Short Stories by Lucid Illusions

Booka

Once upon a time, on the edge of a bustling town, in a cozy little house, there lived a young girl named Tasha. She had no friends, but she had a pet, a very unusual pet - a cardboard box she’d named Booka. Unlike any ordinary box, Booka was magical and could transform to anything Tasha imagined. Every afternoon, the two of them would embark on the most wondrous adventures one could dream of.

One early Sunday morning, Tasha and Booka decided to explore the garden in their backyard, a place she called the “Jungle of the Giants”. Tasha’s heart pounded with excitement for their quest to find the legendary Golden Apple. Booka, usually sturdy and dependable, started to vibrate with Tasha’s energy, transforming into a sturdy safari jeep. Tasha, donning her explorer’s hat, took the wheel.

The garden was alive with the buzz off bees and the flutter of butterflies. Tasha steered Booka through the tall grass, which, to her, felt like towering trees of a dense forest. Thus began the quest to find the Golden Apple, said to be guarded by the Great Garden Gnome.

As the ventured deeper, they encountered a maze of sunflowers, each bloom as big as Booka. After a series of lefts and rights they found themselves at the heart of the maze. They had reached a small pond, shimmering under the sun. In the middle of the pond, on a lily pad, sat the Great Garden Gnome - a kindly old figure wearing a red pointy hat. He spoke in riddles and rhymes, challenging Tasha to a game of wit. If Tasha could answer all of his riddles, the path to the Golden Apple would be revealed.

With Booka’s whispers of encouragement as well as some help, Tasha solved the riddles one by one. Pleased, the Great Garden Gnome pointed to a hidden path lined withe daisies that led to a mythical apple tree. It’s branches heavy with fruits - and among them hung the Golden Apple, shimmering with a light of its own.

Tasha reached out and plucked the apple, and as she did, the garden burst into a symphony of colors and sounds. With their mission complete, Tasha and Booka returned home, the Golden Apple in hand. She knew that tomorrow would bring another adventure, but for now, they rested, basking in the joy of their jungle expedition - waiting for Tasha’s mother to finish baking her favorite apple pie.