Story Teller:

A trip to Toyland

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named George, who liked toys very much. Although he had lots of toys, he wanted more and more.

One day, George received a toy dwarf, from one of his friends. Although the toy dwarf was ugly, he liked it as it could walk and talk. George started walking home with the toy dwarf and halfway towards the house, the dwarf started talking.

"Toyland kingdom in Woodland wood, Toyland kingdom in Woodland wood," he said. At first, George didn't pay much notice, but when the toy dwarf kept repeating the words, he started thinking about it. "Toyland kingdom in Woodland wood?," he asked himself.

"The Woodland wood is at the corner of the village. Sometimes, there may be a Toyland there. I must go there and try to find some toys for myself", he thought.

Night fell. George was still thinking about Toyland. At last, he decided to go to there. He waited patiently till all his family members fell asleep. Then he took some food and water and a torch and started making his way to the Woodland wood.

The Woodland wood was very dark with so many huge trees. However, George didn't care or was scared by the darkness; he only wanted to go to the Toyland. So he started walking through the wood.

He walked and walked until he heard someone talking to him. "Hello little boy. Stop here for a while," said the voice. George was suddenly scared, so he stopped and looked around. "Don't be afraid dear, I am an oak tree, a talking oak tree," said the voice.

"I will tell you the path to the Toyland". When George heard the word "Toyland," he yelled happily. "Where is it? I want to go there. Tell me the way dear oak tree or whoever you are," he cried.

"Ok, little boy, walk till you find a wall running across the wood. You have to climb the wall and go to the other side. Then, you will find some people there. You ask the way from them," said the oak tree. George didn't wait long enough even to thank the oak tree.

He ran and ran until he found the wall.

The wall was very high and it seemed difficult to climb it. However, George climbed it with difficulty and entered a different world. There were only two or three trees there. The wind made a whistling sound. George walked slowly.

Suddenly, he saw a man in a black cloak sitting under a tree. He ran towards the man. "Hello boy, I know what you are looking for. You want to go to the Toyland, don't you?," asked the man. "Yes. Can you help me?" asked the boy "OK", said the man and gave a stick to the little boy.

"This is the world of magicians. I am the kind magician. There are some cruel magicians too. Sometimes, they will cast a spell on you. This stick could take you to the Toyland safely. Now, you go out and find the Toyland," said the magician.

George climbed the wall there and went out of the world of magicians. The stick took him near a door.

He was amazed to see a door in the middle of the forest. To his greatest amazement, an old tortoise opened the door. George waited in front of the door with wide open eyes. "Don't be afraid. Come here and meet the princess in the Charming Palace", said the tortoise in a kind voice.

George entered thorough its gates. Inside was a beautiful garden with all sorts of flowers, fruits and birds. The birds were singing the loveliest songs he had ever heard.

"Come here boy, eat some fruits," said the tortoise. George picked some fruits and ate them. "What a lovely taste!" he thought. After eating, he felt better and went to the Charming Palace.

"Charming Palace", he thought while standing in front of it. "The name suits it." The palace was built with diamonds and crystals. The boy could still remember how the palace had blazed in the darkness. He slowly went inside.

There was a grand clock near the entrance and George looked at it to see that the time was one o' clock in the morning. "Little boy, you have arrived at the palace of the princess of the Toyland kingdom. Now go inside and say what you want. Then she will help you to find what you want," said the grand clock. George was amazed. He thanked the clock and went inside.

In the middle of the castle, a beautiful princess was waiting for him. George ran to her. The princess smiled kindly. "I want to go to the Toyland," George said, holding his breath. "Come along," said the princess and took him near a closed door "Open it and go inside," she said. George, opened the door.

"Oh! I cant believe this. This must be a dream," he screamed with the greatest amazement. Behind the door, there was the Toyland with all sorts of wonderful toys.

"Take as much as you like", said the princess. "You mean I can take anything?" George asked, still not believing what was going on. "'Yes anything," said the princess.

George collected lots of toys in several bags. Then, he suddenly remembered something. "Oh! I must go home. How can I go home now? It will take me a long time to walk through the forest," he said to the princess. "I'll help you," said the princess. She flew up to the sky and brought down a cloud. "Now get onto this ," she said.

George got onto the cloud and she said some magical words. Then the cloud started floating away, carrying the little boy and the toys with it. "Come again whenever, you want," said the princess. "Good bye," cried George.

After sometime, he found himself in front of his house. He jumped down from the cloud and ran inside. The others were still asleep. George also got on to the bed as he was very tired.

After this, he visited Toyland quite often. But no one in our world knew it. Not even his mother!

Sent by Yashika Pawani Satharasinghe, Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha.

This was the winning entry for Win a Prize Story Teller competition, which appeared in the Junior Observer of January 14.