|
|
 |
  |
| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
With R. S. Karunaratne Tanya's day with a fairy
The grandfather clock struck 12 midnight. A bat flew over the house fluttering its wings. Through her half-closed eyes, she could see the pale moonlight streaming into the room. For a moment she thought she shouldn't sleep that night. She wanted to see a fairy Will my mother come into the room to check whether I'm sleeping? No. She must be fast asleep in the next room. Is she also dreaming of fairies like me? No. I don't think so. Tommy raised his head and surveyed the room. There was no sign of danger. Everything was calm and quiet. The door creaked. Tommy didn't move. The clock struck two. Tanya was wide awake. "Oh! what a lovely fairy! How did you come in? My mother must have kept the back door open. Otherwise how can a fairy get in?" "No. We fairies don't use doors and windows to enter houses. I was with you all this time". "How nice to meet a fairy. I have read about all kinds of fairies in story books. But I never thought they're real". "Fairies are real. They're like butterflies. They can go anywhere they wish". "Wonderful! But why don't you stay in one place? Like my mother and me. We don't go from place to place. "We live in a house with a lot of security I think it's dangerous to travel about without a bodyguard. My father never goes out without his personal bodyguard'. "People who live in fear need bodyguards. We don't need them because we don't know what fear is". "Any way, what's your name?" "Name? I am a fairy. We don't have special names". "Then how do they mark your attendance when you go to school? "We go to school to see little children. We don't attend classes. We don't learn because we know almost everything". "Very strange. Can't I become a fairy like you?" "All children are like fairies. But when you become adults you lose your fairy-like qualities". "I'm sad to hear that. Can't you stay in my room for ever. I like you so much..." "Sorry, my dear child. You cannot see me during the day. I become visible only at night". Tanya thought for a moment. The fairy she was reading about has made her appearance. She must keep the fairy in her room at any cost. "I know what you are thinking of. I can't stay with you for a long time. I must leave you early in the morning". Tanya reached for the book she was reading. Although she had left it closed, somebody had opened the book and removed the bookmark. There was a nice picture of a fairy in the book, the fairy in the room had a marked resemblance to the picture. "Did you come out of the book I was reading?" "Of course, yes. Somebody had drawn my picture in the book. So, now I am before you." Quite curious of what was going on, Tanya reached for the book and turned to the page where she found the fairy's picture. Lo and behold! The picture was not there! "Now I know what had happened". "There is nothing to be surprised. If somebody draws my figure correctly, I can come to your world through that drawing." "This is very strange. I've never heard of such happenings in my classroom. Am I dreaming or are you a kind of magician?" "Fairies know no magic. They are real. The only problem is that you cannot see them during the day. They are visible only at night." "That means you're a real fairy. Can I touch your beautiful hand?" "No. If you do that I become a human being like you." "Then we can play together. We can sing. We can go to school ..." "Hold it. If I become human I'll lose most of my beauty and good qualities. I will grow old like your grandmother. Will you hold my hand if I were that old?" Tanya thought for a moment. My fairy should not grow old like my grandmother. She should remain beautiful for ever. "Now you understand my position. Therefore please do not touch my hand. Let's be together tonight." The fairy floated in the air. Tanya ran after her all over the house. Tommy looked bewildered. Mother remained fast asleep. It was Tanya's happiest day in life. Who else would have a fairy as a playmate? After playing with the fairy, Tanya felt a little tired. She sat on a chair while the fairy remained above her. "Don't you feel tired?" "Fairies don't get such feelings. Only humans feel tired." "Oh, I see. Anyway this is a novel experience for me. I'll never forget you. Will you come again to see me?" "So long as you remain a child I'll visit you. However, when you lose your childlike qualities I'll go elsewhere and see how other children play. Because fairies don't have children, we like to be with them." "Shall I wake up my mother. She'll be delighted to meet you." "You may wake her up. But she'll not be able to see me, because she is no longer a child." "That means, only children can see fairies?" "That's it. Now the day is breaking. I'll be with you for sometime. But you'll not see me." "Can I be a child for ever to be with fairies?" "Your mother may not like that idea. Children have to attend school, go to university, pass exams and find jobs. If you remain a child, you can't do any of those things. So my dear child give up that idea. But you can remain a child even when you become an adult." "How?" "Cultivate childlike qualities. Be sincere. Help others in need. Don't tell lies. Go to Sunday school and be cheerful." "How can I be cheerful?" "Smile with others. Talk to them. Be nice to them. Life is like a mirror. If you smile, others will smile with you." "My grandpa never smiles. But my mother says he loves us all." "Yes, even some good people don't smile. That's a problem with humans. We fairies are quite different. We remain cheerful all the time." "If I also remain cheerful, will I become a fairy?" "You can't become a fair by remaining cheerful. But if you are cheerful, everyone will begin to love you. Isn't that something you should aim at?" "Wow! You seem to know everything. Nobody has advised me to remain cheerful, smile and be nice to others." "Don't blame others. Now you know how to become a fairy-like child. Now I must go. Other fairies are waiting for me over the hills and valleys ..." There was a sudden ruffling of the pages. Tanya reached for the book and turned to the page she was reading. Once again she saw the fairy's picture in the book. Tanya heaved a sigh of relief. She hoped the fairy would come back one day to her little room. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Little Tanya felt sleepy after reading a story book of fairies. Mother
came in to wish her good night. Father was away in a foreign country.
Tommy was lying in the corner of her room keeping a constant vigil.
