Once Upon a Rainy Time

By Simi Bammi

Ah, I see youve also been invited to Mary Flews bonfire tonight then? Well, there may be a slight problem, you see. There are no lights down at the village. Chesters gone missing. Penelopes trying to detrollify Wyatt. The Chumbalinas are looking for Chester. Something about a special potion, the legend of Waterfall Tree, and oh yes, the bonfire is at 7 p.m.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514499030

Simi Bammi

‘Chester, my dear, just because you didn’t get your wings today doesn’t mean you won’t be able to fly tomorrow.’ (The little crow)

Book preview

Chapter 1

Once upon a rainy time in a land that Fawns call home, animals call heaven, and humans don’t know about, the heavens opened, and the clouds let down rain. The village was getting a nice, cold bath, and all the village animals went back to their families and went to bed. The birds went back to their trees and, as the rain poured down, heard a scream coming from the cosiest hut in the entire village, but what could this be? The baby of all the Fawns rushed round to see Chester, the dreamer of all Fawns, standing facing her oddly shaped mirror.

‘What’s wrong, Chester?’ Penelope asked.

‘I . . . I didn’t get my wings. You’re supposed to get them on your eighteenth birthday, but I didn’t get mine,’ explained Chester.

‘That’s okay! I read that some Fawns are just late bloomers. I was lucky I got mine early. How about we go to the Waterfall Tree? You can take your book and quill with you and write down your amazing daydreams!’

‘I don’t think so. I’m going to stay at the village today and help Mary Flew collect wood for the bonfire tonight.’

Penelope was very upset by this, but she decided to let Chester think that all she was going to be doing on her very special day was collect wood with Mary Flew.

Penelope left Chester’s hut and went straight round to Wyatt’s. Wyatt is Penelope’s special someone, and she knew that Wyatt would know what to do since he is the romantic of the village.

Penelope burst through his door whilst he was having a very soapy shower and singing very funny songs. Wyatt heard something, so he turned off the shower, got hold of his back scrubber, and went to explore his hut.

‘Penelope!’ Wyatt shouted and hugged her and not to mention got Penelope all soaked.

Penelope shook off all the soap and bubbles and explained to Wyatt the situation.

‘Wyatt, this is important. I have an idea. Have you ever heard of Waterfall Tree?’

‘Waterfall Tree?’ Wyatt took a moment to think. ‘Hmmm, Waterfall Tree . . . I don’t think so. Tell me more.’

‘Well, I was with the Chumbalinas the other day, and they suggested a book to me called The Magic behind the Waterfall. Well, it sounded like a book I’d come across in the library and decided to take a look for myself. Oh, Wyatt, it’s wonderful. The owners of the tree are very particular over who is allowed in. They even have guards. The troll central are right by their—’

‘Troll central! Now I’ve heard about that place . . . bad things, bad things about that place.’

‘Yes, well, like I was saying, I was reading about this magical place, and the people have powers, more powerful than you can even imagine, powers to get a special someone a special present.’

‘I see.’ Wyatt started nodding, and Penelope followed so they were doing it in sync.

Suddenly, it occurred to Penelope that Wyatt might not understand and asked, ‘You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?’

‘Nope,’ he admitted. ‘I was hoping you would carry on talking.’

Penelope giggled and carried on, ‘A special someone . . . whose birthday is today . . . a special present . . . that she has been wanting for years.’

‘I see . . .’ He nodded again, but it was clearer this time that he was still lost.

‘Wyatt, I’m talking about Chester! I bet that if we give the owners a good enough proposition, they will offer Chester the gift of wings for her eighteenth birthday.’

‘That’s such a good idea. Why didn’t we come up with this earlier!’

Penelope face-planted her head in Wyatt’s chest and shrugged off the comment.

Penelope and Wyatt were busy getting their backpacks filled and on their backs when a strange and unexpected call from Mary Flew sounded the hut with the echoes of the ringtone.

‘Hello, Mary Flew. How can I help you?’ Penelope answered Wyatt’s phone. Wyatt looked at Penelope and snatched the phone off her to say ‘This is my house!’

‘Hello, Mary Flew. Sorry about that. I’m with Penelope, ready to go out. How can we help you?’ Wyatt politely yet forcefully asked as Penelope was rushing him out.

‘Oh, I’m glad you both picked up! It’s very hectic down at the vines. Everyone’s rushing around, trying to get everything done, and little Chin Diggery just informed me that all the decorations that were prepared have been hidden by the little Fawns. Is there ANY chance you two could run and get me some decorations for the bonfire tonight? Oh, please, Wyatt, I’m desperate!’

Wyatt turned to look at Penelope to ask for an answer. ‘I . . . erm . . .’ Penelope was frantically throwing her hands around, indicating to say no, but Wyatt just didn’t have it within him to say no, of course.’ With that response, Penelope dramatically face-planted her head in his chest once again. ‘So I panicked.’

‘Of course,’ she mimicked Wyatt. ‘Well, if we have any chance of getting to Waterfall Tree, we better set off now because we will need to stop by Pixie Pieces.’ And with that, the two set off on their journey.

Meanwhile, in the village at vines, Chester set off into the Selsar Woods to collect wood for Mary Flew. All that was on her mind was her wings and how non-existent they were. Chester stumbled in the woods with her backpack half hanging off her arms whilst looking up at the trees, contemplating her birthday. She accidentally tripped on a rock and landed in a pile of leaves. Chester wiped the dirt off her arms, legs, face, and wherever else the dirt managed to sneak up on her, and she realised her backpack wasn’t around