"Wonder"
Story by Hazirah
,
for Amanda USA
REF# _ab6-2/AmandaR1.GIF
When the sky was partly purple, partly pink, partly red and partly orange, something freed itself from where the colours of the sky met. It flew across the sky swiftly, and wisely, choosing where it should and shouldn't go. It was as if it knew where it was going.
Josh wondered where it was going, and what it was. He reached for it, but it was too high, and too fast. He jumped, but it still was too far away from him. Annoyed, the ten-year-old went back to his place in the garden.
Josh's sister, Jessica, saw him jumping. She jumped too, but instead fell on the grass. She laughed, but Josh didn't. Everyday he saw the creature escape from the sky, when it was very near to the time when the sun set. The more curious he was about it, the more determined he was to find out about it.
The next day Josh waited for the creature to come speeding out of the sky. He tapped his foot impatiently, but this time the creature did not emerge. Suddenly he realized why this was so.
Raindrops fell upon the surface of Josh's skin. It was raining! No wonder the creature wasn't there!
But as he turned to leave, a strange bird flew down and landed itself on the ground, in front of Josh. It had blue and red feathers, but mostly blue. Its tail was yellow, with a black tip. It's beak was brown with white spots. Its other odd features attracted Josh, who reached out to touch it.
Josh stroked the tail of the bird, and gasped as it morphed into a young woman. She had short brown hair and a dress of blue, red, yelllow and black, like her dress. She smiled at Josh, looking extremely happy, but at the same time looked sad.
"I suppose you wonder who I am," she said softly to the astonished boy. "I am a bird, trapped in the day. It is only when the sun sets I come out. I always go to the large and mystifying lake near the woods. It is my home, my safe haven.
"Do not ask more about me. I am a mystery you might never solve, and I don't mind. Josh, if you should wonder about things, wonder about your environment. Wonder about your family, your friends, and yourself. It is good that you are inquisitive about the world you live in. Just pay more attention in your studies, and some of your questions might be answered. But now..." The woman shook her head, and transformed back into a bird. She flew up into the sky, so high now that Josh couldn't see her.
Josh did not understand the message directed to her. But he knew when he was older, he would.
Right now all he had to do was to ask more questions.
And to wonder.
The End
Story by: Hazirah, age 12, Brunei
Send comments to: Hazirah
