beaver .

“We flew through the work in no time . “

Said the ducks and the swans .

 Astonished, stunned and overcome Sham said .

“How long did it take  ?”

The King replied ,

‘No time at all .

Everyone laughed and cheered and the King continued ,

“So we will see you all back here again next spring. “

 The fairies and all the creatures of fairyland began to cheer ‘

 “Ok then , now its time to say goodbye to our visitor Sham . We hope that your visit to fairyland was enjoyable and one that you will always remember .’

In that moment everything disappeared and Sham was standing there beside the door in the corridor where a ladder went up to the trapdoor of the Storytellers cottage in Chapters End . He climbed back up and closed the trapdoor and placed the treasure chest back again where it sat then left the door of the cottage and walked up the street to the guest house . Once more time had not passed at all during his visit to fairyland and he quietly went up the stairs to his bedroom and lay down on his bed and fell fast asleep .

 

End Of Chapter 4

 

Chapter 5

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/adventures-little-sham-chapter-5...

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