The Book of Laural

By Jennifer Davis Deckert

The Book of Laural is a fantastical account of a soul's journey throughout many lifetimes, accompanied by a cynical fairy named Jaja. Together Laural and Jaja search the far ends of the earth, and even the cosmos, in search of perfect music. In their travels, they meet up with other soul mates and endure many adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Feb 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798822911673

Jennifer Davis Deckert

Jennifer Davis-Deckert is a musician and teacher from Carlsbad, California. For over two decades she played drums in the band Hydroplane with her sister Laural and brother-in-law Johnny. After Laural's untimely death on Christmas 2021, writing has become Jennifer's main passion. She lives with her husband, Eric, and cat, Bailey.

Book preview

Chapter 1

JAJA COMES TO PLANET EARTH

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hen Jaja first entered her earthly body, she quickly realized she had embarked on a strange journey. Since the beginning of time, she had only been a weightless ball of light. But now she was an unborn baby curled up in the darkness.

Wiggling her fleshy limbs, she thought to herself, This is a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. Discouraged, she left the confines of the darkness. Up, up, up she went, floating into The Light where time began.

What have I done? Once I am born, I won’t be able to come here anymore.

You can visit us when you sleep, The Wise One replied; but as you grow older the path back will be harder and harder to find. As long as you can remember The Light you can return.

Then I will be spending most of my time in the mortal realm sleeping!

In the darkness, she grew and grew until she couldn’t fit anymore. Suddenly the darkness opened up and a pair of gloved hands reached in and pulled her out of the murk.

Light at last! she thought. But this was not the light like back home; it was hot and oppressive. There was no love coming from this light.

Smack! The Gloved One slapped her rear end and gave her a shocking pain. Jaja inhaled deeply.

This is the rudest introduction I have ever experienced in all my existence! Jaja meant to cry out, but the only word that escaped from her mouth was, Waaaaaah!

At that moment Jaja came to the heavy realization that she could no longer communicate through thought. She would have to learn to move this slow, awkward muscle called a tongue inside her mouth. That will take years to master, if not a lifetime! Even worse, she couldn’t travel from place to place with just a thought. She had to use her legs to get around.

What a fool I am to have come here! she thought, I’m completely helpless! She fell asleep to visit The Light, which had once been her home.

Flying up through the clouds past stars and planets she ascended until she reached the

Fireball. But her fairy friends looked at her in disgust, for they could see that she was attached to an earthly body. A tether ran from her center all the way down down down to the dark abyss below. No fairy had ever dared to go there as a living being before, so she felt alone.

Suddenly a sloppy kiss on the cheek awoke her and peering down at her was a very familiar face.

Laural! Jaja exclaimed in her mind.

Jaja! Laural replied. Though both had new bodies, they recognized each other instantly.

I have been waiting for you for almost three years! Laural exclaimed.

What’s three years? Jaja asked, being new to the realm of time.

It’s how long I’ve been here. They said you decided to become mortal. We’re sisters now!

I’m so relieved to see you. The process of being born and having a human body has been most unpleasant!

I will help you get used to it. You are not alone in this journey.

Laural and Jaja’s parents watched in fascination as the new sisters bonded. It was as if they had known each other for a very long time.

Chapter 2

DINOSAUR LAURAL

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1 million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the land. There were large ones and small ones; meat-eaters and plant-eaters. Some could even fly! The Tyrannosaurus Rex was the most feared of all dinosaurs, for he was an indiscriminate killer knocking everything down in his path Even the trees and plants feared him. From a human standpoint, you could almost say he was not self-aware. He just did what he wanted to do and never thought twice about whether it was right or wrong.

On the other extreme, there was one particular brontosaurus that was maybe too self-aware. She only ate plants and algae, yet she felt guilty every time she had to do so. As her stomach growled in hunger pains, she cried as she succumbed to eating her beautiful green friends.

Jaja would frequently visit the earth at this time because she enjoyed conversing with the flowers, particularly the laurel flowers. They would murmur incessantly amongst each other about earthly gossip and Jaja felt she could catch up on current affairs.

One day the flowers were all a-buzz because a dragonfly told them she saw a fish walk out of the water.

How can a fish walk? It has no legs.

It hops around on its tummy.

Don’t fish die out of water?

It was only for a short time, then it hopped back in.

Why would it want to walk out of water?

To have a look around.

On and on the discussion went, until suddenly, CHOMP!!!! A large gray head stooped from the sky and ate the gossipers in one fell swoop. Needless to say, the debate ended abruptly, much to Jaja’s irritation.

How dare you eat my friends! Jaja exclaimed, striking the dinosaur with her fiery limbs. But the real source of her fury was that she was enthralled by the topic and wanted it to continue, yet alas, the debaters had been eaten! Truth be told, Jaja knew the laurel would be back in a matter of days, for there were already new buds preparing to blossom. Their thoughts and memories would be reborn in the new flowers.

Waaaaaaaaaaaah!!! I’m so sorry! cried the dinosaur with tears in her eyes Jaja stared in amazement, for she had never seen a mortal creature cry.

I hate having to eat such beautiful plants, but I have to, or I will starve and die!

It’s okay Jaja replied, look!

Pointing to the beast’s breath, a trail of wispy smoke emanated from her mouth and landed on a closed bud, whereupon it opened into a beautiful flower.

Nothing ever dies, it just changes form. I was just mad because they were having a good discussion and I wanted to know how it would end.

I’m sorry I ended your discussion! sobbed the dinosaur.

It’s okay. But how are you able to see me? Most mortals aren’t able to see fairies.

What’s a mortal?

Someone who doesn’t live forever.

But you just told me nothing ever dies; it just changes form.

I guess I didn’t phrase that correctly. A mortal is someone who can’t keep their current form forever. They will continue to change over and over again, forgetting who they were before. It’s quite inconvenient. As a matter of fact, I hate it and will have nothing to do with it!

So, I will change form and you will stay the same forever?

Yes.

Will you be able to recognize me in a different form?

Jaja paused in thought, for she had never considered something as big as a dinosaur changing form. Plants and insects are easy because they move on so quickly. But she never had the patience to wait around to see what a dinosaur would do.

I don’t see why not; you have a purple glow around you that’s easy to spot. It will follow you forever. What’s your name, anyway?

I don’t have a name!

Can I name you then?

Yes PLEASE!!!

I will call you Laural because you are what you eat!

"Laural…. hmmm. I like that. From now on, I am Laural.

Thus commenced the friendship between the dinosaur and the fairy. Or more accurately, Laural and Jaja. For Laural will take many forms in her adventures to come.

Jaja had never had a mortal friend before. In fact, she had never had a friend at all. Her incessant questioning and arguing made the other fairies wary of her So, she liked visiting Earth where no one could see her. There, she could watch the way things unfolded and not get caught up in it. Of course, she would comment or yell from time to time. But no one could hear her. She grew used to saying what she wanted to because her voice never made an impact on anyone.

But being invisible gets old very quickly. Herein lies the ultimate conundrum: is it better to be heard and make everyone mad, or is it better to be unheard and let everyone be happy? There is no winning in either situation. Luckily, Jaja’s new friend Laural didn’t seem at all irritated by her antics. And Laural fascinated Jaja by being inquisitive and accepting. Perhaps that was the reason she was able to see Jaja in the first place.

Through the swamps and forests, they roamed looking for other magical creatures. Jaja showed Laural how you can find them even in the ugliest and darkest of places. While Laural was foraging for food with Jaja one day, she found an old, gnarled beech tree with a doorknob on the trunk.

I think someone lives in this tree! Laural exclaimed.

It must be inhabited by a tree nymph, Jaja replied. Let’s knock and see if anyone answers.

So Laural knocked on the old tree, and a few seconds later a beautiful tiny woman opened the door.

Screaming in shock to find a huge brontosaurus at her door, she exclaimed,

Oh, please don’t destroy my tree miss dinosaur! This is my home!

I don’t want to hurt your tree; I was just looking for some flowers to eat. The nymph looked up at Laural and her eyes grew wide in amazement.

You have a fairy on your head!

Yes, this is my friend Jaja. She is helping me find magic in the forest.

You must be special; most dinosaurs can’t see fairies. As a matter of fact, most dinosaurs can’t see tree nymphs either! Do you think you could protect my tree from other dinosaurs? Most of them are dreadfully clumsy and knock down everything in their path. As you can see, the tree next door to me is completely demolished.

Oh, what a shame! Laural replied, I would love to protect your tree! My friend Jaja and I will make sure no one will trample your home.

From then on, all the tree nymphs in the area were protected by Laural and Jaja. Laural would explain to her dinosaur friends not to disturb certain trees, and Jaja would ward them off by buzzing angrily at them until they changed course.

This is going to be a great story once I get back to the fireball, Jaja thought to herself, for she had never done anything nice for anyone before. In fact, fairies are notoriously selfish. So, the most miraculous thing about this story is not that a dinosaur could see magical beings, but that a fairy went out of her way to help someone!

Jaja stayed with Laural for a very long time, and after a while began to notice how the mortal body slowly deteriorates with age. One cold night Laural’s body gave out, and Jaja watched as a beautiful purple ball of light emerged from the lifeless dinosaur. Hovering in the air, Laural looked at Jaja in disbelief.

You’re free now! Jaja exclaimed.

I don’t have to eat the beautiful flowers anymore! Laural replied.

Come on, let me show you around.

Off they flew into the mysterious universe.

Chapter 3

THE IN-BETWEEN

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ogether they journeyed to distant places that no mortal had ever known existed. Sometimes they would even visit Earth to see how she was evolving. Laural was particularly astounded at the stars, for they were so large. Looking at them from the earth, they appeared to be tiny glowing jewels. But they weren’t tiny at all. When she finally flew close to one, she saw that they were massive balls of fire!

Luckily, she couldn’t feel pain anymore, for she had no body. So, she decided to fly right through the center of one to see what was inside.

There’s a star up ahead. I want to explore it, she announced to Jaja one day.

Well, okay, but I think it’s nothing but fire and gas from front to back. It can’t hurt to find out for ourselves! Laural replied.

Sure, let’s find out!

They shot through space faster than a rocket, getting nearer and nearer to the star. Although they couldn’t feel any pain, they could still feel the heat and friction generated by this gigantic flaming orb. Closer and closer they flew, until Bang! They penetrated the surface. Fire and wind blew violently in their faces, but they pressed on.

On and on, deeper and deeper they went until they started to hear faint music. Heavenly voices started to emerge as they charged forward, growing louder and louder as they neared. At long last, they came upon a columned doorway that seemed to be the entrance of something very grand and auspicious.

Should we pass through these doors? Jaja asked, I get the feeling this place is forbidden to you and me.

I get that feeling, too. But I desperately want to find where that beautiful music is coming from. I don’t care if it’s wrong.

"Me too. Let’s go!

Warily they stepped through the grand doorway. To their amazement, it opened into a vast chamber where every color imaginable danced around like paint on a canvas. Each color sang as it danced, possessing its own unique voice. In circles, broad strokes, and little flecks they flickered, their voices blending in song. Although there was fevered passion, there seemed to be design and thought behind it, conveying youth and wisdom simultaneously.

Laural and Jaja became so enthralled with the beauty that they stopped caring if they were discovered. There they stood mesmerized, until bang! The music and dancing ceased, the colors pausing. Despite having no faces, it appeared that they were all staring at their unexpected guests.

Hello! We were not expecting company! Yellow sang, Are you two mortals?

Well, I am but she’s not. She’s a fairy.

Oh! I see! What brings you to this fiery star? It must have been quite unpleasant getting here.

Well, I just got back from a long stay on Earth, and I always admired you from afar. It’s always been my dream to see you up close, and I just couldn’t resist coming inside. My friend Jaja was brave enough to join me. My name is Laural. What type of beings are you?

We are pulsations of light and sound, Blue chimed in, "colors and notes. Everything in the

Are you saying that I am a color?

You are many colors and many notes. I am just one color and one note. But I am a part of you.

Wow! How can I make color and sound as beautiful as you?

You already are as beautiful as me! For I am a part of you! But if you would like to be in a choir like ours, you will have to live many mortal lives. You will have to experience love, loss, pain, and sacrifice over and over again. Are you sure you’re up for that challenge? It’s quite enough that you’ve decided to be mortal. You don’t need to add another obstacle to an already monumental test.

I am up for the challenge. I want to live in a star like you and make music forever.

Then you will! said the colors together, Goodbye!

Suddenly, Laural and Jaja found themselves drifting outside of the star in a daze.

What happened? Did they kick us out? Laural asked.

I think you annoyed them with all those questions! Jaja replied.

At least we don’t have to go through all that wind and fire again! Come on! Let’s do some more exploring!

I think I’m ready to go back to the mortal realm, Laural announced unexpectedly, hearing that beautiful music makes me want to earn my place in a Star Choir. I don’t care how long it takes.

NO!!! Jaja replied, jolting back and forth, back and forth angrily. You are the only friend I ever had! Now you’re going back to Earth and will forget all about me!

You can come with me! Come be mortal with me! We can both earn a place in the choir!

I will NOT ever become mortal!!! I will NOT forget who I am, grow a fleshy body, and walk from place to place on legs! And I CERTAINLY will not take on the challenge of developing my voice, just so I can join a Star Choir! You’re crazy for signing up for such hardship!

Jaja continued to jolt back and forth wildly, sparks exploding from her body. Then with a face streaked with fiery tears bolted away to the Great Fireball without even saying goodbye.

Chapter 4

JURAMAIA SINENSIS

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hat may seem like an eternity on Earth is just a short time in the In-Between. So, while Jaja mended her broken heart at the Fireball, Laural was on Earth living many many lives, taking many different forms. She experienced being a fish, a fern, a pterodactyl, and a sea turtle.

Jaja rested on a cloud overlooking Earth and thought of Laural’s purple halo. She really should not have been so angry at her. Who could blame her for wanting to join a Star Choir? It truly was the most magical thing she had ever experienced. Would she be able to find her amongst all those other mortals? Perhaps Laural wouldn’t want to see Jaja anyway, considering how mean she had been.

Closing her eyes and taking a mental picture of Laural’s purple aura, Jaja stood up from the cloud and flew aimlessly to Earth. Perhaps the wind would guide her in the right direction.

Landing gracefully upon a canopy of gnarled trees, she perched to watch the setting sun, listening to all the strange sounds below. Eyes closed; she felt a strong current vibrating deep within the earth. Focusing intently, she began to hear a network of muffled conversations emanating from the ground.

Volcanic activity reported in Galagon, slow magma flowing southeast ...

Thunderstorms headed our way around sundown.

A gang of T-Rexes is smashing down trees in Lagoda. Be on the lookout...

…and on and on it went till Jaja thought her ears would explode. Jumping down, she sat on a tree root jutting out of the ground and felt an energy running through it like a wire circuit.

This must be some kind of long-distance communication coming through these tree roots. The trees are talking to each other! Jaja thought to herself, I wonder if I could find Laural by talking to them?

Ahem. Attention all trees! Jaja yelled, I’m looking for someone named Laural! I don’t know what species she is or if she even answers to the name Laural in this lifetime! She has a purple aura! Can you help me find her?

The murmurs of thousands of trees suddenly came to a stop, followed by an eruption of ear-bursting laughter.

Oh, okay miss fairy! We will put a call out for your friend Laural even though you have no idea who or what she is in this lifetime! Give us a break!

The trees were mocking her! Jaja grew angry.

I think I should inform you that Laural was a great hero in one of her past lives! As a brontosaurus, she protected trees like you from getting trampled to death by clumsy dinosaurs! The tree-nymphs revered her for helping them save their homes!

If you’re such great friends, why didn’t she tell you where she was headed?

"Because I got mad that she decided to come back here! This planet is just too serious for me!

Why would anyone want to come here as a mortal?’

Perhaps she had more lessons to learn, a voice from above chimed in. Jaja looked up and saw a furry creature hanging upside down by her tail wrapped around a tree branch. Returning her gaze to the ground, she pondered out loud,

Lessons? Why do you need lessons when paradise is waiting for you right there in the sky? All you have to do is fly there!

Have you ever tasted food? asked the rodent. "Or fallen in love? Or felt the warm embrace of your mother? There IS magic