Jenny And The Emperor’s Gardens - Chaper 10

   Jenny And The Emperor’s Gardens

A novel

By Paul McCann

Chapter 10

 The Silver Lake   

 

Jenny was on her school holidays and as her parents still had to work they enrolled her in an art class at a girls college who did some extra tuition on the use of materials and themes with creating artworks . After her breakfast she took her lunchbox on the kitchen table and put it in her bag then headed off on her bike to the college . As she pedalled along the bike track at half pace she had to change gear for the hill climb just as she came top the junction at the top of the hill she noticed how quiet it was . None of the usual traffic was around . She went straight through the junction and down the hill towards the main gate of the college . Up above she saw a purple hot air balloon and thought to herself m that could be a sign .

Then as she went in through the front gate’s of the college she noticed a sign on a tree with an arrow pointing to the left . Jenny stopped and had a look and found an electric scooter parked underneath a tree . There was a note on the scooter saying ,

“Hello little one . Enjoy your ride “

She knew it was a message from the emperor and placed her bike and bag behind a bush nearby and got on the scooter . As soon as she turned on the scooter a voice message said ,

“You destination is already programmed . Please relax and enjoy the ride”

The scooter rolled along the laneways inside the college grounds where Jenny had never been before and took her through a parkland and over bridge at a pond to a greenkeepers cottage where it stopped and a voice message from the scooter said  . 

“You have arrived “

 As Jenny got off the scooter she noticed a welcome sign on the front door of the cottage . As she made her way to the door opened and she went inside where the emperor was waiting . He smiled and said ,   

“Welcome back little one . Would you like a walk through the garden before starting your art class today ?’

 

“That would be wonderful “ Jenny replied .

“ You know where the key is .so go now “

The ladder leaning in the corner walked over and said ,
“Allow me little one .”

It  leaned up against the bookcase nearby and Jenny climbed up to get the key from the top of the bookcase to open the  door to the emperors garden .

As she walked into the garden a beautiful new world presented itself with a multicoloured sky above and all kinds of flowers growing in garden beds on both sides of the path ,

There was a large plinth with a statue of the emperor and as Jenny went to have a look at the statue she noticed a bottom with the words Press on it . As she pressed the button a panel on the plinth a panel on the plinth opened and inside it looked like a lift . So she went inside and the panel on the plinth closed . The lift took Jenny down and at the bottom she got out and found herself in an underground cavern of a where coloured popsicles were scattered all around like wild flowers inside this huge underground and there other frozen treats too that hung and swung from the roof of the cavern .Some funny looking long legged icicle’s on tricycles came with trays of tongue tingle treats like jelly belly twisters and gob smacking switchers as a welcome for her arrival in the underground  cavern  .

Ther walls all around the cavern had coloured crystals that reflected the glistening sunlight that  filtered down through fissures in the ceiling of the hidden underground cavern .  Some stalactites had formed  that resembled long pointing showing the way she had to go where  steps descended down deeper underground .

 Jenny took the steps down and couldn’t believe her eyes when she found an secret  lake that lay still and silent , just like a mirror . She walked over to the lake and looked at the reflection of herself on the surface of the water and as she did she saw  some funny looking creatures looking up at her from the underneath  the water .

One by one the lake dwellers appeared .

The first one to present was an octopus with large eyes and long flubbery legs jumped out of the lake and said .

“Hi welcome to silver lake , I’m Flubber the land lubber and water lover . I’m the last of my kind you’ll find anywhere .  .

Jenny replied,

“Hello Flubber . thank you for the welcome . I’m Jenny , from another place and time far beyond the emperors garden where humans live:” .

Another creature with stringy hair and springy looking feet jumped out of the lake and stood beside Flubber the friendly octopus and cleared his throat and  said ,

“:Hello there , my name is ah . (looking a little forgetful)  . What is my name again?”

Flubber  giggled and said ,

“The only last of your kind and you can’t even remember your own name ,. I ask you  what am I to do with you , so before you end up extinct remember your name is Flumper .

 Clearing his throat again and taking a deep breath , the creature of the lake said

“ That’s right of course my name is Flumper the last known of the lake jumpers from silver lake or any other lake as far as I know . (Stuttering a bit ) For as long as I can remember I’ve been an amphibious jumper from lake to land and back again . I can swim and dance and if you’d like to take a chance and sing with me . that would be just great .” .

Jenny replied

Hi Flumper , Nice to meet you , I’m Jenny a human child and also a very good friend of the emperor who allows me to walk through all his gardens .  .

A third creature lifted its head from the lake and with a long pleated elastic neck its head stretched out and met face to face with Jenny and blinked and winked all of its  several oval shaped eyes and then it opened up with a great big smile and said  , .

 “Hi there welcome to silver lake , I’m Frillyneck the one and only great lake looker from a long long time ago . I have seen so many things and could tell you stories of mystery and wonder that would stretch your mind like an elastic rope from the beginning of time to now but somehow I think we would have enough time so for now let’s just say Hello and you’re very welcome to stay for a while here at silver lake  where the wonder of life never ends :”

Jenny replied .

Hello Frillyneck , My name is Jenny and I’m very pleased to meet you and  I’m very lucky to be here with you all today . Sometimes when you’re in a never forever land living within a dream everything is not what it seems but now more that ever before I feel that in my wildest imagination I have never seen anything or anyone like you before here in this place where you live .:

Flubber started laughing and pounding the ground with his flubbery feet and Flumper began jumping up and down cheering and Frillyneck screeched with joy and happiness and  stretched its neck all out and around the cavern the echoes of delight and wonder was heard that attracted other cavern dwellers to join in the celebration that was happening . A rainbow descended down like a stream into the cavern and golden sparkles fell all around and lay on the ground like a shinning carpet for everyone to walk on .

Giraffe’s with big eyes came giggling and galloping inside the cavern and birds flew in from above into the cavern speaking mysterious words never heard before for al who could understand . Jenny laughed and she took a chance and sang along with Flumper and danced with Flubber and listen to the a story that Frillyneck told of a time when all their species lived in the emperors garden . It was such a happy place to be but when the great change came and they and to adapt and adjust to survive being the last of their kind the emperor made this underground cavern to protect them from the environmental changes that had wiped out most of their kind leaving only one left to continue .Every creature in the cavern was the last living of their species . 

 

Jenny was amazed to see all of those creatures there in one place who could have become extinct only for the emperors intervention .

There were so many stories to be told and yet so noy enough time to hear them .

She felt happy and sad but glad to be able to experience everything that was happening there in the cavern . Eventually she realised  she had to leave the cavern and when a Fluter with a hooter brought her a scooter for her journey she knew it was time to return to the emperors cottage again . .

At first she thought how unfair it was to have all those creatures there in the cavern but they were all so happy to have met her and to have shared songs and stories with her that she was ok with leaving and got on her scooter she started to make her journey back through the cavern through tunnels and different places filled with sights and sounds unlimited for all her senses to experience , bringing her emotions and feelings of peace and joy .’

The scooter took Jenny back to where she had arrived at the lift on the plinth door where she had arrived . She pressed the button and the panel opened for her to get  inside . She soon made her way back up to the top where the door opened and she stepped out into the garden with a beautiful multicoloured sky above and flowers all around on both sides of the path .  Walking along the path she found a temple and out the front was a man dressed like a monk waving

‘Welcome to Utopia. Let’s go now “

‘Jenny went over to the monk .

:”Is Utopia a place ?  Jenny asked ,

“No, Utopia is a state of  mind and I am your guide here today . I will show you something about Utopia “

He invited her inside the Temple where many different sounds . Laughter could be heard as well as crying . The sound of chanting and singing was heard as well praying in many languages could be heard but there was no one there anywhere to be seen .   .

Flower baskets where hanging from different locations , there were art works and murals . with incense burning all around sending wafts of perfumed smoke up into the air , sending smoke signals to someone high above .

 

“ What is this place ?”

Jenny asked and the monk replied .

“This is the temple of emotions . In this place I would like you to learn to control  your thoughts and feelings so you may achieve that state of Utopia . You must know that thoughts come from within and without , some you can keep and others you can let go . There are many states you will find on your journey to Utopia such as peace and love but ultimately they all will bring you to the state of Utopia”

“Is Utopia a state where I can always be “

Jeny asked

“That is correct. ” The monk replied .   

 “So how long will the journey take me to find Utopia  ?”

Jenny asked and the monk replied ..

“The journey cannot be measured by time , because time does not exist in Utopia . Remember it is a state where you would be in ?”

“ So I need to choose the thoughts that are from within and control the thoughts that come from outside then that would allow me to find peace and love in my life ?

 

“That correct little one  “ Said the monk .

“How do I let go negative thinking ?“ Jenny asked

“Imagine they like smoke rising from of the incense , Let it be such a thing that it drifts away into the sky far beyond where you are “The monk replied .

“So what must I do to keep the thoughts that are positive?”
She asked

“”Thise thoughts are like the colours of the flowers in those baskets . They will never change and others in your life will also see those colours in everything you say and do .Learn to be in control of the things that bring colour to your life  “

“Thank you , now I understand . I must learn what to keep and what to let go of “

The monk started to laugh .

“Yes ,once you can do that you will never feel sorry or angry or sad because you have already let it go before it happened “

Jenny started to see what was being and her unlocked emotions rose from deep within . The disappointments and hurt began to leave her . She imagined them as smoke rising out from her into the sky and drifting away . Suddenly then and there she was in a state of peace , The monk looked at her and nodded his head said ,

“Now little one I can see how you feel . So go now , to the place you came from and practice this everyday so you can keep being in a state of peace “

“Thank you for everything “

Jenny said and left the monk who remained inside the temple .

She walked back along the path to the door of the cottage where two statues of lions stood and as she came closer one of the lions came to life and walked around looking into her eyes and softly said 

 

“Well you look as if you found peace with things , tell me , are you wanting to leave this place now ?’

“That’s right . I have to return back to where I come from “

Jenny said.

The other lion came to life and walked over to Jenny and asked her,

“Well then before you leave, I need to ask you a few questions”

‘Sure thing what is it you need to know .”

“Did you find a cavern with some interesting creatures there ?.”

“Yes I did  “Jenny replied ,

“Did you sing with one and dance with another and were there others singing too ?”

“Yes I did and there were  “

Jenny answered.

The other lion asked

“’Did you speak to a monk at a temple ? “

‘Oh, yes , I sure did “

Jenny said with a smile .

“Did you feel better for being there ?’

She pointed to the sky and said .

“Yes I did and I let some negative feelings I had inside drift away up there beyond   .“

Last question before you go said the lion,

‘Did you learn about living in a state of Utopia ?”

“Yes, I did and I am going to learn a lot more about finding that place . “

“Well then I guess you can walk through the door. Remember the ritual we do ?”

Jenny replied ,

“Of course . I need to  hop, hop, hop over to the door and then just knock , knock , knock on the door before I can leave  “

“Exactly”

The lions said 

Jenny followed those instructions and as the door opened she went through to the other side where the emperor was waiting and he said,

“I can see that look on your face little one , You look so peaceful . Tell me , how was your journey today in the garden   “

“It was wonderful emperor, thank you everything  “

“Before you leave here are some gifts I have for you “:

He gave her some paints and brushes .

.,“When you use colour’s let your emotions flow through to the brush and express your feelings about life  “

+That is awesome:‘

Then the emperor handed her a silver coin and said ,

“This coin is unique  only one of its kind and each time you look at it , it will remind you of some of the creatures there in the cavern at silver lake .

Jenny smiled and took the coin and looked at it for a moment and said,

“This is a real treasure that I will never forget “

Then he gave her a small card with many different colour’s and on one side of the card there was coarse sandpaper while on the other side of the car it had soft cotton.

“This card has no words but it’s the story of life . Sometimes the things we go through are happy and sad ., hard and soft , big and small . Everything in the world can have an effect us  but always look inside your heart and you find that there is a beautiful colour of love and peace . Keep this card as a symbol of controlling how you feel . “

“Thank you emperor . Goodbye  for now “

Jenny said and she left the cottage on the scooter that was programmed to bring her back to where her bike was left .

End of Chapter 10

 

 Jenny And The Emperor’s Gardens

Link to Chapter 11

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/jenny-and-emperor%E2%80%99s-gard...

 

By Paul McCann 

 

 

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