My Treasury Of Dreams

By Therese A Kraemer

An intriguing collection of stories for children of all ages. Every story comes with illustrations created by the author. Twenty one stories that will entertain any young child and are perfect for bedtime reading.
These original stories will bring joy to the reader as well as to the children listening to them.  
 These stories have been created over a period  of many years by the author for her children and grandchildren are finally now available to everyone.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spangaloo Publishing
• Release date: Oct 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519964236

Therese A Kraemer

Because I am dyslexic, I find writing a challenge, but my love of writing has inspired me to write more than sixty children’s stories, over two hundred poems and thirty-seven Romance Novels. I have also illustrated two story books used by primary teachers and students as a part of a vocal hygiene program at University of Arizona’s Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences.My credits also include four stories published by McFadden Publishing Co. in NYC. I wrote, illustrated and published two books of poetry used as fund-raisers by the Leukemia and Multiple Sclerosis organizations. I wrote illustrated and published in one book, forty-two children’s stories.I had an exhibition at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Fl of my pen and ink drawings of animals. Recently, I have had three E-Book Romance Novels and a book of short stories published on the Spangaloo.Com website and another on the Smashwords.Com website. I make my home in Melbourne, Florida where I continue to write and illustrate

Book preview

My Treasury Of Dreams

Thérèse A. Kraemer

Copyright Therese A. Kraemer 2015

Spangaloo Publishing

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Illustrated by Therese A. Kraemer

Standard Copyright eBooks are strictly protected works. You must not perform any actions, including copying, printing and distribution without the author’s written or printed consent (the author may have already granted certain terms in a statement within a book.) Some of our eBooks are cleared for persona printing if this option has been enabled. The sale of Copyright works in any form is illegal.

My thanks to my publisher James Blanchette for making all my dreams come true.

Contents

DREAMS OF THE GOLDEN HORN

THE LAND OF UNFULFILLED DREAMS

RAINING ON THE SCARECROW

A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR

WHY STARS CLOSE THEIR EYES

THE BOUNCING SPIDER

PUMPKIN

THE PRINCE AND THE LAST UNICORN

A MONKEY ON HIS BACK

A PIG AND HIS BLANKET

THE WELL AGAIN PELICAN AND TOUCHÉ

THE MAGICAL GREEN BALLOON

LOOKING FOR GOD

HENRY HIPPO WANTS TO WEAR DESIGNER JEANS

MS. PINPRICK

MR. A, AND THOMAS

TAR BUBBLES

THE GIANT HUMPHREY AND JOY SONG

THE DAY SMOKEY’S FIRE WENT OUT

THE SEASICK SEA TURTLE

LOOKING FOR SANTA

About the Author

Other Books by the Author

DREAMS OF THE GOLDEN HORN

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The moon was full on that night. A shooting star fell through the sky sprinkling stardust on a tiny hut nestled quietly in the middle of the forest. Inside the hut, Llort and Zenna, two happy trolls were expecting their first child. Now, Llort and Zenna were not alone on this joyous night, for at the other end of the forest the king and queen of Troll Land were also expecting their first child.

The night winds blew softly as they held their breath waiting and by morning two new babies entered the world. But the occasions were not as blissful as were expected.

The prince born that night was most handsome..., as trolls go. His ears were big and pointy, his beak was well formed, but his eyes were sightless. How sad this was because trolls are born with very keen eye sight and a newborn can follow an object no matter how small for a great distance. The little prince’s eyes only stared motionless into space.

The king and queen weren’t the only sad parents that night. Llort and Zenna were silently looking at their little daughter wondering where she got her small round ears, her soft blue eyes, and most of all, her tiny nose. On top of her head curled one blonde ringlet that shimmered like silver in candle light.

The parents looked at their own black hairy arms and wondered how their baby could be so soft and pink. She was strange in their eyes, but she was their child and she tugged at a soft spot in their hearts. There was not a doubt that she wouldn’t be loved.

The town’s people were not so kind as little Llortetta grew. She was shunned and laughed at by everyone and spent her first six years talking only to the animals in the forest. Her parents taught her everything a growing child should know, and she proved to be an exceptionally bright girl, but she was lonely without the company of children her own age.

As Llortetta grew so did prince Earock, but he was sheltered and not permitted to go out past the castle walls. He was constantly watched over by his nanny troll, Peapod (a name dubbed to her because of her green hair.)

Peopod loved the prince as if he were her very own son and spent many hours in the garden reading wonderful stories to him. They went out when the sun was in the middle of the sky and sat under a big oak tree by the castle wall.

One afternoon, Llortetta followed a beautiful blue jay deep into the woods. She was hypnotized by the song of the bird and wandered too far from her home disobeying her parent’s rule that she shouldn’t stray from their small hut. Llortetta did not do it intentionally; she was a good girl, just caught up in her daydreaming as she hummed happily to herself. Before she discovered the new surroundings, a white brick wall suddenly appeared before her.

What would a brick wall be doing in the forest? she wondered.

Placing her hands on her hips, she looked at it very curiously before touching it. Pleased with the coolness, she put her cheek against the stone divider. Thinking she might have heard something, Llortetta held her breath for a moment. A voice speaking ever so softly was coming from the other side. She listened to the voice telling an interesting tale until it stopped and there were no more words to be heard. Quietly she walked for a while hoping to find a gate or small opening.

Llortetta did come across a large oak door but to her disappointment two guards stood by. Looking around she saw a tree with a large branch growing over and down the other side of the wall. Smiling, she climbed the tree and crawled carefully onto the limb and listened for that sweet voice heard moments ago; it was still silent. Slowly, Llortetta climbed down the limb and tiptoed around the garden hoping to find someone. It didn’t take long before discovering an old troll napping against an oak tree. A large book lay opened in her lap and the pages were fluttering in the breeze.

Earock hiding behind the large tree and although the little prince couldn’t see, he had an acute sense of smell. While the little girl was sneaking around the garden, Earock hid knowing a stranger lurked nearby.

So it was you I heard, the stranger whispered as she crept closer to Peapod. Earock leaped from behind the tree startling her and the intruder’s eyes were wide with surprise and fear.

Oh! she gasped, ready to run. But then the prince put his finger to his lips singling her to be silent. He didn’t want his old nanny to wake before discovering who came to visit.

Come, follow me, he whispered, beckoning with his head over his left shoulder. Earock knew the garden pebble by pebble, flower by flower. He did not need eyes to guide him around it or through the maze.

Llortetta hesitated at first uncertain to where she was being led, but she swallowed her fear and followed the prince around and around high hedges until they were at a dead end.

Sit, he motioned, pointing to a bench. She nervously sat, blinking against the bright sun. Who are you? Earock asked.

I’m Llortetta, she answered meekly. Who are you?

Earock, the prince, he replied.

Oh! You are the son of the king and queen. I heard you ... Quickly she covered her mouth trying to cover her embarrassment.

Blind! he answered her smiling shyly. Yes, I cannot see you but I can sense anyone near me before I can hear them. He sat on the ground before Llortetta. Tell me, where do you come from? How did you get in the garden and why did you come?

Llortetta twisted a long, blonde curl around her finger. I... I... climbed a tree to see who was speaking. She blinked, watching the prince curiously to see if he would say anything, but he just stared blankly at her. She continued, I live with my parents at the other end of the forest and, she squirmed and gasped, Boy I’m going to be in trouble when my folks find out how far I’ve wandered. Llortetta jumped off the bench. "Oh, I must go now before it gets too dark. I

fear the thought of getting lost in the murky forest."

Earock! a loud voice called. Earock, where are you?

In the maze, the prince yelled back. I’ll be right out. Come, he motioned to Llortetta to follow him. We must go.

Around and around they went until they were at the entrance, and were greeted by a very surprised and shocked nanny. Who are you with? she gasped grabbing for Earock. The sight of her beloved prince walking out of the maze with a hideous creature almost stopped her old heart.

This is Llortetta, my friend, he answered and was totally confused by the strange behavior and sound of Peapod’s voice.

Peapod clutched Earock snugly to her bosom, screaming, She is no...no friend. She’s a... Realizing that she couldn’t call the stranger a monster before the prince in fear of frightening him too much, she took a deep breath and said as calmly as she could, She is not one of us, Earock. And I’m sure it, err... she will not return. Peapod made sure Llortetta got the message as she stared coldly at the little girl’s ashen face.

Llortetta stood horrified for what seemed hours. Her heart ached as she watched the old nanny carry away her new friend. Rooted to the ground tears slipped down her rosy cheeks; she had been scorned before, but never hurt so much as today. Broken-hearted, she wiped the tears and climbed the limb to the other side of the wall.

Poor Earock, she thought. She may be ugly, but she was free to roam and play with the animals. The prince was a prisoner in his own garden.

Not being discouraged easily, the next day Llortetta went back to the wall. This time she knew she was wrong to disobey her parents, but in her heart she felt she was doing the right thing. She had to help a new friend. Pressing her ear once again to the cool stone barrier, she listened for the sound of the old nanny’s voice until it stopped. When the old troll was finally asleep and feeling safe, and somewhat brave, Llortetta scaled the wall with the help of the tree. Slowly, she looked for the prince and spotted him sitting by a flower.

Earock knew she was there.

Silently Llortetta walked over to him as he pulled at a daisy handing it to his visitor, and together they sneaked off to the maze. This time they did not go to the center of the maze, but sat near the entrance so they were able to hear when Peapod awoke. They talked quietly, Llortetta telling the prince of the beauty of the forest and all her animal friends. He listened trying to picture in his mind all of her words. Later, when Peapod stirred, Earock warned the girl to be still until he and his nanny returned to the castle. She agreed with the promise to return again tomorrow. And so it went on for months; the sightless prince and the outcast girl meeting in a little corner of the maze.

One day as Llortetta tiptoed to their secret place she sensed something amiss when she crept by the old nanny. Earock was not there she realized but didn’t notice that she was being secretly observed. Her stomach knotted causing her to shiver in the warm air, and she had the good sense to trust her intuition. She turned to leave when suddenly a green hairy hand grabbed her by the shoulder. Llortetta jumped, too stunned to run.

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I knew something was going on here. The sweet voice that first drew Llortetta to the garden sounded hoarse and sinister now. Frightened she continued to listen wondering what was in store for her. The hand squeezed tightly causing her to wince.

I thought at first I was dreaming, hearing things, voices. A troll my age doubts her mind sometimes, but yesterday I peeked through the hedges and saw you with the prince. She quickly turned Llortetta around to face her. Peapod pointed a long, twisted finger under her nose as a loud rasping sound came from the old troll’s