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A Box of Dreams June 20, 2009 |  |
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Greetings! In this issue, I am doing something a little bit different. I am featuring my story, A Box of Dreams, which won an Honorable Mention in the 2001 Hans Christian Anderson International Writing Competition. I like the message this story holds and hope you enjoy it too! How often have you spent an enormous amount of time on a project only to discover that it will take even more work to finish than you could ever have possibly imagined? Well, that's where I'm at! I am just now completing the final edit on my second book, Cecile and The Treasures of Belamor. I feel like I'm about to sprain my brain! But I never doubt that it's worth the effort - it is such a beautiful story! I can tell you next month when "T.O.B" will be available. Meanwhile, for those who haven't read it yet; Book One, Cecile and The Spider Queen is an introduction to the ongoing adventures of Princess Cecile of Belamor. Please see the bottom of this page for purchase information. Happy Father's Day, everyone!
This is issue #9 of The Mystic Heroine Guide to Life, Love, and Everything, an ezine designed for you to share with your daughters and grand-daughters. Free, and delivered to your email box every two weeks, it's filled with stories and tips on how to be bright and beautiful, have high self-esteem and good values - with a cast of characters taken from the pages of Mystic Heroine Adventures.
Once there was a man named Beldar who fell upon difficult times. With no coins left in his pocket, he begged his creditors to give him three more days to pay off the money he owed.
That night, Beldar lay on his bed, tossing and turning. He prayed, "Please send me the answer to my problems." He fell into a fitful sleep. In a dream, a beautiful angel came to him. "Beldar, your prayers have been heard." The angel handed him a key.
Then the angel vanished and Beldar saw before him a beautiful box. It had an unusual lock. It was a most unusual shape. And there was an unusual silver medallion on the lid. He tried the key in the lock and the lid sprang open. Inside, he found more gold coins than he had ever before seen in one place. Beldar awoke from the dream. Much to his surprise, he found that he still held the key in his hand. But the unusual box full of gold was nowhere in sight. He searched his house from top to bottom, but he couldn't find the box. Early the next morning, Beldar hurried to the locksmith's shop in the village. He showed the locksmith the unusual key and described all the unusual features of the box he was looking for. "Have you seen such a box?" "No," said the locksmith, "I haven't. But I could make you a lock like the one you describe." And he gave him a price. Beldar thanked him and hastily left his shop.
Further down the road was the carpenter's shop. Beldar described the unusual shape of the box and all of it's other unusual properties to the carpenter. "Have you seen such a box?" he asked anxiously. "No, I have not. However, I could carve you a box like the one you describe," said the carpenter. And he gave him a price. Beldar thanked him and hurried out of the shop, determined to find the precious box. It was not far to the silversmith's shop. The silversmith listened to Beldar's description of the unusual inlaid silver medallion on the lid of the box. "Have you seen such a box?" Beldar asked. "No." said the silversmith. "But I would gladly make you a silver medallion like the one you describe." And he gave Beldar a price. Beldar thanked him and continued on his search.
Then, Beldar came upon a quaint little store and paused to look in the window. He saw many unusual items on display. "Ah ha!" Beldar thought. "If ever there was a store where one would expect to find unusual things, this would be the place." He hurried into the store. "Sir!" he said to the merchant. "I'm looking for something unusual." Then, he described the box with all of its unusual properties. The merchant listened with interest. "I have never seen such a box," he said. "However, if I did, I would pay a good price for it and sell it for a profit." He told Beldar the price he would pay. Beldar left the shop and wandered up one street and down another, looking for the box of his dreams. When it grew dark and all the stores were locked up tight, Beldar returned home, tired and discouraged. He had to come up with some money. It had to be soon. He sat on his doorstep and thought.
The next morning Beldar went to the locksmith. He asked him to make the unusual lock that would match his key. Then he went to the carpenter and ordered a box to his exact specifications, to match the unusual one he had seen. Next, he went to the silversmith and ordered a silver medallion, made to his precise requirements. He told them all, "Speed is of utmost importance. I will pay you extra for your trouble." The following day, Beldar scurried from one shop to the other, overseeing the details of assembling his box. It was almost closing time when he rushed into the quaint little shop and showed the merchant his finished product. "Superb! What a rare and unusual find!" cried the merchant. Gladly, he paid Beldar for the magnificent box.
Early the next morning, Beldar went to the village and paid the Locksmith for his work. "It was nice doing business with you," said the locksmith. By the way, I made you an extra key." Beldar looked sadly at the key before putting it into his pocket. Then he hurried off to pay the other craftsmen. When Beldar returned home, his creditors were waiting at his door. They were surprised when he took money out of his pocket and paid them in full. With just a few coins left in his pocket, Beldar sat down on his doorstep and sighed. "I guess that I was just a fool to believe in my dreams." Suddenly he heard a voice say, "Beldar! You have the key! It is good to find gold. But it is better to know how to earn it. Now you will never be without it." That was when Beldar decided to go into the business of making unusual boxes. And he prospered all the rest of his days.
Winner of the iUniverse Editor's Choice Award.
An Enchanting Story, Not Just For Girls Every girl dreams of being a princess. This enchanting story addresses that yearning. It is truly the mystic adventure of a young lady learning to make decisions and discovering who she really is in the process. The decisions that Cecile makes are wonderful examples for girls to follow. And it's not just for girls. My mother and brother enjoyed it as much as I did! Marilyn Churchill writes a story that keeps the reader enthralled until the last page, and her beautiful illustrations bring the story to life. It is clear that this is truly a labor of love and destined to become a children's classic.
By Lee Summers
Be the heroine in your own adventure wearing Mystic Heroine T-shirts. For women and girls!
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