FICTION

The Blue Stone

The magic of a wish

The warm sun shone brightly as Bobby bent down on the grass to weed the flower bed. It would take a while to finish the task, but he knew it had to be done. Unpleasant tasks always had to be done.

“Oh crumbs!” Bobby exclaimed when he noticed that he had uprooted a flower. His mum would be upset with him. He didn’t understand why she always made him uproot weeds in the garden when she knew he'd rather play. Annoyed, he stood up, deciding to work on a different flower bed.

He noticed that the air was turning colder and the sky looked rather grey. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a movement behind a rosebush and went to investigate. He poked around, then noticed a beautiful little creature with fluffy white fur and cute little eyes that seemed to sparkle like stars. Bobby bent down and stroked it. It swished its tail several times, trying to show him something. It was a blue stone. Bobby had never seen anything as beautiful. He picked it up. It felt smooth to touch and he could see his reflection in it.

“Oh, I wish this was a magical stone that could take me to another planet where I could do what I like.”

“Your wish is granted!”

Bobby jumped up with fright and ran to the kitchen screaming. His mum was not there. She must be upstairs, he reasoned. He called out for her.

“Mummy, where are you?”

He was about to leave the kitchen and follow her upstairs but stopped short. There was something strange about the kitchen. It seemed that while he’d been outside a new kitchen had been installed.

The first thing Bobby noticed was the ice-cream maker. Next he noticed a sweet dispenser, then a fizzy drinks fountain. Behind one counter was a burger and fries stand. Bobby concluded that either he was dreaming or he was dead. He could hardly believe that his parents had become so-ooo COOL! Now all his friends could visit him and they would have such fun!

It was only when Bobby saw the creature that had spoken to him in the garden that he realised that something was not quite right.

“Hello again, young man. Welcome to my planet,” he announced proudly.

“Your planet? What are you talking about?” Bobby was confused.

“You expressed a wish when you were holding the blue stone. I made that wish come true for you.”

“Oh!”

“Well, do you have any questions?”

“Like what?” Bobby asked his curiosity growing.

“Anything.”

“Oh!”

Bobby’s eyes were on the burgers and fries.

“I can see that you are hungry. Help yourself to whatever you want.”

Bobby didn’t need encouraging even though he remembered his mother always saying that too much of a good thing was bad for you.

“Don’t worry,” the creature said as if reading his thoughts. “You can eat anything and it will not make you sick, or fat or hyper, or any of those things you have back on earth.”

“Awesome!”

Bobby did not need another word of encouragement as he walked around the kitchen helping himself to food. Satisfied and tired he slowly closed his eyes.

When Bobby opened his eyes again he was back in the garden. He ran into the kitchen where his mother was making dinner.

“Go and get washed up before dinner Bobby. You look like you’ve been rolling in the mud,” she scolded.

“I’m not hungry!” Bobby dashed up the stairs clutching the blue stone in his hand. He placed it in a drawer for safekeeping. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends about his adventure.

The next morning Bobby grinned and giggle as he told his friends about his adventure, and the amazing kitchen he’d seen.

“Did you see other parts of the house?” asked one friend.

“I bet they have lots of nice games and toys. Can you bring some back next time you go?” asked another.

“I want to come with you,” another one pleaded.

Bobby could not believe it. He was now the most popular boy!

“He’s lying to you all.” It was Fred the bully. He was always such a spoil sport. “If he is telling the truth, then he must take us all there.”

“I’ll be back!” Bobby called out as he ran back to his house to get the stone. He ran up the stairs to his bedroom. On his way back, he slid down the banister. It was quicker, and he loved the sensation. He set off at high speed, whooping and clapping.

His mother heard the screams before she heard the loud thud and came running. Bobby lay on the floor.

“Don’t move Bobby, you might be hurt,” she admonished.

“Stone,” he whispered before darkness engulfed him.

It was a fortnight before Bobby was allowed to leave the house. His blue stone was gone. His friends called him a liar. He was miserable.

One morning at breakfast Bobby noticed that his dad was smiling brightly. He was usually hiding behind his newspaper.

“The blue stone has been found,” he announced. We can now…”

“That's my stone. I used it to travel to another planet,” Bobby gushed out.

Now it was his parents’ turn to be surprised.

“I think you have my stone, I am certain!”

Rejoice Denhere helps businesses and individuals recover from setbacks, putting them on the path to success, using her signature programme “Master Your Life. She is the author of Fearless and has been featured in High Profile Magazine. You can subscribe to her newsletter here.