Neptun

By Ana Ciumac

At bedtime, Julian spots two large eyes studying him through his bedroom window. The boy looks just like him, but of a different colour, a different race, of a different world. The boy is Neptun. With his mum’s permission, Neptun takes Julian on an adventure through our solar system, introducing to him worlds beyond our imagination, where although of different species, colour and planet, all are the same in love, friendship, and struggles. A wonderful children’s perspective on the world, humanity and aliens, infused with otherworldly colourful depictions of what other planets and creatures may look like. It is a story about friendship, unity, and unconditional love and acceptance of anyone who is different.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398464193

Ana Ciumac

Ana Ciumac was born in a very small country in Europe, Moldova. She comes from a large family, youngest of six. Her mother had an uncapped passion for the art of storytelling, thus had an infectious influence in Ana’s storytelling journey. She has always loved creating her own bedtime stories for her two daughters, always raw and unpenned. She started telling her wonderous stories to her first grandchild, Julian Nicolas when he was barely one year old. As soon as he could utter words, he told his grandma that one day he’d love to tell these stories to his own grandchildren – the moment when the written word of Ana’s storytelling has now been born. Ana will pass on her storytelling to the next generations to come.

Book preview

About the Author

Ana Ciumac was born in a very small country in Europe, Moldova. She comes from a large family, youngest of six. Her mother had an uncapped passion for the art of storytelling, thus had an infectious influence in Ana’s storytelling journey. She has always loved creating her own bedtime stories for her two daughters, always raw and unpenned. She started telling her wonderous stories to her first grandchild, Julian Nicolas when he was barely one year old. As soon as he could utter words, he told his grandma that one day he’d love to tell these stories to his own grandchildren – the moment when the written word of Ana’s storytelling has now been born. Ana will pass on her storytelling to the next generations to come.

Dedication

Special dedication to Julian Nicolas (Jucu) for loving my stories and inspiring me to put them on paper. An exceptional thank you to Avelina and William for loving my drawings and encouraging me. Special thanks to my daughters, Aliona and Irina, for supporting and believing in me.

Copyright Information ©

Ana Ciumac 2023

The right of Ana Ciumac to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398464179 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398464186 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781398464193 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgements

To my precious grandchildren Julian Nicolas, Avelina Elisa, William Petrus and little Hansens. A special thank you to my grandson Julian Nicolas, who always loved my stories and inspired me to write this book, and to my daughters Aliona and Irina for helping me through this journey.

I hope that my book will make children dream big and imagine the unimaginable.

Never believe only in what you see with your eyes, there is so much more out there…so much of the unknown. Just imagine and believe.

Love, Buba

Written by Ana Ciumac

Illustrated by Ana Ciumac

Julian was an eight-year-old boy who liked to play with cars, Star Wars mini-figurines, dinosaurs and watch cartoons. But most of all he liked to build Lego. But there was something that was always intriguing Julian. The sky…full of stars at night and blue and endless during the day. In his bedroom he had all nine planets of the galaxy hanging down from the ceiling. Every night when he would go to bed and would turn the light off, the planets would glow in the dark. He would imagine that he was an astronaut and he goes to every single planet and explores it. And almost every night he would fall asleep with a dreaming smile on his face.

One night Julian was in his bed and his eyes were already closing when he thought he saw something strange through his bedroom window. It was like two big round black eyes were watching him. Julian got up and looked through the window. There was a boy, who looked strange to Julian. He was wearing strange clothes, almost like a spacesuit. His skin was grey, he had huge black round eyes and short spiky black hair.

This is weird, thought Julian. He closed his eyes, rubbed them with his palms and when he opened them the boy was still there. He was staring at Julian through the window glass without blinking. Julian knew that it was wrong to go and open the front door. He knew he was supposed to tell his parents that there is a boy outside. But instead he ran to the front door and opened it wide. The boy was a couple of hinges taller than Julian. He was standing in front of Julian without saying anything.

Hi, said Julian to the boy. What are you doing here this late at night with no parents and what is your name?

The boy blinked a couple of times and then said, My name is Neptun, what is yours?

I am Julian. Where do you live and why are you so grey? Are you sick?

Oh, your eyes are so blue! said the boy instead of answering Julian’s questions.

Green! Not blue! said Julian. Listen, I can’t stay outside any longer, it is late. I can get in trouble for this. At this time, I am supposed to be in bed. Come inside. I don’t want my mum to get upset.

Ooookey, said Neptun and stepped inside.

Julian took Neptun to his bedroom. He slowly closed the door, so as not to wake up his parents and his little sister Avelina.

OK! Can you tell me now who you are and why are you alone outside at this time of the night? I will be in so much trouble for letting you in and not telling Mama that you are here.

Well, like I said before, my name is Neptun. I live on a planet Neptune, which is very very far from here. I was travelling through the universe, and came to Earth because I always wanted to see it. I was curious how you people live, so I looked through your window. That is when you saw me.

From the planet Neptune? How did you get here, where is your ship? Are you an alien? asked Julian and slowly sat down on his bed with his eyes getting bigger and bigger.

I have no ship; I don’t need it, I have a belt.

What do you mean you don’t need a ship? And what belt are you talking about? asked Julian swallowing hard. His mouth was dry and his heart was beating fast.

I don’t need a spaceship to travel. We used ships before, a long time ago as my parents told me. Not anymore. On my planet you have to reach a certain age to receive a travelling belt. Then you can travel through the universe and explore.

Neptun approached Julian and sat beside him. Now their faces were so close to each other and they were looking without blinking in each other’s eyes.

Wow…this is cool, said Julian. How old are you, Neptun?

I am ten years old. Actually just turned ten. I was always curious about everything out there in space since I was little. So when I got my belt, I told my mum that I am going to travel. In a short time, I have seen so many interesting things.

How can you fly with a belt. How do you use it? asked Julian, looking at the belt around Neptun’s waist.

The belt was black with some bright-blue thin lines that were moving at all times and had lots of buttons all around.

Oh…it is easy. Of course before I received it, I had to learn how to use it. I got trained by the ‘Infino’.

Who is the ‘Infino’? asked Julian.

It is an adult who knows everything about these belts. He has to be older than one hundred years and has to have lots of experience with the universe.

I see, said Julian. Your ‘Infino’ is like a teacher that teaches us how to drive a car.

I guess, though we don’t have cars on our planet, said Neptun.

Suddenly Julian realised that Neptun had a long journey and must be tired and hungry.

Are you hungry? asked Julian.

Not really. We Neptunians are different from you Earthians. We use ‘sachos’. We take it and we don’t feel any hunger or thirst for days. This is the food that we prefer to have on Neptune. It is very good for the travellers.

Sacho? What is it?

Neptun opened his palm and in the middle of his grey little palm was a small yellow shiny ball the size of a green pea.

What does it taste like? asked Julian.

It has no taste, said Neptune and the pill disappeared from his palm instantly.

Don’t you ever want to eat actual food? asked Julian.

Yes, but we prefer ‘sacho’. But if we want to try, all we have is to think of what we want and it appears in front of us.

"Whaaaat? This is so cool! How is it