Eliana was a shy child; for that reason she had few friends. Her parents always celebrated her birthdays with her classmates to encourage her to be sociable. There Eliana displayed her true personality... Everything was going smoothly until, one day, something unexpected happened in Eliana's life... It was her ninth birthday. The little girl decided to go to the forest.
-Mommy, I'm going for a walk in the woods.
Eleonor's face was transformed:
-Daughter, today is your birthday and your father asked permission at work to have lunch with us. Can't you leave your visit to the forest for another day?
-No, Mommy. My friend, the fairy Allyrah, has a birthday present for me that she will give me today.
-That's okay. Bring water and your phone so you can take pictures.
Mother and daughter merged in a quick embrace. On the way to the forest, Eliana's heart was beating strangely, waiting for her gift. The little girl was singing and jumping for joy... at that moment Allyrah appeared.
-Excellent, you were on time. Let's keep walking a little more until we get to the river. I'll show you something you've never seen before.
-But mom told me not to go near the river.
-Take it easy, Eliana. It's just part of my surprise. It won't take long...
Eliana always liked adventure; so she followed her friend's instructions. During the ride she listened to ring, ring, riiing. She turned her head again and again, but she didn't know where the sound was coming from. It reminded her of a doorbell. But then she thought:
-Could it be a bird I don't know?
That didn't seem important to her. She continued walking and observing attentively...
Fuu, fuu, fuu. A soft breeze caressed her skin. Something different for that time of the year. The leaves of the plants were moving and the trees seemed to come alive. Eliana's emerald eyes took on a special glow. The flowers unfolded a pleasant and intense aroma. Everything seemed to be different that day, even the singing of the frogs and birds. Their harmonious melodies initiated the celebration of a special and unforgettable birthday...
Upon reaching the river Allyrah says to her:
-Sit down. Here begins my gift.
Eliana put aside her backpack and noticed that the river was calm. There began a bubbling explosion of water. Suddenly some dolphins appeared on the scene. The chanting and synchronized swimming of these animals captured her attention until ring, ring, riig. Again the sound of the buzzer. She turns her head and sees no animal. She continues to marvel at the spectacle until the dolphins speak to her:
-Happy birthday Eliana
The girl quickly looks for the fairy. Allyrah smilingly tells her:
-We're almost done.
-Aren't you going to explain to me what's going on? Eliana asks intrigued.
-No. You will find out for yourself.
At that moment, Allyrah hands her a ring with a brilliant quartz stone.
-It's a special ring. That is my gift. When you want to communicate with me, look at the ring and think of me.
When you put it on... ring, ring, ring. The girl couldn't get over her astonishment. That was the same ringing sound she heard.
-But I always come to the forest and talk to you.
-Later you will understand. Now go back home. They are waiting for you.
The little girl had forgotten to take pictures... Although time had stopped, she thought it was too late and ran quickly to the house.
-Mom, mom, look what the fairy gave me.
When the mother saw the ring, she exclaimed:
-I have never seen anything like it. Your friend is really something special. ....
Everyone sat down at the table. Lunch went on as normal. Days passed and a strong storm hit the place. Eliana could not go to the forest. She remembered Allyrah. At that moment she hears the sound of the doorbell...she takes the ring in her hands thinking of Allyrah and...the fairy appears.
-How did you do that? asks
-Remember that the ring I gave you has special powers. This is one of them. You will discover the others little by little. And with that said, she disappears.
Little by little the ring brought surprises...She remembered with sadness that she had not taken pictures of that special birthday in the forest. Ring, ring. She hadn't realized she had the ring on. She picks up her phone and checks...! Oh! Surprise. The pictures were there as if to remind her of what Allyrah said.
Time passed and so she was discovering that strange things were happening... the ring allowed her to see and hear things that others could not. With those powers she discovered secrets of the people around her. Eliana felt she had a special power. The ring became her guide. She used it when she felt confused, afraid, and when indecision arose in her life. A year went by until her mother, upon finding out, decided to hide the ring from her. Eliana cried inconsolably and silently when she didn't get it. Later they moved to the city and Eliana never visited the forest again.
A STRANGE GIFT by María del Carmen Sánchez Copyright© 2024
April 01, 2024
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
SPANISH
UN EXTRAÑO REGALO
Eliana era una niña tímida; por ese motivo tenía pocos amigos. Sus padres siempre le celebraban sus cumpleaños, con sus compañeros de clase, para motivarla a ser sociable. Allí Eliana desplegaba su verdadera personalidad…Todo transcurría sin novedad hasta que, un día, la vida de Eliana ocurrió algo inesperado… Era su cumpleaños número nueve. La niña decidió ir al bosque.
-Mami voy a dar un paseo al bosque.
La cara de Eleonor se transformó:
-Hija, hoy es tu cumpleaños y tu padre pidió permiso en el trabajo para almorzar con nosotras. ¿No puedes dejar tu visita al bosque para otro día?
-No, mami. Mi amiga, el hada Allyrah, me tiene un regalo de cumpleaños que me lo entregará hoy.
-Está bien. Lleva agua y el teléfono para que saques fotos.
Madre e hija se fusionaron en un rápido abrazo. Camino al bosque el corazón de Eliana latía, de manera extraña, esperando por su regalo. La niña cantaba y saltaba de alegría…en ese momento aparece Allyrah.
-Excelente fuiste puntual. Vamos a seguir caminando un poco más hasta llegar al río. Te mostraré algo que nunca has visto.
-Pero mamá me dijo que no me acercara al río.
-Tranquila Eliana. Solo es parte de mi sorpresa. No llevará mucho tiempo…
A Eliana siempre le gustaba la aventura; por lo que siguió las instrucciones de su amiga. Durante el trayecto escuchaba ring, ring, riiing. Volteaba la cabeza una y otra vez, pero, no sabía de donde venía el sonido. Le recordaba a un timbre. Pero después pensó:
-Aquí no hay timbres. ¿Será un pájaro que no conozco?
Eso no le pareció importante. Siguió caminando y observando atentamente…
Fuu, fuu, fuu. Una suave brisa acarició su piel. Algo diferente para esa época del año. Las hojas de las plantas se movían y los árboles parecían tomar vida. Los ojos color esmeralda, de Eliana, tomaban un brillo especial. Las flores desplegaban un agradable e intenso aroma. Todo parecía ser diferente ese día, hasta el canto que entonaban las ranas y los pájaros. Sus armoniosas melodías iniciaban la celebración de un cumpleaños especial e inolvidable…
Al llegar al río Allyrah le dice:
-Siéntate. Aquí comienza mi regalo.
Eliana dejó a un lado su mochila y se fijó que el río estaba tranquilo. Allí comenzó una burbujeante explosión de agua. De repente unos delfines aparecen en escena. Los cánticos y el nado sincronizado, de estos animales, capturaron su atención hasta que ring, ring, riig. Otra vez el sonido del timbre. Voltea la cabeza y no ve ningún animal. Sigue maravillada con el espectáculo hasta que los delfines le hablan:
-Feliz cumpleaños Eliana
La niña busca rápidamente al hada. Allyrah sonriente le dice:
-Ya casi terminamos.
-¿Es que no me vas a explicar lo que pasa? Pregunta intrigada Eliana.
-No. Tu misma lo descubrirás.
En ese momento Allyrah le entrega un anillo con una brillante piedra de cuarzo.
-Es un anillo especial. Ese es mi regalo. Cuando quieras comunicarte conmigo observa el anillo y piensa en mí.
Al colocárselo… ring, ring, ring. La niña no salía de su asombro. Ese era el mismo sonido del timbre que escuchaba.
-Pero yo siempre vengo al bosque y hablo contigo
-Después entenderás. Ahora regresa a casa. Te están esperando.
A la niña se le había olvidado tomar fotos… Aunque el tiempo estaba detenido, le pareció tarde y, corre veloz a la casa.
-Mamá, mamá mira lo que el hada me regaló.
La madre al ver el anillo exclama:
-Yo nunca he visto nada parecido. De verdad que tu amiga es especial….
Todos se sentaron a la mesa. El almuerzo transcurrió normalmente. Pasaron los días y una fuerte tormenta azotó el lugar. Eliana no pudo ir al bosque. Se acordó de Allyrah. En ese momento escucha el sonido del timbre…toma el anillo entre sus manos pensando en Allyrah y… el hada se hace presente.
-¿Cómo hiciste eso? Pregunta
-Acuérdate que el anillo que te regalé tiene poderes especiales. Este es uno de ellos. Los demás los descubrirás poco a poco. Y dicho esto se desaparece.
Poco a poco el anillo traía sorpresas…Ella recordó con tristeza que no había tomado fotos de ese cumpleaños especial en el bosque. Ring, ring. No se había dado cuenta que tenía el anillo puesto. Toma su teléfono y revisa…! ¡Oh! Sorpresa. Las fotos estaban allí como para recordarle lo que dijo Allyrah.
Pasaba el tiempo y así fue descubriendo que pasaban cosas extrañas… el anillo le permitía ver y escuchar cosas que otros no podían. Con esas facultades ella descubrió secretos de las personas que la rodeaban. Eliana sintió que tenía un poder especial. El anillo se convirtió en su guía. Lo usaba cuando se sentía confundida, con miedo y cuando se presentaban indecisiones en su vida. Así pasó un año hasta que, su madre, al enterarse, decide esconderle el anillo. Eliana lloró desconsoladamente y en silencio cuando no lo consiguió. Posteriormente se mudaron a la ciudad y, Eliana, más nunca visitó el bosque.
Interesting!
Eliana had a really good fairy friend and got the most beautiful gift ever.
I’m sure her mother seized the ring to protect her happiness and mental health.
Thanks for sharing the story with us.
Thanks for reading and commenting @phyna . I didn't want to give details of why Eliana's mother took the ring from her but, that argument you give fits perfectly.
It was indeed a very strange gift, and she did use it well before it was taken from her.
Yes @balikis95 . She enjoyed it until the mother learned of the ring's powers and decided to remove it. Thanks for reading and commenting
You are welcome
Parents have a difficult job when raising children. On the one hand, a parent has to encourage a child to play. On the other other hand, a parent also has to put an end to childish games not suitable for children. In this case the ring appears to be a real object with extraordinary powers, but still the mother understands that a child should not be in possession of so much power, and so she takes step to protect her daughter. Well told story. I feel that the ending is a bit short. You tell us that the mother finds out and hides the ring, but I think that this is such an important scene that it's preferable to show us how the mother found out about the ring and her reaction when she saw what this amazing artifact can do. I enjoyed reading your imaginative story.
Thank you for reading me and giving me such an important suggestion @litguru . You are right I should have developed that important part of the story. Perhaps unconsciously I left it for each reader to think about how it was that day, when Eliana's mother discovered that the ring had magical powers...
I know what you mean. I like to give clues to the readers, so they can figure it out. It's a fine balance between saying too much or too little. It's always fun!
Eliana's wonderful story comes to a halt when her mother, without explanation, hides the prodigious ring from her. After having lived so many magical adventures, what will her life be like without the fairies' gift?
Maybe Eliana's mother takes the ring from her because she has a secret that she doesn't want to reveal. And...if Eliana ever discovers something about her mother that no one knows??? What would happen?
The ring revealed secrets of close people...
Thanks @theinkwell for your comment
It was indeed a strange gift but I felt pained 😞for Eliana, her mother shouldn't have collected the ring from her it's not like she was doing evil with it but again she is still a child.
Weldone.
Maybe the mother took it off as a precaution. Maybe she was afraid that that ring would harm her daughter...Thanks for your appreciation @el-herah
Nice story. Glad she put the ring to good use..well done. 👍👍👍🤗
Thanks for reading me @samiwrites
You're welcome @katleya