Jenny And The Emperor’s Gardens - Chapter 9

By mcscraic

Fri, 12 Jul 2024

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Jenny And The Emperor’s Gardens

Chapter 9

The Toadstool Cottage

By Paul McCann

It was the weekend and Jenny was on her way to pick wild blackberries from the bushes that grew along the creek near her house . As she made her way through the park she noticed how the dewdrops glistened in the morning sun on the leaves of the trees . Butterflies fluttered closely all around her and she could see the eyes upon their wings opening to presence of life around the creek For the very time she noticed there was a little toadstool cottage beside the green mossy bank where the blackberries grew . The little stream trickled its way over stones and logs and adjacent to the cottage were blackberry bushes ready for picking .

It was just the most perfect place to be on a weekend with nothing better to do .

Jenny knew that for as long as he had gone blackberry picking there was never a toadstool cottage there which could only mean one thing . The Emperor was sending a sign for her to visit . She put her best foot forward and her head held upwards and made her way over to the cottage door . As she drew near to the cottage she noticed how the grass started to change colour . it went from green to yellow then read and purple and suddenly a small pony came running over to her .She jumped up on the back of the pony who made it’s way over to the cottage . .Outside his Toadstool Cottage birds were singing in a birdhouse hanging from a chain on the branch of a tree . On the birdhouse there was a sign that’s aid . Welcome to toadstool cottage little one , come inside . When she went the cottage the Emperor greeted her .

“Welcome to the Toadstool cottage, home of the fairies from blackberry creek .Would you like to explore the garden here today ? ‘

“That would be great thanks . I’ve never seen this cottage before . “

She said and the Emperor replied ,

.“It was always here but too small to see, but the fairies made it bigger for you and me just for this once. “

Jenny asked “
“ Why did they do that ?”

“Because they would like you to do something for them “

The emperor said .

“What is that ?”

Jenny asked

At that moment a pussy cat with ginger fur and a gentle purr walked across to Jenny with a key tied to its collar .

The Emperor said,

“This is Litte Dapper the fairies friend and he has been waiting for you to arrive because as you see he has a key to the secret door and he will be going with you into the garden today .“

‘Oh that’s great , why is Dapper coming with me today ?”

Jenny asked and the emperor replied

“In the garden at this time there is a special plant in full bloom called the Catswhisspurr bush . All you have to do is rub take some petals off the flowers and rub them on Dapper’s whiskers which will turn him into a human for a little while . So while he’s in human form you need to spend some time with him in the garden >

“That’s is awesome”

Jenny said . :

“Great , Dapper will show you where the door is . Go now “

Little Dapper walked over to the fireplace and there on the floor was a trapdoor .

with a keyhole . The cat tapped its paw on the door and looked at Jenny who took the key from the cats collar and opened up the trapdoor .

“Lets go Dapper “

Said Jenny as she patted the cats head and they climbed down the staircase under neath the trapdoor and at the bottom they were in a beautiful place where a happy Bappy Pappalappacappy man came over to greet them saying .

“Hey there you two , we’re all happy to see you . Welcome to the garden of visions where wonderful things happen so before you get started . Is there something special that you’d like to see today .”

“I’d like to see the Catswhisspurr bush please “

Jenny said .

A strange light appeared around them and within the light a small fire started and in fire smoke was rising into the sky and from the smoke a bird appeared and the bird flew into a lantern that floated then exploded with a burst of fireworks and in the colourful display a hot air balloon descended down to the ground . There was a lady in the basket with lots of small balloons tied by ribbons and strings to her colourful top hat and from her hand held megaphone she said , .

“ Hello dear friends , I am the balloon lady , on a mission to bring you visions never before witnesses by anyone from the enchanted garden or beyond . I am here to bring you on a magical balloon ride through the sky where you’ll experience visions of mystical wonders no one has ever seen before and on our way we will stop ay Smokey Dewdrop hill where the Catswhisspurr bush grows and there you will find the purpose for your visit . ”

Jenny and Dapper got on board the hot air balloon and with a swish of her hand flames shot into the ballon that lifted off the ground and rising higher into the sky .

Jenny screamed with excitement and shouted between screams ,

“Wow look at all those golden sparkles falling down from the sky ”

The balloon lady said ,

“Those are all the wishes that have been granted. They are little sparkles of joy . “

“Everything looks so different from up here “

Jenny said

‘“You will see many marvellous visions on our balloon ride “

The balloon lady said .

From that moment , the picture show began . Pillars of light suddenly began to appear everywhere . The balloon lady said ,

‘They are reflections of strength and hope for many who have lost their way “

Flames began to fall down from the sky to the ground .

“They are gifts that are happily being shared by people everywhere “

Said the balloon lady .

Flocks of white doves came descending down in spirals to the ground .

‘They are peace offerings being made by people everywhere “

The sun started to dance around in the sky ‘

“ That is joy and happiness of new life coming into the world .“

Mother nature spread out a picture of emerald green and the grass glimmered around a silver pond that shimmered like a mirror and flowers of every colour stood out like gemstones . In the distance somewhere music was playing and fairies where in flight on horses playing their games with one other . .

The sun spun in the sky and a golden ray shone down upon a bush below and ther balloon lady said ,“There it is what you came here for , the one and only Catswhisspurr bush.”

She started to deflate the hot air from balloon and it landed on the ground near the

Catswhisspurr bush and she anchored the balloon and told Jenny that she would wait there for them .The sunlight touched the bush that made the flowers glisten . Jenny plucked some of the flowers and rubbed them on Dapper;s whiskers .

The cat looked up into Jennys eyes and in that moment Dapper became a human and said,

“Come lets spend some time , you and I as friends, for I have much to tell you and lots to show you here in the garden of visions “

Dapper walked off and Jenny followed .
After a few moments Dapper said

“As long as we can talk and walk like this, as a human . Please call me Aman “

Before another word was spoken a bright red beard grew over Amans chin .

Soft rain fell down but it never made them wet , it just sparkled around their bodies.

Aman laughed aloud.

Jenny said
“What is so funny? “

Aman replied , .
“You are glowing all over like an angel and in your glow I see an image of myself. I look so different as a human .:

The two of them walked along singing and laughing.
“I’m so happy that we’re friends Aman . Life is good “

Jenny said and Aman replied ,

.“ I am not no longer an animal but Aman .”

They both laughed and then Jenny said ,

.“ Come Aman lets run and feel the wind and rain . It doesn’t feel wet , it just tingles all over “

They started to run along through the long grass that weaved in and out making a clear passage for them to run through . Then they came to a circle of standing stones that had carvings of spiral lines and in the middle of the stones there was a mirror slate that made the sun dance all around inside the circle . Jenny and Aman started to dance and then they went into a trance and fell asleep.

They ended up together in the same dream and as they dreamt they saw visons of things that were to come In the future when the barren lands of Earth would become fertile and the seas would run dry but new springs came from underneath the surface of the earth to refill the rivers and lakes all around the planet .

They also saw a new race of people populate the earth and life was much better in there in that place and time . The world a better place and everyone was happy and at peace .

.Suddenly in their dream they heard an enchanting melody that came from nowhere but somewhere very near and they both walked towards the sound .

Step by step they walked together someone was calling their name

Aman asked ,

“What’s going on”

A voice called out to them in their dream ,

From your dreams now you must return back to where you both came from .It is time now to leave your dreams behind and walk away from the garden of visions with only a vague memory of what you have seen and heard . “

When they awoke they were back on board the balloon that was descending down to the front door of the Toadstool cottage ..

“Go now my friends . “

Said the balloon lady .

Jenny and Dapper got out of the balloon to the steps up a hill to an alcove and in to a doorway where on the other side they were back in the Toadstool cottage where the emperor was waiting .

“Welcome back . How was your adventure in the garden of visions “

He asked .

Dapper purred and Jenny said

“It was just amazing “

Dapper ran off and went hiding somewhere and the emperor handed Jenny a large jar of Blackberries and said ,

“We/re you going blackberry picking this morning little one ?“

“Thats right I was . Thank you emperor “

Jenny said .

“Well then you should be returning home now . See you again soon “

The emperor said .

Jenny walked out through the door of the toadstool cottage with her blackberries and the whole weekend was still full of things to do .”

End Chapter 9